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Archive for the 'College' Category

BHS Exams

Saturday, December 19th, 2009

The week before last two of my students took BHS Exams. Eleri took her stage 1 at Pencoed College and Jess took the riding part of her stage 2 at Bicton College in Devon. I was away in Portugal last week so I was anxious to here how they had got on. Eleri felt she had failed the riding as one of the horses she rode was very difficult and in canter it literally took off and she ended up standing up in her stirrups to stop it. Fortunately Eleri did pass both the riding and care section. The stage 1 exam does not involve jumping but in the stage 2 exam candidates have to ride on the flat and jump two horses. Nowadays you ride on the flat first and you are not allowed to go through to the jumping section unless you pass the flat section. Jess obviously rode fine in the flat and continued to the jumping. The first horse she was given put in a very dirty stop and Jess came off. I was very surprised to hear this because in all the time Jess has been here (over 2 years now) no matter what she rides she rarely comes off. Anyway she remounted and continued, the horse stopped again reared vertical and Jess came off the back. The examiner then removed the horse from the exam as unsuitable (several other horses were removed and deemed unsuitable too) and told Jess not to worry it wouldn’t affect how they judged her on her next horse. It really makes you wonder if these examiners are on the same planet, of course its going to affect the way she rides the next horse. Surely the BHS has a duty to check out these exam centres. They try to tell you that the examiners see all the horses ridden before the start of the exam but I have to say I have taken many candidates to exams and generally arrive before the examiners who certainly don’t see any horses being ridden. A colleague of mine recently took a candidate to a stage 1 exam where four horses were removed as unsuitable. It costs Jess £31.50 (£55.50 over 21yrs) for a years membership which she has to have to take the exam. £130 exam fee. Petrol money, B&B and meals plus 2 days lost wages for her mother to take her. I understand that horses can be unpredictable and we have had bad weather recently which may have resulted in horses that normally live out being kept in and therefore may be more of a handful to ride but personally I think if candidates receive unsuitable horses for exams they should be given a free resit. Jess has not yet received her results.

I frequently hear many tales of unsuitable horses in exams. I can’t comment on them as know one is allowed to watch exams but I had a very unsuitable horse for my stage 3 which I overheard the groom saying she was surprised it had been used as it always has people off when jumping, it had both candidates that rode it off and many years ago when I took my PTT (Preliminary Teaching Test) at Bicton College a few weeks before the exam I was staying at a friends in Devon and we decided to go and visit the centre. When we arrived we were not able to look around as there was a Stage 2 exam in progress. Although the exam had been halted as they were waiting for an air ambulance to collect a candidate who had come off in the jumping. Also during my PTT in the lead rein lesson an 8yrold child was bucked off a very fresh 15hh TB looking horse. Maybe the BHS should be a little less greedy and book less candidates into exams if centres do not have enough suitable horses for jumping. Examiners are generally very encouraging but it must be very frustrating and difficult for them to have to examine candidates on unsuitable horses.

Pleased to say Jess Passed.  Well Done Jess

Posted on Saturday, December 19th, 2009 at 2:39 am You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.

Feeding Horses

Monday, November 30th, 2009

Last week during our student theory lessons I was teaching feed including calculating feed rations for horses in different enviroments, some students were having a little difficulty working out feed rations so I found this piece on the internet which I thought maybe of interest.

The Impact of Cold Weather The following formula is used to calculate the increased DE (daily energy) requirement for a horse as a result of cold temperatures and wet, windy conditions: critical temperature – actual temperature = % increase in DE required.

Adjusting Energy Intake: An Example The following example clarifies how to adjust energy intake for a dry environmental temperature of 30°F with a wind chill that results in an actual temperature of 25°F. The example applies to a 1,100-pound horse at maintenance.

Step 1. Subtract the actual temperature (including the wind-chill adjustment) from the critical temperature (accounting for wet conditions if necessary): 45°F – 25°F = 20% increase in DE requirements.

Step 2. Because a 1,100-pound horse at maintenance requires 16.4 Mcal of DE per day and because the horse in this example requires a 20% increase in DE, you multiply as follows: 16.4 Mcal x 20% = +3.28 Mcal increase. The requirement thus increases as follows: 16.4 Mcal + 3.28 Mcal = 19.68 Mcal DE/day.

Step 3. Next you need to determine the amount of feed necessary to supply these increased calories. A 1,100-pound horse typically consumes 19 pounds of ration daily (1.7% of its body weight). Because the recommended DE level of the ration (concentrate mix plus forage) fed to a horse at maintenance is .90 Mcal DE/lb of feed, we can calculate the increase in feed as follows: 3.28 Mcal ÷ .90 Mcal = 3.64 pounds of additional feed to provide 19.68 Mcal DE/day.

