Latest Newsletter

February 2026

Dear Members,

A somewhat belated Happy New Year!
2026 began with our popular Skate and Awards Night at Stockeld Park – thank you to all who came to make it a good evening. The turnout covered members ranging in age from 2 to 20, with much younger members enjoying time in the Hive, whilst other skated. The Awards for the year 2025: (ages are as at 1 Jan 2025) Attendance: 6 yrs and under: 1st Grace, 2nd Hannah, 3rd Beatrix, 4th Tom, 5th Enid, 6th Poppy D. 7-10 years: 1st Elsa (Buckles Junior Cup), 2nd Emily (Derek Bowles Cup), 3rd Evie, 4th Phoebe, 5th Lizzie, 6th Alice. 11-14 years: 1st Hamish (Steele Cup), 2nd Lila (Bunny Cup), 3rd Eleanor, 4th Harrison, 5th Amber, 6th Sophia. 15 years and over: 1st Amelia (Tadcaster Lions Cup), 2nd Verity (Bromet Cup), 3rd Sophie, 4th Hugo, 5th Megan, 6th Abbie. Boys Shield: Hamish. Individual Trophies: Show Jumping: Senior – Harry (Barry Hudson Cup), Junior – Amber (Cunard Cup), Most Improved Junior – Emily T (Bruno Trophy). Dressage: Sophia. Eventing: Zac (for Intermediate Boys’ Tetrathlon cross country (Horse Trophy). Most Improved Junior: Phoebe (Stumpy Cup). Best Endeavour over the Year: Emily O (Trophy). Most Helpful Member: Evie (Reid Cup). Tack & Turnout: Senior – Abbie (Gemma Cup), Junior – Harrison (Bonny Cup). Team trophies/rosettes were also awarded to all members in Branch teams for Show Jumping, Dressage, Eventing and Quiz. Highest placed YAS Team at Branch SJ Competition: Alice, Emily, Phoebe, Lizzie (1st placed team in 60cms).
The Awards Night is only a small part of YAS in 2025! We have had a lot of fun and Haribos, as well as learning – 5 younger members passed ‘E’ Test, 4 passed ‘D’Test, 3 passed ‘C’Test, 3 passed Lunge Test, 4 passed Road Rider Test, 1 passed a part of ‘A’ Test. 38 members attended Mini-Camp and Camp. Members of all ages took part in Show Jumping, Eventing, Dressage, Quiz, Triathlon, Tetrathlon, and Games, with many qualifications for the National and Regional Championships. We took part in the inaugural Mini/Major Show Jumping at Bramham Horse Trials. YAS had two huge wins in 2025 – Bramham Horse Trials Pony Club team show jumping and the Open Show Jumping at the National championships. We held a very successful annual Escrick Pleasure Ride, (for the 20th year!) and both a Branch Show Jumping competition and the Spring Festival Dressage Competition. Thank you to everyone who was involved in making the year a success and to all those of you who have renewed their membership for another year. We look forward to another good year in 2026!
Congratulations to Sophia, Eleanor, Emily and Amelia who passed their C+Horse Care Test at the start of January. Congratulations also to Zac, who has been chosen for the shortlist for the International Tetrathlon Exchange to Australia in the summer – final places to be picked at the training camp in February.
Well done to all members who braved the cold to take part in the Spring Festival Arena Eventing at Northallerton. Our team at 70 – Elsa, Alice, Emily – finished 4th, with Emily T qualifying as an individual, our team at 80 – Hamish, Eleanor, Harriet – finished 5th. Emily O qualified as an individual in both the 90, finishing 4th, and the 100, finishing 2nd. It was equally cold at the Spring Festival Show Jumping at Bishop Burton! Well done to all our members who took part, especially Hamish and Elsa finishing 3rd and 8th in the 60 warm up class, Issy H finishing 3rd and qualifying in the 70 class, the team of Ellie, Emily, Amber finishing 1st team and qualifying in the 90 class, with Ellie and Emily finishing 1st and 2nd individually, our teams of Ellie, Emily, Amelia finishing 2nd and Amber, Holly, Sophia finishing 4th, with Amelia, Sophia and Emily finishing 2nd, 5th and 6th individually and qualifying, and our 110 team of Holly, Amelia, Ellie finishing 1st and qualifying and Sophia and Amber also qualifying individually. Best of luck to all those who are taking part in the Spring Festival dressage at Askham Bryan on Saturday – see under Dates!

If anyone is wanting to do the Spurs Assessment, so that they are able to wear spurs, please let Gill know so we can either arrange an ‘in Branch’ test or I can try to fit you in with another Branch. All those who have been assessed or who hold the full C+ test and who wear spurs, now have to have a yellow hat tag. No-one will be allowed to wear spurs at any Pony Club event or competition – without this yellow hat tag and you will be asked to remove them!
Welcome to New Members: Harry G, Primrose H, Oliver J, and returning members: Hannah J, Lily N, Lara S.
Rally Dress: During the winter months, at any rally, please dress for warmth, with sweatshirts, dark jodhpurs and warm coats. Hoodies and hooded coats must have the hood tucked into the collar or, better still, not be worn at all. Jewellery is not recommended and all long hair should be plaited or in a net. Don’t forget your gloves as your hands will get very cold! All hats must have a current pink tag to show the correct standard for insurance purposes and no fixed peaks for cross country (80cms+), pony racing and games (Don’t forget to get new hats tagged at a rally.) Hat standards: PAS 015 2011 with BSI Kitemark, VG1 with BSI Kitemark, Snell E2016 & 2021, (BS) EN 1384:2023 with BSI Kitemark, ASTM-F1163 2015 &2023 with SEI mark, AS/NZS 3838 2006 onwards. Body Protectors are not compulsory, except for cross country, arena eventing and pony racing – BETA 2018 Level 3 standard (blue and black label) only. Spurs can only be worn if you have been assessed and awarded a yellow hat tag.