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TCHCC – PART 22

29/01/2021 by admin | Comments Off

The Battle for Broxhead Common

The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 22
  1. 3rd February 1992. Planning Inspector D. A. Barker-Wyatt CBE gives his decision.
    PI Feb 1992 Broxhead, Barker-Wyatt06072019 (2)
  2. Paragraph 9 of his report speaks of ‘leased heathland’ to HCC rather than ‘common land’! It describes how the land had been cleared and a five-metre wide east-west way was fenced on both sides. The farm manager, “Mr Porter was not aware of any public right of way on the line of BW46 at the time or that BW46 had been added to the Definitive Map in 1965 after a Public Local Inquiry.” He must have completely forgotten a letter he sent to the Clerk of Headley Parish Council in June 1964 in which he says, “I have shown the Public Footpaths, as taken from the footpath map at the Alton R.D.C. Offices, and anyone wishing to ride or walk along the tracks from point A to B and C or D and E should continue to do so.”
    1964 Porter re paths14112020_0001
  3. Paragraph 12 discusses the farming and recreational interests of the ‘said landowner’ and Hampshire County Council “caused by alterations to the landscape over a period of 25 years.”!!! A misleading statement that does not qualify for ‘opennesss, transparency or accountability.’
  4. Paragraph 16 defines the legal width of the proposed route as 4-5 metres. It also notes the work to be done on the path in the best interests of its users. – NB: recent requests to HCC to have BW46 cleared produced replies to the effect that it was not one of their priorities. They do not it seems, acknowledge that ROW maintenance is a Statutory Duty which they signed up to here, rather than a power to prioritise.
  5. Paragraph 26 disguises the original problem which necessitated the making of the Order because the fencing around the 80 acres is still unauthorised.
  6. Paragraph 30 confirms the minimum width for the path of at least 4 metres and the groove on the surface to be regraded.
  7. Paragraph 35 shows the Inspector is aware of the frustration over the last ten years and obviously hopes that his confirmation of the Order will help in the satisfactory resolution of the other matters.
    Some hope as it turned out.
  8. The Order for the diversion of BW’s4 and 46 is confirmed

Next time: The ‘said landowner’ and Hampshire County Council have their way but has it helped the neighbourhood?

Safely transporting when injured!!

27/01/2021 by admin | Comments Off

TCHCC – PART 21

25/01/2021 by admin | Comments Off

The Battle for Broxhead Common

The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 21
  1. 10th December 1991. The Public Inquiry for the diversion of BW’s 4 & 46 was held.
  2. Colin Edward Piper, Rights of Way Manager for Hampshire County Council gives a statement.
    Colin Piper 1992 PI
  3. There are several minor errors e.g., he gives the wrong address. It should be Headley Wood Farm not Headley Down Farm, and on Paragraph 5 describes HCC as owners of the southern part of the common rather than lessees.
  4. Paragraph 13 explains why they are not using their powers under Sec.143 of the HA 1980 because they have been devolved to EHDC!
  5. Paragraph 15 records the proposed bridlepath will have a legal width of 5 metres but then describes how it is not presently maintained.
  6. Sad to say the promises made in this document for future maintenance have not been kept. Perhaps that is because the statement cites the powers of EHDC rather than the statutory duty for maintenance under the Highways Act 1980!
  7. Paragraph 24 shows that HCC have set up the narrative that the 80 acres is agricultural land which of course is FALSE.

Next time: The Decision of Planning Inspector Brigadier D. A. Barker-Wyatt.

TCHCC – PART 20

13/01/2021 by admin | Comments Off

The Battle for Broxhead Common

The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 20
  1. 15TH April 1992, is the date of a letter from the Office of the Commons Commissioners to a Mrs Bobby Lake.
    They confirm that the Commissioner for the Ownership hearing held on 22nd November 1990, had found the scale of the Map too small for the purposes of his Decision on the ownership inquiry which he held under Section 8 of the 1965 Act. For this reason, in giving his Decision he adopted larger scale plans supplied to him by the various claimants.
    CC to Bobby Lake20102020
  2. The question needs to be asked why the Registration Authority took it upon themselves to draw a much larger, “too large to copy map” showing the excluded 80 acres and then did not present it at this hearing?
  3. The Clerk also confirms that the Land Registry are correct in asserting that so far as the question of ownership of land is concerned their authority over-rides that of the Commons Commissioner.
  4. Mr Whitfield did not register ownership with the Land Registry until 2002.
  5. But we are getting ahead of the case. Let’s go back now to December 1991, and see what happened at the Public Inquiry into HCC’s third Order for the diversion of bridleways 4 & 46.

Next time: The Public Inquiry opens with a statement from the Hampshire County Council, Rights of Way Manager.

Albert & Ernie are off on an exciting day out.

12/01/2021 by admin | Comments Off

LAMINITIS WARNING

12/01/2021 by admin | Comments Off

King’s Troop horses ran amok in Charlton after a motorist sounded a car horn behind them

12/01/2021 by admin | Comments Off

The air ambulance landed outside Charlton House at 10.20am (Photo: Steve Hunnisett/charltonchampion.co.uk)

King’s Troop horses ran amok in Charlton this morning, causing injuries and a flood of emergency services to descend on Charlton Village.

(Photo: Steve Hunnisett/charltonchampion.co.uk)

Service personnel were hurt and an eyewitness at the scene told The Charlton Champion that one horse was taken away injured after the incident at about 10am. Other service personnel were said to be looking shaken.

One horse made it as far as Charlton Park Lane before being retrieved, hoof prints were left round Charlton Park.

One person was being treated outside Charlton House. Photo: Steve Hunnisett/charltonchampion.co.uk

It is understood the horses broke free after a motorist sounded a car horn behind them at about 10am. Ambulances were on the scene outside Charlton House for about an hour. An air ambulance arrived but left without taking a patient on board.

The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery, which is based at Woolwich Barracks, performs ceremonial duties at state occasions. It moved to the area in 2012 and the horses can regularly be seen being exercised in the neighbourhood, although training has been reduced to a minimum during the pandemic.

(Hoof prints can be seen all over Charlton Park (photo: Steve Hunnisett/charltonchampion.co.uk)

In February 2017, a soldier broke her neck trying to stop a gun carriage and runaway horses on exercises in Charlton Park.

An eyewitness, Anne James, had just driven through Charlton Village when she saw “a stream of horses rushing towards me”. She called an ambulance after seeing a rider fall from her horse.

“I could see that they were army horses and assumed they were running blindly because something had upset them – the clattering of their hooves at speed made quite a noise,” she told The Charlton Champion.

“Each rider led a second horse, and things were clearly out of control. There were at least a dozen horses, and some of them were slipping and sliding on the tarmac. They ran in front of my car and across the pavement, where they jumped a small wall then the boundary fence at the front of Charlton House.

“As I watched them head off across the grass, I saw one rider fall to the pavement – she held on to the reins and was dragged for a few seconds, but then let go and curled into a ball to protect herself from the horses that were still hurtling past her.”

An Army spokesperson told The Charlton Champion: “We can confirm a number of military personnel and horses from the King’s Troop, Royal Horse Artillery were injured whilst training this morning.

“The injured personnel are receiving medical treatment and the horses are being assessed. It would be inappropriate to comment further at this time.”

Wheeeeee…….

11/01/2021 by admin | Comments Off

Who remembers Mr Ed??

11/01/2021 by admin | Comments Off

Where horse dreams get started

TCHCC – PART 19

06/01/2021 by admin | Comments Off

The Battle for Broxhead Common

The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 19

1. 26th November 1991 is the date of a reply from Edward Mason, Assistant County Secretary, to the treacherous Mr. Connell. It was he who had sold his rights of common over the 80 acres to the even more perfidious landlord. He had written to ask about the fencing around his own property Lindford Bridge House.

2. In paragraph 2 of this letter, Edward Mason states: “The simple fact is that Mr Squibb the Chief Commons Commissioner directed the land in question to be registered as Common Land; Section 10 of the 1965 Act operates to make the register entry conclusive for all purposes.” He goes on to say; “The notice refers to two plans…. I have not copied GDS2 which is a very much larger (and difficult to copy) ‘plan,’ but shows outlined in red the land which had been fenced by Mr Whitfield.”
HCC Ted Mason letter to Connell27012016

3. Three points to note here:

– By the “notice” I believe he is referring to the Final Determination Notice (FDN). That refers not to two plans but to ‘a plan’ or ‘the plan’ in the singular. Confirmed in the Land Decision 1, third paragraph.
– Importantly he acknowledges that Mr Squibb’s decision is final and cannot be changed.
– Reference to the exceedingly small plans used by the CCC have been recorded. (see Part 18), therefore any large plans have been created by HCC for themselves.

4. The third paragraph of the letter from Mason states that, “the erection of a fence, for whatever reason, requires the consent of the Secretary of State because it denies access for the commoners who have rights over the land in question.” It therefore cannot be said that he did not know that the consent of the Secretary of State was required for the fencing around the 80 acres especially as the Consent Order of the CA confirms application would be needed under Sec.194 LPA 1925, to retain the fencing. In choosing to ignore that requirement, HCC are again in contempt of court.

Next time: Mrs Bobby Lake receives an answer to her enquiries from the Commons Commissioner’s Office.

Happy New Year

02/01/2021 by admin | Comments Off

Wishing everyone a Happy and prosperous 2021

Horseytalk is a site for all horse owners and riders and their other pets.
Tell us what you would like to say or discuss and send us your images

info@horseytalk.net

Remember

02/01/2021 by admin | Comments Off

Great idea

UPSETTING IMAGES: Two sheep killed in hit and run in the New Forest

02/01/2021 by admin | Comments Off

The pair were struck by a vehicle at the same location where three donkeys were recently killed

Roger Penny Way

There’s been another fatal accident involving livestock on Roger Penny Way – the second in just over two weeks.

On 28th December two sheep died after being struck by a vehicle on the road near the crossroads to Fritham and Bramshaw.

Motorist Lisa Calvert came across the sheep just before 6pm.

“The sheep were in the road and I thought they were just trying to keep warm on the tarmac so stopped to move them on, but then when the first one didn’t get up when I opened my car door I knew instantly what had happened, then saw the other one and part of the car in the road so I managed to text my friend Jade Palmer and get her to ring the agister and come help me. As I was trying to phone Jade the furthest sheep from me died and I could see the second one was trying to get up.”

Lisa and her friend kept the second sheep still until an agister arrived on the scene.

The agister who attended, Robert Maton, has told Greatest Hits Radio Salisbury that the sheep had broken its back and the animal had to be put out of its misery.

He praised the pair for “doing the right thing and keeping the sheep calm” by covering its head with a coat.

two sheep struck by a vehicle on Roger Penny Way on the 28th December

Part of the bumper from the vehicle involved in the collision, believed to be an Audi, was found at the scene.

Lisa says there’s “no excuses” for driving off after hitting livestock and hopes the person involved will “come forward and own up to what you have done.”

“I just don’t know how anyone can live with themselves knowing the left them at the side of the road to suffer.”

part of bumper found at scene of crash where two sheep died

Part of the bumper of the vehicle involved in the collision was found at the scene

SECOND FATAL CRASH AT SAME SPOT THIS MONTH

On December 12th three donkeys died instantly on the same spot on the B3078 after being hit by a van, on that occasion the driver did stop.

Roger Penny Way

That incident lead to six organisations across the New Forest issuing a joint statement urging drivers to take extra care and to slow down.

“We appeal to drivers to please slow down on the unfenced roads of the New Forest. The Commoners’ animals are out all year round, day and night, and you should expect them to be on the roads or to step out without warning.’

YOU MUST REPORT ACCIDENTS WITH LIVESTOCK

You are legally obliged to report all accidents involving a pony, cow, donkey, pig or sheep to the Police as soon as possible, and within 24hrs at the latest. Call the Police on 999 (for an emergency) or 101 (non-emergency).

numbers showing who to call if involved in an accident with livestock on New Forest

TCHCC – PART 18

10/12/2020 by admin | Comments Off

The Battle for Broxhead Common

The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 18
  1. In the meantime, while waiting for HCC’s Order to come to Public Inquiry for the third time on:
     
  2. 25th March 1991, a decision with regards to ownership of various parts of the common land, is received by John Ellis, from Commons Commissioner, Martin Roth.
    Broxhead OWNERSHIP registration 1991 Page 1-6 20092020
     
  3. There are several points of interest in this report.
    • Bottom of first page: The Commissioner states: “The Land section and the Rights section were confirmed with numerous modifications after many days of hearings before Chief Commons Commissioner Mr George Squibb in 1974. The history of the land is gone into at length in Mr Squibb’s Decision No.2 dated 22nd November 1974.”
       
