In House Clinics!

Hello Everyone!  

We are very excited for the clinics the next two days.  Here are the horse assignments and times for tomorrow. As many riders requested the same horses, we will switch up the horse assignments for Tuesday so everyone gets a chance to ride their favourites.  Times for Tuesday will be given to riders tomorrow.

Riders are asked to be mounted 5 min prior to their lesson time  so we can stay on schedule.  Please be sure to be courteous and stay out of the way of the previous lesson.  

MORNING LESSONS

Ring One

Group 1: 9:00 - 9:45am 

Jessie - Denver

Emily J - Bert

Group 2: 9:45 - 10:30am 

Bianca - Athena

Amy - Freaky

Group 3: 10:30 - 11:15am 

Erika - Snoopy

Karen - Noah

Group 4: 11:15 - 12:15pm (longer lesson for 3 person semi) 

Ashley C. - Jynx

Emily H. - Herc

Emily D. - Rumba

Ring Two:

Group 1: 9:00 - 9:45am 

Helen - Mac

Allison - Abby or Godiva (your choice)

Group 2: 9:45 - 10:30am

Avery - Charlotte

Laura C. - Apple Pie or Reggie (your choice)

Group 3: 10:30am - 11:15am

Hope - Freckles

Sarah - Richelle

Group 4: 11:15 - 12:15pm (longer lesson for 3 person semi)

Lauren - Georgie 

Katie - Apple Pie

Emily F. - Jazz

LUNCH: 12:15 - 12:45pm.  Pizza lunch with snacks will be provided.

Dressage Tests:

Riders should learn the appropriate test for their level:

Entry Test 2

Pre-training Test 2
Training Test 2

Riders can mount 20 min before their time to warm up and will ride the same horse as they rode in the AM.

1:00 - Amy

1:05 - Bianca

1:10 - Helen

1:15 - Katie

1:20 - Lauren

1:25 - Emily F.

1:30 - Jessie

1:35 - Emily J

1:40 - Hope 

1:45 - Sarah

1:50 - Laura

1:55 - Avery

2:00 - Erika

2:05 - Karen

2:10 - Ashley

2:15 - Emily H.

2:20 - Emily D 

Video Footage Review: 2:30 - 4:00pm

We look forward to seeing everyone back at the barn!

Nikki

Session Three Lessons: Jan 4th – Feb 28th

* IMPORTANT INFO FOR ALL STUDENTS - PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO READ!*

Horseback riding is a year-round sport (our lesson sessions are just to track payments) so riders are assumed to be continuing in the following session unless you notify us that you need to make a change.  We do recognize that there will be some unpleasant days in the upcoming months but thankfully they have changed the long-range forecast to say that this winter will be much milder than last year’s record-breaking cold.  To help make winter riding more enjoyable, we have implemented the following:

• HORSES IN – All riding school students will have their horses brought in for them so students do not have to go into the back field.  If for some reason your horse is not in, please let the tack-up help know and they will fetch them for you.
• Heated Lounge - The new office trailer will be heated and open for parents/spectators to hang out in when waiting at the barn.  There will be coffee, tea and hot chocolate available.  As of January, we will also have a camera hooked up in the big arena so you can view lessons on a TV from the comfort of the camp trailer!  Just a reminder that there is also a heated viewing room in the loft for the small arena and spectators are still welcome to watch from the tack room as well.
• Driveway - We have a new plowing company this winter – hopefully they will do a better job!  There will be two “passing areas” where the driveway is plowed wider - by the big pond and by the top of the hill by the paddocks.  Please be courteous to other drivers and pull over in these areas if you see a car coming to prevent anyone getting stuck in the snow banks on the sides of the driveway.
• Extreme weather cancellations – As in previous years, we will cancel lessons if the temperature is below -12c before the wind-chill or during unsafe driving conditions (heavy snow or icy rain).  NEW this year though – although Session 3 (Jan/Feb) is an 8-week session, we are only going to invoice for a 7 classes.  So if we have to cancel lessons, the first time we’re square.  If we have to cancel a second time, students can choose to either book a make up (can be in the follow session) or we can deduct the class off the March/April session.  If the weather is cooperative and you get all 8 classes in, we will just add the cost of the 8th class to the following session.  Hopefully, not having to contend with scheduling make-up lessons will allow more students to continue riding in the next session!

