_GG_
Well-Known Member
So, I have been thinking about this for some time now, please bear with me.
I know many people on the forum enjoy their anonymity, so before I say more, what I propose would not mean that anyone would have to share their real name/personal details with anyone else on the forum.
Also, if people read this and think it's a good idea and enough people want to do it to justify me making it happen, I will not handle any money in payment for accommodation or food etc. We are adults, we can look after ourselves and I won't put myself in that position.
So, what is it?
Basically, I would like to gauge the level of interest in a weekend (Fri-Sun) either at the beginning or end of this coming 2014 summer. I know that there are a few dates still available at the David Broome Event Centre which many people already know, or I can find something more centred. I initially thought of Broomies as I know them and the facilities are all there.
I would propose a weekend of roughly the following:-
Friday - just having an introductory night all saying hello, getting acquainted and having a bit of a drink (or not, whatever you prefer), some food and a laugh.
Saturday - AM round table forum with experts from the fields of all of the main three disciplines of dressage, SJ and eventing, (possibly driving and also possibly western), Equine specific vet (possibly one of the very best depending on date) and an equine welfare officer.
This would generally be a forum whereby questions would be voted on in advance by all attending and answered on the day by the relevant expert, opening the floor to Q&A on each point.
Saturday PM - A tour around an international competition yard. I have 5 in mind and have spoken to them all, if this is a go go, I can organise and put details of yards for all attending to vote on. Tour, then evening meal on way back to Broomies and an evening of general chat again.
Sunday AM - If people want this, I could do one of two things for the Sunday morning.
A/ A demonstration by an international rider ( I have a few that are willing and can put to vote of goes ahead depending on date)
B/ If held at Broomies, there would be the option to bring your horses with you for the weekend. If this happened, there would be time Saturday early morning, lunch and evening to ride/exercise and then on the Sunday morning, I could arrange for highly regarded instructors to give walk around coaching. This being a system whereby there is a flatwork arena and a jump arena (possibly two of each depending on demand) and you ride for yourselves but with the instructor there to coach and advise. So, the instructors see you warm up, then get an introduction to you and your horse, learn what you would like to work on and then watch you, giving you exercises, tips, coaching and advice as the session runs. This way, the level of work is irrelevant, everyone can benefit and stay within their comfort zones. The instructors will be qualified to teach to at least Advanced Medium dressage and Foxhunter level, but I may be able to get an FBHS instructor there as well.
Sunday PM would be casual lunch, goodbyes, heading home. Of course some may need to leave early, but lessons could be arranged to begin at 8am.
Now, whether this would be held at the David Broome Event Centre (Cricklands) or elsewhere, all payment for accommodation would have to be arranged directly with the centre, but there would be a reference for you to use to ensure you get the rate I am able to arrange (I have a habit of being able to arrange things for next to nothing so it won't be expensive).
Now, this may be a complete no go, which is fine. I don't mind either way.
That said, if any of you would like the opportunity to meet up with fellow HHOers and enjoy a weekend of horsey talk/activity with some expert input (you'll be glad to hear it won't be from me, lol) then please respond by replying to the thread with your thoughts and asking to be put on a list of potential attendees.
Unless it is a horrible idea and gets canned or poo pooed, I'll leave this running until the end of Jan and we can make the decision of whether or not to go ahead. I will be able to post dates for Cricklands on Wednesday as they are confirming them to me on Wednesday morning and I will then be able to post details of what experts will be available for round table and what yards will be available for a tour on each of the dates hopefully by the end of next week.
If you want an idea of how I can organise things, take a look here....(you might want to skip a few pages as the thank you's started before the actual event, lol). There were 160 people at this, 104 bikes on the rideout. I am not showing off...it was a hellish weekend for me as very emotional BUT, if I were considering attending an event, I would at least want to know the person/people organising were capable, so here you go. I've done loads, this being my most memorable.
http://forums.sv650.org/showthread.php?t=155549&highlight=gruntygiggles&page=5
So, away you go. Have a think and let me know. It is a very rough proposal, I do have a lot more but no point going into it if this is a no go.
Oh, if anyone did want to bring their horses, I would have at least one qualified groom on site depending on numbers of horses for when we would do a yard tour on the Saturday PM. Cricklands has plenty of stables available to hire for the weekend and lots of in hand grazing. I also know the place very well so can advise on some fantastic forest hacks for anyone that wanted to do that on the Sunday, but they are a short trip in a box to get to.
I'll stop typing now
Let me know what you think. I personally would love to meet you all, by real name, username, I don't care...I just like the idea and wondered if anyone else would?