  4. Note the date and complete absence of any mention of anything appertaining to the removal of 80 acres of Broxhead Common from the Register! 
    •  On page 2, in dealing with Mr Whitfield’s claim it states that: “the plan is not too easy to reconcile with the Register Map which is on a much smaller scale,” and on page 5 paragraph 3, “the plan prepared by the County Council was on such a minute scale that it is impossible to tell therefore how much of Mr Jeffree’s land was excluded from the Common.”
       
    • It is also striking that from the list of documents produced as proof of ownership for Mr Whitfield, there is no sign of the Consent Order from the Court of Appeal!? This must be the only time that it has not been shown as evidence, that because the Hampshire County Council rent the rest of the common land from him, he must be the owner. Maybe the reason for its absence is that the Commons Commissioner would have interpreted the terms of the Consent Order correctly and asked to see the consent from the Secretary of State for the retention of the fencing. He may even have asked why HCC were renting land when there was no registered owner!

NEXT TIME: Were Hampshire County Council just mistaken in what they were doing or was it a deliberate attempt to collaborate or conspire in the theft of 80 acres of Broxhead Common?

TCHCC – PART 17

03/12/2020 by admin | Comments Off

The Battle for Broxhead Common

The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 17
  1. It is settled law that commoner’s may not ‘let, lease or lend’ their rights of common. Also, all the other commoners would have had to agree to dispossess themselves of their rights to extinguish them. If this were not the case, then common land would have ceased to exist at all.
     
  2. The Commons Commissioner’s Decision is final at the date of registration, in this case that was 24th May 1978. His decision had been tested in the High Court and confirmed by the Court of Appeal. His Land Decision (1) says:
    Broxhead Final LAND Decision 197417072020 (2)
  3. The Broxhead Commoners Association which had been created by John Ellis on 6th June 1968, was fighting for the whole common to be registered. There was no way they would have agreed to compromise the Decision by letting the land to anyone, let alone the County Council, but they were never asked for their consent!!!
     
  4. HCC published the narrative that, there were only two commoners with rights east of the B3004, one had been excluded by the High Court. The remaining commoner, Mr Connell sold his rights over the 80 acres which extinguished them. All other commoners had rights over the other side of the B3004 only.!!
     
  5. Broxhead Commoners could never understand their sudden loss of rights and access over the 80 acres which had existed for centuries.
     
  6. Nevertheless, HCC carried on regardless of the local objections by renting the remaining 100 acres from the ‘said landowner’.
     
  7. In fact, there are no pre-registration title deeds to show any ownership of the common land. On the contrary in fact.
     

NEXT TIME: False information can be conveyed as effectively by omission rather than written or spoken. The Commons Commissioners consider ownership of the common land.

TCHCC – PART 16

25/11/2020 by admin | Comments Off

The Battle for Broxhead Common

The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 16
  1. Until the year 2000, Hampshire County Council had an arrangement that made East Hampshire District Council responsible for Rights of Way in the District.  So, I wrote to the Leader of the District Council Barry Hopcroft.  His reply came on:
     
  2. 2nd May 1990. In which he says, ‘bridleways on the common have been something of a problem since the landowner fenced parts of it.’
    1990 Hopcroft Leader EHDC letter to MC23082020
     
  3. 24th  May 1990, I wrote to Sir James Scott, Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire, again asking how we could maintain our rights in law when the Authority who should enforce it refuses to do so?
    MC to Sir James Scott May 1990
     
  4. This of course was the nub of the problem. In not abiding by the Schedule to the dismissal of the case from the Court of appeal Hampshire County Council were not only in contempt of court but promoting misleading and false information.  When a significant County Council such as Hampshire make a mistake and keep repeating it, other government bodies will tend to accept it, especially when the waters have been so cleverly muddied.
     
  5. 7th  November 1990, the incoming County Bridleways Access Officer for the BHS, Mrs Grace Ritchie wrote to HCC’s David Pryke
    Grace Ritchie to David Pryke
     

Next time: HCC had ignored and broken the law in more ways than one and have incriminated themselves yet again.

TCHCC – PART 15

19/11/2020 by admin | Comments Off

The Battle for Broxhead Common

The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 15
  1. In the meantime, I wrote to everyone I could think of who could help to restore the lost link of the bridleway.
     
  2. 6th and 29th October 1989, I receive replies from Sir James Scott, Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire. He says he remembers the problem from his involvement with Rights of Way and hopes that the Nature Conservancy Council will not be too selfish and narrow minded over their common!!??
    Scott Sir James of Rotherfield14092020.pdf 29 OCT 1989
    Sir James Scott 6.10.1989
     
  3. 20th February 1990 I wrote again to my MP Michael Mates asking for help in getting a bridleway on to Broxhead Common from the C102. A reply came to him on:
     
  4. 7th March 1990 from the Assistant County Secretary, Edward Mason in which he says: “The only stumbling block in the way of achieving this additional bridleway is the Nature Conservancy Council” !!
    Broxhead Correspondence 1980-90_0009.jpgEDWARD MASON RE NCC
     
  5. 26th April 1990 Christine Witherby, one of the local horse riders wrote to Bill Bide about the lack of a bridleway link or circular ride on Broxhead Common. He replied on:
     
  6. 26th April 1990. He says the NCC say there is no reason why a route should not be cleared on scientific grounds, but they do not wish to encourage horse riders on to the common which is sensitive in ecological terms! 3
    Bide to Witherby re NCC & Broxhead_1990 0002 (5)
     

Next time:  It seems the Quangos are taking control and over-riding democracy with the support of the local councils?

TCHCC – PART 14

12/11/2020 by admin | Comments Off

The Battle for Broxhead Common

Gate to path between unauthorised fence and FC

The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 14
  1. Hampshire County Council were still hell bent on obtaining the Diversion Order for BW4 and BW46. They would make yet another Order in 1990.
     
  2. This would be their third attempt to regularise diversions caused by the unauthorised fencing.
     
  3. Could we restore our bridleway link this time? It was now more important than ever because in 1988, the ‘landowner’ had locked the gates to the only path which everyone used between the Forestry Commission fence and his unauthorised fencing in order to reach the other two bridleways on the common. That is two out of the 23 original tracks remember.
    1989 letter Headley Wood closure of the only access to BW46 Broxhead Common19092018
     
  4. Gillian Potter, BHS County Chair at that time, wrote to Mr David Pryke, HCC Rights of Way Officer, pointing out that her predecessors Brigadier Eggar and Col. Archer-Shea had also been concerned about the need to rationalise the bridleways system in the area.
    Gillian Potter to Pryke
     
  5. 7th February 1989, a reply comes from Assistant county secretary, Edward Mason, sending her a copy of the Court of Appeal Order, and telling her the 80 acres is not common land!!?? This is misleading and false information. He follows up with another letter dated:
    Mason to Potter 1989
     
  6. 28th March 1989 shortly after their doomed Public Inquiry, in which he says, “Maureen Comber has been advised to work up a case for a Creation Order for the bridleway link.”
    HCC Edward Mason 1989 letter06092020
     
  7. Is it just the ‘said owner’ as well as East Hampshire District Council’s Rights of Way Department that is frustrating the attempt to rationalise the bridleway network over Broxhead Common?
     

Gate to path between unauthorised fence and FC

Next time: Apparently not. There appears to be another dissident.

TCHCC – PART 13

05/11/2020 by admin | Comments Off

The Battle for Broxhead Common

The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 13
  1. 4TH September 1989. The Decision for Hampshire County Council’s Diversion Order is given by Planning Inspector, Captain G. F. Laslett CBE C Eng RN.
    1989 Planning Inspectorate 198830082020.pdf LASLETT
     
  2. It is interesting to note the references to ‘the farmed land’ rather than the farmland or demesne lands of the farm, in his report. Paragraph 5 refers to “the ‘said owner’ leased the other land crossed by bridleways to Hampshire County Council”, rather than ‘the owner’, or to the ‘leased land’ rather than ‘common land’.
     
  3. Paragraph 10 confirms that HCC were unable to find any record of the 1965 Public Inquiry where part of BW4 had been downgraded to FP.!?
     
  4. Paragraph 12 refers to the gates which have been a constant problem for obstruction. There are at least half a dozen of them in this relatively small area.
     
  5. Paragraph 13 reveals the frustration felt by The British Horse Society because of the unhelpfulness of the East Hampshire District Council in removing obstructions!
     
  6. Paragraph 20/21 confirms a healthy mutual regard between the Hampshire County Council’s Principal Rights of Way Officer and the Objectors, as he finishes by DECIDING NOT TO CONFIRM THE ORDER.
     

NEXT TIME:  Is it third time lucky for Hampshire County Council’s Diversion Order?

TCHCC – PART 12

29/10/2020 by admin | Comments Off

The Battle for Broxhead Common


Says Maureen:
“I think this must be the biggest Government cover up ever, of a crooked Council that steals the peoples common land!  Disgraceful.”

The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 12
  1. Because of the continuing objections to the Order, Public Inquiry took place on:
     
  2. 21st March 1989. The Report of the Principal Rights of Way Officer for HCC makes interesting reading, if only because at paragraph 8 he says, “At that time, Hampshire County Council, as lessees of 100 acres of Broxhead Common, were in the process of implementing part of an Order from the Court of Appeal dated 24th May 1978.”
    Bill Bide Principal ROW Officer HCC March 89 PI15072019
     
  3. This is misleading because the CA had ordered nothing other than the dismissal of the case from that Court. However the Schedule, that is the agreement the Parties had come to, was not being implemented correctly. HCC were cherry picking the parts they wanted to and ignoring the instruction to apply to the Secretary of State for the fencing. However, as we would see, if a story is repeated often enough and particularly if it is by a government authority, the inclination is to accept it as the truth. Time after time HCC would say that they had been ordered to remove the 80 acres of Broxhead Common, by the Court of Appeal, or the High Court, although very recently that has changed slightly to the Chief Commons Commissioner! That is FALSE INFORMATION, but we didn’t know that then of course.
     

Next time: The Planning Inspector gives his decision.

TCHCC – PART 11

22/10/2020 by admin | Comments Off

The Battle for Broxhead Common

The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 11
  1. It should be remembered that the unauthorised fencing obstructed some 23 tracks used by horse riders over Broxhead Common, as noted by Cllr. John Ellis to the 1965 Public Inquiry about Rights of Way.
    Broxhead Correspondence 1980-90_0023
     
  2. We were advised by HCC, that if we were seen to be reasonable and not object to the Order, then there was a good chance of obtaining the missing link from the C102 to BW46, by upgrading FP54 to bridleway. This advice had been tested before during the 1970’s, when the landowner had applied and succeeded in getting the bridleway diverted because he could just about see it from his house! The advice had not worked then and would probably not work now, but we did not wish to be seen to be unreasonable.  So, ignoring the continuing discontent from Headley Parish Council, in:
     
  3. 1987 another Order is made by Hampshire County Council to divert BW4 and BW46.
     
  4. Sadly, it did not include our missing link!
     
  5. Gillian Potter, BHS County Chair, wrote to Mr David Pryke, HCC Rights of Way Officer, pointing out that her predecessors Brigadier Eggar and Col. Archer-Shea had also been concerned about the need to rationalise the bridleways system in the area.
    Gillian Potter to Pryke
     
  6. 7th February 1989, a reply came from Assistant county secretary, Edward Mason, sending her a copy of the Court of Appeal Order, and telling her the 80 acres is not common land!!?? This is misleading and false information.
    Mason to Potter 1989
     
  7. 23rd March 1988, I wrote to Bill Bide explaining why I thought the missing link should be included.
    HCC letter from me 198806092020

 
NEXT TIME: The report of the Principal Rights of Way Officer for HCC to the Public Inquiry which followed makes interesting reading.

TCHCC – PART 10

16/10/2020 by admin | Comments Off

The Battle for Broxhead Common

The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 10
  1. 31st January 1983. When the proposal from Hampshire County Council arrived, to divert certain bridleways on Broxhead Common the response from Headley Parish Council is somewhat negative. But on:
    1984 HPC REJECT DIVERSIONS
     
  2. 15th July 1983, minutes of the Rights of Way Sub-Committee of HCC show that the public and press were excluded from an item on commons registration because of the confidential nature of the business involved. It is difficult to imagine how anything to do with common land could warrant such secrecy!?
    CRA Secret meeting 1983
     
  3. 30th January 1984, Headley Parish Council minutes again refer to their objection to the bridleway diversions, because of the unlawful fencing of the common.
     
