The Mendip Stud - May Newsletter 2006

2006 Foals

May 2006 Newsletter

In this newsletter:

Welcome to new readers
April Caption Winner
Stud News: What’s going on here and general news
Dave Dellin and Ilan Rosenberg dates times and itinerary.

Good feet and Good shoes - Ross Cordery a view from a farrier
Chairman’s Letter – Jane Muir – ‘The Show Secretary’ – the role – the do’s and the don’ts
Lou’s Larder – Pumpkin Cheesecake
Bob Mayhew Judging Seminar and Clinic dates confirmed

Caption Competition - win a dozen tubs luxury ice cream

A warm welcome to the following new readers

Nicki Smith Hampshire Toni Bendell Somerset

Claire Ward Mommouthshire Lesley Lowne Somerset

Denise Fruhauf Cornwall Dorothy Gregory Isle of Wight

Jill Stephen Scotland Lorraine Pocklington Somerset

Amanda Watts Essex Sue Woods Kent

Veronica Jill West Sussex Vivienne Findjay Surrey

I Burton Vikki Davies North Yorkshire

Charlie Dumeresque Sussex Alison Cowan Hants

Sue Harrison Surrey Rachel North Devon

Shaun Molloy Ireland Peter Salter Wilts

Simon Hamilton Bristol Julie Devlin Notts

Please send in details of anyone else that you think might like to receive the newsletter – or you can subscribe them online.

Caption competition winner

Ashley has picked the following as a winner for the April competition. Our congratulations to Deborah Burns who will receive a padded weather proof saddle pad from Don Fechner of the Western Boot and Saddle Company Thank you Don Western Boot and Saddle Company Thank you Don.

April Caption

Winner: Deborah Burns

"Due to last minute budget cutbacks, Mission Impossible 4 is now staring Stuart Little rather than Tom Cruise as planned. All filming will still be running on schedule as there is no alteration required for the wardrobe"

Runner up: Bill Hattersley

"Stop right there guys! I'm going no further until I've double checked those Risk Assessments..."

Stud News - Update

Important - Place available Dave Dellin Clinics……..
Due to a minor injury to the riders horse we have one space available on Saturday the 6^th and one space available on Sunday the 7^th for Dave’s clinic. Places will be allocated strictly on a first come first serve basis. If you are interested please use the submission form below:

Mendip Promotions - Itinerary May Clinic Specials
Friday May 5^th – Bring a bottle buffet and meet the Dellin’s – 7:30 in the farmhouse - please book in advance by using submission form – bookings close Thursday evening 4^th May - £10.00 per person
Saturday May 6^th – Dave Dellin Clinic at The Mendip Stud – starts 10:30 Spectators welcome - £10.00 including light lunch. – Bring a bottle buffet and meet the Dellin’s – 7:30 in the farmhouse - please book in advance by using submission form – bookings close Thursday evening 4^th May - £10.00 per person
Sunday May 7^th – Dave Dellin Clinic at The Mendip Stud – starts 10:30 Spectators welcome - £10.00 including light lunch.
Tuesday May 9^th – Dave Dellin clinic at Oakridge Quarter horses.
Thursday May 11^th – Dave Dellin Clinic at The Mendip Stud – starts 10:30 Spectators welcome - £10.00 including light lunch.
Friday May 12^th – Bring a bottle buffet and meet the Rosenberg’s – 7:30 in the farmhouse - please book in advance by using submission form – bookings close Tuesday 11^th May - £10.00 per person
Saturday May 13^th – Ilan Rosenberg reining clinic at The Mendip Stud – starts 10:30 Spectators welcome - £10.00 including light lunch – Bring a bottle buffet and meet the Rosenberg’s – 7:30 in the farmhouse - please book in advance by using submission form – bookings close Tuesday 11^th May - £10.00 per person	IR Ilan Rosenberg Reining Horses
Sunday May 14^th – Ilan Rosenberg reining clinic at The Mendip Stud – starts 10:30 Spectators welcome - £10.00 including light lunch	IR Ilan Rosenberg Reining Horses
Please note that Don Fechner of the Western Boot and Saddle Company will be here both weekends with a wide variety of saddles and western tack and clothing.

Our new Arrivals J

New foals since our last update – please see the website!

Bumper BBQ……July 4^th

^{Ticket
only evening}

We are hosting a bumper independence day BBQ here at the stud. The evening will be ticket only.

