sydney free november newsletter

SYDNEY FREE SADDLERY

NEWSLETTER NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2014

Published by SYDNEY FREE SADDLERY FREE

WELCOME TO YOUR NOVEMBER/DECEMBER NEWSLETTER

We’ve had a busy few months at the shop! We’ve had a bit of a change around inside to try and make it easier to find the

things you’re after, and also to give us more hanging space for all the lovely clothes we have for you. Our next task is to

reorganise our Second Hand section! A new member has joined our team called Hannah and she is already making herself

an invaluable member of staff and has a huge knowledge of a wide variety of disciplines and the fact that she is a horse

owner herself, meaning that she has personal experience of using many of our products.

It’s that time of year again where all the festive goodies start turning up on the shelves and we have some great gift ideas

for you here. This year we’re holding our Christmas Shopping Evening on Wednesday 26th

November from 6.00pm to 8.30pm. There will be special one-night-only promotions and

discounts alongside plenty of nibbles and Winter Pimms (soft drinks if you prefer) for the

evening so it is definitely worth joining us for our fun festive evening. Last year, thanks to our

customers’ kind support for our Christmas Raffle we were able to donate a massive £750.00

to The Brooke Charity! We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you who have

helped us support this charity over the last two years and hope that once again you can help

us raise money to support this wonderful charity. This year we have teamed up with Ariat and our main raffle prize is a

pair of gorgeous Ariat Bromont Boots. You can find all the details for the Christmas Evening and raffle prizes on page 6.

With the colder, darker mornings and the wetter weather starting to set in we have some

beautiful new winter clothing in stock from brands such as Pikeur, Ariat and Horseware.

Some of these are the seasonal collections which means that once they’ve been sold we

can’t reorder, so if you don’t want to miss out come and see them asap! Whether you’re

after warm, windproof, waterproof, or all three, we’ve got it covered for all budgets. There

are tops and jackets, winter breeches, thermal under-layers, scarves, headbands, hats, and

cosy winter gloves. We’ve put a selection in this newsletter but drop in or go online to see all

the lovely items we have for you.

We constantly have new products arriving at the shop. For example, in the last month, we have started stocking the Bale

Carry - a great water repellent bag with handles that fits a whole small bale of hay. Perfect if

you have to transport hay in the boot of your car or leave it outside the stable or in the field.

We now have colourful folding steps and stools which fold down flat but are very sturdy when

you open them out and very easy to carry around whilst taking up minimal space. On top of all

the exciting new products we are happy to confirm that we have extended our Buy One Get

One Free offer on one of our most popular products - the NAF Himalayan salt licks.

BUY ONE GET ONE

FREE!

SAVE THE DATE WEDNESDAY

NOVEMBER

26th

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PHONE: 01285 655384 FACEBOOK.COM/SYDNEYFREESADDLERY SYDNEYFREE.CO.UK

SFS SPONSORED RIDER.. JENNY LAWTON UPDATE Jenny Lawton joined our stable of sponsored riders earlier this year. We are proud to be able to support this extremely ambitious young rider After Offchurch we began to prepare for Crown Farm ODE, which was our last chance to show the selectors for the Area teams what we could do. We started Crown Farm (the 100cm class) with a decent test, we thought. The mark, however, was disappointing and we went into jumping lying about 14th. The ground was very hard and the show jumping course twisty which resulted in most horses slipping on the turns. Brodie jumped nicely to have just the first down, rider error as I should have circled before I went to the start as he was spooking a bit. A flying clear xc left us buzzing, he is SUCH a machine across country, I am so lucky to ride a pony like him. It was also the first time I wore my new Air Jacket, purchased from Sydney Free, and I have to say I did feel more like a pro! Fortunately I didn't need it this time.