  4. It later transpired that Hampshire County Council had in fact made an Order promoting the diversion of the bridleways in 1982 but it was opposed and later cancelled because of a drafting error!
     
  5. 6th February 1985, when queried by my Clerk as to the nature of the drafting error it appears that BW46 was shown on the plan as a footpath!
    Headley PC proposed diversion of BW’s on Broxhead Common
     
  6. NEXT TIME:Another Order is made in September 1987.It had to go to Public Inquiry. The Objectors were, Headley Parish Council, The British Horse Society and Mrs M. C. Comber as Chair of Kingsley Parish Council, to name but three.

TopSpec – Feeding the Older Horse

10/10/2020 by admin | Comments Off

Horseytalk.net Special Interview

Feeding the Older Horse

TopChop-GRASS

There are several factors to consider when feeding an older horse, such as his activity level, the environmental conditions, and any health concerns. Whilst he remains in good health, his diet may not need to change. However, as certain problems develop, alterations to his regime are more likely to be necessary. These health problems can include:

(1) Reduced dental function:

Over time the grinding surface of the teeth wear down and horses may suffer from fractured or missing teeth, diastema (gaps between the teeth) and periodontal disease. A six-monthly visit from a qualified Equine Dental Technician or vet is essential. However, hay replacers will inevitably become necessary.

A decline in dental function is often highlighted during winter, as horses are relying on conserved forage, which is more difficult to chew. When they are no longer able to chew long fibre effectively, it often leads to weight loss and loose droppings.

(2) Musculoskeletal problems:

A culmination of wear and tear can result in problems such as arthritis. As a result, reduced activity, muscle wastage and stiffness can be seen. Regular, gentle exercise and plenty of turnout can help. Supplementation with the scientifically recommended level of glucosamine (10g/500kg horse/day), as well as MSM, can also be beneficial.

(3) Hormonal disease:

Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (PPID) or Cushing’s is a common hormonal disorder in older horses. Insulin dysregulation is often associated with PPID and increases the risk of laminitis. Therefore, total diets should be low (<10 – 12%) in Non-Structural Carbohydrates (NSC) i.e. sugar and starch. Muscle breakdown can also develop as PPID progresses, so high quality protein is essential.

(4) Immune system compromise:

Age, as well as PPID, can affect immune function. To provide nutritional support for the immune system, diets should contain optimum levels of certain micronutrients particularly antioxidants such as vitamin A, E and selenium. Mannan Oligosaccharides (MOS) have also been found to be beneficial, whilst vitamin C has a role to play in lung health.

Dietary recommendations:

Forage
Forage is the foundation of any horse’s diet and older horses are no exception.
A constant supply of fibre is essential to maintain a healthy digestive system, with optimal gut motility and balanced hindgut microflora. As dental function declines, it becomes increasingly important to provide suitable fibre sources.
Haylage can be easier for an older horse to manage, when compared to a mature, coarse hay. Straw-based chops should be avoided but soft, short chopped grass can be used as a hay/haylage replacer for a short period.
However, fibre in a pre-ground form rapidly becomes essential, and can be supplied by using a mash that is high in fibre or soaked fibre cubes.

TOPSPEC-Fibre-Plus

Hard Feeds
• Healthy older horse in good condition:
Horses that can maintain their level of work, without any significant health concerns, may be able to continue on their previous diet providing it is fully-balanced. The addition of a supplement including glucosamine and MSM may be sensible at this stage. Alternatively, there are top specification feed balancers available that include the recommended level of glucosamine and provide a very economical solution.

• Overweight older horse:
With age, workload will usually reduce and eventually lead to retirement. This means that if they remain healthy, certain older horses can be prone to weight gain.

Feeding a top specification ‘lite’ feed balancer or multi-supplement is ideal. The best contain both general purpose and specialised supplements, including those for hooves, bone, muscle, blood, joints, the immune system and the digestive tract.

• Underweight older horse:
As health issues develop, many older horses are likely to experience weight loss.
Hard feeds should be nutrient-dense and not exceed the horse’s maximum meal size e.g. 2kg for a 500kg horse. A top specification, conditioning feed balancer will supply amino acids, vitamins, minerals, trace elements and yeast products, and will improve the utilisation of the rest of the diet.
Most top specification, conditioning feed balancers contain high quality protein sources. Protein promotes muscle development and topline, which frequently wastes away in older horses.
As older horses are gradually able to eat less fibre, and therefore may suffer from disturbances in the hindgut microbial balance, feeds that are high in starch and sugar should be avoided.
Adding a low sugar/starch, conditioning blend to a top specification feed balancer will provide a very successful solution for older horses.

TopSpec-Comprehensive

Article supplied by nutritionists from the TopSpec Multiple Award-Winning-Helpline. They can be contacted, free of charge, on 01845-565030.

For further information please contact the Multiple Award-Winning Helpline on 01845 565030 or visitwww.topspec.com

TCHCC – PART 9

09/10/2020 by admin | Comments Off

The Battle for Broxhead Common

The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 9
  1. Local people were by now not only puzzled, but frustrated and angry at the curious outcome, and on:
     
  2. 21st January 1980, Headley Parish Council minutes how a rejection of the proposal for the sports ground and car parking on the common land.
    21.1.80 objection to Lindford sports ground on Broxhead
    6.5.80 Rec report
     
  3. 7th July 1980, the minutes of the Planning and Amenities Committee for Whitehill record correspondence received from HCC, noting that a registration in Register Unit CL147 (Broxhead Common), of the register of common land has been modified. It does not say how, why, or what that modification is. As previously noted, the relevant minute books are missing.
     
  4. Bill Bide, the Principal Rights of Way Officer at HCC, lets it be known that they are proposing to make an Order for the diversions of BW4 and BW46 on Broxhead Common. In reply the Chairman of Headley and District Bridleways Group, Guy Robinson writes:
     
  5. 22nd November 1982, “The real reason is quite obvious; it is an attempt to obtain retrospective consent for the unpermitted diversion of a bridleway which was affected by the fencing of a large area of Broxhead Common.”
    Guy to Bill Bide Principal ROW Officer HCC Nov. 198215072019
     
  6. Guy eventually became the Chairman of Headley Parish Council.
     

Next time: The proposal to divert the bridleways arrives and the Rights of Way Sub-Committee of HCC exclude the public and press!??

TCHCC – PART 8

01/10/2020 by admin | Comments Off

The Battle for Broxhead Common

The Case for the County Council – PART 8
  1. 4th May 1979 is the date of the Final Determination Notice (FDN) sent to Whitehill Parish Council. It shows the whole common is registered.
    Whitehill FDN
    Unfortunately, the Parish Council minute books for 1976-1979 are missing so it is not possible to see if there was any discussion about Broxhead Common.
     
  2. 1st August 1979, the land section of the Commons Register notes that, “The land registration at entry No.3, which was disputed, became final on 24th day of May 1978…. with the exclusion of 80 acres.” That is not correct because on that day and at that time the Chief Commons Commissioner’s Decision was affirmed as stated in the Consent Order. The same Consent Order which HCC says is ordering them to extract the 80 acres!
    Broxhead Registration LAND FDN 22082020
     
  3. They have become so obsessed with their ‘settlement’ that they seem oblivious to the actual legal protocol.
     

It now appears that the land is being stolen from the Commoners’ and as a Public Amenity.

Next time:  Guy Robinson, the Chairman of Headley and District Bridleways Group writes a scathing letter to HCC’s Principal Rights of Way Officer.

TCHCC – PART 7

26/09/2020 by admin | Comments Off

The Battle for Broxhead Common

The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 7

1. Now the MOD are becoming curious and on:

2. 30th March 1979, The Property Services Agency’s (DOE), Dick Stilwell, writes to the County Secretary asking for a copy of the final Rights after the appeal.

MOD asking questions ’79_0001 (4)

3. 3rd April 1979, a reply comes from Edward Mason, Assistant County Secretary. He says that no notification has yet been received from the Chief Commons Commissioner. This must be false because the FDN’s state that the matter became final on 9th January 1975 and/or 24th May 1978 and were signed off on 18/19th December 1978.

MOD asking questions ’79_0002 (2)

Next time: Another Final Determination Notice and more recorded false information.

TCHCC – PART 6

17/09/2020 by admin | Comments Off

The Battle for Broxhead Common

The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 6

Hampshire County Council insist that the Schedule to the Order for the dismissalofthecasefromtheCourtofAppealisanorderperse. Infact,it is a commitment by the parties to adhere to the Schedule which is permitting the dismissal of the case from that Court. This means the Schedule must be complied with, in its entirety.

So, are HCC in contempt of Court?

27th June 1978, minutes of the Land Subcommittee show that HCC is pressing ahead with its ‘Settlement’, even though no consent has been sought from the Secretary of State.
Broxhead Registration RIGHTS COOKE22082020 (1)

18th December 1978, the Final Disposal Notices (FDN) are issued by HCC. When I made enquiries more recently as to why there appeared to be more than one Final Notice I was told that the first date, 24th May 1978 was the date of registration and the second, 18th December 1978 was the day it was sealed.
Broxhead report of 22.6.78 COMPLETION OF LEASE (2)

The links show the FDN for Connell in which it can be clearly seen that ‘the saidland’referstothewholecommon.3 TheRightsRegistrationSheetfor Mrs Cooke has not recorded her grazing rights over the land owned by Mr Whitfield? (for which see CCC’s Final Decision (2) Rights, page 17/18)?? 4
FDN CONNELL 19.12.1978 18

The CCC has made no alteration to his Decision other than dates, one for Land and two for Rights.
Broxhead Registration RIGHTS COOKE22082020 (1)
This is because Brightman}. left him to make any alterations, he thought necessary. However, none were needed because the very fact that common rights had been found on the east side of the common confirm that the whole of the common is subject to rights of common. Not that proof was needed, since rights of common existed before 1925 and therefore the land was protected by sec.193 and 194 LPA 1925.

Mr Whitfield has no Rights because he has claimed ownership. His Land FDN


simply refers to the five small pieces which have been omitted as stated in the Land Decision (1). They are outlined in red on a plan initialed GDSl & GDS2. I have never managed to find a copy of that plan. Instead there is a much larger plan, C, drawn by HCC to show the 80 acres extinguished.

The question must be asked how and why in the circumstances the still unauthorised fencing remains as if Mr Whitfield had won his case in the Court of Appeal when in fact it was never heard?
Pages from FDN WHITFIELD 1978

Next Time: Another FDN and the MOD asking questions

TCHCC – PART 5

12/09/2020 by admin | Comments Off

The Battle for Broxhead Common

The Case for the County Council – PART 5

It is essential to remember how the Registration of Common Land works. When the Commons Commissioner’s decision becomes final, as it did in this case on 24th May 1978; the relevant Registration Authority must record that decision and draw up any plan or map.

So, what was the Decision as stated by Hampshire County Council?

They have said at various stages throughout the years:

  • The Chief Commons Commissioner had split the common in half and all the rights except two on the east side, were relevant only on the west side of the common. FALSE
    CCC to Hadfield13082020
  • The High Court had extinguished one commoner, leaving Mr Connell as the only commoner with rights. FALSE
  • Mr Connell had sold his rights over the 80 acres thereby extinguishing the common land. FALSE
  • The High Court had ordered them to remove the 80 acres. FALSE
    CCC to Hadfield13082020
  • The Appeal Court had ordered them to remove the 80 acres. FALSE
  • The Chief Commons Commissioner had made a mistake. FALSE
  • The Final Disposal Notice removes the 80 acres. FALSE
  • They even drew up a plan to show the 80 acres outlined in red as removed!!
    Bordon Herald 2013 Broxhead 15072019

It appears that Section 7 & 10 CRA 1965 have been totally ignored. That states the Commons Commissioner’s Decision is conclusive at the date of registration, in this case it was 24th May 1978. This is the date that Mr Whitfields appeal was dismissed from the Court of Appeal.

 Are HCC inciting FRAUD or are they engaged in a plot to STEAL the land?

NEXT WEEK: We will look at the Final Determination Notices (FDN)

Caroline Mckain

12/09/2020 by admin | Comments Off

Horseytalk.net Special Interview

Caroline Mckain

Psychic horse helped me find love – Full story

Why bother with swiping for hours on Tinder when a psychic horse could find you love?

Caroline Mckain, 56, says that her horse, called Fred, is responsible for her meeting her soulmate – because he told her exactly where to look, with the help of a psychic animal whisperer.

Caroline had been single for four years and thought she would never find love again. Then one day, an animal whisperer said Caroline’s horse, Fred, had revealed that he knew exactly who would be Caroline’s soulmate.

