Newsletter - April 2008
Hi Everybody,
Hopefully the worst of the cold wintry weather is out of the way - the days are now longer, so, with a bit of luck, we should be able to look forward to the summer months (well – we have to try to be positive!!).
In the meantime however, we have our next bridleways meeting.
This will be on Monday 14th April, 8.0pm at The Globe
Our guest speaker will be Jenny Fallon who will be explaining and demonstrating the ‘Niagara Equissage’ horse massage system. Jenny will also speak from her own experience as to the benefits of using this equipment with both her own horses and others with which she is working. The system has been used on my horse with very positive results!
Annual General Meeting – Feb 2008
Thanks to those members and guests who supported the meeting, but there were many others who were noticeable by their absence!!
For those who didn’t make it – you missed an excellent presentation by Simon Constable on the increasing problem of Laminitis. So many thanks to Simon who, as ever, was happy to answer questions and provide good advice as to the causes and prevention of this problem.
The Officers and Committee Members were re-elected without change and Nicky Clark was elected as a new Committee Member.
Thanks again to those Committee Members who have retired.
The Committee is now as follows:
Chairperson Pat Broadbent Vice Chairperson Lesley Eaton
Treasurer Lisa Stansfield Secretary Mel Baron
Members : Sarah Bamber Susan Heyward Jenny Rand Nicky Clark
We were pleased to welcome five new members to the group and also thank those of you who paid subscriptions either prior to, or on the night.
We would be grateful if anyone who hasn’t completed a membership up-date form (attached) or paid their subscription for the coming year could do so as soon as possible.
It has been agreed by the Committee that members who have not paid their subscriptions for one year will no longer receive a newsletter and will also be taken off the email distribution list. We need your support in order to continue working for the benefit of horses and riders, providing information and raising awareness of current issues.
If you are not sure as to the status of your subscription, or if there is a problem, then please contact me either by phone or email – both are at the bottom of this letter.
Future Meetings
At the moment, meetings are planned for October ‘08 (we are hoping to have a vet talking about her experiences with donkeys in the Gambia), December ’08, February ’09 (AGM) and April ’09 but no firm dates are available as yet.
Even though we don’t hold meetings during the summer months there will be a newsletter to keep you up to date and you can always look at the website (www.wardlebridleways.com)!
Bridleway News
Not a great deal to report except that the bridleway from the King Bill at Shore to the Kennels (Peddlers) has now been re-surfaced by RBMC – so we no longer have to plough our way through the mud!. Many thanks to Julie Simpson – Rights of Way Officer.
The rest of the route through to Wardle Village is not marked on the Definitive Map as a bridleway, so we urgently need to claim it – there must be vast amounts of user evidence going back over the years available for this one!
Is anyone willing to take some responsibility for helping to get this one through? If so then please let me know.
Claiming expenses
It has been agreed that should a member wish to claim expenses for any specific work they undertake for the benefit of the Group, then they must gain the prior agreement of the Committee and must provide receipts for all expenditure.
BHS Riding and Road Safety
Rochdale & Bury Bridleways Group are hoping to host this course in the summer if there is sufficient interest (at least 8 are needed to run the event). The training location will be Wolstenholme Fold Farm, Norden which is easily accessible for trailers by road but can also be reached quite easily on horseback via Prickshaw/Lanehead.
The course consists of about 8 training sessions (you don’t need to bring your horse if you don’t wish to – provided there are enough horses for people to share) and a half day for the actual exam (done at the training location). The approximate cost is £30 for the exam, £30 for the training and £6 for the BHS book. The minimum age is 12 years on the actual day of the exam. If you are interested please contact Gill Morrell asap on 01706 630311.
If enough people want to take part then dates will be arranged and an up-front non-refundable £30 fee to cover the exam will be collected. Training fees will be collected at each session.
Having done this course myself some 8 years ago, I can thoroughly recommend it for all ages – especially young riders. It was great fun and a real eye-opener as to correct and safer road riding especially as the volume of traffic continues to increase.
Trip to the Seaside
Rochdale & Bury Bridleways Group have someone who has offered to arrange a trip to the seaside. They are hoping if there is enough interest, to hire a large horsebox that can hold 9 horses for £45 per horse. If you are interested then contact Barbara Brown on 01706 630337 or email: enquiries@rbba.org.uk
This will take place before the end of June. If you have your own transport you can arrange to meet up.
(My horse doesn’t like ripples on Watergrove Reservoir – so I’ve no chance with waves!!)
BHS Revised Advisory Leaflets
These leaflets were produced as part of an ongoing campaign to provide information for rights of way officers, new or experienced riders and landowners on aspects of good practice.
