Membership is now due

Membership ended on 31st March 2008, if you would like to become a member for 2008 - 2009 you will need to complete another application form that I can email to you or you can pick one up and pay your membership fees at the AGM. Membership subscription has stayed the same and is £12.00 for a rider and £6.00 for non riders. We hope that you will join us again this year and we hope that you will get intouch with other horse owners in the village that arent yet members. We had a total of 17 members last year which was very good!!! Deadline for current/past members will be 30th June and new members can join part way through the year and pay e£1.00 per month. If we dont hear from you by then we will assume that you no longer wish to be a member.

Thanks Pam / Jane Briggs

Paddock Talk Tansley Village Hall

Five tickets have been ordered for the event on 6th May, there are two young people requiring lifts and I will be emailing you to enable you to sort yourselves out with regard to this.

You will need to arrange to pick up your Ticket from me at the latest """Friday 2nd May"""""

Pam

Safer Derbyshire Meeting

Several members of Bonsall Riders attended the Safer Derbyshire Meeting at the Village Hall on 29th April. please see the following bullet points from notes I made at the meeting:

• The Police would prefer at this stage not to prosecute offending motorcyclists and 4X4 they are choosing to use information/communication and word of mouth at this current time and enforcement was a last resort, there was some concern around the table from residents about this.


• Police informed us that the offenders when informed of the upset they were causing to villagers they said they didnt realise that it was that much of a problem to us.


• Police have been giving leaflets out and said progress will happen but will be slow.


• The Police confirmed that there are legitimate rights of way that can be used by motorised transport in the Bonsall area, which are attracting people from all over the country as far away as Wales! Bonsall Moor is featured on Youtube.


• Police confirmed that there have only been 11 calls for service from the Police concerning the issue over the past 12 months mainly from the same source.


• It was confirmed that Dobb Lane is a restricted by way and I made a request that hot spot times be identified and requested a Police presence at those particular times i.e. Sunday lunchtime at the entrance of Dobb Lane.


• Signage has been removed and needs replacing.


• Police went around the table to and ascertained what residents actual issues were, which included, speeding through the village, large towing vehicles in narrow lanes, not being able to ride on the bridleways at weeekends because of the vehicles using them as it isnt safe, the damage to the landscape, petty crimes being committed in the area, fly tipping, using bikes on farmers land, verbal abuse and the noise to name but a few.


• Police said that they would draw up an action plan and ascertain what staffing and locations they need to find/cover.


• You can call PSCO 4512 Hannah Burns to report any issues you have Tel: 0845 123 33 33 or email her Hannah.Burns.4512@derbyshire.pnn.police.uk


• There were concerns from around the table that someone would have to be killed before something is done about the issue.

ACTION WE NEED TO TAKE:

• Report all incidents - the Police are figure driven - do not feel like you are being a nuisance.


• Report signage to the Council if you notice it has been broken down.


• Report incidents on this blog of near misses and abuse if experienced we can use it as evidence.


• Report any patterns or regular use of bridleways to the PCSO Burns that you notice.


• Put comments on any Youtube insertions that you notice regarding Bonsall Moor saying that the Police are monitoring the situation.

We all need to work together to sort this issue out and if we dont take any action the issues will continue and probably get worse.

Pam

Introducing Sugar - By Pam

I thought it might be nice if we could introduce ourselves and our horses to each other on this site so I thought I would start the ball rolling by introducing Sugar to you. I purchased Sugar about 4 years ago from a dealer, she had come from Kingswood Equestrian Centre, Shropshire, it is a renowned competition venue http://www.kingswoodec.com/ I think the person who owned her had got into financial difficulties and soon ran up a large livery bill, which on such a good facility wouldnt be difficult. She was sold on to a dealer whom I purchased her off and of course I didnt get her papers with her as she had been confiscated!! I checked with the yard manager and they told me that she had been competing at novice level in dressage and was scoring around 65%, so she knew more than me. She is lovely to handle, she like all horses has her odd quirks like she doesnt like worming syringes, but is great to handle in almost all ways. She loves a fuss and good groom. She doesn't really enjoy riding out alone and prefers to be in company, so that could do with some more work.

The first time I took her out to compete on her I went to Weston Lawns in Bulkington where I used to live http://www.westonlawnsequitation.co.uk/ the competition was high that day and I came 5th, so you can imagine I was chuffed, but of course Sugar was better trained than me! I was lucky at that particular time though as I had a dressage instructor and judge teaching me who was on my yard at the time. Since I have had Sugar in this area I have found it difficult to school her because facilities and yards local to Bonsall are few and far between and as Bonsall is so hilly, it has been difficult to find a flat area to school on so Sugar has been wasted really, but I am sure she has enjoyed her time off and she seems to have calmed down a lot since she has rested. We had to sort a pelvic issue out with her last year, I think she fallen in the field so most of last summer was wiped out really, but she appears to be fine after manipulation by a guy that Sam Bradley recommended to me.

I have now moved Sugar over to Alderwasley she is at Sandyford Farm which has a school http://www.sandyfordfarm.co.uk/ and I have been allowed to mark a 20 x 40 mtr area out in the field to ride in so I am going to be able to school again this year, my health willing, which I am quite excited about. We have a trailer and she loads fine so I am hoping when Sugar is fit and and I am well enough we will be able to do shows again.

Sugar is 15.1 hh, I think she is blanket spot apaloosa and I have had people say that she looks like mustang or small sports horse, so I am not sure what she is really. I believe she is about 12 - 13 years old. A friend of mine took her to a one day event and she did really well at dressage, she jumped the majority of the cross country jumps and gets quite excited at the prospect of jumping, but me being that bit older and not wanting to not bounce at my age I dont really do jumping. If there is someone that wants to have go at jumping her that can teach her what to do they are welcome to have a go! So I am going to try and tidy her up a bit schooling wise this summer and plod around the lovely lanes in the Alport/Alderwasley area and if my health improves get out and about on the trailer with her Amber my husband's horse or any friends that may like to join me. My health problem is preventing me from exercising her as much as she needs so if anyone wants to volunteer to help please get in touch.