Niamh wins a ticket to the Natural Horsemanship, Western Riding and Barrell Racing Demo on Friday 14th August.

There are still a few tickets for the evening left so call Tracy on 07980 135 519 if you want one! Or see the web site for more infomation.

Just think of a witty caption for this photo, taken at the Homestead June show (click through if you’re reading this in your email). Fill in the form beneath the photo or text your answer plus your name to 07980 135 519, or enter in person at the show on Sunday July 26th.

Good luck!

Winners will be notified by August 10th.

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=110147060947

Everyone’s welcome. See you there!

The event is being organised by Joanna Joyce-Gray, who took a nasty tumble while out hunting with the West of Yore and realised she hadn’t a clue what to do should she come across someone else in a similar situation. Donations on the night to the Air Ambulance.

Here’s the article from last week’s Equestrian Post…

Accident prompts rider to launch first aid training

Joanna Joyce-Gray cannot remember what went wrong when she put her advanced eventer at a hunt jump with the West of Yore.

But she knows she hit the ground and went to hospital by air ambulance and – she admits – if she had been alongside another rider in the same situation she would not have known what to do.

As a result, she has organised an advice night on first aid in the field in the hope of educating others.

Her story began when the West of Yore had almost finished their hunting day from Bolton Hall, near Leyburn. She was on gate duty and put her horse at a simple hunt fence.

She said: “The going was good and we were just approaching a hunt fence, that’s the last I remember.

“Everybody waited for me to get up and go fetch my horse, they quickly realised I was not moving, I was unconscious. Everybody helped, from seeing to my horse, lending jackets, dog beds and other things to keep me warm as they waited.

“I was airlifted to Middlesbrough Hospital with suspected back and head injuries where I spent the next three weeks recovering from damage to my kidneys and a broken vertebrae. I was very fortunate that all the injuries I sustained will heal.

“While lying in hospital, I realised that if it had been somebody else on the floor and they needed support while waiting for medical help, I would not have known what to do, I have never done any first aid training.

“Having spoken to so many people about this, I realised I was not the only one and hence the organisation of the training. Horse riders are often in the countryside and medical assistance takes time to get to you in the event of an accident.

“We should take it upon ourselves to be in a position to help somebody if we are needed to.

“I am hoping this may just make people think and commit to spending one evening learning the basics so that they could help in an emergency and no longer leave it to chance that when somebody does unfortunately fall off, somebody else will know what to do.”

The training evening is at the Yorkshire Hotel, Harrogate, on April 14 at 6.30pm. Any donations raised will go to the Great North Air Ambulance.

We’re excited about making 2008 another special year for the club – well let’s face it, the weather this coming summer can only be an improvement on the biblical lows we saw in 2007, when the jumping paddock more often than not resembled Lake Windermere.

Before then, though, we have to get to the other side of winter, and there’s snow on the way – so rug up warm and remember there are still lessons and club activites on the go.

Speaking of which, it’s your riding club – so get your thinking caps on and let us know what activities and events you’d like to see happen this year.

And finally… don’t forget to send in your 2008 club membership renewals!