News | 15 August 2025
Branch Newsletter Summer 2025
August 25
South Notts Newsletter
Oh gosh, I am not coping with this heat!! And I’m so glad that junior camp is next week when it’s a little bit cooler.
Senior camp was just epic. All sorts of weather, a few broken tents, one broken bone (get well, Ella), lots of tired ponies and lots of very happy children. Everyone achieved so much, and I hope it will focus everyone’s minds on setting your own goals for the rest of the year and sometimes challenging yourselves. It was particularly good that you all embraced the Rider’s Minds badge with such maturity and openness.
We are now half way through championship week, and all our members are performing at their very best. High points so far are the games team reaching the senior finals, Lauren coming 6th in the novice dressage, Thomas competing in the specialised ability dressage and our pairs team of Lilly and Grace coming second in the dressage to Music. So much more to come and then the regionals championships at the end of the month for our grass roots riders.
We have lots to look forward to, our picnic hack on the bank holiday Monday, Thorpe dressage and showjumping (13 Sept), mini and novice games day (21 Sept), the area 6 Mini Champs (28 Sept) Osberton Showjumping (5 October), dressage competitions in October and November and the Spring festival area dressage qualifier just after Christmas. We also have a very full rally programme starting again at the end of September. All these events and activities are on the calendar South Notts Calendar – South Nottinghamshire.
It seems miles away but I want to let you know about possible Christmas plans.
Christmas party for our very youngest members is at Brackenhurst, Saturday 13 December 2-5pm
Christmas rally and craft activities for everyone 9 and over, Sunday 21st December at Aylesford. This will be a day rally (10-3.30), and will include lessons in dressage; showjumping / xc on a surface or pole work; pony care and some Christmas crafting. Back to the good old days of our South Notts day rallies, this should be a brilliant day.
Provisional senior Christmas clinic for those jumping 90 and above, Saturday 20 December pm (dressage and SJ /polework) and Sunday 21st December am (dressage and cross country). Possibility to stable overnight and eat in the local pub, I really need feedback on this one before I go any further as costs will be £140 per person for the clinic. I may be able to offer just one day or even just one discipline. But please please come back to me so I can plan.
Summer 2026. Now this really is a long way away but I have already had enquiries about camp dates because people want to book holidays!!
Firstly, if you are booking a holiday (or indeed spending any money online) , please remember to sign up to easy fundraising so that you are helping us along the way Search | easyfundraising
Following on from camp and the goals you have set yourselves, I would hope to see a lot more people aiming for areas in all disciplines and as a result, more qualifying for with regional or national championship. YOU CANNOT BE ON HOLIDAY DURING THIS SPECIAL TIME!!
Key dates (provisional) for next summer to work round (please always refer to the area 6 calendar for more competition dates)
Senior camp 2-6th August (may be one week later 9th-13th)
National championships 14th – 22nd August
Junior Camp 24-26th August
Regional Champs provisional 29th-30th August
Bank Holiday 31st August
Burghley SJ Thursday 3rd September
Therefore for those of you serious about competing, there is small option to get a holiday in at the beginning of the summer. or you do need to start thinking about the reality of not going away in the summer if you want your children to fulfil their dreams, Sorry, not the news you want. As soon as I have champs dates confirmed, I will confirm camp dates.
Volunteering – members please do consider signing up for YELA. It is a great qualification to have on your CV when you leave school. All information is on the website and we will gladly help you achieve your targets.
We are also actively looking for parent volunteers. Many of you are aware that for each activity we put on, we must provide a pony club representative who has a first aid, safeguarding and DBS certificate. The more people we have with these qualifications, the less each person has to do, and often it means that someone can cover a session that their child is attending.
We are looking to organise a first aid course this autumn, running across two evenings. Safeguarding is also possible to do in the evening, online, and we will secure your DBS certificate. All this will be funded by the Club, please do get I touch if you think you can help us, and I can start organising the first aid course.
We hope you enjoy the rest of this amazing summer and look forward to seeing you soon.
Jane x