Caroline had called in horse whisperer Beth after she thought Fred had a sore back. Beth claims that Fred ‘spoke’ to her and revealed not only the cause of his back problems, but also told her a bunch of things about Caroline’s life – and revealed that he knew what Caroline should look for when dating to find her perfect partner: a scar on his leg.

Beth said: ‘He didn’t just tell me about Caroline’s new love interest, he could also tell the difference between which of Caroline’s two daughters rode him by stating an injury that one of her daughters had.

‘He also spoke about seeing a ghost of a black pony that sometimes visited the field and Caroline had a black pony that passed away years earlier.

‘Before Caroline told me she was selling her business Fred told me to tell her not to worry and that the buyer Caroline had would go ahead with the sale.

‘Fred told Caroline to give the buyer an ultimatum, which she did, and it worked.’ After going on to advise Caroline to sell her business and follow her passion – which she did, now running her dream furniture restoration company – Fred ‘told’ Beth his psychic predictions for where Caroline would meet her future partner.

Fred ‘said’ Caroline would meet a man from Devon with a scar on his leg, and that this man would be her soulmate. Fred also advised Caroline to sell her business and follow her passion

Caroline forgot all about the prediction until a man got in touch with her on a dating site – and after meeting him near his home in Devon, she later discovered he had a scar on his leg – just like Fred had said.

Now, Caroline and Fred are planning to leave their home in Towick, to move in with that man, named Charley, – after true love blossomed.

Caroline said: ‘I can’t thank Fred enough, I thought I might never find love again but Fred knew better than I did. I’m finally happy after four years of searching.’ Fred had also predicted that the man would be tall and have dark hair, both of which were true, but said he would be ‘young’, and Charley is actually older than Caroline. So Fred’s psychic abilities aren’t 100% reliable, but they’re pretty close.

Caroline realised Charley was the one when she met up with him in Devon and he started to tell her about an operation he’d had when he was young – then lifted up his trouser leg to show Caroline the scar.

‘That’s when I knew he was my soulmate,’ said Caroline. Caroline is now moving in with Charley, who closely matches the description Fred gave

‘We met up in Devon again and he came and picked me and my friends up on a boat, which was another thing that made sense because Fred said that the soul mate would spend a lot of time on the water.

‘We officially got together last year and now we’re buying a house together in Devon and living together. ‘I know it sounds odd that my horse helped me find love but that is quite literally what happened, and I couldn’t be happier.

‘Fred seemingly knew that after four years of being single I was about to have my happily ever after and without him I probably would never have bothered meeting Charley.

‘Charley and I instantly clocked, I thought he looked extremely hot on his boat and we kept dating.

TCHCC – PART 4

05/09/2020 by admin | Comments Off

The Battle for Broxhead Common

The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 4

Of course, the Broxhead Commoners’ were most concerned by the strange turn of events and in:

July 1978 issued a press release.  It explains that after the High Court judgement in 1977, Mr Connell had resigned from the BCA. This is important because Mr Connell was at the hearing of the Court of Appeal by which time he was probably in receipt of a large amount of money from Mr Whitfield, who paid for his Rights over the 80 acres in order, he thought, to extinguish them! Hampshire County Council had made themselves a co-respondent to this!  Is this incitement to fraud by the parties present?

19th October 1978, one of the commoner’s, a Mr Nicholson even wrote to the Prime Minister asking why his rights had been curtailed and why the fencing remained. 1 There followed much correspondence between the Commons Commissioner’s Office, the Department of the Environment and the Nicholson’s. The problem seems to have been that the Officers had no idea that the commoners were being told by HCC that the Chief Commons Commissioner had split the common in half, and their rights had been restricted, and because the fencing was unauthorised they did not know of that either. They had obviously assumed, as they would, that the Chief Commons Commissioner’s Final Decision had been faithfully transferred to the Commons Register by Hampshire County Council.   

Eventually Mr Nicholson received the letter from the DOE telling him that the whole area was registered common land and his rights extended over the whole of it.

This confirmation was the reason why the commoners did not resort to Judicial Review.

Nicholson from DOE

Broxhead, Nicholson to Prime Minister16082020

Broxhead reg to Mrs Nicholson LETTER24022020

Next time: We will look at what Hampshire County Council had made of it all.

My Fight for Riders’ Rights

30/08/2020 by admin | Comments Off

The Battle for Broxhead Common

My Fight for Riders’ Rights

* It is the Secretary of State, not the landowner who must have regard to the benefit of the neighbourhood!

* The Court of Appeal cannot be perverse or act against the public interest.

* The Secretary of State’s consent has never been sought.

Says Maureen Comber

I hope you have all had a good look at the Consent Order from the Court of Appeal. If you have you will see that the pages are mis numbered, or at least that is what I thought for a time.

Whatever on: 22nd June 1978, HCC Report of County Sec. 22.06.7816082020_0001. This is almost one month after the Court of Appeal hearing.

Paragraph 8 says they were supported by the BCA to reach a settlement. Why would any settlement have been considered necessary for the BCA? They had won against Mr Whitfield in the High Court and the Consent Order from the Court of Appeal affirms the Chief Commons Commissioner’s Final Decision. Perhaps the County Secretary is referring to Mr Connell and Mrs Cooke but they were not representing the BCA. Paragraph 9a.

The Order envisages Mr Whitfield making application to the Secretary of State supported by HCC for consent under section 194 LP 1925 to the fences surrounding the 80 acres. The reason consent was required is that they had been erected in 1963 without consent and prevented access to the 80 acres. Section 194 originally applied because of the 1/1/26 (the date of the commencement of LP 1925) before which the 80 acres was subject to rights of common.

The compromise of the appeal did not however change things.

If Mr Connell did release all his rights over the 80 acres on or after 24/5/78 then it was not done under any statutory provision therefore despite Mr Connell releasing his rights sec.194 continued to apply to the land and the fences continued to be unlawful.

The Parties to the appeal of Brightman J obviously recognised that section 194 would not cease to apply even after Mr Connell released his rights, which is why they made provision as mentioned above for Mr Whitfield to make an application to the Secretary of State for his consent to the erection of the fences.

HCC never agreed that it would remain inactive if Mr Whitfield failed to seek or was refused the consent of the Secretary of State. If HCC had formally considered the matter at any time after 24/5/78 and correctly directed itself on it, they would surely have insisted on Mr Whitfield seeking the Secretary of States consent to the fences and if he refused to seek or failed to get consent HCC would have sought an order of the county Court for removal of the fences.

Paragraph 9b. Makes it clear that HCC interpreted the Consent Order correctly as requiring Mr Whitfield to apply to the SOS. Plainly the issue of renting the unenclosed part was being presented as what HCC saw as a package reflecting the compromise reached. Paragraph 10, The County Secretary realised that such consent would not be a foregone conclusion. In fact, the report understates the difficulty of getting consent.

It is the Secretary of State, not the landowner who must have regard to the benefit of the neighbourhood!

The Committee was being implicitly advised that the prospect of getting consent was good for the reasons given, but also implicitly being reassured that the fencing would have to satisfy a statutory test of “benefit to the neighbourhood,” that being a criterion to which the Minister had to have regard, in deciding whether to authorise a fence.

The Court of Appeal cannot be perverse or act against the public interest. It knew that the agreement the parties had come to, would have to face much public consultation in any application to the Secretary of State. The Secretary of States consent has never been sought.

Next time: We will see how the HCC explained the matter away for the many questions asked over the years.

SMS – How to Find a Qualified Saddle Fitter

30/08/2020 by admin | Comments Off

Horseytalk.net Special Interview

How to Find a Qualified Saddle Fitter

Please do not confuse a Master Saddle Fitter or Qualified Saddle Fitter with a Master Saddler or Qualified Saddler.

Master Saddler and Society of Master Saddlers’ Registered Qualified Saddle Fitter, Kay Hastilow answers:

What is the best way to find a Qualified Saddle Fitter? Are there any qualifications I can look for?

Answer

There are many people out there claiming to be saddle fitters but in my opinion there is only one qualifying association that you should turn to for a properly qualified saddle fitter and that’s The Society of Master Saddlers.

The qualification was started in 1995, so they have 25 years’ experience in training, bringing on and assessing fitters under the auspices of the City of Guilds qualification board.

Having attended the Introductory course run by the Society, trainees (known as trainee saddle fitters) will continue fitting under the watchful eye of their Mentor for a total of three years, at which time they can attend the Qualified Saddle Fitter’s course. This is followed by a stiff assessment that includes a written paper, completely re-flocking a saddle, adjusting the flock in a saddle, assessing conformation and movement, back assessment, templating, identifying materials used in the manufacture of saddles, checking saddles for safety and soundness and then fitting two saddles, including ridden assessment of suitability for both the horse and rider – one a dressage saddle and the second (on a different horse) a GP or jumping saddle. Most certainly not everyone passes, many achieving their qualification on the second attempt.

Once qualified, SMS RQSFs have to achieve CPD points through the year to keep their registration (that’s the R in the title) so that standards are kept high and new information can be shared.

In addition to the RQSF Qualification there are Registered Master Saddle Fitters – those that have practiced in this field for many years to a very high standard and undertaken further confirmation as to their abilities.

Please do not confuse a Master Saddle Fitter or Qualified Saddle Fitter) with a Master Saddler or Qualified Saddler. These qualification holders are highly skilled at making saddles, bridles and leatherwork but are not necessarily saddle fitters. Each is a separate skill set and, whilst some QSFs or MSFs are also Qualified or Master Saddlers this is not a given. Please choose the skill that you need.

Society of Master Saddlers

To find your nearest qualified saddle fitter visit The Society of Master Saddlers’ web site, www.mastersaddlers.co.uk where you will be able to see those in your area and their qualifications. I am sure that you will find someone good near to you who can help you with all of your saddle fitting needs.

Had HCC been planning to pervert the course of justice?

26/08/2020 by admin | Comments Off

THE BATTLE FOR BROXHEAD COMMON. Had HCC been planning to pervert the course of justice?


The Battle for Broxhead Common – 2 The Case for Hampshire County Council – Fact and/or Fiction So, I hear you ask, what went wrong? The Commoners had won their case both in the High Court and Court of Appeal. The neighbouring Parishes of Kingsley and Headley had all objected to the proposal that the fences around the 80 acres should remain. So, what happened next?

There is nothing in the Parish Minutes to record what happened next except that a great number of individuals were asking why the fencing remained. Not least of all the Broxhead Commoners. The BCA had raised large sums of public money by donation to pay for lawyers to fight for their cause. Hampshire County Council had agreed to pay half.
Broxhead ROW Sub 9th Jan 1976 share expenses

Despite the negative responses to the letter from the County Secretary dated 13th September 1977 (See Part 1), and the report of HCC’s own Conservation Officer on 12th January 1978, on:
HCC Jim White report24082020

20th April 1978, Rights of Way Sub-Committee minutes of HCC record that an overall settlement of the dispute was being negotiated and HCC would lease the unfarmed area of Broxhead Common under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1949. This was just one month before the Court of Appeal hearing. !!
Broxhead Common ROW Comm 20.4.78

24th May 1978, The date of the Court of Appeal hearing. By this time, the Broxhead Commoners are now weary and financially embarrassed after fifteen years of fighting for their common. They know they have made their case and won it, so they decide to leave it to HCC to attend after all Mr Connell and Mrs Cooke, both commoners, will be there.

The hearing at the Court of Appeal is dismissed on the terms of the Schedule, that is the agreement the parties have come to for the dismissal of the case from out of that court. Had HCC been planning to pervert the course of justice?

Next time: 22nd June 1978 Report of the County Secretary to the Lands Sub-Committee

SMS – Is your saddle safe?

22/08/2020 by admin | Comments Off

Horseytalk.net Special Interview

Is your saddle safe?
How to check your saddle for safety

Twice president of The Society Master Saddlers, Lecturer / Assessor on Saddle fitting courses and Master Saddler Laurence Pearman provides advice on checking your saddle for safety.

The Society Master Saddlers, Lecturer / Assessor on Saddle fitting courses and Master Saddler Laurence Pearman

Question

What areas of my saddle should I check for wear or damage? Are there any areas that are more susceptible to wear?

Answer

The Society Master Saddlers, Lecturer / Assessor on Saddle fitting courses and Master Saddler Laurence Pearman
When checking for areas of wear and damage on a saddle, first to be considered are the girth straps as this is a safety issue.

Look for cracking in the leather where it is held by the buckle as this can lead to the girth straps breaking.

On occasions girth straps can stretch and the holes will then become un-level so this is another key area to keep checking.

If the holes stretch there is the possibility that one can split down to the next hole and the straps should be repaired before this happens.