We then went to Badminton Dressage for the Pony Club Championship class. I got myself wound up and didn't ride Brodie as calmly as I should have and we scored a very disappointing but deserved mark of 65.6%. Fortunately we had a chance to redeem ourselves at Rectory and we managed to break the 70% barrier in the PC Open dressage test for 70.6%. As a result we have been selected for the Open team for the Area dressage. I also received my selection letter for the Intermediate Event team, so things are very busy now preparing for these upcoming competitions. At squad training on Monday we tested Brodie out by asking him to jump straight off a big step into water with-out having run through the water beforehand and in the middle of a course. Thankfully, he jumped straight in! We have finally cracked it, this has been our Achilles heel so I am absolutely thrilled!!! After that I went to all Area competitions and Camp. First came the Intermediate eventing. We started off with a good dressage of 32.8 which put us 8th in a competitive section. A flying double clear, inside both times and with the cross country feeling so incredibly easy meant we

finished a credible 6th. Dressage came next and we were competing in the Open team for the first time. It was a bit scary since my team mates were aged 19, 19 and 22 and I was just 14, however we managed to pull out a relaxed, obedient test in front of an Olympic judge. Although the score was harsh, I was thrilled with it as a test and we still placed 7th. My score counted towards the final team result and we ended up 5th. Next came Camp. It was huge fun and I was Team Leader. I had some amazing people in my Team and have made some fantastic new friends who I'm keeping in touch with. Joey, the ex-racer I borrowed, proved more of a chal-lenge than anticipated as he was a nervous jumper. His dressage was fantastic and by the end of the week our jumping was much more in-tune. On the final day, in the competition, we were 2nd after dressage but had an unlucky pole to drop back to 4th. Had we been clear, we would have won! I learnt a great deal about riding horses, since I've really only ridden ponies, and also about the type of horse I prefer, which will be useful as we are about to start looking for a youngster. After Camp we went to the Intermediate Area show jumping and although we didn't jump clear in either round Brodie jumped beautifully over two full-up courses. After all his hard work, Brodie earned a holiday for a few days in the Gower. We stayed at the wonderful Crickton Farm and rode a few miles to the beach. It was absolutely breathtaking and I will never forget it. Brodie had great fun splashing about, especially since we went with his friend Joey (who is also the horse I borrowed for Camp) and his owner. He is now being brought back into full work after 3 weeks of rest and is likely to do another two events before beginning intensive Winter dressage and show jumping! We have also recently moved yards and are now based at the wonderful Grange Cottage Stables in Foxcote. It has outstanding facilities and all the small luxuries, such as the microwave in the tackroom, are still being fully appreciated!

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NEW PRODUCTS - WINTER 2014 CLOTHING

Pikeur Knitted Headband

Cosy knitted headband to

keep your ears warm

Pikeur Karina Jacket

Waterproof and windproof with

detachable hood

Horseware Brianna Jacket

Waterproof and breathable padded jacket

euro-star Thermo

Pants and Shirt

Technical base

layers to keep you

warm both top and

bottom!

Woof Woollen Blend

Winter Socks

euro-star Boot

Style Socks

Ariat Corland Jacket

Lightweight quilted

jacket that’s both wind

and water resistant



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BUY ONE GET ONE FREE

Our special offer of Buy One Get One Free on NAF Himalayan

Salt Licks has been extended and will now continue running

throughout November and December!

By far the most popular salt lick for horses, you can now carry

on taking advantage of our 2 for 1 offer on these great licks.

The state of farriery in Great Britain through the 1950s, 60s and into the 70s suffered from the post World War II decline of the horse’s importance in both commercial and agricultural sectors. This resulted in many highly skilled craftsmen leaving the trade. Thankfully, there were some master farriers who continued to practice and pass on their

expertise to their apprentices.

With the resurgence of the horse for recreational use in the later 60s there was a dearth of well trained farriers, so many people attempted to do the job themselves, sadly at the expense of the horse. As a result, the Worshipful Company of Farriers and the National Association of Farriers Blacksmiths and Agricultural Engineers,

lobbied the government to bring about changes.

This led to the Farriers Registration Act of 1975 with minor amendments made in 1977 and 2002 to bring it in line with European Commission Directives. This was and is an animal welfare act; ‘to prevent suffering by cruelty to horses arising from the shoeing of horses by unskilled persons; to promote the training of farriers; to provide for the establishment of a Farriers Registration Council to register any persons engaged in farriery, and to prohibit the shoeing of horses by unqualified persons’. It became law that all currently practicing farriers should be registered and all entering the trade complete an apprenticeship culminating in passing the trade test – the Diploma of the

Worshipful Company of Farriers.

