The British Horse Society - South Region

06/12/2024

🎄🕷️🏇 Last Call for Festive Fun! The BHS Isle of Wight Spider Ride is TOMORROW! 🏇🕷️🎄

Don’t miss out on our final Spider Ride of the year! 🎅✨

📅 Date: TOMORROW – Thursday, 7th December
⏰ Time: Arrive between 10 AM and 2 PM for refreshments and rosettes!
💰 Cost: Just £5 per rider – no booking required, just turn up!

It’s time to jingle all the way in your Santa hats and Christmassy fancy dress (safe for riding, hi-vis on top advised!). Let’s make it a day full of festive fun, laughter, and memories with fellow riders. 🎄🍰☕

🕷️🏇 So, polish those hooves, prep those reins, and we’ll see you there for a festive finale you won’t forget!

06/12/2024

ISLE OF WIGHT: Spider Ride postponed due to Storm Darragh 🌧🌪

05/12/2024

HAMPSHIRE: Meon Valley

An update from Hampshire Countryside Service:

I am pleased to be able to provide the following update relating to the planned demolition of Little Tapnage Bridge that spanned the Meon Valley Trail. The demolition went according to plan and without incident assisted by the local farmers who have provided ongoing access.

The replacement ramp and gate crossing has been put in place that still provides uninterrupted access along the Meon Valley Trail, whilst maintaining access for the farmers to their fields.

The bridleway will be opened from the 16th December following some vegetation clearance that has resulted from the bridleway being closed.

Work will continue now to make plans to continue the extension of the Meon Valley Trail into the network of footpaths into Knowle and beyond.

27/11/2024

NEW FOREST: Riders in the forest are no doubt aware that 'no horse riding' signs have been put up on many bridges in the forest in recent months. There are over 300 bridges crossing waterways in the New Forest, of which around 100 are designed for pedestrian use only. There have been a couple of incidents recently where horses and riders have had nasty accidents using footbridges, and as a result Forestry England (FE) is surveying all footbridges on the forest and has been putting up the 'no riding' signs on bridges initially deemed unsuitable for horse riders.

The BHS has been discussing this with Forestry England, and would like your feedback as to which bridges cause problems if they can't be ridden over:
* which ones don't have safe alternatives (a ford or another bridge nearby, for example)?
* which provide vital links and would cut off access to a particular area if you can't use them?
* which create circular routes that wouldn't be possible to ride otherwise?

The information you provide will be fed back to FE and taken into consideration in future discussions around further inspections and potential upgrades. Please note this is by no means a guarantee of upgrade work being undertaken - budget constraints will undoubtedly limit what can be done, but this review will at least enable us to find out what riders would like and to see which bridges should ideally be prioritised.

Please head to https://wkf.ms/3VbIxXL to record details of bridges you currently use/used before a sign went up/would like to use in future... please note, you'll need to complete a separate form for each bridge you'd like to mention.

26/11/2024

🎄🕷️🏇 Festive Fun at the BHS Isle of Wight Spider Ride! 🏇🕷️🎄

🎅 Date: Saturday, 7th December
🎄 Place: Godshill Park Farm
🎁 Time: Arrive anytime between 10 AM and 2 PM for refreshments and rosettes!
💰 Cost: £5 per rider – no need to book, just turn up!

Get ready to saddle up for our final Spider Ride of the year, and let’s make it a festive one! 🎅✨ Santa outfits and Christmassy fancy dress are encouraged (as long as they’re safe to ride in!) Don’t forget your hi-vis on top, just in case. 🚦

Whether you’re trotting, cantering, or jingling all the way, join us for a merry ride, tasty treats, and a fun way to celebrate the holiday season. 🎄🍰☕

🕷️🏇 Let’s make this Spider Ride a day to remember – we can’t wait to see you there! 🏇🕷️

🎅 PS: Who will be the most festive rider? Come along to find out!

24/11/2024

🐴💪 Get Stable Strength for 2025!
New Year, New You—right from your living room! 🚪💻

Join us for Stable Strength: Online Fitness for Equestrians, led by Optimal Equestrian Performance! 🌟 Starting Wednesday, 8 January, this 8-week Zoom series is designed to boost your fitness, strength, and suppleness—all tailored to equestrians. 🏋️‍♀️

Whether you’re mucking out or mastering your piaffe, this is for YOU. No equipment? No problem. 🧘‍♂️ Just 40 minutes, just £42 for all 8 sessions, and you’ll be stronger, more flexible, and more confident in the saddle. 🐎✨

📅 Every Wednesday at 7 PM GMT
🌐 Wherever suits YOU—home, tack room, or stable yard!
➡️ Book now: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/britishhorsesocietysouthregion/1457266

Kickstart your 2025 riding goals! 🎯

22/11/2024

21/11/2024

🌟 Saddle Up for BHS South Camps 2025! 🌟

Get ready, riders! 🐴 We're thrilled to announce that BHS South Camps are back bigger and better for 2025, with an exciting mix of day and residential options to suit everyone! 🎉

📍 Residential Camp
6–8 June 2025 @ our brand-new venue: Wheatlands Farm Equestrian Centre, Finchampstead

📍 Day Camps
5 April 2025 @ Boomerang Stables, Hungerford
6 September 2025 @ Boomerang Stables, Hungerford
This year, we’re stepping things up! Offering both multi-day and single-day camps, perfect for diving deep into your riding goals, building bonds with fellow riders, and enjoying an unforgettable equestrian experience. 🏇✨

🌟 Why join?
Top-notch coaching 🏆
Fun, friendly vibes 🥳
A chance to meet new friends and create lasting memories! 🤝
Spaces will be limited, and excitement is already mounting! 🚀 Watch this space and register your email at https://wkf.ms/3CBNu5W so you're first to hear all the details and when bookings open

Tag your riding friends and don’t miss out on your chance to join the fun! 👇💬

20/11/2024

What should you do if you experience an incident whilst out riding? For reporting your near misses or road incidents please do record it in our Horse i app.