Step 4. Determine the total amount of feed the horse requires by adding the 3.64 pounds of additional feed to the 19 pounds of feed the horse requires under normal conditions: 19.0 + 3.64 = 22.64 pounds per day of total ration.

Makes it all the clearer but I think I will stick to double the height and minus 5

Posted on Monday, November 30th, 2009 at 1:56 am You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.

October Half Term

Monday, November 2nd, 2009

Some one please remind me next year not to run a dressage competition the morning after the halloween party which was only two days after the team jumping. Not that I expected 39 teams and to be on the go from 7am to 10.30pm and neither did I expect 54 dressage entries. The Team jumping kicked off with the first of the series on Wednesday and it was a a very good day with some excellent rounds and some very competitive teams. Talygarn managed quite a few places and a win in the 2ft teams. It was also lovely to see Gareth Evans compete in the 1ft 9 teams and for his team to come 5th, Gareth had some riding lessons here then started here as a student, Gareth suffers from slight Autism and Aspergers syndrome but he has acheived so much in the time he has been here. It was also my birthday on Wednesday so I kinda tried to look upon it as a rather large party! Photos from teams are on the Gallery. The Halloween Party which is run and organised by the Pony Club Centre was one of the best this year. I thought it was going to be a bit quiet but we ended up with quite a good crowd and some brilliant costumes.  Its lovely to see so many people being supportive of the event after all the hard work the Pony Club Centre committee do to raise money to pay for all the equipment. Millbrook riding Club are always very supportive and it was lovely to see Freya Murkowski who drove down from Essex for the evening.  After nearly knocking myself out in the Sumo wrestling last year I decided I wouldn’t go on anything this year but after a few glasses of wine I found myself on the gladiator jousting and then the rodeo bull I should know by now to fall off straight away because the falling off doesn’t hurt but gripping onto the thing for ages kills my hip the next day, sure sign of a candidate for hip replacement I’m thinking. By 11.30 most people were leaving so we had a major clean up in readiness for the Dressage the next day followed by a few drinks on the picnic benches whilst waiting for Sharon and Darrens Taxi. Which Sharon had ordered for 11.50 but was now coming at 12.50am. Darren insisted it was the worst Taxi ever as they had ordered it for October and it was now a month late. This week I have had a new Yard Manger/Instructor start – Jodie. I’m not sure its been the best week to start with having so much on and I think Jodie doesn’t know whether she is coming or going. I have also been trying to get all the horses Clipped before the end of this month. We left Michigan as we knew he would be difficult but I wanted to get him done this week as he is now getting very hot in lessons. We had a riding school show jumping comp on Friday so after it had finished and I had ridden Destiny I picked Leigh up at 5.30 Before I left I gave Michigan 10ml of Sedazine to calm him down. Unfortunately he still looked rather alert when Leigh turned on the clippers. Michigan is so big he doesn’t have to do much and we have no control. He merely moved sideways and threw his head up. I left the floor and Leigh was knocked into the wall. So another 5 mls of sedazine and 30 mins later also armed with twitch we tried again. We managed to get him to stand still but in the worst light possible and on the basis that we really needed to get some coat off him I resorted to clipping in the dark. We did eventually get him full clipped by 8pm, don’t look too closely. Steve took Amelia to Gloucester to jump on Saturday Which mean’t I was up at 7am to pick up the rolls for the evening.  After all the preparation for competitions I have had to do this week alongside helping Jodie, teaching, college paperwork, clipping, students, lessons, Pony Day etc I really felt like I had run out of Steam by this dressage today. I have to say it ran very well and our Judges Barry Kelvin Hall and Jacqui Jones were marvellous along with the staff but I was glad to get to see the end of the day. This October Half Term has been more than hectic and  tomorrow I am going to pack and try and clean up the house a bit before I leave tomorrow night,  once I’m on that plane I am going to forget everything for a couple of weeks and relax in Thailand. See ya all when I get back, ready for the Christmas Gymkhana and more Team Jumping!!!!  More Photos from Halloween Party on Gallery

Posted on Monday, November 2nd, 2009 at 1:25 am You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.

