Blog

Hello guys, my name is Jazzmin Cooper & I’m 16 years old. I’m honoured to be selected to write the first blog of Rayleigh &

Districts brand new website.

I’ve always been around horses all my life; horses are part of my life. I started getting proper lessons when I was about 10

and since

then I wanted my own horse. When I was about 13 I got my first pony, Suzie! She was a 14’2 black and white cob cross

hackney, and

she was 6 years old. She was a driving horse and didn’t know much about schooling! We had many ups and downs, a little blood,

sweat and loads of tears. We started going to local shows, such as Rayleigh and district just for the fancy dress and the gymkhanas.

Suzie loved gymkhanas as she was a speed demon when she opened up! After our fun season in 2015 we started to do a little bit

of jumping, and that’s where our love for jumping evolved. We started doing 50cm and 60cm classes on a Wednesday at brook

farm, and with a little help from our friends and family we were doing bigger classes by the

end of the winter! We qualified for sunshine tour and trailblazers and she didn’t stop

bringing ribbons home when we went out. When the summer hit, nothing stopped us,

we went out almost every weekend at shows. We attended almost every Rayleigh and

District show possible, we had so much fun and we made so many friends!

We were also on our schools equestrian team, (Greensward Academy) were I met lots of

lovely girls who helped my confidence grow as a rider, our first NSEA show we came first

and we was a team of three up against much bigger teams! Me, Faith Claydon &

Jodie Johnson worked together and managed to win the class! That was a very happy

moment of my life. All of the team were fantastic support for me and Suzie & we learned

a lot, so I thank you all for that.

I and Suzie have had a great show season at Rayleigh and district; we have managed to pick up two reserve champions in a ridden

cob class and the novice pony jumping. I thank all the committee for helping me through my journey to become the rider I am

today! A final thank you goes out to Anthony at ARDS Photography who not only sponsored us individually, but also the

School team !

I hope everyone has enjoyed the show season as much as I have! Thank you for reading this & roll on next season - Jazz

WELCOME TO OUR BLOG

Here is a page to tell us all about yourselves, your Ponies and Horses...how you got into the sport...it does not need to be funny, or hard hitting, just a space to let us get to know you all.

If you want to submit a Blog, please email this to stsmaverick@btinternet.com

Julie Blatcher 19.07.17 - Dorton

Well, time has flown and we have been busy horse shopping and are pleased to announce we now have our new boy, Dorton! A beautiful thoroughbred, aged 7 with the sweetest nature and lots to learn!

Needless to say, we still had a few adventures before we got him which included being called timewasters when we said the horse was not what we were looking for, trying to find the horse we went to view s it looked nothing like the photos and the heartbreak of a failed vetting!

I was steering clear of thoroughbred having lost Cara to EGU but every time I looked, I was always drawn to this beautiful breed. Anyway, we drove to Chigwell to view Dorton, we all decided we weren’t going to like him; how wrong we were! With his distinctive “heart shaped” blaze, laid back personality and the fact he gave us kisses we loved him before we rode him.

I was really tense when I got on but after a few minutes with my instructor telling me to relax and convincing me I could ride ( see my previous blog) we settled down together nicely and I fell in love.

It needed my two daughters to fall as well and we were off!

Amy , my youngest has just begin her career as a jockey The British Racing School and she was smitten and then Hayley, my oldest daughter who needed a bit of a confidence giver was busy cantering around the school whilst I was talking to Dorton’s owner!

Anyway, he’s here! We are getting to know each other with lots of lessons and

hacks …we had one small set back though. I thought I’d give him an outing at

SEEDRC and he was a little on his toes in the first class but settled enough to

enter the second class with some encouragement from the other competitors

and a really friendly judge!

Unfortunately, the poor lad tripped whilst cantering and we both went down

I now have a have a dislocated clavicle!!!!

So I ended up on gas and air telling the paramedics I loved them, but had just

celebrated my silver wedding, refusing to lay down because I wanted to

do my other classes, telling everyone I would rather die falling off a horse

that sitting at home watching Come Dine With Me and generally causing

havoc! I was in work the next day (I’m a teacher and hate being off) but

Tramadol has been my new best friend since 25th June. Physio starts again

tomorrow and as yet, I can’t ride but Dorton has been enjoying himself with

my fantastic instructor, Emma and I can manage to lunge him as he’s so laid back.

So , here’s to the next few weeks and our Rayleigh And District debut on 30th July (in hand only) and we’ll meet you all in person; I’m the short one with the 15.2hh bright bay gelding with the heart on his face; pity I wore mine on my sleeve when I was gas and air! See you all the!

Julie

Mark Johnson 10.07.17 - Loosing my Competition Virginity !

Last weekend and finally a tick in my bucket list.