As part of your regular checks also look for the webbing that holds the straps weakening and breaking.

Another issue that can arise are stirrup leathers becoming unstitched and then breaking or like the girth straps, the holes stretching and becoming dangerous.

On the saddle it is also important to ensure that the stirrup bars do not become loose with exceptional wear and tear over years.

Other areas for damage are the cantle and I would suggest always keeping a leather cantle guard on to protect it if you have one, or keep its cover on as much as possible to protect it, and never lean the saddle against a wall or similar on to the cantle.

The saddle seat is another area that can gradually become damaged over time, especially the stitching along the seams so remember to check around there.

The stitching at the bottom of the kneepads on the flaps is a similar area that may need maintenance.

If you have an adjustable saddle with screws it is important to put in place a system for checking screw tightness on a regular basis as it is possible for them to loosen over time.

Last but not least the saddle flaps can wear and mark especially if the zips on boots or half chaps come into contact with them.

The best routine is to have a quick check of your saddle when cleaning and get into the habit of having any damage repaired as soon as you notice any significant wear.

Society of Master Saddlers

For more information visit www.mastersaddlers.co.uk or contact The Society of Master Saddlers on 01449 711642.

THE START OF IT ALL

15/08/2020 by admin | Comments Off

THE BATTLE FOR BROXHEAD COMMON. THE START OF IT ALL — THE STORY OF BW54

The start of the Battle.

This Tithe Map is freely available to anyone who wants to go to their local Records Office or National at Kew.

This is hugely important. It shows Broxhead as having no Proprietors and used by Sundry People.

It is a documented Act of Parliament.

This proves that there was no trace of an owner at that time. In any case under the Commons Act 1876 “an owner other than a lord seems to merely take his place alongside the commoners as one of the persons representing two thirds in value of affected interests…” the other is the local authority.

The Chief Commons Commissioner gives a detailed account of the conveyances covering various parts of Broxhead Common and concludes: “On the evidence so far reviewed I am satisfied that there was a right of common in the soil and a right of common of pasture over the whole of the common attached to all the tenements, whether freehold, copyhold or leasehold mentioned in the survey of the still unpartitioned manor in 1636. “

See links to the CCC’s final LAND decision (1) and RIGHTS decision (2) in which I have highlighted important paragraphs.

The RIGHTS decision is 22 page document. Very detailed so the crucial bits are often missed.

BROXHEAD COMMON final decision RIGHTS highlighted- WHITEHILL AND HEADLEY NO.CL.147 (1)

Broxhead Final LAND Decision 197417072020.pdf HIGHLIGHTED (2)

 

  1. It was a damp grey day on the 8th October 1971 when my family and I moved to The Old Cottage at Frith End; but I was not complaining. Earlier that year we had been participating in a transport study for the World Bank in East Pakistan when the country had undergone a coup during its transformation to Bangladesh. Never had we been more pleased to see the RAF land on that pock marked runway at Dacca and lift us back to civilisation.
     
    Only a couple of weeks after moving in, my husband was off to Korea until Christmas on a port study, leaving me to replace the bedroom floor after he had put his foot through the rotten boards, get the place rewired and, well you can imagine the rest. Eventually however I began to enjoy the surrounding countryside.
     
    Alice Holt Forest is just opposite on the other side of the narrow C96 from where I live. Cradle Lane (BOAT) about three hundred yards away up the hill, and at the Headley end of that is Broxhead Common.
     
    Little did I know that I was at the beginning of what would become a 40 year and more battle to regain the public rights of access to Broxhead Common, but for now suffice it to say that it consisted of approximately 180 acres of heathland on the East side of the B3004 with a further 220 acres on the west side which was owned by the MOD. In an article for the Daily Telegraph in 1895 entitled ‘Celebrities at Home in the World this Week’, the owner of Headley Park, a Mr Justice Wright, tells us as he lays on a fresh pipe, “you may walk ten miles in a line from his front door over heather alone”
     
    It was not like that when I moved here in 1971. I did not realise it then, but a battle had been raging since 1963 with local commoners after the previous landowner, a Mr Sefton Myers, illegally fenced in 80 acres of the common land on the eastern side of the road B3004, which crosses the open common land. The response from Hampshire County Council under the Chairmanship of the Open Spaces Committee, on 8th December 1964, resolved to protect Broxhead Common against unlawful encroachments, including instituting proceedings under Section 194 LPA 1925.1
     
    The MOD had after some dissent acknowledged the public interest for the part of the common under their ownership to the west of the B3004. At the beginning of the 20th Century the Secretary of State for War purchased the western half of the common as an “appendage to Bordon Camp”.
     
    The Commoners at that time were genuinely concerned at the interference with the grazing rights by the exercise of Cavalry and heavy guns and artillery on the common and appealed for help to the Headley Parish Council. Various incidents are recorded of fence cutting and encroachments, which culminated in a confrontation between the Military Authorities and the Commoners on Saturday afternoon 16th November 1907.
     
    A demonstration was staged, and ten Commoners under the leadership of Mr A. J. Harding, Messrs Caine, Courtnage, Fullick, Hellier, Lovegrove, Lawes, Piggott, Lee and Whiting, assembled with horses and carts to carry away bracken, furze and turf for fuel, and others brought their cows for grazing. Mr Hellier supplied a barrel of beer and he was placed in charge of it.
     
    A mounted Police Constable with two others on foot appeared, and the following statement was read out to the assembled company:
     
    “To Mr Albert J. Harding and whosoever it may concern, Whereas it appears that Mr Baldwin, War Department Lands Warden did interfere with certain Commoners when exercising their Rights over Broxhead Common – this is to acknowledge on behalf of the War Department that the said Mr Baldwin did so act without authority and was at the time, owing to an error on his part, under the impression that the said Commoners were on War Department free-hold property. The War Department do not contest the right of the Commoners to exercise their ancient rights over Broxhead Common.”
     
    The matter was confirmed in the Final Decision of the Chief Commons Commissioner dated 22nd November 1974, “The common is crossed by a road leading from Lindford in the north to Sleaford in the south. The portion of the land to the west of this road has been registered in the Ownership Register Unit as being in the ownership of the Secretary of State for Defence.”
     
    Tithe Award for Broxhead Common
  2. However, I am getting ahead of myself. On 1st December 1955 a Royal Commission on Common Land had been appointed to “recommend what changes if any are desirable in law relating to common land in order to promote the benefit of those holding common rights, the enjoyment of the public or where little or no use was made of such land, its use for some other desirable purpose.” To this end HCC had commissioned Dr. L. Ellis Tavener to research and record all the common lands of Hampshire. His report eventually appeared in book form entitled “The Common Lands of Hampshire”. Based on his findings HCC provisionally registered the whole approximately 400 acres of Broxhead Common under the 1965 Commons Registration Act.
  3. The Hampshire County Council advised Headley Parish Council that the best way to prove the land was common land was to find the commoners
  4. Headley Wood Farm which lies adjacent to Broxhead Common, was owned sold in 1962 along with 200 acres of Broxhead Common, by Mrs Patricia Barnard the widow of C.W. McAndrew, McAndrews had lived adjacent to the common land for sixty years, first as owners of Headley Park before moving to Headley Wood Farm in 1947. Neither property was possessed of the common land, according to the sale catalogues of 1926 for Headley Wood and 1821, 1869 for Headley Park, though both are recorded as having Rights of Common. In fact, the 1847 Tithes Apportionment Act records the common as, ‘having no proprietor and used by sundry people’.  
  5. However, when it was sold to Siegfired Sefton Myers the MacAndrews made it clear that Broxhead had always been an open public common and when Mr Myers began fencing in the 80 acres the following year, they supported the commoners in their fight to retain their Rights.Headley Parish Council also helped, and on the eve of a decision to join the Commons Preservation Society (now the Open Spaces Society), Hampshire County Council (HCC) agreed to help also.
  6. The local miller, Mr John Ellis, who was also Chair of Headley Parish Council, as well as being a commoner. He set up the Broxhead Commoners Association (BCA), on 6th June 1968, to do everything possible to ensure the whole common was registered. He was particularly interested in preserving its wildlife qualities and public access.
  7. In 1970 Mr Myers sold Headley Wood Farm and the eastern side of the common to the present owner Mr Anthony Gary Peter Whitfield.
  8. Mr Whitfield and one or two other local landowners objected to their parts of the common being registered under the Commons Act 1965.
  9. In December 1973 John Ellis writes to the BCA “The successful stand by our Association in conjunction with the Headley Parish Council and the Hampshire County Council in preserving most of Broxhead Common to date, is constantly having to be watched, and I am daily in touch with those concerned. The owner of the Eastern side in the Parish of Headley is trying desperately to influence some of the Commoners to change their minds with an offer of a piece of Common land for a Football Field, and has been instrumental in setting up a “Working Party”. This is not repeat not part of our association and is acting against our aims and the long-term interests of the local people. This premature offer of course could be interesting were it not for the conditions attached, which have now been officially made known to me. They are in short:
    1. The Commoners give up their rights.
    2. The whole of the Common except a narrow strip, to be allowed to be fenced with barbed wire
    3. That it be allowed to extend the illegal fences, enclosing about 85 acres of common to take in a further 100 acres
    4. That all gorse, heather, trees, wildlife and flowers will be destroyed to make way for Agricultural Development.
      WE CANNOT AGREE TO SUCH CONDITION
      CCC's notes alterations to the register
  10. Because of the five objections by local landowners, the Commoners fight to register the land proceeded first to a twelve-day hearing before the Chief Commons Commissioner which took from 26th April to 14th October 1974, in Winchester and London. The Chief Commons Commissioner, Mr G. D. Squibb, made many changes to the Rights registrations discarding about half of them but still leaving 20 commoners registered
  11. Perhaps I should explain here that Rights of common are property rights which are attached to property rather than an individual.
  12. The Chief Commons Commissioner delivered his interim Decision on 26th August 1974, leaving time for further comment before issuing his Final Determination on – 22nd November 1974. He stated in his Land decision Broxhead (1) that the land the subject of the dispute should be registered for reasons given in his Rights Decision.(2).
    Of interest is the statement he made on Page 14 of that document; He says:“Some witnesses spoke of act done on the western part of the common but denied having seen them on the eastern part. I do not believe this evidence, but whether it is to be attributed to faulty observation or recollection or to an over-enthusiastic desire to help Mr Whitfield’s cause seems to be a matter on which it is unnecessary for me to express an opinion.” 
  13. Mr Whitfield appealed this decision to the High Court on 24th March 1977. The Judge, Brightman J., decided against him, at the same time as discarding one other commoner, a Mrs Rosemary Cooke of Trottsford Farm and confirming a Mr Connell as having rights over the whole of the common, referred to as ‘the said land’ being the land in dispute. Brightman J makes no order for altering or changing the Register in any way, and after confirming the Chief Commons Commissioner’s decision leaves him to “put his law right” and alter as he sees fit. According to the CCC’s notes, the only alteration he actually made were dates “for land entry No. 1 and Rights Entries 1 & 12. The dates of the rest being unaffected by the appeal.” There was much discussion about the ‘costs’ and whether these could be appealed. Brightman J. says he does not think it will take awfully long for the Court of Appeal to form a decision about this if the parties decide to go there, and so grants leave of appeal.
  14. 24th May 1978 is the date of the Court of Appeal hearing. The Court issues an Order to which is attached a Schedule. The Schedule is an agreement between the parties, that is, Mr Whitfield, HCC, Mr Connell and Mrs Cooke. HCC say it is in this Schedule that the Court of Appeal instructs them to remove the 80 acres. I would not find out for another forty years that Brightman J. had been right to say the CA would not take long in their deliberations, for in fact the only Order that they issued that day was for the dismissal of the case from out of that Court. They had not sat or considered anything at all. 

NEXT TIME: I JOIN THE HEADLEY AND DISTRICT BRIDLEWAYS PROTECTION GROUP

SMS – Career Becomes Your Passion

15/08/2020 by admin | Comments Off

Horseytalk.net Special Interview

A Career with Horses. See if this fits

It’s easy to get stuck in a rut when it comes to your career.

If you like meeting new people, enjoy variety and being outdoors whatever the weather, saddle fitting could provide the answer.

When Your Career Becomes Your Passion

The first point of call would be to visit the Society of Master Saddlers website to look at the different options and opportunities available to you, especially if you are currently working outside the industry.

The Society organises a two-day Introductory Course in Saddle Fitting which is run in conjunction with BETA. The course is open to all those with an interest in entering the field of saddle fitting. It is also open to other equestrian professionals who want to enhance their equestrian knowledge in this area such as BHS Instructors, chartered physiotherapists, veterinarians etc.