Shane Borland is running a surgery all day and BBQ will be available from 8 - till late. Cost will be £10.00 a head – bring your own wine, beer, whatever…We’ll do the BBQ, salads, deserts soft drinks and nibbles…To date we have had a good response and hope many more will come and join in and make an evening of it.

If you are interested please let us know on the submission form above. The more the merrier………………………

Free Lecture and Open Evening

‘See the foals’ and lecture by Jenny Griffiths BVSc
0n “foal care - the early days…” - Tuesday 11^th July

As well as seeing the new arrivals there will be a short lecture by our stud vet Jenny Griffiths BVSc on “foal care - the early days…” Jenny is based at Langford House Equine Practice (BEVA). Langford House Equine Practice is regarded one of the most prestigious equine practices in the U.K.

We hope you’ll join us and be part of this fun evening.

PLEASE HELP US TO HELP YOU AND USE THE SUBMISSION FORM ABOVE IF YOU ARE INTERESTED SO WE CAN GET THE CATERING RIGHT - THANKS

All and any donations on the night will go to our Charity of Choice for 2006 - ‘The National Foaling Bank’

Good Feet and Good shoes……

Some thoughts by Ross Cordery (DIP WCF) - our Stud farrier

The need to keep a Quarter Horse shod regularly is very important, not only because of the type of work that they are required to do, which necessitates an ease of breakover to allow a flat free type movement, but also because serious injury can be caused by allowing the hoof to grow too long.

From the first week your horse is shod the hoof is continually growing forward and expanding, consequently by the time your horse is ready to be shod again the hoof may have overgrown the shoe and can even become out of line of what farriers know as the hoof pastern axis (HPA). This is the angle given by the long axis of the limb and hoof wall derived by the bone column which ideally should be 55° for a front foot and 45° for the hind foot.

Returning to the subject of possible injuries of a horse due to long feet and overgrown heels there are many such as a strain of the suspensory ligament and deep digital flexor tendon when the foot is long. In addition crushing of the heels may cause corns, bruised soles or hoof imbalance that could also lead to ring bone in serious cases.

I find that Quarter Horses have a lot of different shaped feet in comparison to a traditional English foot and tend to be more narrow and upright. This requires greater attention when shoeing to keep the foot short and balanced. I mainly choose what’s called a natural balance shoe for these horses which is a square toed shoe that you can set further back than a traditional English toe clipped shoe. In my experience this also maintains the shape of the foot better over the time between visits.

Ross can be contacted on 0778 653 4100

Chairmans Letter………….Or rather – The Secretary General J

This month, with the show season just underway, I asked Jane Muir to help us with a bit of inside knowledge as to the do’s and don’ts in the form of a ‘wish list’ for the show secretary. For those of you who don’t know Jane she’s the one I call M’am, doff my hat to and generally ask ‘How High ? ’ when she shouts ‘jump’……...........

Joking apart …… Jane has been running shows for the last 10 years and is probably one of the most experienced Western show secretaries in the U.K. Jane lives with 2 siamese cats and Pete in Ashford in Kent. Jane is also a quarter horse owner of repute and currently owns two. Her stallion Carry On Bonanz & her mare Scott Anna - Jane and Pete's original Quarter Horse Anna is now 27 going on 3 and has raced, shown, show-jumped, dressaged, cross-countried and produced 10 foals. Jane is responsible as show secretary for the Garden of England Shows and the East Coast Circuit Shows and until recently was AQHA UK administrator. Jane has been involved with quarter horses and the industry for 25 years having in the past been a breeder, shown regularly, raced, served on Council and participated in all aspects of running shows. Basically one of those folk who have forgotten more about running shows than probably most of us will ever know.

So over to Jane……..

__________________________________

Show management, show secretaries and stewards are usually volunteers and give up hours if not days of their leisure time to put together and run Horse Shows. While we all appreciate that showing a horse or more than one horse can be a nerve racking experience so can the responsibility of keeping a show together and running smoothly with the guidelines of the Association. At the same time we want to make this an enjoyable experience for all participants. We have done as much in advance of the Show as we can but cannot guarantee to cover all eventualities. The show secretary is human – not a God – even though it may be advisable to treat him/her as one!

To help us achieve a fun and efficient show I am giving you a show Secretary’s wish list

1. Please read the schedule carefully – you will find the information you need in there.

2. Be sure to have the correct membership cards, in date, for whichever discipline and division you want to compete in.

3. Check that you have clear copies of your horse’s registration form and competition licence in the correct ownership.

4. Please book your stabling by the close off date and send copies of paperwork in with the entry. The more information that can be put on the system before your arrival at the show means the secretary has more time to help you with other matters at the show.

