Huge congratulations to WO2 (EI) James Grantham, King’s Troop RHA, for completing this year’s London Marathon to raise money for the MDIRF! Well done and thank you for all the money that you raised to help the MDIRF to help people who are injured by horses! Money is still being collected but we hope to have raised £4000.

If anyone has a place in the 2013 Marathon (the ballot has just opened) and would like to run for the MDIRF please let Rosemary know on 07710788364 or eamil rosemary@mdirf.co.uk

Over the years, the focus of attention in equestrian sports has shifted considerably. Gone are the
days when we would drag our long suffering ponies out of the field, make them spic and span for the
highlight of the riding calendar…….our local gymkhana!

Equestrian sports at every level are now much more complex with access to greater knowledge and
awareness on a whole host of topics from feeding and shoeing, fitness, veterinary advances,
technology and latest training practices. Even at foundation level (which used to be pony club for
those too young to remember), the sport has evolved beyond recognition. Correct training is now
introduced much earlier and in some cases takes precedent over ‘doing the sport for fun’. More and
more of us are taking training and the development of our skills much more seriously, often
spending considerable sums on weekly or monthly lessons with prominent trainers.

For some, this is about enjoying the process of learning with our lessons being the main source of
enjoyment and satisfaction in their own right. For others it is more about achieving higher standards
of riding, or enhancing our competitive performance. And for some, it is more out of habit or sense
of duty.

However, how is it that some of us, despite having access to training and horsepower that many can
only dream of still do not fulfil their true potential and regularly ‘under-perform’ when under
competitive pressure? The point is that many of us spend much time and effort perfecting the
physical aspects of our performance and pay comparatively little attention to the mental aspects.
…….Click here to read full article

Title: Royal Windsor Horse Show
Location: Windsor
Description: The MDIRF will be attending the Royal Windsor Horse Show 9th – 13th May stand no A10
Start Date: May 9, 2012
End Date: May 13, 2012

On the very cold evening of Monday 5th March in excess of 300 spectators gathered at the Hadlow College Equine Yard for an evening lecture demonstration by Mark Todd international event rider. He gained his MBE in 1984 followed by a CBE (1995) and then, in 2000, he was voted the ‘Event Rider of the 20th Century’ by the FEI. The event was very well organized and run by the BSc Equine Management students as part of their course. The air was filled with an excited hum, not to mention the smell of the burger van! All spectators piled into the indoor school and quickly took their seats including the 3 extra rows!

Mark entered the ring riding Percy (Ocean) an 8 year old Bay Thoroughbred, who he had bought at the end of last year and nicknamed ‘Perfect Percy’ he described him as ‘his new pet!’ They demonstrated a typical schooling routine, asking the horse to round, from his back up into his neck in walk, trot and canter.

For the second demonstration we were lucky enough to watch ‘Land Vision’ in action, last year’s Badminton winner! Who unfortunately had been injured just after Badminton and been off work until the end of last year, he had been hacking but had only just started schooling. Using the third horse Alfiano Del Ferro, although initially spooked by the noise of the mic and the wind outside, Mark demonstrated lengthening and shortening of stride, then worked over some small jumps, always changing direction and keeping the horse short and round.

The final horse, a 10 year old German Thoroughbred was an experienced horse on his 3rd season of eventing, so Mark was able to demonstrate various jumping combinations, gradually changing the height and spread of the jumps. It was great to feel the tension mounting in the crowd as the jumps got higher and more technical.

James at Work with the King’s Troop as they left the St John’s Wood Barracks on the 6th Feb 2012

WO2 (EI) James Grantham the Equitation Instructor of the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery has kindly agreed to run the London Marathon in aid of the Mark Davies Injured Riders Fund this year.

James is a keen triathlon competitor and wants to support the MDIRF he says:

“Dealing with horses and riders every day I am only too aware of how easily an accident can happen either whilst riding or working around horses, it will always happen when you least expect it and we all think it will never happen to us. We all need to try to help each other in times of need and I feel that by running the Marathon for the MDIRF, I can do something to help those injured whilst partaking in a sport we all love.”

The MDIRF is there to help those in need when there is no other help at hand. Please support this worthwile cause by donating on line via Just Giving or send cheques to MDIRF, Lancrow Farmhouse, Penpillick Cornwall, PL24 2SA.

To raise money for the Charity we are holding a Marathon Man Dinner at the wonderful setting of the Inner Temple, on Friday 20th April 2012, based in the heart of London’s legal quarter, the Inner Temple is one of the four ancient Inns of Court and has been home, workplace, school and library to generations of Barristers and Judges.

The evening will include a champagne reception and 3 course dinner Tickets are limited at a cost of £65 per person.

To book or for further details please email mailto:Rosemary@mdirf.co.uk or call 07710788364

Hi everyone!

My name is Rachel and I’ve been working with the MDIRF over the last few months to plan and develop our brand new facebook page which you can find at http://www.facebook.com/theofficialmdirf

I ran the Great North Run for the MDIRF in 2011 and wanted to continue supporting the MDIRF by helping with the new facebook page.

Along with the MDIRF website, our facebook page is a great way for you to keep in touch with the MDIRF. You can read about our latest news, send us messages, upload photos of your fundraising activities and have discussions with other supporters. It’s such a good way to keep up to date with us so we’d like to make sure as many of our supporters as possible have visited the page and clicked on the ‘Like’ button on the page. If you like our page you’ll be sure not to miss out on any news!

The facebook page has been designed for you, our supporters. If there are any features that you would like to see on the facebook page then just let us know. You can email your ideas to socialmedia@mdirf.co.uk

We’re looking forward to hearing from you soon! Don’t forget to click the ‘Like’ button on our facebook page and tell your friends to do the same. We really need and value your support to make sure that we can continue to help riders in need.

Title: E-Questrian Time
Location: Sarratt Village Hall
Tickets £10 – Click here for information on how to purchase  (Brakespear Riding Club)
Description: You will all have seen Question Time on BBC TV.
This is your opportunity to interact with an outstanding line up of professionals across many equine disciplines. Ask questions as we go along or give them to Jonathan Chapman, the Chairman, before we start and get the experts’ views on many issues of interest.

All profits from the evening will go to the Brooke Hospital and the Mark Davies Injured Riders’ Fund

Download PDF

Start Time: 19:30 for 8pm start
Date: 9th March 2012
End Time: 22:30

Title: Jenny Lorriston Clarke Demo
Location: Hadlow College, Hadlow, Tonbridge, Kent. TN11 0AL
Visit Hadlow College website : Click here
Description: For tickets call 01732853257

Start Time: 19:30
Date: 6th February 2012

The original oil on canvas Christmas Greeting by Diane Hennchen was originally won in the raffle at Burghley by Richard Lockwood , who very kindly donated it back to the Fund to re raffle.

The Draw took place on Wednesday 21st Dec at the Irwin Mitchell offices Leeds and the our congratulations go the winner, Mrs E Russell of Holmfirth. Thank you to everyone who took part.

A HUGE THANK YOU TO Diane for all the support she gives the fun with her wonderful work please see http://www.dianehnnchen.co.uk/ for more of her work or see her stand at HOYS and Olympia this year.

Title: Mark Todd Lecture Demo
Location: Hadlow College, Hadlow, Tonbridge, Kent. TN11 0AL
Visit Hadlow College website: Click here
Description: For tickets call 01732853257

Start Time: 19:30
Date: 5th March 2012