Talygarn Equestrian Centre

Sunday, October 18th, 2009

Leigh came down to carry on with the clipping on Monday. We knew Michigan would be difficult but we thought we would give it a go anyway. Not a chance, He doesnt do anything really mad but he just doesn’t like it and he knows his strength, with one swing of the head he sends us flying, being a 16.3hh ID cross theres not much chance of holding onto him. So Leigh clipped some of the others instead. I had to take Shelley to the vets tuesday, slight eye infection so I picked up some sedative for Michigan and Blue. The vet always asks  how old the dogs are but I have no idea how old Shelley is, I remember going with Jenni and Emma Davies to somewhere Swansea way to buy her and I’m thinking Jenni was about 12, as she is 22 now I am guessing that would make Shelley about 10, I know Fudge is younger and Todd is the youngest. Maybe I should have written it down. Wednesday Chloe was away and as Amelia and I had a Pony Club meeting in Brecon I needed some else to teach as well as Amy Bartholomew so Leigh stepped in and taught Wednesday evening. Tonyrefail comp were here for the last week till after half term and Amy and Jess took them on a hack. Many of the clients on Wed night used to be taught by Leigh and were thrilled to have a lesson with him. The Pony Club meeting in Brecon was interesting. Dates were sorted out for next years area competitions and Talygarn Equestrian Centre will be hosting the Area Horse Care Comp in April 2010 also two Pony Club Dengie Dressage in January and February 2010. The pony Adoption scheme is going well I think there is only 5 ponies not adopted and there have been more enquiries.  Life seems to be somewhat hectic at the moment we have a waiting list for lessons, quite a lot of students of which I am teaching everyday, alongside organising everything else there are not enough hours in the day. So I am pleased to say I have found a new yard manager/instructor from Swansea way who should be starting at half term. Just in time for my holiday to Thailand in November!!!  Amelia took Leo and Destiny to Gracelands in Worcester on Saturday. Destiny had a couple of fences down in the 1.15m but Amelia was pleased with her as Destiny has not done a 1.15m class before also it was a progressive class which started at 1.10 the middle fences were 1.15 and the last few fences were 1.20m. Leo won both of his classes. As Steve and Amelia went to Worcs I had to teach my lessons, teach Amelia’s  lessons and take the money, which wasn’t really possible so I left the office to Sarah. Thank goodness Sharon did the birthday party. The Show Jumping today was a bit on the quiet side although I must say I was quite glad after this week. There are only two kittens left and hopefully they will be picked up this week although I will miss them a bit as they are very cute and playful but I am getting worried they are going to get run over as they are starting to wander. We have 39 entries for the team jumping and as I said the max would be 40 and the entries don’t close till next sunday I think its going to be a very busy day. Also anyone thinking of entering the next Dressage best hurry up as I think that will also be closed before the closing date at the rate the entries are coming in. Everything is now organised for the Halloween Party and the Pony Club  just need to sell the tickets. The Pony Club committee members have tickets to sell and they are available at the office. Martha is finalising the DVD of the summer Open Day & BBQ which we hope to have on display at the client show jumping on the Friday of Half Term.  I have had a few previews and it is very good.

Posted on Sunday, October 18th, 2009 at 11:37 pm You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.

Equine Students

Wednesday, September 23rd, 2009

I can’t believe how fast this month has gone. Last week the new students started. I tend to start the courses a week before enrolments as there is always some that change their minds, some that decide to alter the course or the day they are doing and some that don’t turn up at all.  Pam Jones and Sarah Henney came out from Yale college today to do the enrolments. If students are re-enrolling onto the same course this is a fairly simple procedure but for new students it is quite a long drawn out process. All new students have to take a maths and literature test, these used to be done on paper but this year we were supplied with seven laptops for the purpose. Your result goes to the college and if they deem you to need help you will get a letter, known as the thick letter,  if you don’t get a thick letter you can assume you are at least averagely bright but if you do get a thick letter you are supposed to be able to receive help. Personally I think its a pointless exercise our students are too far away from the college to receive any help and they don’t have to accept help if they don’t want too, also I don’t see the point of part time students who are doing A levels in school and have an arm full of GCSE’S having to sit a basic Maths and Literature test. Still I suppose at least they save some trees now that its done on laptops. After this test comes the induction and the death of a forest. Health and safety form, enrolment form, assessment form and whole induction pack to be filled in, most of which is in duplicate and most of which will never be looked at again by the student in my experience. The whole process took from 2.30pm to 7pm to get all the students enrolled. Yale College has also introduced a course fee this year of £20 per course plus a £25 refundable on completion enrolment fee, we are getting off light really as they are charging £150 for all their non equine courses but I expect it will go up each year.  We are starting this year with 18 students doing 31 equine courses between them and another 12 starting after Christmas. Anyone reading this who took a horse Owners course last year – I have your test papers back from Yale. I’m quite impressed with the results the highest percentage mark from all three courses went to Sue Owen.

Posted on Wednesday, September 23rd, 2009 at 12:24 am You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.

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