An ideal route into saddle fitting is to find employment with a Society member who is willing to train you through an apprenticeship. Another route could be to train as a saddler and join the society in your own right, then progressing into saddle fitting. There is a helpful page on the SMS website to help you find apprenticeships and courses currently available.

After initially attending the two-day introductory course, which will not only inspire you but give you plenty of knowledge to start your first steps to becoming a Qualified Saddle Fitter recognised by the Society of Master Saddlers, you will need to complete three years’ experience working with and alongside a QSF. This can be done on a part-time or full-time basis depending upon your circumstances and the availability of a tutor. You would be able to join the Society’s Mentor Scheme as a trainee saddle fitter which is open to those who have attended the Introductory Course. This is an ideal way to develop your training and skills whilst working towards the five-day qualification course.

All of those training to become a saddle fitter and working towards the Society’s City & Guilds Saddle Fitting course and assessment will need to undertake training in saddle flocking and attain the Society’s Saddle Flocking Qualification before attending the QSF course. Full details of the requirements for the exam can be found on the SMS web site under ‘Training’ then ‘Courses’. You can train for this where you wish or at one of the establishments listed.

Your final step to becoming a QSF on completing the five-day course is to complete a final assessment leading to your SMS Registered Qualified Saddler Fitter status. It really is that straight forward!

The Society’s aims are to safeguard the quality of work, services, training and qualifications of all those who work in the saddlery trade from manufacturers and retailers through individual craftspeople and saddle fitters.

With this in mind the SMS formulated the Qualified Saddle Fitters course, a more advanced course aimed at saddle fitters who have been fitting saddles for a number of years and who want to refine their saddle fitting to the standards promoted by the Society and approved by City & Guilds.

You will be required to pass an assessment, which will include a written paper and practical units in conformation and action in hand, saddle assessment and fault identification, taking template measurements and a practical saddle fitting assessment.

Once a Saddle Fitter achieves their qualified status they will need to attend a refresher day every two years to maintain their qualification. Qualified saddle fitters should also gain CPD points and attend additional training seminars when they can to maintain their knowledge to current standards. These days are also a great chance to meet and socialise with other likeminded SMS members within the same industry and learn from each other.

Don’t forget to take a look at the SMS website. You will find it is full of very informative advice on what each step to becoming a Qualified Saddle Fitter consists of. Take your time to research the website and feel filled with confidence to take the leap from your everyday office job to your dream saddle fitting career.

Society of Master Saddlers

For more information visit www.mastersaddlers.co.uk or contact The Society of Master Saddlers on 01449 711642.

The Battle for Broxhead Common

08/08/2020 by admin | Comments Off

Maureen Comber

The Battle for Broxhead Common

Common land since time immemorial
The epic blow-by-blow story for riders’ rights
Maureen Comber

I will be serialising the Story of the Battle for Broxhead Common from the beginning of the problems in 1963 when the owner of Headley Wood Farm, started fencing in the 80 acres of Broxhead’s common land, for it surely did not go unnoticed at the time and has been a cause of discontent ever since.

Broxhead Common has been identified as common land since time immemorial.

Click here to read the INTRODUCTION to The Battle for Broxhead Common

 
Says Maureen Comber:

“In 2017 I made application under sec.19 Commons Act 2006 to correct the Register of Common Land because of ‘mistakes’ made by the Commons Registration Authority, which in this case was Hampshire County Council. (HCC). I knew that because of the ‘interest’ they have in Broxhead Common the matter could not be decided by them but would have to go to the Planning Inspectorate.”

Now read on.  

 