Standards and Dimensions gives details of good practice in constructing and maintaining equestrian paths, both for the rights of way professional or interested rider.
Finding Bridleways is useful for new riders who would like to try riding out, and those interested in researching bridleways.
Clearing Rights of Way provides practical guidance to anybody wishing to hold a clearing party.
Stallions on Bridleways provides advice for riders and keepers of animals on how best to avoid problems when keeping stallions near to equestrian rights of way.
These and other advisory leaflets are free to download at:
http:/www.bhs.org.uk/Content/Acs-ORR.asp
Alternatively, paper copies of all advisory leaflets can be requested from the department by sending a SAE A4 envelope, indicating which leaflets are required.
Some useful information!
Your mobile phone can be a lifesaver or an emergency tool for survival – here are a couple of things that you can do with it!
Other Forthcoming Events
Milnrow and Newhey Bridleways Sponsored Ride – Sunday 20th April 2008
To raise money for Newhey Church Restoration Fund
Venue: P.W Greenhalgh’s Car Park at Newhey
Route: 15km/20/km/32 km (10m/13m//20m)
Time: Start 9.30 – 11.00am
Entry: Seniors £12, Juniors £6 (any extra sponsorship welcome)
Closing Date: 13th April 2008-04-03
For further details contact Mrs L Hopley on 01706 654576 or 07729 655877
or download from www.wardlebridleways.com
Trec Training Day – 20th April 2008
Have you ever fancied having a go at Trec, but don’t know how to calculate your speed, or want to improve your navigation skills?
This training day will be held at Friezland from 10.30am with the latest start time on the route at 2.0pm. See attached information sheet.
Rochdale & Bury Bridleways – Sunday 25th May 2008
Sponsored Ride in aid of the Lancashire Air Ambulance Service
Sponsorship Forms can be downloaded from the website : www.rbba.org.uk
More details to follow.
Great Yorkshire Show – 150th Anniversary
This promises to be a fantastic day out and takes place on 8th, 9th and 10th July 2008.
The entrance fee is £16.50 for adults, £14.00 for concessions and £7.50 for children.
Wardle & District Bridleways Group – Pleasure Ride – 20th July 2008
- on behalf of Endurance GB (Lancashire Group)
Initial information – This ride will be approx 15 miles and start from Watergrove.
Further details to follow.
Proposed Wardle Countryside Park
It seems that there are initial plans which hope to create a countryside park from a 37 acre area of scrubland in Wardle, but as yet there are no firm proposals.
The Committee have been approached by the Director of the team of Consultants who are doing a feasibility study for the Moorend Trust, in order to discuss the needs/views of local horse riders.
If anyone has any knowledge of this, or you have any views that you would like us to put forward, then please contact me as soon as possible or speak to any committee member. It is hoped that a meeting can be arranged after 21st April 2008.
Think that’s all for now.
Please remember to send your updated membership information and subscription if you haven’t already done so - or bring it to the next meeting.
Hope to see you on 14th April
Regards
Mel
MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION
Name: ………………………………………
Address: ……………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………….………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………….
Postcode: …………………………………
Age if under 16: ……………………
Tel No: Home: ………………………………….
Mobile: ………………………………….
E-mail Address: ………………………………………………………………
Subscription Feb 2008–Feb 2009 : £5 per member
Please make cheques payable to: Wardle & District Bridleways Group
Please return to: Mel Baron
4 Tonacliffe Road
Whitworth
Rochdale
Lancs
OL12 8SS
Trec Training Day
Have you ever fancied having a go at Trec, but don’t know how to calculate your speed or want to improve your navigation skills?
Friezland User Group is holding a training day on 20th April, 2008 from Friezland from 10.30am with the latest start time on the route at 2pm.
Watch with second hand or stop watch for timing
Brightly coloured fine gel type pen for map marking
Pen/pencil to record your times en route.
Visible personal details on rider (e.g. mediband)
Laminated speed cards will be available at a cost of 50p and BHS roamers that can be used to mark your map at distances of how far you should travel at a certain speed in 2.5 minutes will be on sale at £6.
Route maps will be on a scale of 1:25,000 (i.e. 4cm per kilometre).
Please make cheques payable to “Friezland User Group” and send the entry form to Mrs. Liane Robinson, 109, Milnrow Road, Shaw, Oldham. OL2 7TN. Tel: 01706 299140.
Entry Form: TREC Training Day 20th April, 2008
Name: Address:
Contact Phone Number: Email: Age (if under 16)
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