March, 2008
At last we will be starting our competition year with a Members Only Competition on the 13th April.  Please note it is for Amber Zone (now Green) Members only.  We are sending this newsletter to all members from last year, but as from next month it will be sent to financial members only.
It has certainly been a cooler and wetter summer than we have been experiencing in the last few years.  It is a change to have grass in the paddocks and water in the dams, although I know some people have not had as much as others.
Brenda Wittmann Classic:  If members know a business or someone who would be prepared to sponsor a class at the Brenda Wittman in July, could they contact Andrew on (07 5426 8524, for a sponsors package.  Happy riding, Ngaire

April, 2008
It was good to start competition again, and although I wasn't there due to work commitments, I have been told it was one of the best Members' Days we have run, with plenty of willing workers.  A big thank you to Susie Murdoch for running the day and thank you to all those who helped.
From now on we will be awarding separate placings for juniors only if there are three or more in the class, otherwise they will be competing against the adults.  Also Mars is looking for helpers for the Brenda Wittmann Classic on 12/13th July.  If you can help please contact her on 5464 2413 or denmars@bluemaxx.com.au
There is a Queensland Festival of Dressage being held at the Pine Lodge Equestrian Centre at Thornlands on the 28th June, it is featuring German Grand Prix trainer Joern Kubelke.  The website link is www.qlddressagefest.com
Horseland Voucher
The voucher for the video competition was won by Katie Greenaway on Tarampa View Dunroman.  Congratulations to Katie and her horse.  The voucher this month was won by Kym Palmer on GT Augustus.  Congratulations to this partnership.  The vouchers are kindly donated by Janifer Willis.
Happy riding, Ngaire

May, 2008
Another Memberes Day was held in May thanks to Janifer Willis who ran the day and also judged.  Thanks also to all who helped on the day and congratulations to all the riders and especially to Sophie Stevens who won the Horseland voucher for May.  The Committee has been busy and we now have both the June nomination form and the July Brenda Wittmann Classic nomination form out.  The June day is to be held at GATTON and is being run in conjunction with the Warmblood Show, but it is still a Members Day, so please don't be intimidated by the upmarket format of the entry form.
WE are still looking for pencillers and gear check stewards for the Brenda Wittmann weekend which is the 12/13th July.  It is interesting to pencil on these days, to hear comments from the judge first hand can help you when riding your own tests.  If you are able to help please contact Mars Maycock on 5464
2613 or denmars@gil.com.au 
Happy riding, Ngaire

June, 2008
The June Members Dressage Day held in conjunction with the AWHA went off well, it was fortunately a fine day and warmed up after a very cold start.  Congratulations to all who competed and a big thank you to all those who helped.  A special thanks to Susie Murdoch who organised and ran the day.  Congratulations also to Jenny Holloway on Cobblestone who won the Horseland voucher for June.  Our next competition is a big weekend of the 12/13th July at Gatton, the 10th Anniversary Brenda Wittmann Classic.  We are begging membes to give up some of their weekend to help with pencilling.  It doesn't have to be for the whole day, just a couple of hours of your time.  The FEI tests require 3 judges and pencillers and the other tests have 2 judges, so asyou can see we need a lot of helpers.  Please contact Mars Maycock on 5464 2413/denmars@bluemaxx.com.au if you can help.  If everyone can do a bit, it makes the running of the weekend much easier, remember the old saying "Many hands make light work".  Pencilling is also helpful when competition riding yourself, to see what it is the judges are looking for, and see riding from the judges point of view.
Happy riding, Ngaire

July, 2008
The club had a very busy weekend at the 10th Brenda  Wittman Classic.  It started with setting up on Friday until the final pulling down and putting away on Sunday.  To all those who helped a very special thank you, without you the weekend would not be possible.  It is too long a list to mention everybody, but will mention Janifer and Mars who did most of the preparatory work plus working throughout the weekend; to our indomintable tea ladies, Ellen and Lyn, who organised the teas and lunches for the judges.  Steve and Sandra camped on the grounds to organise the stabling, and Pat and Aileen were the backbone of the scoring.
There were quite a few members who competeed on the weekend, congratulations to them all.
Most of our sponsors had trade stalls which were well attended, and the indoor arena attracted a constant audience during the FEI tests.
There were also congratulatory emails from riders and judges:-
"Just a short note to say thanks to you and the committee for yet another great weekend.  Even the weather was kind to us.  I noticed that some of the committee members looked quite frazzled at the end of yesterday so I wanted to make sure that they know that for every rider that complains there are several that are really happy!  Looking forward to the BW 2009.  Regards, Jenny Gehrke"
"Please pass on to the executive my thanks for the time and effort you all put into running such a big comp.  As a rider it all ran smoothly and as a judge I was well looked after.  I am sorry that other commitments kept me from being there for the whole weekend.  Catch you around soon.  Sandi Gillott"
"Just a note to express my congratulations on a very well organized show.  I know things didn't always run as smooth as you would have liked, but from a spectator point of view everything went very well.  I haven't seen such professionalism since leaving Victoria.  I was very impressed by the friendly attentive ladies who looked after my every need, nothing was any trouble and I thoroughly enjoyed myself, my penciller was lovely and competent.  The effort you made for the judges lunch reminded me of the competitions we did with the Westernport Dressage Club feeding sixty judges, sponsors and volunteers in a tent in the middle of a paddock for a big show.  Congratulations again on a great show, maybe next year I can ride as well.  Regards, Di  Rickards"
Our next competition is the August Members Dressage Day on the 10th - see you there!!!
Happy riding, Ngaire.