I know many people on the forum enjoy their anonymity, so before I say more, what I propose would not mean that anyone would have to share their real name/personal details with anyone else on the forum.
Also, if people read this and think it's a good idea and enough people want to do it to justify me making it happen, I will not handle any money in payment for accommodation or food etc. We are adults, we can look after ourselves and I won't put myself in that position.
So, what is it?
Basically, I would like to gauge the level of interest in a weekend (Fri-Sun) either at the beginning or end of this coming 2014 summer. I know that there are a few dates still available at the David Broome Event Centre which many people already know, or I can find something more centred. I initially thought of Broomies as I know them and the facilities are all there.
I would propose a weekend of roughly the following:-
Friday - just having an introductory night all saying hello, getting acquainted and having a bit of a drink (or not, whatever you prefer), some food and a laugh.
Saturday - AM round table forum with experts from the fields of all of the main three disciplines of dressage, SJ and eventing, (possibly driving and also possibly western), Equine specific vet (possibly one of the very best depending on date) and an equine welfare officer.
This would generally be a forum whereby questions would be voted on in advance by all attending and answered on the day by the relevant expert, opening the floor to Q&A on each point.
Saturday PM - A tour around an international competition yard. I have 5 in mind and have spoken to them all, if this is a go go, I can organise and put details of yards for all attending to vote on. Tour, then evening meal on way back to Broomies and an evening of general chat again.
Sunday AM - If people want this, I could do one of two things for the Sunday morning.
A/ A demonstration by an international rider ( I have a few that are willing and can put to vote of goes ahead depending on date)
B/ If held at Broomies, there would be the option to bring your horses with you for the weekend. If this happened, there would be time Saturday early morning, lunch and evening to ride/exercise and then on the Sunday morning, I could arrange for highly regarded instructors to give walk around coaching. This being a system whereby there is a flatwork arena and a jump arena (possibly two of each depending on demand) and you ride for yourselves but with the instructor there to coach and advise. So, the instructors see you warm up, then get an introduction to you and your horse, learn what you would like to work on and then watch you, giving you exercises, tips, coaching and advice as the session runs. This way, the level of work is irrelevant, everyone can benefit and stay within their comfort zones. The instructors will be qualified to teach to at least Advanced Medium dressage and Foxhunter level, but I may be able to get an FBHS instructor there as well.
Sunday PM would be casual lunch, goodbyes, heading home. Of course some may need to leave early, but lessons could be arranged to begin at 8am.
Now, whether this would be held at the David Broome Event Centre (Cricklands) or elsewhere, all payment for accommodation would have to be arranged directly with the centre, but there would be a reference for you to use to ensure you get the rate I am able to arrange (I have a habit of being able to arrange things for next to nothing so it won't be expensive).
Now, this may be a complete no go, which is fine. I don't mind either way.
That said, if any of you would like the opportunity to meet up with fellow HHOers and enjoy a weekend of horsey talk/activity with some expert input (you'll be glad to hear it won't be from me, lol) then please respond by replying to the thread with your thoughts and asking to be put on a list of potential attendees.
Unless it is a horrible idea and gets canned or poo pooed, I'll leave this running until the end of Jan and we can make the decision of whether or not to go ahead. I will be able to post dates for Cricklands on Wednesday as they are confirming them to me on Wednesday morning and I will then be able to post details of what experts will be available for round table and what yards will be available for a tour on each of the dates hopefully by the end of next week.
If you want an idea of how I can organise things, take a look here....(you might want to skip a few pages as the thank you's started before the actual event, lol). There were 160 people at this, 104 bikes on the rideout. I am not showing off...it was a hellish weekend for me as very emotional BUT, if I were considering attending an event, I would at least want to know the person/people organising were capable, so here you go. I've done loads, this being my most memorable.
http://forums.sv650.org/showthread.php?t=155549&highlight=gruntygiggles&page=5
So, away you go. Have a think and let me know. It is a very rough proposal, I do have a lot more but no point going into it if this is a no go.
Oh, if anyone did want to bring their horses, I would have at least one qualified groom on site depending on numbers of horses for when we would do a yard tour on the Saturday PM. Cricklands has plenty of stables available to hire for the weekend and lots of in hand grazing. I also know the place very well so can advise on some fantastic forest hacks for anyone that wanted to do that on the Sunday, but they are a short trip in a box to get to.
I'll stop typing now
Let me know what you think. I personally would love to meet you all, by real name, username, I don't care...I just like the idea and wondered if anyone else would?
