Sylvia Jäckle on Zip Chip Leaguer
European Open Champion
Senior Western Pleasure 2006

Tammy Greaves
Gold Medalist

Fun after the W.E.S.T. Show

The Mendip Stud

September 2006 Newsletter  

Please send in details of anyone else that you think might like to receive the newsletter – or you can subscribe them online. You can fill in this form to register your interest in the Bob Mayhew Judging Seminar, the Johanna Vardon lecture or to submit your caption competition entry. Customers interested in the Gill Parker weekend may also submit their details here.

August Caption - our first overseas winner

"You picked a fine time to leave me loose wheel !!"

This months winner in none other than World Champion Reiner and Quarter Horse Breeder - Pete Kyle from Whitesboro Texas……. Many congratulations Pete. Winner: "You picked a fine time to leave me loose wheel !!" Pete Kyle Pete has kindly donated his prize of two Wrangler hay bags to be auctioned by British Reining for funds for Youth Training Runner up: 'Mike wondered if his affair with the chief mechanic's wife was not as secret as he thought.' Christine Thompson

 Stud news ………What's been going on? 
 And what's planned……..

 September 16th Lee Rutter Clinic - Cancelled 

Due to the show being held at John Dunford's over this weekend the clinic planned for that day has been cancelled. 

Tammy Greaves - A success story  Congratulations to Tammy Greaves on her second major success this year - Tammy won a gold at the World youth championships and followed that up with a European championship gold in horsemanship in Kreuth. Tammy has established herself this year as one of the best youth riders in the world. After such a wonderful season lets keep our fingers crossed that she can go onto greater things next year - her last as a youth rider……….good luck Tammy - Good Job ! J☻

 W.E.S.T. - Western Equestrian Somerset Team - Badgworth show August 10th 

Congratulations to Sheena and Sally for putting on a great local show. The car park was full and the classes at times overflowing. Full results are available from Sheena. Particular mention should go to all the class winners -

Special mention though goes to Becky Williams for her win in the horsemanship - Becky has worked so hard all year and the result was a tribute to her and her effort. After the show a few of the guys came back for a drink at the farm…………Nina from Germany had a great time and is looking forward to returning the hospitality and welcome she received from W.E.S.T. members if they are showing at anytime near her in Germany in the future. Thanks also to David Brindley for being such a constructive, positive and informative Judge.

Thanks Sheena and Sally - great job ! ……………☻J&L

 Germany Training Tour and Show 2007 

Dates for the Germany tour are from Saturday the 10th March to Monday the 19th March. We will be sending out a tour-cost pack towards the end of the month but in the interim would ask you to pencil these dates into you diary. Thank you to all those who have registered their interest. Spectators and supporters are also welcome - please let us know if you are interested.

If you have not registered your interest please do so now. Places will be allocated on a first come first serve basis with a limit of 10 horses in total ………………Please contact me by e-mail on john@themendipstud.com

 New clinic programme - 22 new clinic days! 

The new clinic programme has been posted on the website. There are 22 days of clinics planned over the next 6 months with and additional 4 days of David Dellin to be finalised and two days - Pleasure and hunt seat clinic - with German star and multiple European Champion Sylvia Jäckle.

Places are already filling up fast - click here and call the office or fill in a submission form to book places.

First come first serve.

 The Mendip Stud Club - 'The Club 

We are pleased to announce the formation of The Mendip Stud Club - 'The Club'

Over the course of the last year or so we have hosted nearly 30 clinic days here the vast majority of which have been filled within a few hours of them being posted on the website or publicised. This, we believe, is down to a few main factors - good clinicians, good facilities, good hospitality and loyal and regular customers and above all demand in the area.

Through this period a fantastic atmosphere has developed amongst all who come here from the first time rider to the experienced show competitor together with an ever-growing list of supporters and spectators and has been enhanced more recently with the arrival of Celia Gadd and the traditional equestrian following that she has brought with her.

For some months now we have been discussing with many of these people the merits of a club, centred at The Stud, maximising our facilities, meeting some of the needs, wants and aspirations that people have with their equestrian hobby. Whilst at the same time offering those who attend regularly, benefits in the pocket, pass worded access to 'The Club' pages on the website where early bookings can be made for clinics etc and other incentives that will be made available.