😳Even if you’re not sure if your experience is a near miss, report it to us anyway!
🤔If you can’t remember all the details, don’t worry, the important bits to let us know are; the date it happened, which road you were riding on and to describe what happened.
✅Not all questions are compulsory so just fill in the answers to the ones you know.

By recording you can support us on our mission to improve equine road safety, as we need to collate more factual data. The more incidents that are recorded, the more we can do to keep you and your horse safe 🐴🚘

🤳​Download our Horse i app to record your road incidents and near misses 👉 https://bit.ly/47hWM1a

20/11/2024

Don't miss checking what you know and learning new things! Book Now! Its tonight!
Your horse has come in from the field with this injury.
How will you clean the wound?
Do you need to call the vet for this wound?
What critical structures are in this region?
What dressing and bandage will you put on?
All this and more this Wednesday 20 November 7 to 8pm with Professor Sarah Freeman.
Book here to attend online or for the recording - £10 per person
https://buytickets.at/bhsireland/1330023
This counts as 1 CPD point for BHS Accredited Professional Coaches

19/11/2024

🚦 It's Road Safety Week! 🚦

At the BHS, we're dedicated to protecting horses and riders on our roads. This week, we’re spotlighting the importance of sharing the road safely and raising awareness about the challenges faced by equestrians.

📊 Here’s a snapshot of the 205 road incidents reported across the South of England in 2024:
👉 Hampshire leads the numbers with 83 incidents
👉 Buckinghamshire follows with 48 incidents
👉 Berkshire: 32 incidents
👉 Oxfordshire: 37 incidents (including 2 injuries)
👉 Isle of Wight: 5 incidents

Beyond the roads, we’ve also seen:

🛩️ Low Flying Aircraft/Drones: 1 incident in Hampshire
🌧️ Slippery Roads: 5 incidents, 2 causing injuries in Hampshire
🎆 Fireworks: 3 incidents, including 1 on the Isle of Wight
🐕 Dogs: 16 incidents, with Hampshire reporting the highest (6)

While these numbers remind us of the risks, they also highlight the importance of working together to create safer environments for all road users.

This data comes directly from our Horsei App

19/11/2024

Hambledon: Have you ridden the path from Scotland Farm on Old Mill Lane to Scotland Cottage on Dogkennel Lane (the red line highlighted on this map)? An application was made to Hampshire County Council in 2012 to have this route recorded on the definitive map as a bridleway and it is now under investigation.

If you have ridden this route in the past, you can help the case by filling in a quick form and submitting your user evidence. Ideally, you’d have used it once a month or so over a period of at least five years, but shorter or non-continuous usage would still be useful! If you can help, please drop a line to the Definitive Map Officer at [email protected] and say you have evidence to support application ref.1108, and they will send you a user evidence form.

18/11/2024

🎉🌟 It’s Back! 🌟🎉

We’re thrilled to announce the return of the BHS Hampshire Coach of the Year Award! 🏆 Do you know an outstanding coach who makes a difference in Hampshire’s equestrian world? This is your chance to get them the recognition they deserve!

💌 Nominate Your Coach Today! Coaches can nominate themselves, too – we’re looking for coaches who inspire, teach, and always go that extra mile. Just click here to nominate 👉 https://forms.monday.com/forms/0ccc6ffa8068d089362f9fc8782bab88?r=use1

Nominations close on December 24th at 6pm, so don’t miss out!

From there:
1️⃣ A panel of Hampshire volunteers will shortlist the nominees.
2️⃣ The shortlist will be opened to public voting in January – you’ll decide who takes the top spot! 👑

18/11/2024

Congrats to PC Green of TVP Mounted Section, passing her Intermediate thanks to training at Wellington Riding School - not to mention lots of hard work and skill! 👏👏👏

14/11/2024

ISLE OF WIGHT: It's official, we're going to hold TWO mounted games nights next year!

We had such a laugh running our first one back in August, we thought we'd have twice the fun in 2025... save the dates 🏇🏆🤩

13/11/2024

Do you know the signs of colic in your horse?

Colic can occur at any time of the year in both grass-kept and stabled horses. How can you spot the early signs of colic? 🔍

Here are the 5 REACT signs to look for 👇
😖🐎 Restless or agitated
🍎🥕❌ Eating less or droppings reduced
🤕 Abdominal pain
🤔🔁 Clinical changes
😴😔 Tired or lethargic

Download our Emergency Care Plan today 👉https://www.bhs.org.uk/horse-care-and-welfare/ownership-loaning/owning-a-horse/emergency-decision-making/

12/11/2024

Get ready to dive into the awe-inspiring world of The Kelpies and other equine giants! 🎉 Join us on Monday, 25th November 2024, from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM (GMT) for an incredible online talk with Andy Scott, the creative genius behind The Kelpies. 🐴✨

Andy will take us behind the scenes of his monumental sculptures, sharing the journey of bringing these iconic 100ft steel horses to life! Hear about his inspirations, challenges, and triumphs in creating these towering equine wonders and learn about other spectacular sculptures in his portfolio.

🌍 Where: Online via Teams
🎟️ Cost: £5
🎥 Can’t make it live? No worries! Grab a recording ticket, and you’ll get access to the talk afterward.

11/11/2024

Wonderful news - our BHS Volunteer of The Year is none other than the Isle of Wight teams chairperson, Andrea Durham! 🙌

We have a fantastic volunteer team on the island, who are great fun to work with. Check out the link in the original post if you'd like yo find out about joining them!