The all time low standards of farriery in the 60s were turned around and the science of farriery is back on track promoting a high level of craftsmanship and theoretical understanding. However, despite representations from all inter-ested UK bodies, on the grounds that it could have an adverse effect on equine welfare and undermine the UK’s system of formal training, qualification and registration, the European Commission

(EC) requires changes to UK farriery legislation.

The particular issues the FRC has raised are:

That farriery is included under metalworking,

not animal welfare.

Any EU member can establish themselves in

another EU nation purely on the basis of six years experience.

Although the Directive makes provision for the

use of Common Platforms for developing common EU standards, these have not been implemented.

EU members established in one country may

offer temporary and occasional services in another member nation on the basis of only two years experience and without any check on their competence.

These temporary service providers must be

registered without payment of any fee, unlike UK Registered Farriers, and appear to have freedom to renew their temporary status without limit.

That said, it is important to keep matters in perspective, there is no evidence of a flood of applicants as yet. Should that change or welfare issues, or any other difficulties arise, such as wholesale abuse of the system, these will be reported to government departments and

assistance requested.

FARRIER’S ARTICLE… How Farriers’ Registration Act Prevents Cruelty To Horses By Andrew Poynton FWCF



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NEW PRODUCTS...

BALE CARRY

Holds a full bale of hay or

straw and features a

drawstring cord and easy-

lift handles.

Showerproof, folds away

and machine washable.

NAF APPY TREATS

NAF combine only the best

quality ingredients including

real apple so that you are

now able to offer your horse

a healthy and delicious treat.

LEXINGTON HELMET

Lightweight and very comfortable, with dial

adjustment.

The peak can be removed so that a cover can be fitted for team

events etc.

£23.99 £3.99 From £34.99

NEW

NEW

NEW



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CHRISTMAS SHOPPING EVENING...

WEDNESDAY 26TH NOVEMBER 6.00 - 8.30PM

Drinks &

Nibbles

Special

Discounts

Special

Shop

Raffle Late Night

Shopping

Plus buy 4 get 1 free for tickets for the Brook Charity Raffle



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SFS SPONSORED RIDER.. LAURA WALL UPDATE We started sponsoring Laura in 2013 after she had great success with her home-trained horse.

She continues to excel on her new youngster.

We were planning a stay away show at Wales and West in July but were unable to attend the full weekend so just travelled up for the one day. It was a bit of a shock to find my class, the British Novice, had just under 100 people in. Dotty jumped a lovely double clear, though my satnav decided to take the long route in the jump off but despite all of this we had a quick time which put us into 11th place!! I was really chuffed with her consider-ing the competition she was up against, and that was our first double clear towards our British Novice second rounds qualification. I am so pleased with how Dotty and I are bonding and achieving the things I would never have thought I’d

be doing.

It was a very sad atmosphere at home in July following my dad losing a very short battle with cancer which came as a shock to us all. He was one very supportive man when it came to me and the horses and loved coming down the yard to watch me ride,take me to competitions as well as being my wonderful unpaid groom. As a family we felt that my horse, Meacham Reality ridden by me should lead my dad’s hearse to the funeral. We felt it was the last thing she could have done with him. I can’t express how proud I am of her being so well behaved and so grown up being only 5 years old

she led the way through 150+ people.

My mum and I decided we had to keep going in the competition circuit to keep my dad proud, So on 9th August Meacham Reality and I went to Somerford Show to jump in the affiliated ring. We managed to miss the rain for our first class - the British Novice, and we completed a speedy double clear which put us well into the lead, and we won the class. We only need one more British Novice double clear to get us qualified for second rounds - it’s all very exciting! I decided to enter into the Discovery

class as Dotty was jumping so well. Again we went round the first round clear, whilst waiting for our jump off the torrential rain came down meaning the ground become very slippery, and it was just my luck we had a slight 'stud hole' situation meaning we had to jump without any studs... nightmare! I did not want to scare Dotty or put us in danger by speeding around the jump off so instead I aimed just to go clear. And we did just that, with the jump off being raised a fair amount we jumped clear with a good time despite not cutting corners sharply with left us in 3rd place. I am so pleased with how Dotty is going at the moment, her jumping has become phenomenal and she has really grown into a perfect

horse who will turn her hoof to any situation.