'The Club' will be run like health clubs, squash clubs - staffed and run entirely by Mendip Stud employees- excepting on show days etc, when club volunteers will be needed. Rules will be few and far between but based on common sense and mutual respect. There will be no committees but advice as usual will be sought, listened to and acted upon.

 Full Membership 

· Club afternoon and evenings - Access to facilities 40 times a year at a cost of £1.00 per visit. Full members only ***
· 10% off all clinics - excepting those outside of the UK and/or Clinicians visiting from abroad.
· 5% off all clinics with clinicians visiting from abroad.
· 10% off all items purchased through our online shop (Postage & Packing at non -discounted rate)
· Club member's special prices on all Mendip Stud Feed mixes, shavings, and special offers.
· 48 hour Privileged Booking - all full members will have access and be able to book clinics 48 hours in advance of general publication. Non-members cannot book until after 48 hr preview.
· Two 'The Club' shows - each section Western and traditional.
· 10% off all 'pay to enter' non 'The Club' events at the Stud excepting educational lectures.
· Reduced entry prices on our BBQs ……………
· Access to 'The Club' - merchandise - hats, jackets, tack bags, and other items.
· 48 hour advanced Newsletter preview.
· Free spectator pass to all Clinics. - Food and drinks excluded.

*** There will be 40 afternoons and evenings - 5 hours - put aside on different days for both western and traditional members. It is likely these will be Wednesdays for Western and Mondays for Traditional. These will be confirmed in due course.

 Junior and Student Membership 

· 10% off all items purchased through our online shop. Postage and Packing as normal.
· Club members special prices on all Mendip Stud Feed mixes, shavings, and special offers
· 10% off all 'pay to enter' non 'The Club' events at the Stud excepting educational lectures.
· Reduced entry prices on our BBQs ……………
· Access to 'The Club' - merchandise - hats, jackets, tack bags, and other items.
· 48 hour advanced Newsletter preview.
· 10% off all clinics - excepting those abroad and/or Clinicians visiting from abroad.
· 5% off all clinics with clinicians visiting from abroad.
· Two 'The Club' shows - each section traditional and western - including a fun pairs show a year
· Club afternoon and evenings - Access to facilities 40 times a year at a cost of £1.00 per visit juniors ONLY when accompanied by a Full member.
· Free spectator pass to all Clinics. -Food and drinks excluded.

 Associate Membership 

· 10% off all items purchased through our online shop. Postage and Packing as normal.
· Club members special prices on all Mendip Stud Feed mixes, shavings, and special offers
· 10% off all 'pay to enter' non 'The Club' events at the Stud excepting educational lectures.
· Reduced entry prices on our BBQs ……………
· Access to 'The Club' - merchandise - hats, jackets, tack bags, and other items.
· 48 hour advanced Newsletter preview.
· Free spectator pass to all Clinics. -food and drinks excluded.

Full membership £104 a year *** only £2.00 a week
Junior & student membership £ 52 a year** only £1.00 a week
Associate membership £ 25 a year only £0.50 a week

***Payable either in one payment at £100 or two payments of £52
** Payable either in one payment at £ 50 or two payments of £26

Membership…….from October 1st to September 30th - full payment is for those joining up to the 31st March 2007 and 50% form 1st March to 30th September 2007.

 Winter 2006/spring 2007 prices 

** Specialist clinics and clinics by anyone other than those above will be charged as advertised.
Prices for Clinics for traditional section to be agreed. E&OE

To join 'The Club' simply reply to this newsletter detailing the type of membership required, your full name, postal address and contact telephone numbers.

