Dressage Training Day, Street Farm 20^th March 2010

   If you haven't experienced a Dressage Training Day organised by MDRC then I can thoroughly recommend one. I chose Novice 27 and took the     opportunity to learn it properly and ride it from memory. All the years I evented I had no problem learning dressage tests but in pure dressage I have got used to the luxury of a test caller which just makes me lazy!!

  My horse, Connie has oodles of ability but will lose marks for tension .

  My test was as predicted somewhat tense but Marion Bush, our judge and trainer helped our relaxation in the schooling session after the test. Marion gave me great encouragement and the difference in our work after 15 minutes was at least a mark more per movement in dressage test terms. I now can't wait for the next opportunity to ride a test and see if I can put into practise what I have learnt.

  Jo Cottee

Maidstone & District AGM 12^th November 2009 held at Lenham Community Centre

The Club’s AGM marked another successful and busy year, and the following awards were made:

Dressage Points Championship -   Lisa Allbutt    [Blue]

Most improved rider over the dressage show series – Kay Lockyer  [Mattie]

Most improved rider from SJ rallies -    Hilary Jewiss    [Cracker]

Best Junior SJ team member – Jess Hawkes [Pip]

Non committee member who has contributed most to the club in 2009  - Anne Rillie who together with her husband Andrew worked so hard on the TREC training in May and on the competition at Chilham in June.

Committee member who has made an outstanding contribution to the club – Jenny Hutchinson for her wonderful food provided on so many occasions

The Kent County Team Show jumping trophy was presented to Melanie Jones and Victoria Wood who together with Heather Edwards and Lynette Morrisy won for MDRC again this year.

Our Chairman Jo Cottee thanked retiring committee member Jane Scott for all her help over the years with running TREC competitions and as membership secretary.

She also welcomed our new committee member Kay Lockyer who will be taking over as membership secretary.

After the business of the evening was finished we had a thought provoking talk from Kate Jones of NAF, long time supporters of the Riding Club movement. Her topical subject was saving money by wise use of supplements – of use to all of us in the current climate.