On the 24.08.2014 Dotty and I went on the lorry with the Meacham Sports horses team to Rectory Farm to jump the BS British Novice, with a super clear and quick time with only 1second between me and the winner, we were placed 3rd. This was our final double clear that we had to get therefore me and Dotty are now qualified for British Novice Re-gional Finals, a long wait lays ahead of us as this is not held until June 2015, however lots of practice and training will be in place to make sure we are on

form.

We took a few weeks off from competing however on the 14.09.2014 Dotty and I went up to the Ridge-way Pony Club Show held at Rabson Manor we entered into the Novice 30 dressage to prepare us for the competition we have entered in a few weeks time, although I felt there was room for improve-ment when Dotty decided to have a 'Dotty knows best moment' we still managed to pull off a score of 73.08% which put us in 1st place. Lots to work on ensuring everything is perfect ready for the Dres-sage championships of Great Britain be a partici-pating in on 3rd-5th October. I also took Dotty in the 3,3ft Open show jumping at the show where we were placed 3rd. It turned out to be a very good day indeed. And I say this every time after looking back at the recent competitions we have done, but she really is a brilliant horse who tries her heart out

in any discipline I ask her to do.



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BLAST FROM THE PAST…

Welcome to a new column where we give you a reminder of what it was like in the

“good old days”! This article is from the October 1950 issue of Riding Magazine :



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SFS SPONSORED RIDER TINTIN BELSHAM TinTin is another rider to join our stable during 2014. As you can see below, she is extremely ambitious and talented. We are looking forward to seeing what 2015 holds for her! It’s October, the weather is confusingly warm and

the 2014 eventing season is drawing to a close.

Time flies when you are in the thick of it and only

now can I begin to reflect on the highs and lows of

the year. Overall I can’t be anything other than

delighted with the way the horses have performed

and the progress we have all made.

After a good showing in the early trials I was thrilled

to be long listed for the Junior Europeans on both

Polo and Spex. It was difficult not to be anything

other than disappointed following the final trial not

to have made the team. Neither horse show jumped

well on a very twisty course in heavy ground, and

Spex was wired to the moon in the dressage! Two

clears inside the time cross-country did not really

worry the placings and for whatever reason it was

not to be my day. It is a tough sport and difficult at

times to deal with the inevitable knocks that fierce

competition brings.

With no commitments and much of the season left

there was a great opportunity to dust down Plan B

and set some new goals. I felt that we were all

ready to step up to the next level of competition and

it would be fun to travel and try and aim for a three

day CCI 2*. All three horses headed to Somerford

Park, Polo and Spex with the aim of completing a

CIC 2* and the old boy Michael to strut his stuff in

the CIC 1*. Suddenly you are competing toe to toe

with the top riders in sections with some 120

horses. Without the same visibility the pressure is

not the same, but equally getting noticed for the

right reasons becomes a lot harder! This was

always going to be a big ask for the youngster Spex

but he rose to the occasion and put the more

experienced Polo in the shade. A balanced and

accurate test scoring 50 was followed by a double

clear show jumping and cross-country to finish a

very creditable 33rd. It was not the case for Polo

who had an uncharacteristic 20 penalties cross-

country and did not give me a great feel. Michael

however was on fire, did a stunning test and

stormed round inside the time to finish 6th behind

another old-timer Imperial Cavalier.

September saw us heading for Varsseveld in

Holland to an event we had heard much about. Not

only are the Dutch 1* & 2* Championships held

there but it is sponsored by a beer company and

they have their own nightclub on site! This sounded

just the ticket and a great chance to compete

against some of the top European riders that don’t

always make the trip to the UK.