 Zip Chip Leaguer - (Studley) - Major win in Europe 

After only seven weeks in Germany with new trainer Sylvia Jäckle, Studley is going from strength to strength. Last Friday be became Reserve Champion in the World Open Pleasure Masters at Americana in Augsburg Germany and on the Saturday went one better to win the coveted title of European Open Senior Western Pleasure Champion. Studley was a star ………5000 spectators, lots of noise, people walking about on the rail, cows, calf's, clanking glasses, loud music and bright lights - he handled them all and put in his best performance in Europe to date………. He made some friends and also found some fans in the German equestrian press who said of him…

Zip Chip Leaguer is by Leaguers Last (by Im A Big Leaguer) out of an own daughter of Zips Chocolate Chip. The stallion was bred in Michigan, qualified for the 2001 World Show and won the 2005 Equimax International Western Pleasure Grand Prix. He has got his ROM Performance Amateur and is a Superior Pleasure Horse.

John Calder bought Zip Chip Leaguer two years ago. The stallion was shown last year in Germany for the first time winning the bronze medal at the NSBA European Championship.

At Americana, Zip Chip Leaguer already impressed in the Masters Pleasure go round due to tremendous show ring presence and absolute coolness. "This stallion has got such a great mind, " says Sylvia Jäckle. "He is absolutely honest and cool."
He will be shown next at the Q6 in Aachen. Zip Chip Leaguer is paid into the NSBA and DQHA Stallion Service Auction as well as into the Incentive Fund. "
_______________________________________

Lou and I would like to thank all those who have recently helped Studley on his way to European Success - David Dellin & Shane Borland, all the background team her at TMS, the back up team in Germany especially Eva Geiser and Sylvia Edermaier and all at Pegasus but above all Sylvia Jäckle who rode so well and so professionally to guide him to the podium. Last but not least thanks to Studley himself - an honest horse with a great mind and temperament to match. Thanks also to all the mare owners who have put their trust in him over the last two years - judging from your comments and the look of his sons and daughters there is a bright future for Studley and his progeny.

 TMS - Diary 

Happenings planned over the next 10 weeks

At The Mendip stud unless stated elsewhere

 WEG 2006 
 or should we say WOW 2006 - Watch Out World! 

"Ride it like you stole it………"

Fantastic -- out of this world -- unbelievable - awe inspiring. None of these would either convey the atmosphere or do the event justice.

63 riders from around the World converged on Aachen - the creme de la creme from 22 countries, all competing to be crowned team or individual World Champions. The venue, the organisers the national associations, the chef d'equippes, riders and horses rose as one to put on one of the most exciting reining shows Europe and probably the World has seen. The Deutsche Bank stadium filled to its 8000 capacity ' whooped and hollar'd ' to every spin, rollback and stop irrespective of nationality or flag. The noise was incredible and the scene a broadcasters dream. It was a privilege to have been there.

All the competitors conquered their own battles of nerves, excitement and fear and produced two memorable days of world-class sport. The sport was a winner before any placings were decided.

The team medals went to the Americans, Canadians and Italians with the British team of Rosanne Sternberg, Francesca Sternberg, Doug Allen and Mark How coming home in 7th place. Congratulations to them all. With the standard being so very high to make the final for the individual event was a real achievement. Francesca made the final cut - the top twenty - and produced one of the great runs of her life to bring Curly - Just Gotta Shine - her stunning palomino stallion home with a 217.5 When all the counting was done Francesca finished in 11th place - the top Non pro in the event.

It would be wrong not to mention the two scores of 230 that tied Tim McQuay and Duane Lattimer.........both awesome runs - that's two 77's and a 76 ! The tied scores ensured that the event would have a final twist and turn as it created a run off for the gold medal. Once the horses, and the crowd, had caught their breath these two great riders went head to head with Tim McQuay scoring a 226 to take the silver and Duane Lattimer a 228 to win gold. No one watching could help being thrilled and inspired by the whole experience. Reining at Aachen was an unmitigated success and will have no doubt helped to position the sport in the eyes if the decision makers as front runner for Olympic inclusion.

Thanks Aachen, thanks Adam and the organisers, thanks to the British and other 22 teams, thanks to the great bunch of fellow supporters including those from B.E.F. but above all thanks to the 'Sport of Reining'. J






 Latest News 

$100,000 Barrier Broken by Non-Pro   British team-member creates history  Special congratulations are due to Francesca Sternberg for being the first European lady rider, the first European Non-Pro rider and only the second European of all time to break the $100,000 NRHA lifetime earnings barrier. This is even more impressive when you consider that this has been achieved with all but $10,000 being earned in Europe and all in Category 1 events It includes over 40 international first places…a great achievement - many congratulations from us all.

