Friday at Burghley dawned dry and clear and not too warm for our course walk with Nick Turner FBHS. This time it actually was a walk and not a march as Nick’s riders had all done their dressage on the Thursday! Nick presented Katie Partrick with her BHSI certificate with Burghley house in the background so welcome to Katie, well done for all your hard work. So off we went 4 BHSI’s and their guests…

The sun was shining as Fellow and Instructor’s Association members met in the BHS box at The Royal International Horse Show on Thursday 28th July. As the F&I’s newest member, I enjoyed meeting those who were there at morning coffee. Some members made themselves comfortable in the box to watch the show jumping action in the main arena whilst others headed off to watch the action in the outside rings or explore the trade stands…

Eight very lucky members and ten friends were privileged to spend an amazing day visiting both Coolmore Stud and Ballydoyle Racing Stable – brilliantly organised by Faith Ponsonby. At Coolmore we had two very able guides in Tom Harris and Tom Miller.   These young men were both English, graduates of the Pony Club and British Eventing. One specialised in the stallions, and the other in the mares and foals side of Coolmore, so their…

F and I’s’ Training Day 23rd May 2016 with David Pincus, hosted by Carol Bennitt. Demo Riders    Carol, Nina, Sarah, Mandy In Hand work  Carol with 5yr old, PSG and GP This was an excellent day in every way. Our Hostess is so welcoming, kind, encouraging and supportive.  Our Coach is tops.  Open to discussion.  Complete horseman, encouraging to all, both human and equine.  Understanding fully with an eye for detail resulting in noticeable progress…

The weather at Judy Harvey’s (Monday 9th May) could not have been more different  to last year when it poured with rain and Judy had put up a gazeebo to try and keep the spectators dry. This year it was needed to keep the sun at bay!!! Four BHSI’s rode with very different types of horses ranging from a 5yr old to 19yrs, Novice to Advanced, cob, warmbloods and Iberian.  Each partnership was discussed and…

A group of 12 members and their guests including three Irish representatives gathered at fence 2 for the annual course walk. This year we were lucky to have Eric Smiley FBHS as our guide. Eric began by explaining that there would be three groups of riders walking the course that day. The “oh my goodness I have made it here “ contingent. The “ I want to complete” riders and  finally the riders who would…

It was the really keen racing fans who turned up for Faith Ponsonby’s picnic at the Punchestown Festival of Racing on 26th April, and as representatives of the F&I Association I can include Ann Bostock,  Nick Turner, Faith and myself.  The day was cruel weather wise with hail storms a regular feature of the picnic.  Faith’s many racing friends had come from the four corners of Ireland and many had crossed that wicked little strip…

Danny Anholt and his dedicated team at Millfield hosted an excellent training day on Friday 18th March, providing a great opportunity for those preparing for the Fellowship exam or just wanting to improve their coaching skills. The day started with Danny running through the presentation that he had used in his Fellowship exam, which very effectively combined a power point presentation and a practical demonstration of horses and riders over fences.  Danny highlighted the basic…

We met at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, 1, Birdcage Walk, Westminster, having survived the journey during the rush hour. We are both glad we don’t have to do that every day!  The venue is impressive both from the outside and inside.  We were made welcome with coffee and met several people we know including our BHS CEO Lynn Petersen, who sits on the organising committee for the forum. This forum was oversubscribed by 45…

Clear blue skies and sunshine greeted us at Aston le Walls [Tuesday, 23 February 2016] for our xc sessions with Jeanette Brakewell. Four riders with 7 horses took advantage of Jeanette’s wealth of knowledge and experience which she was able to impart easily, always working on the basics with horses staying straight and to both reins. All the horse improved with the all weather arena at Aston giving them the confidence to keep progressing. One…