Polo was rested but Spex was again entered into

the CIC 2 * and Michael in the CIC 1*.Both horses

did cracking dressage tests leaving Spex 13th

country proved to be influential with the two star

track both big and technical and by far the toughest

either of us had seen. Spex was brilliant but at a

drop log to a skinny running down hill he just never

looked at the second element and ears pricked

scooted by! The course caused carnage and even

with an annoying 20 pens we finished 18th Michael

was early to go cross-country and was foot perfect

and only one of six to go inside the time. The

course claimed the leader after dressage and

Elaine Pen who was lying second was stood down

after a fall in the two-star. This left us with a fantas-

tic and very first International win. After being driven

in to prize giving on the back of a horse drawn beer

cart we proceeded to drink the lorry dry! A fabulous

and memorable 5 days.

With Plan B on track we entered Spex in the CCI 2*

at Osberton hoping for a good end to the season.

As one of the last UK Internationals of the year it

attracted a very hot field headed by William Fox

Pitt. Spex finished on his personal best dressage

score, rising from 37th after dressage to 21st after

XC and 11th after show jumping. This was by far

our best result and simply amazing considering he

was doing Novice this time last year!

Polo also finished the season on a high with a bril-

liant 5th place in the CIC 1* at Aldon after a pesky

pole in the Show Jumping. It was a reassuring

result after some frustrating brake problems earlier

in the year at Somerford and the South of England.

The horses are now on a well-deserved break and

have all come out of competition fit and well. I am

hugely grateful for all the support and help in

making this years success possible. As a rider I

certainly feel a year older, wiser for the experience

and ready to deal with the challenges of whatever

next year brings!



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These items and many more all have AT LEAST 20% off their original price

SALE!



11


October Monthly Draw Winners!

Every month we enter you into our prize draw when

you spend over £40

1st Prize £20 voucher - Mrs Dickenson

2nd Prize £10 voucher - Nick Warfield

3rd Prize £5 voucher - Marco Bruce-Smith

Congratulations!



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USEFUL NUMBERS Police / Fire / Ambulance 999

Cirencester Police 101

Cotswold District Council 01285 623000

Cirencester Town Council 01285 655646

Cirencester Hospital 01285 655711

Oak and Furrows 01285 862439

DEFRA 08459 33 55 77

ATS (repairs at your yard) 01285 657761

Dog Lost (local Contact) 07887 717586

Governing Bodies

BHS 024 76 840513

British Dressage 024 76 698830

BSJA 024 76 698800

FEI +(41) 21 310 47 47

British Eventing 024 7669 8856

HPA 01367 242828

Pony Club 024 76 698300

British Riding Club 024 76 840590

British Driving Society 01473 892001

Vets

Waterlane Equine Vets 01452 770268 07551 857930

Bourton Vale(H) 01451 820137

Willesley Equine Clinic (H) 01666 880501

Benson & Babb 01285 653151

George Group Horse 01666 826456

George Group Small Animals 01666 823165

Wessex Equine 01793 739220

The Sidings 01285 643146

Local Polo Clubs

Beaufort Polo Club 01666 880510

Cirencester Polo Club 01285 653225

Longdole Polo Club 01452 864544

Asthall Farm Polo Club 01367 860207

Local Hunts

VWH Hunt 01666 577399

Beaufort Hunt Hon. Secretary 01666 823292

Cotswold Hunt Hon. Secretary 01451 850319

Heythrop Hunt Secretary 01608 676478

DIARY OF EVENTS NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2014

Sunday 16th November Rectory Farm Dressage Championships Sponsored by Sydney Free

Wednesday 26th November Sydney Free Late Night Shopping Event (see front page for details)

Saturday 29th November Cirencester Christmas Lights Switch On

Saturday 29th November Sydney Free Open until 7pm

Thursday 4th December Sydney Free Open until 7pm

Sunday 7th December Sydney Free Open 10am - 3pm


Sunday 14th December Sydney Free Open 10am - 3pm


Wednesday 24th December Sydney Free Open until 4pm

25th - 28th December CLOSED



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