Although I used to ride when I was young, and have had numerous sessions since Jodie got

Kitty, I made the pledge that I would enter an Intro test at Rayleigh and District -to sample

first hand what it is like the other side on event days.

I spent the last 4 months collecting the appropriate gear for this one off event, with the

jacket arriving luckily 2 days prior to my debut.
Although in the past the dressage has been reasonably well attended, nothing could

prepare for the volume of entries we had for this one! 17 adults in my class, meant that I

was never going to sneak in 6th out of 6 which was one of my hopes. To be honest, most

importantly I just wanted to get through the test unscathed, having had quite a big off

4 weeks earlier and still nursing aches, pains and suspect cracked ribs - this had to be

enjoyable.
In my life I have dabbled in many sports that could seriously damage your well being, I rode Motor X at Schoolboy level, Speedway as a teenager back in the 80's, have Rallied at Brands hatch in a Group 1 WRC car, as well as many sessions in Stock cars, Bangers and Mini Rods....so this should not be daunting...wrong.
I think that due to the fact that I would never be in full control of close on half a tonne of what can be a psychotic mare depending on which way the wind blew was starting to nag more than I wanted to, and was always at the back of my mind.
All those times I told Jodie to get back on, or pull herself together at events when she got nervous came back to haunt me big time - and she had had more than her fair share of being launched skywards from her 'trusty companion'.
Thankfully the days weather was all but perfect...22 degrees, cloud cover, and no wind, which meant no mad Killer leaves or twigs would be blown into her path.
As we were pretty late getting there, we didn't really have too much time to prepare - much like my Test training sessions on Kitty - all 4 of them ! Jodie tacked her up and jumped on to see if I was going to make use of my £2.00 medical fee, or not...and after a little jog around the warm area I got the green light.
So dressed in my newly acquired attire I took to the warm up ring and gingerly but with purpose set off to get the nerves blown away. Although I knew the test backwards, I can now see why riders question their ability to recall tests they know so well, as I wanted a caller...but we had no sheets with us. Thankfully one was dispensed in my direction and I was heading for the arena a little earlier than I had planned.
The next 4 minutes were all a bit of blur really, I hardly heard Jodie call anything during the test so transfixed was I at getting through in one piece, or not completely embarrassing her and making an arse of myself!
Both my long reign parts of the test let me down...the free walk was a disaster as I was so concerned that she would slow down to a crawl in walk I gave her a squeeze and then forgot to take my leg off...which resulted in her trotting to X before I could stop her. However. the rest of the test I was happy with, 64.3 for my very first one was more than I could have hoped for, and midway in the class was an added bonus.
It was such a thrill doing this, it is easy to see how it gets infectious. I urge any of the mums / dads out there who have thought about it - do it - it really was a great day.
Maybe one day I can repeat this, but logistics meant we were there for 7 hours, and although kitty was impeccable in her behaviour the whole day, i didn't think it would be fair to put her through it again....just have to buy my own I guess !

Mark

Julie Blatcher April 13 2017

Well, we've still been busy horse hunting since the loss of our beautiful mare and it has been very interesting to say the least!
It is always a sad time when you lose a horse and after much thought we began our hunt again;never dreaming we would be in this position within in a year of purchasing our horse of a lifetime.
Perusing local adds: Preloved, Horsemart etc produces what look like fantastic horses but we're beginning to read the small print more carefully.
"Forward going "can mean anything from flies off the leg to a favourite at 5 to 1 at Aintree.
"Not a novice ride "can mean forward going to requiring superglue and an entire bubble wrap body suit as it shies at its own shadow.
"Loves to jump " can mean it will jump a small cross pole with four feet to spare or loves to jump out of its own stable whilst you're holding its lead rope with a body brush in your hand!
"Not mareish at all" unless there is a some sunshine, no sunshine, a small wind, a strong wind, soft rain, a thunderstorm , a leaf falls on the path or the day of the week has a "y" in it!
Our most recent trip was to Norfolk . The sellers were lovely when we got there;rode the horse first, my daughter rode and then I got on and ...nothing. I felt the horse was unsettled in her head anyway and looked stiff on one rein but I persevered only to be shouted at by the seller, "To LET GO OF THE REINS AND LEG ON"
Now, I'm no Charlotte Dujardin but I'm not a bad rider and I admit, I was a little tense( it's horrible being watched riding someone else's horse whilst trying to think about what you like and dislike), but the horse was avoiding any contact at all unless, as I was shouted at to" Now, pull the reins from side to side and get it on the bit".
As I uttered the words, "She's not the one for me!" I heard him mutter something about my riding which I felt was rich coming from a man the wrong side of 15 stone on a 15 hh Thoroughbred!
I felt as though I walked the walk of shame as we left and the walk felt like a thousand miles up a long gravel drive in full view of the sellers who were then riding the horse , who was going better, admittedly but not that well , as if to prove a point .
It was upsetting, confidence destroying and left me feeling hideously upset. However, after much reassurance when I got back to the yard we are off again this week to look at two more. Wish us luck!
Julie Blatcher

Julie Blatcher March 20 2017

Rayleigh and District Riding Club Blog

Well, it’ s ben a while since I was a member of the club. I first joined in 1979 and we had a few successes with our lovely mare Sovereign including overall champion in 1980/1 I believe but is strikes me now how very different the horse world is from the one I knew when we got our first pony in 1978.

