Fell Pony Society North-West Area News

I write this as we are in the middle of the snowiest weather I have seen for a long time. True Fell Pony weather! The Fell Ponies outside seem to be fine. I just hay them and check they are all right. We can’t go anywhere, so now is the ideal time to put pen to paper to let you know what is planned for 2010.

Following on from last year’s successful Horse Talk at Soulby, the North West area plan to hold another horse talk on Tues, 2nd March at Soulby Village Hall again. Soulby is very easy to get to, and the Hall is spacious and modern so we don’t have to shiver and keep our coats on. There will be nice pony related products to buy as well, so bring your purse! The talk will be veterinary again and we will probably discuss the major topics of the day, which as I write are the new Carrier test for the Syndrome, and a life-threatening condition that can affect ponies (mainly native types) living outside in the winter. Speakers will be Paul May, Equine Vet, Sam Galloway, Equine Vet and vet Lesley Sanderson will chair the meeting. Should you wish to bring an equine related stall, just let us know, and we will allocate you a space to sell your wares! Entry fee is only £4 which includes a cuppa, so it’s good value. Do come along for an informative evening!

Following on from the Training Day held at Stenkeld on the 5th Dec, Emma and Brian have kindly offered to host another Training Day on Saturday, 20th March, this time with the emphasis more on individual assessment and training as opposed to a demonstration. This will be in the Indoor Arena, so don’t worry about the weather! The cost will be £20 either for a half hour private, or an hour shared with one other rider. Please telephone Emma Woolley on 07900692520 or 01768352190 for further details and to book.

Cumbria Fell and Dales Pony Show is in its 4th year now, and will be held on Saturday, 29th of May. Classes are split between Fells and Dales, with WHP, In Hand and Ridden classes as well as Dressage, Driving and Best Turned Out. We award quite a few championships and have NPS Qualifiers in all sections, so the show is well worth attending. Please email either Hilary Fawcett, co-organiser, or myself for a schedule. Whilst ridden classes are always very well attended we lack entries in the WHP section for both breeds, and could do with more entries for these classes. If you know of anyone who would like to help or be a steward for the day, we can reward them with a nice lunch and a bottle of wine, so do let us know if you would like a job on the day!

We are all very busy with our ponies in the summer, enjoying and showing them, but it would be nice if we had an Open Day somewhere. If someone volunteers in this capacity, we’ll put it on the FPS web site.

The North West Area Foal Show will be held on the second Saturday in November again, the Saturday, 13th Nov at Inglewood Equestrian Centre. This is the only Breed Foal Show we have as a Society so it is something for our Area to be proud to host. Do come along to watch if you don’t have a foal to bring. It’s a great opportunity for folk to get together before the winter sets in! Should you wish to enter, please contact me for a schedule. A review of the 2009 Foal Show is included in this Newsletter.

The last event that we have planned will be the joint FPS/DPS Area Christmas Dinner. The 2010 Christmas Dinner will be on the first Saturday in December, the 5th. Whilst we all had a super time at Appleby Manor, we will change the venue next time to somewhere a little less formal, just for a change.

With best wishes to you and your ponies in the forthcoming year,

Ellen Jones, 07787 570736 or sparket@btinternet.com
017684 83511 www.sparketmillcottage.co.uk

Hilary Fawcett, 017683 41417 or 07976 106513

LINE UP OF RIDDEN FELL PONIES AT 2009 CUMBRIA FELL N DALES PONY SHOW

Cumbria Fell n Dales Supreme Fell Pony Champion, Bracklinn Nora, bred, owned and shown by Messrs Smith

2009 FPS North West Foal Reserve Champion, Edwin Winder's Dalewin Maisie, Judge Jeff Hunter, and Show Champion, Rebecca Jade Potter's Greenholme Dora shown by John Potter of Greenholme Stud, Shap

Edwin Winder's Dalewin Maisie taking Michael Rawlinson for a lead at 2009 North west Fell Pony Foal Show

2009 FPS North West Foal Show Champion, Rebecca Jade Potter's Greenholme Dora shown by John Potter of Greenholme Stud, Shap

 

From Ellen

Many thanks to all those who have helped make this year such a tremendous success. All these events would not take place without the help and organisational skills of many volunteers. Please offer to help where you can.

Funds do not allow the Area to post out details of events so please contact me as follows for any information. I have limited mobile reception at home, and am very often outside and away from the land line, so the best way to contact me is via email or text message. This page links to schedules and all event details. With all the best for you and your ponies.

Ellen Jones.
017684-83511 or 07787570736 or sparket@btinternet.com

For more information about the Fell Pony Society please see the Fell Pony Society site.