August, 2008
The club held a very pleasant Member's Competition day on the 10th August.  The day was sunny, there was a good turnout of horses and some nice tests peerformed.  Many thanks to Susie who took the entries and organised the day, and to all the helpers on the day.  Congratulations to all those riders who competed.  Our next day is an Official/Associate Day on the 7th September.  The draw will be posted on the website next week.
The committee is also considering options for the format of the Brenda Wittmann Classic Weekend.  Due to the large workload this event produces, and the consequent burnout of workers, the committee is considering a simpler format.  This will be discussed at subsequent meetings.  Anyone wishing to have input should attend the next meeting or forward agenda items to the secretary in writing by the Sunday proceeding the meeting.  The address is 2004 Forest Hill/Fernvale Rd, Mt Tarampa 4311.
Happy riding, Ngaire.

September, 2008
The Official Asociate day on the 7th Septemberran well, but unfortunatelybecause of the rain prior to the event we received a lot of scratchings.  A big thank you to Susie and Pat who helped me with the draw:  Pat also typed it up and inputted the horses into the computer.  Thank you to all who helped on the day, and congratulations to all those placegetters and riders.  There were some lovely tests and well turned out horses and riders, and fortunately the wind died and so we had good weather for the day.
Cathie Lambert wishes to thank all the people who helped catch her horse when he houdin'd away from her float on Sunday at Laidley.  The halter wasn't broken, nor the lead rope, so it is a mystery how he escaped.
We have one more Members Dressage Day on the 26th October so hope everyone can ride on that day, and make it a good one for our final day for the year.  Remember, we will be making changes to the Brenda Wittmann Dressage in July, so those who wish to have input into this weekend need to either attend our monthly meetings or send agenda items to the Secretary by the Sunday prior to the meeting at 2004 Foresthill/Fernvale Rd, Mt Tarampa, Lowood 4311.
The Horseland voucher for August was won by Jenny Holloway on Cobblestone.  Congratulations to this partnership.  The Horseland voucher is kindly donated by Jenny Willis.
Happy Riding, Ngaire

October, 2008
The dressage day held on the 26th ran well, although we had a late start owing to the glass and rubbish in the oval from a recent B & S weekend, that needed to be picked up.  By late morning the day was fairly hot, but fortunately a breeze prevailed for most of the day.  There were some very nice horses there, some having their first outing, congratulations to all those who rode, and thank you to all the helpers on the day.
As there will be insufficient time to get the finances audited, there will be no monthly meeting in November, instead we will hold the AGM and end of year get together on the 9th December, at 7.00 pm at the Tarampa Hotel.  The menu is varied and is buy one get one free.  If you are coming please phone me on 5426 1905 by the 1st December, so we have the numbers for catering/seating.
We are also planning to have a 'come and meet the club members' in February.  The concept will be discussed at the next meeting - probably dinner at a central venue.
Help - Committee Resigning
The club is desperately short of members who are prepared to act as office bearers next year.  Most of our long serving committee are over the age of 50 and are suffering the effects of burnout.  Our current committee has been recycling jobs between each other for many years.  We would like to get some new people to volunteer, or else the club is in danger of folding.  Positions vacant are President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer.  Please contact our Secretary, Aileen Elliot by phone (5427 9369) or by mail (2004 Forest Hill/Fernvale Rd) if you wish to nominate.
Brenda Wittman Classic
The club is looking to form a sub-committee to run the Brenda Wittman in July next year.  They would meet separately to the monthly LEG meetings and would report to the LEG committee.  Anyone interested please contact our Secretary, details above.
Happy Riding, Ngaire