 This coming Tuesday 19th September 
 Starting at 7.15 

An opportunity to attend a talk by world famous and celebrated foaling and adoption specialist

Johanna Vardon M.B.E

Tuesday 19^th September starting at 7.15. …Coffee and biscuits from 6.45

“Foaling, breeding and adoption – take steps to avoid a disaster”

Johanna Vardon will be giving one of her famous, thought provoking, informative lectures based on her experience in foaling, breeding and adoption. Her knowledge based on the last 30 plus years experience since she started ‘The National Foaling Bank’ is second to none

Johanna is renowned for her , single-mindedness,  determination, observations. She ‘tells it as she sees it’ and challenges some traditional views and opinions. A must for the serious breeder, vet and first time ‘foaler’ ……….

In recognition of her services Johanna was awarded an M.B.E. and has lectured over the years to hundreds of vets, even more breeders and literally thousands of enthusiasts.

A little bit about the National Foaling Bank

National Foaling Bank  (Vardon Trust) Founded by Miss Johanna E. Vardon, MBE

The National Foaling Bank has just celebrated 34 years of service to the Equine Industry, during which they have received some 56,000 calls for help and advice, including 13,748 cases of dead mares and foals.

The purpose of The National Foaling Bank is to provide an adoption service for orphan foals, by matching them with a suitable foster mare which has lost it’s own foal. The service also takes on nearly impossible cases of savaging mares, problem foaling mares (haemolytic, cancer, twinning…) and foals that need 24 hour nursing. In a nutshell, any problem that breeders are unable to cope with themselves. Over 33 years unrivalled experience has been gained, which is available to anyone who calls for help or advice, on a 24 hour a day basis. Thousands of owners all over the country will testify as to the value of the National Foaling Bank.

Most of the cases are dealt with over the telephone, but as we have specifically designed adoption boxes and experienced staff and equipment here on the premises, some owners prefer us to look after their animals here and carry out the adoption for them.

We also keep a record of kind breeders who hold a limited amount of colostrums in their freezers for the benefit of current paid up members.

To provide such a service cannot be done without considerable cost. Membership is only £15.00 per year if you are a Hunter or Pony breeder, or £25.00 per year if you are a Thoroughbred breeder or a vet.

This could be the best ‘insurance policy’ you will ever take out!

If breeders wish this service to continue, then we urgently need extra funding. For this purpose the Vardon Trust was established so that breeders may become members of the National Foaling Bank.

This will help to ensure that practical help will always be available around the clock, and any member can telephone at any time of the day or night without having the slightest conscience! What other organisation or society to which you have ever financially contributed has such a service? A sympathetic ear in your hour of need can be a life saver.

One day it could be you that is in trouble, and it would be tragic if you had no-one to turn to.

Tuesday 19^th September starting at 7.15. …Coffee and biscuits from 6.45

Cost £10.00 per person, under 16’s and Students £5.00 …………Entry by ticket only.  Book your place now. Please send in a cheque made payable to The Mendip Stud Ltd and we’ll hold tickets here for you for collection on the night.  All profits to go to ‘ The National Foaling Bank.’

**** Book early to avoid disappointment ****

 Letter from the Chairman 
 Pauline Brimson 
 Coaching Development Officer - British Reining 

UK COACHING CERTIFICATE -How will it affect me?

As the new Coaching Development Officer for British Reining, my job is to work together with the other CDO's at the BEF (British Equestrian Federation) to prepare and approve the new five-level UK Coaching Certificate for the equestrian industry.

The UKCC will provide an industry standard across a total of 31 different sports within the UK. It will ensure that there is a clear pathway for all trainers/coaches to develop and enhance their coaching skills by means of ongoing support and a tiered award scheme to prove they have achieved a certain level of coaching.

For sports participants, it will enable any person to locate a qualified coach in their chosen field and be assured that the coach has been assessed as competent to deliver quality coaching at any particular level.