Introduction
The Battle for Broxhead Common - Introduction In 2017 I made application under sec.19 Commons Act 2006 to correct the Register of Common Land because of ‘mistakes’ made by the Commons Registration Authority, which in this case was Hampshire County ...
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THE START OF IT ALL
THE BATTLE FOR BROXHEAD COMMON. THE START OF IT ALL --- THE STORY OF BW54 The start of the Battle. This Tithe Map is freely available to anyone who wants to go to their local Records Office or National at ...
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Had HCC been planning to pervert the course of justice?
THE BATTLE FOR BROXHEAD COMMON. Had HCC been planning to pervert the course of justice? The Battle for Broxhead Common - 2 The Case for Hampshire County Council – Fact and/or Fiction So, I hear you ask, what went wrong? ...
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My Fight for Riders’ Rights
The Battle for Broxhead Common My Fight for Riders' Rights * It is the Secretary of State, not the landowner who must have regard to the benefit of the neighbourhood! * The Court of Appeal cannot be perverse or act ...
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TCHCC – PART 4
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 4 Of course, the Broxhead Commoners’ were most concerned by the strange turn of events and in: July 1978 issued a press release. It explains that after ...
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TCHCC – PART 5
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for the County Council – PART 5 It is essential to remember how the Registration of Common Land works. When the Commons Commissioner’s decision becomes final, as it did in this case on ...
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TCHCC – PART 6
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council - PART 6 Hampshire County Council insist that the Schedule to the Order for the dismissalofthecasefromtheCourtofAppealisanorderperse. Infact,it is a commitment by the parties to adhere to the Schedule which ...
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TCHCC – PART 7
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 7 1. Now the MOD are becoming curious and on: 2. 30th March 1979, The Property Services Agency’s (DOE), Dick Stilwell, writes to the County Secretary asking ...
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TCHCC – PART 8
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for the County Council – PART 8 4th May 1979 is the date of the Final Determination Notice (FDN) sent to Whitehill Parish Council. It shows the whole common is registered. Whitehill FDN ...
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TCHCC – PART 9
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 9 Local people were by now not only puzzled, but frustrated and angry at the curious outcome, and on: 21st January 1980, Headley Parish Council minutes how ...
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TCHCC – PART 10
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 10 31st January 1983. When the proposal from Hampshire County Council arrived, to divert certain bridleways on Broxhead Common the response from Headley Parish Council is somewhat ...
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TCHCC – PART 11
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 11 It should be remembered that the unauthorised fencing obstructed some 23 tracks used by horse riders over Broxhead Common, as noted by Cllr. John Ellis to ...
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TCHCC – PART 12
The Battle for Broxhead Common Says Maureen: "I think this must be the biggest Government cover up ever, of a crooked Council that steals the peoples common land! Disgraceful." The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 12 Because of ...
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TCHCC – PART 13
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 13 4TH September 1989. The Decision for Hampshire County Council’s Diversion Order is given by Planning Inspector, Captain G. F. Laslett CBE C Eng RN. 1989 Planning ...
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TCHCC – PART 14
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 14 Hampshire County Council were still hell bent on obtaining the Diversion Order for BW4 and BW46. They would make yet another Order in 1990. This would ...
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TCHCC – PART 15
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 15 In the meantime, I wrote to everyone I could think of who could help to restore the lost link of the bridleway. 6th and 29th October ...
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TCHCC – PART 16
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 16 Until the year 2000, Hampshire County Council had an arrangement that made East Hampshire District Council responsible for Rights of Way in the District. So, I ...
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TCHCC – PART 17
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 17 It is settled law that commoner’s may not ‘let, lease or lend’ their rights of common. Also, all the other commoners would have had to agree ...
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TCHCC – PART 18
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 18 In the meantime, while waiting for HCC’s Order to come to Public Inquiry for the third time on: 25th March 1991, a decision with regards to ...
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TCHCC – PART 19
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 19 1. 26th November 1991 is the date of a reply from Edward Mason, Assistant County Secretary, to the treacherous Mr. Connell. It was he who had ...
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TCHCC – PART 20
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 20 15TH April 1992, is the date of a letter from the Office of the Commons Commissioners to a Mrs Bobby Lake. They confirm that the Commissioner ...
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TCHCC – PART 21
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 21 10th December 1991. The Public Inquiry for the diversion of BW’s 4 & 46 was held. Colin Edward Piper, Rights of Way Manager for Hampshire County ...
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TCHCC – PART 22
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 22 3rd February 1992. Planning Inspector D. A. Barker-Wyatt CBE gives his decision. PI Feb 1992 Broxhead, Barker-Wyatt06072019 (2) Paragraph 9 of his report speaks of ‘leased ...
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TCHCC – PART 23
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 23 It had been third time lucky for Hampshire County Council to get the diversions it wanted to BW’s 4 and 46, but it would take another ...
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TCHCC – PART 24
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 24 7th January 2002. A letter from the Headley Wood Estate Manager, Mr Michael Porter to Miss Walters of the Committee Division of the Chief Executive’s Department ...
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TCHCC – PART 25
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 25 Continued from Part 24. Letter Porter to HCC Chief Executives 15072019 As there was no point of law against the decision of the High Court, the ...
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TCHCC – PART 26
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 26 We had a look at the HCC Land Sub-Committee minutes in Part 3 but after reading the letter from Headley Wood farm to the Chief Executives ...
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TCHCC – PART 27
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 27 16th September 2003 is the date of my letter to HCC Estates after I noticed some clearance work being done on part of the common. Sadly, ...
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TCHCC – PART 28
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 28 It seems to me that during my long fight to restore the rights of common and access by the public to this open space, that I ...
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TCHCC – PART 29
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 29 November 2005. The matter came before the Regulatory Committee of Hampshire County Council. Their reason for refusal was: “The lease agreement between the landowner and the ...
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TCHCC – PART 30
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 30 It was difficult to see how there could be insufficient evidence of use for my claim. We were submitting user evidence from twelve horse riders which ...
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TCHCC – PART 31
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 31 There followed an appeal by written representation which went on until October 2006. 23rd April 2007 Planning Inspector, Mark Yates decided not to make an order ...
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TCHCC – PART 32
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 32 9th August 2007, I email the Leader of Hampshire County Council asking him to restore the rights of ‘air and exercise’ to horse riders without delay ...
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TCHCC – PART 33
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 33 10th January 2007, I receive a letter from Hampshire County Council telling me that the Regulatory Committee has refused my application for a bridleway from BW54 ...
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TCHCC – PART 34
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 34 6th February 2009 is the date of a letter from HCC’s Executive Member for Efficiency, Performance and Rural Policy, Cllr. Raymond J. Ellis in reply to ...
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TCHCC – PART 35
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 35 3rd April 2009, a letter from the Inspectorate had said: “The Inspector will not have access to the appeal documents. It is therefore very important that ...
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TCHCC – PART 36
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 36 11th October 2010, I simply could not accept such an erroneous decision. I had to get the lawyers involved. We successfully Judicially Review the most recent ...
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TCHCC – PART 37
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 37 Notwithstanding, our initial success in obtaining the Order for a bridleway between BW54 and Cradle Lane and the following successful Judicial Review of the previous Inspector’s ...
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TCHCC – PART 38
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 38 21st April 2011. I asked HCC Chief Executives if they could find any trace of page 3. Their reply was negative with advice to contact the ...
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TCHCC – PART 39
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 39 No wonder HCC had requested that no historical information be considered at the forthcoming Public Inquiry. (Part 36) 28TH June 2011 the date of the next ...
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TCHCC – PART 40
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 40 Until this moment in time my focus had been to get a reasonable riding route over the common land to replace at least a few of ...
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TCHCC – PART 40 – continued
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 40 14th December 2011. I made further enquiries regarding the documents I had been sent under EIR and point out that the ‘Land’ section of the Register ...
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TCHCC – PART 41
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 41 An exceptionally large sign had been strategically placed near the junction with BW54 and my previous bridleway claim, just before the last Public Inquiry. It seemed ...
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TCHCC – PART 42
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 42 I had throughout the process been asking reasonable and relevant questions, most of which remained unanswered. On page 14 of the Guidance on Procedures for considering ...
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TCHCC – PART 43
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 43 31st October 2012 is the date of the response to my letter dated 14th February 2012. It came from Hampshire County Council’s Head of Information Compliance ...
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TCHCC – PART 44
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 44 Even though I was by now the County Bridleways Officer for The British Horse Society and therefore dealing with the numerous other problems encountered by riders ...
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TCHCC – PART 45
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 45 31st January 2014. I am so concerned with the apparent lack of Democracy that I write to my MP. Looking back, I see Dominic Raab gets ...
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TCHCC – PART 46
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 46 Through 2012 to 2014, I and others had mounting concerns at the number of applications being made by the Wildlife Trusts to fence common land. Copy ...
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TCHCC – PART 47
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 47 August 2012, a local consultation on the management of Broxhead Common is announced by Footprint Ecology in which fencing is a leading proposal. 2012 HCC Broxhead ...
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TCHCC – PART 48
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 48 24th November 2013, I once again email my long-suffering MP with regard to correspondence I had been having with Natural England. 2013 RE_ Response for Natural ...
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TCHCC – PART 49
The Battle for Broxhead Common 1962 os map of the common before fencing. The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 49 Commons Commissioners were appointed by the Lord Chancellor, one of which would be Chief Commons Commissioner. The first ...
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TCHCC – PART 50
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 50 February 2013. I was curious as to how, why, and when the common land had become a legal part of the Headley Wood Estate. So, I ...
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TCHCC – PART 51
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 51 28th February 2014. A year on and I had become unhappy with the way my questions to the Land Registry had been dealt with. It seemed ...
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TCHCC – PART 51 a continued
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 51 a continued 6th December 2001, ALR1 continues: “The roads and footpaths in this title are subject to public rights of way.” ‘The alternative would have been ...
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TCHCC – PART 51 b continued
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 51 b continued 4th June 2001. ALR1 replied to the Solicitor at AJG on whether they had heard from Hampshire County Council. He says: “The Registry has ...
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TCHCC – PART 52
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 52 So, there it was in black and white “The roads and footpaths in this title are subject to public rights of way.” 2014 Land Registry Broxhead ...
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TCHCC – PART 53
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 53 Access Volunteers for the British Horse Society are very well trained to research and apply to add bridleways to the Definitive Map. One point which comes ...
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TCHCC – PART 54
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 54 continuing the Statutory Declaration by MRP Paragraph 5.6, “Had he not been the owner he would not have been able to be a party to the ...
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TCHCC – PART 55
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 55 continuing the Statutory Declaration by MRP Paragraph 5.8 states: “The appeal decision, inter alia, contained an order that…” 30 years later we found out that the ...
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TCHCC – PART 56
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 56 The Statutory Declaration of Michael Roydon Porter for the Land Registry dated 6th December 2001 continued: Paragraph 5.11, the Consent Order, and a Lease dated 5th ...
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TCHCC – PART 57
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 57 The Statutory Declaration of MRP continued: Paragraph 6.1 Here again we see that compulsory purchase of a piece of the common land between Hampshire County Council ...
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TCHCC – PART 58
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 58 Continuing with the Statutory Declaration of Michael Roydon Porter: Paragraph 8.3. Mr Porter says, “Part of the land edged blue comprises the Common as demised in ...
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TCHCC – PART 59
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 59 It appears that either MRP did not properly understand the implications of the Consent Order from the Court of Appeal, or there was a deliberate conspiracy ...
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TCHCC – PART 60
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 60 8th September 2014. I received a letter from the Senior Investigating Officer telling me that ICR had finished her investigation, a copy of which he enclosed ...
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TCHCC – PART 61
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 61 The reply from IR which accompanies her final report of my complaint, makes it clear that any alterations to the Land Registry can only be made ...
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TCHCC – PART 62
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 62 I had by now realised that there was no help to be found in the more expected places. I had exhausted enquiries through my MP and ...
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TCHCC – PART 63
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 63 As you will have seen in Part 48 of this series, I had brought the matter of the missing 80 acres of Broxhead Common to the ...
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TCHCC – PART 64
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 64 Before we move on to 2017 it may be prudent to briefly look back at this unfortunate situation and why the apparent theft of 80 acres ...
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TCHCC – PART 65
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 65 The unlawful fencing had obstructed access to the twenty-three trails that John Ellis had counted on the Ordnance Survey Map; these were replaced by BW46 running ...
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TCHCC – PART 66
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 66 Dr. L. Ellis Tavener’s book entitled ‘The Common Lands of Hampshire’ is a survey of the common lands of Hampshire undertaken at the request of Hampshire ...
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TCHCC – PART 67
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 67 Hampshire County Council was well prepared therefore, when the Commons Registration Act 1965 was finally launched. Section 4(a) and Section 4(b) state as follows: “An application ...
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TCHCC – PART 68
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 68 14th July 1970 is the date of the Assent and Conveyance deed which changed the ownership of Headley Wood Farm to A. G. P. Whitfield. This ...
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TCHCC – PART 69
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 69 Whatever happened to “once a highway always a highway”? It seems Hampshire County Council were not thinking straight when it decided to divert BW47 and FP3 ...
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TCHCC – PART 70
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 70 Following the statement that Mr Whitfield intended to replace the fencing, John Ellis immediately issued an injunction restricting the replacement of the fence, but that only ...
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TCHCC – PART 71
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 71 7TH December 1973. John Ellis writes an update to members of the Broxhead Commoners Association. Apparently someone has written to one of their members suggesting that ...
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TCHCC – PART 72
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 72 The Broxhead Commoner’s Association, had it seems been infiltrated by some of Mr Whitfield’s ‘working group’. One of them in a determined search for a sports ...
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TCHCC – PART 73
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 73 The hearing before the Chief Commons Commissioner, G. D. Squibb QC, moved, after a couple of days, from Winchester to London where it continued on and ...
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TCHCC – PART 74
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 74 4th September 1974 Bradley Trimmer, Solicitors for the Broxhead Commoners, convey verification of the rights of two individuals. Mr Connell is found to have rights over ...
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TCHCC – PART 75
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 75 At this point we need to remember the statement on Page 3, first paragraph, of the Interim and FINAL Decision. It states that at some time ...
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TCHCC – PART 76
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 76 15th March 1975 is the date of a letter from one of the commoners saying how delighted he is at the result of the Chief Commons ...
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TCHCC – PART 77
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 77 It is important to note the terms used in the Appeal document. Reference is to the land owned by the said Mr Whitfield lying to the ...
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TCHCC – PART 78
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 78 Continuing to look at the Final Determination of the Chief Commons Commissioner, Mr G, D, Squibb QC: Page 15 second paragraph confirms two properties with rights ...
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TCHCC – PART 79
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 79 June 1976, John Ellis contacts the members of Broxhead Commoners Association. He tells them that the 404 acres of Broxhead Common is now registered as common ...
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TCHCC – PART 80
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 80 24th March 1980 is the date of the judgement from the High Court by Brightman J. It must be remembered that this is an appeal by ...
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TCHCC – PART 81
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 81 To continue looking at the Judgement by the High Court from Brightman J on 24th March 1977. Page 13 paragraphs G, H, dismisses Mr Whitfield’s appeal ...
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TCHCC – PART 82
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 82 To continue to look at the crucial points in the Brightman judgement: PAGE 22, paragraph A & B, state Brightman has no jurisdiction to alter the ...
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TCHCC – PART 83
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 83 27th July 1977, in the meantime Headley Parish Council minutes record that the gates of BW47 were causing problems as predicted. 1977 Headley PC 27.7.77 4 ...
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TCHCC – PART 84
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 84 20th October 1977, further to his letter of 13th September 1977, another letter arrives from Hampshire’s County Secretary to Kingsley Parish Council. It says that as ...
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TCHCC – PART 85
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 85 20th April 1978, the minutes of the Rights of Way Sub-Committee of Hampshire County Council record that; the County Secretary reported that negotiations were now in ...
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TCHCC – PART 86
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 86 24th May 1978. Let’s have a good look at the terms of the Schedule or Agreement for the dismissal of the case from the Court of ...
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TCHCC – PART 87
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 87 24th May 1978 continuing to examine the Schedule to the Consent Order from the Court of Appeal. g Hampshire County Council will further consent to and ...
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TCHCC – PART 88
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 88 24th May 1978 continuing to scrutinise the Schedule to the Consent Order: The instruction for all proceedings in the Aldershot County Court to be dismissed is ...
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TCHCC – Question Answered
Question Answered The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – QUESTION 1 To answer the $64,000 question as to why Hampshire County Council, as the Registration Authority did not insist on application to the Secretary of ...
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TCHCC – PART 89
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 89 22nd June 1978. The County Secretary of Hampshire County Council gave a report to the Land-Sub Committee endorsing the terms of a settlement of dispute, in ...
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TCHCC – PART 90
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 90 But remember Mr Whitfield had a cause. Knowing his ownership of the common was tenuous to say the least. He was determined to secure it for ...
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TCHCC – PART 91
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 91 It begs the question as to why Hampshire County Council, who had been supporting the Broxhead Commoners by sharing the court costs with them, had now ...
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TCHCC – PART 92
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 92 Another important point seems to have been missed by HCC BROXHEAD COMMON - WHITEHILL AND HEADLEY NO.CL.147.pdf FINAL 1974 RIGHTS. In his lengthy Rights Decision, there ...
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TCHCC – PART 93
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 93 The Tithe Apportionment Act 1847, for Headley states, “there are no proprietors for Broxhead Common and it is used by sundry people” However, ownership of the ...
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TCHCC – PART 94
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 94 1948. At the same time as G. A. McAndrew sold off the 15.9 acres of common land, he also sold the Headley Park mansion house and ...
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TCHCC – PART 95
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 95 By 1978 the legal proceedings induced by Mr Whitfield had rumbled on for 15 years. In the circumstances described, it is not therefore, unreasonable to wonder ...
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TCHCC – PART 96
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 96 Both Commoners and locals, were told by Hampshire County Council, that to save further expensive legal action they had come to a settlement with Mr Whitfield ...
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TCHCC – PART 97
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 97 We can only speculate as to the reasons for Hampshire County Council’s volte face, but whatever they were we can say that it was not a ...
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TCHCC – claims for pockets of Broxhead Common
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – Two notices advertising my claims for pockets of Broxhead Common. I did ask the Planning Inspectorate to move it closer to the claimed land because Winchester is 30 ...
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TCHCC – PART 98
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 98 Absolutely no-one was happy with either the explanation or the settlement made between Hampshire County Council and Mr Whitfield because it flew in the face of ...
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TCHCC – PART 99
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 99 Mrs Patricia Elphinstone Barnard, the widow of G. W. McAndrew had sold Headley Wood Farm in 1962 to Sefton Siegfried Myers. She had no pre-registration title ...
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TCHCC – PART 100
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 100 As you have seen there was total dissent from the local community for proposals to fence any part of Broxhead Common. But after all the fund ...
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TCHCC – PART 101
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 101 1980 minutes of Headley Parish Council show how John Ellis’s well-intentioned efforts with regard to re-establishing the many existing bridleways over Broxhead Common, fell into the ...
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TCHCC – PART 102
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 102 It transpired that Hampshire County Council, despite HPC’s request for clarity, had already made an application for the diversions of BW4 and BW 46 in 1982 ...
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TCHCC – PART 103
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 103 In June 1964 the Estate Manager for Headley Wood Farm wrote a letter to the Clerk of Headley Parish Council. In this he says he has ...
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TCHCC – PART 104
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 104 As any horse rider will confirm gates of any type are an unavoidable nuisance, simply because not only do they obstruct the way but because even ...
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TCHCC – PART 105
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 105 Common land is not usually fenced and should be open and accessible from all points of view. However, at the Picketts Hill end of BW54 the ...
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TCHCC – PART 106
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 106 So, starting from where BW54 leaves the C102 opposite to the Trottsford FP and going towards Broxhead Common east, the first gate encountered, used to be ...
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TCHCC – PART 107
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 107 The path from here through the woods is reasonably wide and pleasant if a little worn in the middle. Until 2007 there was no dead hedging ...
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TCHCC – PART 108
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 108 The gates at the junction between the three bridleways numbered 54, 4, and 46, were both unnecessary and difficult. The large iron monster just sat there ...
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TCHCC – PART 109
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 109 About 50 yards further along from the ‘three ways’, where BW 4 forms a junction with BW47, there is another large field gate through which one ...
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TCHCC – PART 110
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 110 The workmen putting up the fence were of course just following orders, so I immediately wrote to the Senior Rights of way Officer in Hampshire County ...
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TCHCC – PART 111
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 111 I must admit that I was dismayed to find these alterations taking place without any consultation whatsoever. Any alteration to a definitive right of way must ...
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TCHCC – PART 112
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 112 My email of 10/11/07 brought a response from the HCC Countryside Department. I was told that any landowner can enclose a right of way providing the ...
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TCHCC – PART 113
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 113 My email serving notice on them to remove the fencing brought forth a suggestion of a site visit. At last, I was able to explain the ...
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TCHCC – PART 114
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 114 Well, I suppose I had managed to get rid of the Terminator gate and the rails beside it, so at least one end of that section ...
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TCHCC – PART 115
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 115 It had always seemed strange to me that Hampshire County Council were leasing part of Broxhead Common. They had been sharing the legal costs 50/50 with ...
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TCHCC – PART 116
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 116 The objections to my claims for bridleways, made to ameliorate the loss of 23 tracks used by horse riders before the unlawful fencing obstructed most of ...
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TCHCC – PART 117
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 117 My quote from Christopher Rodgers book, ‘Contested Common Lands’, in the last episode needs to be remembered to see how some of our laws and EU ...
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TCHCC – PART 118
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 118 The third objector was of course Hampshire County Council in the form of its Regulatory Committee. However, when they made the decision to refuse my claim ...
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TCHCC – PART 119
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 119 21st December 2006 I receive a short email from the Leader, which says it is not possible for him to respond until after Christmas. 2006 Nov ...
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TCHCC – PART 120
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 120 I found the Leader’s response quite unacceptable simply because the Planning Inspector’s decision says riders already have rights under the terms of the lease, also HCC ...
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TCHCC – PART 121
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 121 Any of my readers who are familiar with the countryside in northeast Hampshire will know that it is traversed by numerous narrow winding country lanes. These ...
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TCHCC – PART 122
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 122 24th June 1996. A reply had come not from EHDC but Hampshire County Council. It said that “I note from your letter that you regard your ...
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TCHCC – PART 123
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 123 I had to wonder why it was proving so difficult to clear a couple of fallen trees across the path of an ancient highway which runs ...
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TCHCC – PART 124
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 124 2000. A new century was upon us. The internet was still there despite doomster predictions and a new Rights of Way Manager had materialised at Hampshire ...
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TCHCC – PART 125
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 125 So, that is how I had arrived at my claim for a bridleway between BW54 and Cradle Lane, which I had submitted on 9th October 2000 ...
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TCHCC – PART 126
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 126 16th September 2003, the application for a bridleway between Cradle Lane and BW54 was still languishing in the bottom of an in-tray somewhere in HCC when ...
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TCHCC – PART 127
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 127 On 12th February 2007, I sent my appeal to the Government Office for the Northeast (GONE) against HCC’s refusal for a bridleway between BW54 and Cradle ...
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TCHCC – PART 128
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 128 The Order for a bridleway link between Cradle Lane and BW54 on Broxhead Common meant that the dangerous bends on the C102 could now be avoided, ...
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TCHCC – PART 129
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 129 I tried once more to save the path for everyone by writing to the Access Team Leader of Hampshire County Council. On 1st July 2009, I ...
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TCHCC – PART 130
The Battle for Broxhead Common The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 130 3rd April 2009, Hampshire County Council’s objection to the Secretary of State’s Order for a bridleway between BW54 to Cradle Lane would necessitate a full Public ...
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Introduction