Also, we want to remind riders and parents that you need to dress for riding lessons in the winter months as an outdoor activity.  You wouldn’t go skiing dressed in leggings and running shoes – summer riding apparel is just as inappropriate for winter riding.  Riding throughout the winter can be warm and comfortable if you are dressed right!  In case you missed it before, here is the link to the tips or dressing for winter riding.

As we do expect that some students will not be able to continue during the winter (very young riders or those with other winter activities that conflict) we are asking all students to please resubmit their Lesson Availability form.  We will post the revised schedule on Friday, January 2nd. 

* Please note - if you choose not to continue next session, we cannot guarantee you will be able to return to the same spot in March/April.  Please email February 14th to re-enrol and to find out what spaces are available.

Holiday Schooling Show & Team Try-Outs - Saturday, Jan 3rd

The schooling show is open to ALL Raynham Stables students.  Our schooling shows are low-stress, a great learning opportunity as well as a ton of fun! 

In case the weather is chilly, we are going to run on our winter format again this year.  Riders will complete an equitation flat class then an equitation over fences round.  This way, all the classes can run in the big arena and divisions will last approx. 1 hour so riders so not have to wait around all day in the cold!

Division Descriptions

Grasshopper Division - $50.00

• Flat Class - Walk, posting trot, 2 point at the walk, reverse in the walk
• Over Fences - Trot pole course, 4 -6 sets of trot poles

Smurf Division - $50.00

• Flat Class - Walk, posting trot, 2-point in trot, individual canter
• Over Fences - Cross rail course, 6 fences, max. 2'

Pre-Entry Division - $70.00

• Flat Class - Walk, trot, canter, 2-point in all gaits, sitting trot
• Over Fences - 2'4" max course (verticals & oxers), related distaces (3+ strides),

Entry Division - $70.00

• Flat Class - All of pre-entry plus: sitting trot w/o stirrups & walk to canter transition
• Over Fences - 2'8" max course, required trot fence, combination (1 or 2 strides)

Pre-Traning Division - $70.00

• Flat Class - All of entry plus: canter w/o stirrups, canter to walk transition, leg yielding
• Over Fences - 3' max course, trot fence w/o stirrups, skinny fence, roll back turn & 1 stride combination.

Approximate Time Schedule

The actual times will be posted here on the blog by Thursday, Jan 1st.

10:00am - Pre-Training Division

11:00am - Entry Division

12:00pm - Pre-Entry Division

1:00pm - Smurf Division

2:00pm - Grasshopper Division

Show Team Try-Outs

For those hoping to compete in 2015, please check out the details on the website: http://www.raynhamstables.com/show-team.html.  Riders wishing to try-out for show team should indicate "Show Team" in the questions box on the Entry Form.   

In-House Clinics: Monday, Dec 29th & Tuesday, Dec 30th, 9:00am – 4:30pm

We will be offering the in-house clinics again this year!   Clinics are a great opportunity to brush up on your skills, get in extra saddle time (riders get to ride TWICE each day), learn through watching the other riders, prepare for the winter schooling show (if your planning to ride) and hang out at the barn!  Plus, can you imagine not riding for two full weeks off over the winter break?  The clinic is open to all riders novice level and above (able to jump a 2’4” course in canter.   If you would like to participate, simply reply to this email to reserve your space.  It is recommended that riders attend both days as the exercise on the dressage day will tie into the jumping lesson but we will accept riders for single days if the clinic is not full. The clinics make a terrific Christmas gift (certificates available).

Dates:

Dressage - Monday, Dec. 29th

Show Jumping - Tuesday, Dec. 30th

Clinic Format:

AM

Monday – 45min semi-private dressage lessons 

Tuesday – 1 hr. group jumping lessons 

LUNCH

Included: Pizza on Monday, Pasta on Tuesday.  Salad, snacks and drinks also included.