On a very basic level, all certified equestrian coaches must have attended a Child Protection Course, hold a suitable First Aid Certificate and will be checked against the CRB (Criminal Register Bureau). Although, existing qualifications and past experience will be take into account, all coaches will have to be assessed before receiving their relevant award. The final structure for assessing and awarding Equestrian Coaching Certificates is still under discussion, but there will be a total of 5 Levels of Coach, from a basic assistant at Level 1 to an international trainer at Level 5. Candidate Packs and Guidelines will soon be available to anyone who wishes to follow this career path and the various Member Bodies of the BEF will be providing training days and courses for trainers as part of the coaching initiative.

The technical syllabus will be specific to each discipline and a copy will be available to each candidate. In addition, prospective coaches will need to be able show their ability to plan lessons effectively, have an understanding of the psychology of coaching and the different ways in which people learn and design and implement long-term/specialist programmes for their clients.

Western riding and reining in particular is at such an exciting phase in this country now and if we are to earn the respect and recognition that we think we deserve, then we need to have a more professional and formal structure for our trainers. There is bound to be some resistance from existing trainers who don't see why they should change anything but nothing stands still and there are even more western trainers in the UK who will welcome the opportunity to have a recognised qualification and better opportunities to learn and train themselves.

British Reining will hold and publish a list of qualified Coaches at the various levels for anyone wishing to find a trainer in their area.

For further information I can be contacted on chloe276@aol.com or (01622) 872301/(07860) 868022.

PAULINE E BRIMSON
Coaching Development Officer - British Reining

 Dressage and Traditional riding 

Traditional News Update

The Wessex Riding Club show on August 16th was another success although we were a little ambitious with the light and the last competitor was only seen by the judge as her horse was wearing a white saddle cloth.

Celia Gadd won the Walk and Trot test on a fairly new arrival to the stud.
Chester belongs to Dot Godfrey and this was his first ever dressage test as previously he was a driving horse. Dot is leaving him with Celia for a few weeks training before taking him to her new yard in Lympsham.

Gabbi Caseley was the winner of the restricted section of both the preliminary and the novice tests on Sam who she has owned for nearly two years. Sam is the schoolmaster horse that is available at the stud for lessons with Celia Gadd.

Amy Sperrings won both her classes on Murphy who she is currently competing at Pre-Novice eventing level and Jo Sholl-Evans battled out in the dark to take top honours in the Elementary with Mr Zing.

Saturday September 16th sees the first Open dressage day at the stud.

Commencing at the end of September is a British Horse Society Stage One course which is aimed at anyone who owns a horse, or would like to, as although it is focused on the examination it will prove very useful and informative to all.

It covers all aspects of stable management, horse care and psychology, tack and feeding as well as basic riding.

Also short intensive courses are available with your horse and accommodation is available in the house if required.

For more information on any of the above ring Celia on 07779 716 826 or email celiagadd@btinternet.com

 The perfect Christmas gift 
 Sculpture weekend with Gill Parker 

A personalised voucher in a gold envelope for a sculpture weekend with Gill could make the perfect Christmas gift for the art lover in the family.

The topic for this weekend will be 'The Horse'. Places will be limited to 10 maximum at a cost of £250 per person for the weekend. (Finding subjects wont be a problem - getting them to hold a pose may cause a few interesting moments.) Included in the package will be lunch on both days - basic materials -16 hours tuition with one of the world's most respected equine sculptresses. To view some of Gill''s work go to www.gillparker.co.uk

If you are interested please contact the office on 01934 751258 and we'll arrange to get the voucher to you secretly so the gift remains a surprise for the 25th ………….

There are only 10 places on the weekend and only four remaining.

Amateur artists only please.

 A warm welcome to the following new readers: 

Try our Caption Competition Win a Mendip Stud tack bag, T-shirt and cap courtesy of us of course! Send in your thoughts - Closing Date September 30th.

Just some thoughts.......

Choose a job you like and you will never have to work a day of your life.

Why is it that when things get wet they get darker, even though water is clear?

It is never too late to be what you might have been.