Author Archives: EJ

Ragwort

Have you seen the ragwort on the M5 and the A303 this year? Should we do something?

If you are frustrated that the Ragwort Code of Practice has been brushed under the carpet by DEFRA tell your MP and copy me when you do so. I hope you will find the email contact address for YOUR MP in the list below and now you know mine.

Please do it now…copy John Calder jccalder@gmail.com …and pass this email on to someone else who cares.

You may find my latest newsletter of interest – it’s attached.

Many, many thanks

John Calder

Ian Liddell-Grainger / Bridgewater & West Somerset / mailto: ianlg@parliament.uk

Rebecca Pow / Taunton Deane / mailto: rebecca.pow.mp@parliament.uk

Neil Parish / Tiverton & Honiton / mailto:neil.parish.mp@parliament.uk

James Heappey / Wells / mailto:james.heappey.mp@parliament.uk

John Penrose / Weston-super-mare / mailto:beauperec@parliament.uk

Kerry McCarthy / Bristol East / mailto:kerry.mccarthy.mp@parliament.uk

Luke Hall / Thornbury and Yate / mailto:luke.hall.mp@parliament.uk

Marcus Fysh / Yeovil / mailto:marcus.fysh.mp@parliament.uk

Oliver Letwin / West Dorset / mailto:letwino@parliament.uk

David T. C. Davies / Monmouth / mailto:david.davies.mp@parliament.uk

BHS Welfare Conference

Welfare Conference Poster A4

This year the BHS Welfare conference is being held at Towcester Racecourse, Northamptonshire NN12 6LB. 

The conference is taking place on Wednesday 20 September and then again on Thursday 21 September at a scientific level to allow more people the opportunity to attend one of the days due to the previous popularity of these conferences. 

Hear from expert speakers as they question ‘are we getting the fundamentals right for horse care and training?’ Join us for a fully-packed, inspiring day.

http://www.bhs.org.uk/welfare-and-care/bhs-welfare-conference-2017

BHS Dead Slow

Alan Hiscox, the BHS Director of Safety has very kindly offered to attend any Club / Area meetings to talk about the recent BHS ‘Dead Slow – Riders Responsibilities’ campaign.

The presentation lasts approximately 45 minutes with the option of a Q & A session afterwards. This presentation is very interactive and will update and inform riders of the Dead Slow Campaign and how the BHS is encouraging riders to know their responsibilities, as well as drivers, in order to increase the safety of vulnerable road users, with updates regarding how we are working with the Motor Cycle Industry and Cycling UK.

When these presentations have been organised for BHS committees, the local police and even some legal representatives have been involved and have been happy to come along and take part in the session. This is something that could certainly be replicated should a BRC Area / Club wish.

The sessions would need to be organised by the Area / Clubs themselves, but the BHS Safety Department can help with this.

There is no cost for Alan’s time or travel, so it’s a really good opportunity to put on an interesting and informative talk for members.

If anyone is interested, please contact Alan directly alan.hiscox@bhs.org.uk or Emily, the Safety Administrator emily.yates@bhs.org.uk .

 

Jump forward

British Eventing are hosting a Young Volunteer Programme which might be of interest for any juniors/seniors aged between 16 and 21.

This project uses funds from, and is delivered by, the British Eventing Charitable Foundation.

If you are aged between 16 and 21 and interested in working or volunteering with horses, or even if you just love being outdoors, this is the course for you!

This free, three day programme https://www.britisheventing.com/training/courses/?RoleId=3 gives young people access to expert advice about how to get involved with the horse industry, specifically the sport of Eventing, through career guidance, advice on business enterprises, options for education and the benefits of volunteering.

Attendees will also have the chance to meet and ask questions of some of the sports’ most experienced volunteers, as well as getting ‘hands-on’ with an exclusive behind the scenes look at the organisation of a BE event.

All attendees will also be given free registration to the well renowned Young Equestrian Leaders Award (YELA) Bronze course, which is designed to recognise the time and effort young volunteers give to equestrianism and shape their experience, so they become equestrian leaders of the future.

Day 1 – Volunteering: so many benefits!

A number of Experienced Volunteers will bring many years’ worth of experience and expertise volunteering for British Eventing and will talk about why they love volunteering and how it has benefitted them.

A BE Official will talk about all the different roles available as a volunteer for British Eventing and will run a fun workshop to let attendees have a ‘virtual’ go at some of the skilled roles available, such as fence judging or cross country controlling.

A representative from the Young Equestrian Leaders’ Award will explain how the YELA works, why you should be getting involved and also explain how previous YELA award recipients have benefitted.

Day 2 – Career choices: what are the options?

A lecturer from a local college will talk about different routes into a career with horses, including apprenticeships, NVQs and full time educational options.

A representative from the British Grooms Association will talk about your options as a person employed in the industry – what to expect from employment as a groom or a coach, what to think about if setting up as self-employed and where to go for advice.

Day 3 – Behind the Scenes at a BE Event

A BE representative will give the group a guided tour around the event, giving volunteers the opportunity to speak to some of the officials and volunteers involved and see what goes into the planning and management of a BE affiliated event.

The Organiser will welcome the group.

A Coach/rider will conduct a walk of the cross country course with the group, talking about what goes into the planning and building of a cross country course, what the riders should be looking for when riding the course and explaining what the fence judges and course officials do on the day.

 

 

 

 

 

Emergency Incidents

Dear All

BRC have released this information regarding emergency incidents and terror attacks. Although most of us will never think it could happen to us I do believe they are correct sharing and providing some basic information. Many of our members across the South West could quite possibly be attending festivals and large events. In the email below are some useful links. Please could you share around your membership or to people who who feel would find it useful in their organisation of events.

Charlotte

Dear BRC Club / Centre / Official,

This is a very difficult email to have to write.

We are sending you this correspondence in light of the recent horrific incident in Manchester. Whilst we understand that this is an awful subject to have to cover, we wanted to provide some support regarding any concerns of how these types of incidents could affect riding club activities.

We do understand that some of you may have been personally affected by the recent, or similar incidents, so if you find this subject too upsetting to address, please do disregard this email.

It is important that we all have some basic knowledge on what to do should an incident occur whilst at a BRC / BHS event, or even at work or in any other aspect of our lives.

The Police have released an excellent video that gives some basic advise to follow in the event of an attack. The advice is called RUN/HIDE/TELL. If you feel able, then please do take a moment to watch this video here www.npcc.police.uk/staysafe The guidance is also summarised in the attached leaflet.

We will be adding incidents such as these into our BRC Risk Assessments for all National Championships and activities, including events organised by BRC HQ, and those where members may be in attendance.  We have attached some guidance which you may find useful to add into any risk assessments you are carrying out for up and coming events. This Risk Assessment guidance is split into two categories; events run by BRC and BRC organised visits to other events. Please feel free to use or adapt this information to supplement any documentation for your Club / Centre.

Finally, we have found some excellent advice here regarding talking to juniors about the Manchester incident – something that Clubs and Centres with a large number of active Juniors may find helpful: https://www.winstonswish.org.uk/responding-children-young-people-affected-media-coverage-incident-manchester/

Please share this email with anyone that you feel it would be beneficial for. I’m sorry that this is such an awful subject to have to cover.  Please let me know if you have any concerns or worries.

Best wishes

Laura

Terror Attack BRC Risk Assessment Guidance

NPCC Leaflet