PM

Riders will ride a dressage test on Monday and a show jumping round on Tuesday while being videos.  After everyone has ridden, we will review the video footage with feedback from Nikki and Lindsay.

Pricing

• $88.50/day + HST = $100.00 (school horse)
• $79.65/day + HST = $90.00 (own horse)

Package Discount - Ride both days an save $30!

• $150.44 + HST = $170.00 (school horse)
• $123.74 + HST = $150.00 (own horse)

Extreme Weather Cancellation - Thursday, December 11th

Good Morning Thursday Riders!

I hope everyone is staying safe and warm this morning with all this crazy snow!  Our road and driveway are plowed but since none of the roads around us are plowed, getting here today is awfully tricky.  Since the snow is supposed to continue until this evening, we are cancelling classes tonight. We it is supposed to get quite warm this weekend and early next week so if you want to fit in your make-up in the next few days, just send me an email!

Drive safe today!

Nikki

Raynham Holiday and Awards Banquet & Winter Riding Tips

Hello Raynham Riders!

We hope everyone is surviving the early blast of winter!  It’s hard to believe it supposed to go back up to double digits next week!

Raynham Holiday and Awards Banquet – Friday, November 28th

Our 6th Annual Raynham Holiday and Awards Banquet is next Friday, November 28th!  We are going to have a terrific silent auction, door prizes, a delicious buffet dinner, music, dancing and our off-property high-point awards.  We would like to emphasize that the banquet is open to all of our riders and their friends and families.  It's great to see everyone out of your barn grubbies and have a fun evening out together!   We have chosen a new venue this year, Riverstone Golf Club at Hwy 427 & Zenway, and we’re very excited to get to party somewhere new!  

If you would like to reserve a ticket, please email by this Friday, November 21st. 

Tickets are $60.00/adult and $40/child under 12.   Payment can be made at the door or dropped off at the barn by next Wednesday.  Please make cheques payable to “Raynham Show Team”.   

Raynham Gear

Looking for a terrific Christmas Gift idea?  We are offering NEW Raynham Gear through Avid Equestrian.  Details will be posted on our website shortly, http://www.raynhamstables.com/raynham-gear.html. 

Winter Riding Tips

No one was prepared for the blast of cold weather this week!  Here are a few tips for staying warm in the cold:

- Dress in layers and make sure your base layers are moisture wicking.  Thermal long underwear designed for skiing is ideal!   Once you are riding you will warm up quickly so be sure your top layers have zippers so they can easily be removed when mounted.

- Head, hands and feet lose body heat quickly.  Wear winter boots with ski socks, warm gloves or mittens and a hat when tacking up.  Snowpants or sweatpants over your breeches is also a good idea for chilly days.  You can remove the extra layers and switch to riding boots and gloves right before you get on.

- When riding, a headband can fit under a helmet or a cozy helmet cover is also a great option.(http://greenhawk.com/wdItemDesc.asp?strilhID=Web&strmdNumber=DRD0912&stricSKU=DRD0912) 

- Winter specific riding boots (http://www.pleasantridge.ca/index.php/boot-winter-tall.html) and gloves (http://greenhawk.com/wdItemList.asp?strilhID=Web&strListType=Search&strSearchString=winter%20gloves) are awesome for staying comfortable during the winter months.  If you can’t purchase riding specific gear, your regular winter boots may be fine.  They need to have a ½” – 1 ½“ heel, not too chunky treads and the foot needs to be narrow enough to fit into the stirrup.  Ask your instructor to check if you are unsure.

- For those really cold days, hot packs (www.littlehottieswarmers.com) in gloves and boots are a great way to stay warm

Remember, we will cancel classes if the temperature drops below -12c without the wind-chill or if driving conditions are unsafe.  Please remember to check the blog during inclement weather in the winter months.

See you in the barn!

Nikki