Show preparation then meant a bike ride to Rayleigh Saddlery to get new hoof oil and plaiting thread; a trip to Boots for talcum powder and hairspray and then lots of bathing and tack cleaning before a 4.30 a.m start reading to plait, prepare and hack to Wadham Park Farm showground from Daws Heath Road in Rayleigh hoping the white socks didn’t get stained green along the way.

My dad used to drop my sister off with carrier bags of stuff and then off we went!

I had a break from horses for 22 years due to deteriorating health but thankfully, I am back firing on nearly ll cylinders and this year we purchased our first horse, Cara. It struck me when we started our horse quest, just how much horses and riding has changed since the 1970s; new types of tack, riding equipment, body protectors, fly repellents, shampoos and supplements,not to mention five stage vettings and ulcers.

We have had the most amazing year with Cara; dressage, long distance rides and a bit of showing but sadly, after months of unsuccessful treatment for ulcers, we had to make the devastating decision to put her to sleep. I cry as I write this but I know the best way to heal is to have another horse so my blogs will inform you of our experience as we search again; a terrifying yet exciting prospect although it feels disloyal and strange to be doing it again when we thought e had our forever horse.

Watch this space! During our search last year we met 13.2hh advertised as 15.2hh, dealers who thought we were the RSPCA in disguise and a bomproof plod that put my eldest daughter in hospital with concussion.

See you soon.

Julie Blatcher

Hello everyone, I am Brooke Rodwell and I am 12 years old.

I started riding when I was 8, ever since I started riding I

wished for a pony, when I was 10 we found the perfect horse.

He is a 14.3 Welsh Section D who was 5 years old, we had

to bring him on a long way.

The first year he was amazing and then when he turned

6 everything changed. I was so scared of him I wouldn't get

on him, every time we went out hacking, he would bolt and

throw me off.

We moved yards and had a natural horsemanship lady out to

help us. I started going to Rayleigh and District shows as

they were about 20 mins up the road, I was very nervous but

the committee would always help me and try to calm me down.

I started with classes of 40cm and at the end of last year I

jumped 70cm courses, I'm now jumping 90cm courses out and

1m15 single fences at home and so pleased with him.

We also qualified for the sunshine tour a few times but

unfortunately did not get the chance to go.

My goal this year is to go and qualify for as much as I can.

I try to go to as many Rayleigh and District shows as I can and I'm hoping to affiliate next year(2018). I could have never done this without the help of R&D and everyone there. I can't wait for this season. Thank you!! - Brooke & George.

So today was a day for Inspiration! For those that know me, I work away all week in the Midlands for a small British car maker called Jaguar Landrover

This morning we had our by-yearly ‘Town hall’ where we are presented with how we are going to improve, take on the Germans in their own back yard, and basically rally the troops at the end of the fiscal year.

Today though, we were treated to a truly outstanding motivational speech by one our top British Rowers of our time, double Gold Olympic champion – Steve Williams OBE. Now his name might not be the first that springs to mind when you think of rowing success...Matthew Pincent or Sir Steve Redgrave might be the first name tumbling from your lips, but no matter, this guy had done it all with them.

He took us on a journey through how he spent 4 years preparing for the Bejing Olympics where he took his second Gold.

The dedication, blood and sweat that these guys went through is quite humbling, when I think of how much we moan at simple things on a day to day.

This guy would train 6hrs a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year – including Christmas day. Hauling himself out of bed at stupid O’clock every morning, with a body still screaming surrender from the previous day’s assault.

He spoke warmly of the camaraderie between the crew, how everyone pulled together and NEVER waned or body swerved a task. And come race day, the day they had all been working towards, how he just like those entering the arena for a Dressage Test or Jumping Event, was physically sick with nerves. But once under way it was business as usual, and for someone with such dedication, the results were a foregone conclusion. He spoke about how his Gold medals were not won on the day, but were won during those 4 years of endless repetitive hard work leading up to the final. There was a plan and he stuck to it. I found a lot of parallels to what he was speaking about, with those who take to the arena each week – if you ever get the chance to catch any of his seminars, or video interviews it is well worth it.

Thanks for reading - hope you can all take someting away from it

Mark

Video Of Beijing 2008