5. On arrival at the showground if you have any problems please at least greet the secretary with a hello and a smile before you confront him/her. A smile will get you far further than a grumble.

6. It is impossible to give a time schedule of classes so please be aware of the running order of classes and how long they seem to be taking. Do not keep going to the office and ask what time a class will be. In the office you have very little idea of what is going on in the ring. Listen out for announcements and if you really need to ask someone the collecting ring steward has far more idea on timing that most others.

7. Please be at the gate in time for your class. By keeping things moving we can all finish at a reasonable hour. It is also unfair to keep expecting the stewards to be chasing around after individuals.

8. Please be sure to enter your classes in time and keep a check of what entries you have put it. The secretary is a show secretary and is not employed as any competitor’s P.A. !

9. Please be sure to settle your show bill as soon as you have entered your final classes or leave a cheque with the secretary. At the end of a show we all want to pack up and get home so please show consideration and do not leave settling your bill to the very end.

10. If you want volunteers to be there at the next show so that you can go and compete just let them know you appreciate them. A please, a thank you and a smile go a long way. (hmm so does chocolate cake!).

Happy Showing - Jane

P.S. Chocolate cake on it’s way to Ashford - Thanks Jane JJ

Judging Seminar - confirmed - 23^rd September

Dates are now confirmed for judging seminar on Saturday the 23^rd starting at 3.00 hosted by Bob Mayhew. Bob Holds Holds NRHA, AQHA, APHA, NCHA, WES judging cards. Starting at 3.00 with an informal coffee and biscuits on arrival the seminar will open with a lecture by Bob on various aspects of judging…………..this will be followed by a finger buffet and an evening lecture with a question and answer session. Tickets will be £15.00 per person, Juniors and youth riders £5.00

Please register your interest in either the seminar by mailing john@themendipstud.com thanks.

Bob Mayhew Clinic – 24^th September

We are pleased to confirm Sunday the 24^th September for our Bob Mayhew clinic. Places on the clinic go quickly and will be reserved on a first come first serve basis. Please use the submission form above to register your interest and book your place. The clinic will be an all day group clinic starting at 10.30. There will be our customary lunch available for riders and their guests.

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from one of the countries best-known competitors and clinicians.

Lou’s Larder -

Anyone for dessert ? Using Lou’s favourite expression in response to that question - “ it would be rude not to look”

PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE

Ingredients
225g/8oz digestive biscuits
60g/2oz butter
juice and zest 1 lemon
340g/12oz cooked pumpkin (steamed or roasted)
225g/8oz caster sugar
450g/1lb cream cheese
1 tsp ground cinnamon
2.5g/½ tsp freshly grated nutmeg
4 eggs
90ml/3fl oz double cream
90ml/3fl oz natural yoghurt

Method
1. Heat the oven to 170C/325F/Gas 3.
2. Bash the digestive biscuits into crumbs. Melt the butter over a low heat and mix in the biscuit crumbs and lemon zest. Lightly grease a 25cm/10in loose-bottomed cake tin and press the crumbs into the base and up the sides slightly.
3. Mix together the cream cheese, pumpkin flesh, sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg until smooth. Beat the eggs and fold into the pumpkin mixture. Turn into the tin and bake in the oven for 90 minutes until the surface is set but the underneath still slightly squidgy.
4. Take the cheesecake out of the oven and let it cool in the tin. When cool, turn it on to a serving plate, cover with foodwrap and chill overnight.
5. Whip the double cream until thick and fold in the yoghurt and the lemon juice. Spread over the top of the cheesecake and serve at room temperature.

Goes well with a nice glass of chilled white wine preferably served at three intervals – (a) whilst thinking about ingredients (b) whilst cooking and (c) while John does the dishes J

Try our Caption Competition

Win a dozen tubs of one of the best ice creams on the market - Hill Station Ice Cream…….Kindly donated by this months caption judge - Pete Salter

Send in your thoughts - Closing Date May 31st

Looking at the prize I might wave my editorial ban and enter this one JJ

Just some thoughts……..

"A computer once beat me at chess, but it was no match for me at kick boxing."

"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent" - Eleanor Roosevelt

"The Breeders' Quality Mark (BQM) is a quality mark awarded by British Breeding, the breeding division of the British Equestrian Federation, to studs demonstrating best practice in stud management"

The Mendip Stud
Tel: +44 (0)1934 751258 Bow Farm, A38 Badgworth, Somerset, UK, BS26 2QA Mobile: +44 (0)7866 444739
info@themendipstud.com