08/08/2020 by admin | Comments Off

The Battle for Broxhead Common – Introduction

In 2017

I made application under sec.19 Commons Act 2006 to correct the Register of Common Land because of ‘mistakes’ made by the Commons Registration Authority, which in this case was Hampshire County Council. (HCC).   I knew that because of the ‘interest’ they have in Broxhead Common the matter could not be decided by them but would have to go to the Planning Inspectorate.

 It took weeks to get the application in because however carefully I drew the line around the 80 acres and even though the line is already there on the OS maps and plans, it was never good enough.  However eventually in August it was accepted. 

There was one objection and that was from Mr A. G. P. Whitfield.

23rd January 2019

is the date of the letter from the Planning Inspectorate informing me that HCC have referred the matter to them.  They offered a Hearing or Inquiry.  Because I am awfully hard of hearing and the evidence was clear, I chose to have the matter dealt with by the Inspector appointed, in this case Mr. Martin Elliott.

The decision came on 29th November 2019.

The Inspector appeared to have taken HCC’s explanation verbatim and dismissed all the other evidence and comments from supporters as irrelevant. He had also badly misled himself by saying Broxhead Common had only been provisionally registered and the fact that the land had been unlawfully fenced has no bearing on whether a mistake was made in making an entry in the register.

This decision was so misconceived that I decided it must be Judicially Reviewed.  I set the ball rolling with my lawyers at the beginning of December 2019.

25th March 2020. 

The request for Judicial Review was acknowledged by the Court.  The Defendants being Hampshire County Council, The Planning Inspectorate and as an Interested Party, Mr A. G. P. Whitfield.

5th May 2020

My application for Judicial Review came before Thornton J. who promptly refused it.  The grounds are that my ‘real complaint seemed to lie with matters over 40 years ago when the land in question was not finally registered as common land having only been preliminary registered as such’  More false statements on which she decides that Martin Elliott has not made a mistake!  I really need a chance to argue and show why these statements of facts are wrong. 

On pain of threatened costs of £30,000 from HCC, I went ahead and asked for a renewal hearing for my application for Judicial Review.  I also requested that a Planning Judge would be necessary for the complexities of the matter to be properly understood.  I had also been dismayed that the problem of Broxhead Common’s missing 80 acres was considered too old to be of much relevance.  To me, as an octogenarian that felt like discrimination.

So on 23rd July 2020

my application for renewal for Judicial Review to be made came to Court as a hearing.  The Covid19 crisis has forced the Courts to update their technology so that now Hearings can be held via Skype. A good friend lent me her earphones complete with speaker; and I wondered how it would all work. 

On the day at the appointed time the honourable judge appeared.  Apparently, nobody but the lawyers could speak.  That should not be a problem should it?

First the equipment was not recording and after a short delay to sort that out she pointed out that the bundle numbers did not match the electronic ones so please could the lawyers make sure this was corrected in future.

It turned out that she was a Family Court Judge rather than a Planning judge as we had requested.

It all started quite well with the confirmation that the Chief Commons Commissioner’s decision became final on the 24th May 1978 when it was dismissed from the Court of Appeal and that the Schedule to the Order for dismissal was not an Order from the Court as we had been led to believe all these years.  Now however HCC were saying that the Chief Commons Commissioner had made a mistake!

In the last five minutes of the hearing, even though the Judge had said more than once that it was complicated, she decided that what had been done would have been done anyway and refused me Judicial Review.  However, she did agree that Hampshire’s costs were way over the top and awarded them only £17,000.  Oh well I cannot take it with me.

The only other way to get the evidence out there and to prevent some other poor soul from having to suffer decades of injustice in the future, is to tell the tale of how to steal a common aided and abetted by your local council.  

I will be serialising the Story of the Battle for Broxhead Common from the beginning of the problems in 1963 when the owner of Headley Wood Farm, started fencing in the 80 acres of Broxhead’s common land, for it surely did not go unnoticed at the time and has been a cause of discontent ever since.

Broxhead Common has been identified as common land since time immemorial.

Robinson Animal Healthcare – Go for a Hack

18/07/2020 by admin | Comments Off

Robinson Animal Healthcare – Break Free. Go for a Hack

Sophie Wells tips for a Safe and Happy Hack

Sophie Wells tips for a Safe and Happy Hack
Hacking out on a lovely sunny day is one of the great joys of owning a horse, providing both you and your horse are confident that you can tackle any situation that might arise.

For some riders, the idea of hacking out is terrifying and equally it can prove too much for some horses, not knowing what might be lurking around the next corner.

Dressage rider and Robinson Animal Healthcare sponsored rider, Sophie Wells, includes hacking in the weekly routine of all her horses at least once or twice a week and firmly believes that breaking free from the arena is good for their brains and their bodies.

Said Sophie: “Hacking gives them time outside of the arena and exposes them to wide open spaces and the natural environment where things are unpredictable and you can’t control what goes on around you, such as when a bird flies out.”

All the horses on Sophie’s yard hack alone and in company. Sophie likes them to develop their confidence to go it alone and from a practical point; there isn’t always someone available to hack out with. They are all just as comfortable hacking in company as let’s face it, hacking with friends is much more fun!

Pinocchio, Sophie’s gold medal winning campaigner from London 2012, is now retired but is the perfect babysitter for accompanying a young horse or nervous rider out hacking.

For those that have lost their confidence out hacking, Sophie recommends going out with another sensible horse and capable rider, beginning with just a short hack around an enclosed field and gradually increasing the length of the ride and the distance from the security of the yard.

“Try moving from the arena to a more controlled environment first, such as a large paddock before hacking further afield which could involve riding on a road where you can’t guarantee people driving sensibly.”

For a competition horse there are many benefits to riding outside the safety of the arena. Getting them to relax in different environments helps them to adapt to different things that can happen on show day, as well as being ridden in changeable weather conditions. There is always much more to spook at on a windy day, than on a warm, summer day.

Sophie’s top tips for solving common hacking problems are:
  • Build a strong relationship with your horse to help him trust you in a tricky situation.
  • If he sees something scary, give him time to process his thoughts and don’t try to force him past.
  • Ride out with a sensible horse and knowledgeable rider.
  • When trying to build the confidence of a young horse, have someone walk with you on the ground.
  • Build up slowly, going a little bit further on every ride.
  • If your horse doesn’t like traffic, introduce vehicles in a controlled environment. Try moving farm equipment around them on the yard.
  • Don’t forget to breath! Slow deep breaths help to bring the heart rate down and relax the muscles of an anxious rider. Chatting to a riding companion also helps to relax your horse and take your mind of your own nerves.

Robinson Animal Healthcare has a wide range of products for all your first aid requirements including the market leading Animalintex®, which is the only VMD licensed multi-layered absorbent poultice available in the UK and the legendary Veterinary Gamgee®.

For more information contact Robinson Animal Healthcare on 01909 735000 or visit www.robinsonanimalhealthcare.com

Robinson Animal Healthcare - Why Should You Use A Wound Hydrogel?

SMS – Bridle Fitting Advice

04/07/2020 by admin | Comments Off

Horseytalk.net Special Interview

Bridle Fitting Advice

I have just bought a new horse and need to buy a new bridle, what should I look for in a new bridle and how do I ensure it is fitted correctly and will be comfortable for the horse?

Bridle Fitting Advice

Says The Society of Master Saddlers:

First of all you need to think about the purpose of the bridle and what you are going to be doing with your horse. A well selected, correctly fitting bridle can enhance the best points of a horse’s head and help disguise the less fortunate. In showing this can be used to great advantage. A horse that is comfortable in his bridle will also be able to move more freely.

Remember horses come in many different shapes and sizes and every breed has individual attributes that make them suited to a specific discipline, interest or showing class.

You can go to your local Saddlery shop and select the finest, well designed bridle using the finest materials and crafting. It could be just what you need and show off your horse but only if it fits correctly… and quite simply it can be a useless tool if it does not fit!

If you are taking part in any specialist disciplines or classes make sure you know the rules and know what is and is not allowed to be worn. This could be a costly mistake if you are planning to compete.

The simplest and most common bridle is the snaffle but fitting a bridle has the same principles whatever the style.

Bridle Fitting Advice

When fitting a bridle on a horse for the first time hold the bridle at the side of the horse’s head to get a rough idea of how big the head is. Adjust the fastenings as necessary, if you don’t do this you may struggle to get the headpiece over the horse’s head if it is too small. Straps can be left out of their keepers and runners to make adjusting quick and easy.

Once the bridle is in place, do up the buckles, starting from the top and working down.

The browband must not be so tight that it pinches the back of the ears or pulls the bridle forward. If fitted too high it will rub around the base of the ears causing discomfort, which may cause head shaking. The bridle should be loose enough to not cause the horse discomfort but secure enough not to slip off.

Bridle Fitting Advice

A correctly fitted bit should hang so that it sits in the inter orbital space, and is not in contact with any of the teeth, the height and fit of the bit depends very much on the horse’s mouth conformation – it may have a short mouth, low palate, thick tongue etc. We used to say that there should be one or two wrinkles at the corners of the mouth, but a much better test is that it should look comfortable, and be high enough in the mouth that the cheek pieces do not sag away from the face when the contact is taken up, but not so high that it appears to make the horse smile. The width of the bit is important too. It should not be pinching at the sides or be loose enough that it moves from side to side across the mouth. The cheek pieces can easily be adjusted if necessary to gain the correct position.

The cheek pieces of the bridle must not be fastened on the top hole as this can interfere with the sensitive jaw joint and cause great discomfort, if they do then you need to have them adjusted by a craft saddler.

The throat lash must not restrict the horse’s breathing. When fastening it remember that some horses become very thick through the jaw in collected paces. To measure for a good fit place three fingers sideways between the throat lash and underneath the horse’s chin.

The cavesson noseband should lie about two fingers’ breadth below the prominent cheekbones and just above the rings of the bit to avoid pinching or chafing.

Check that the noseband is level before fastening. All nosebands should be loose enough to fit two fingers side by side under the front of the noseband when fastened.

Bridle Fitting Advice

The leather of a bridle should be firm but pliable with no sharp or rough edges. If a bridle is very cheap it has either been made from poor quality materials or by using modern day slave labour, however, a high price does not guarantee a great product. If in doubt ask a craft saddler for advice on the quality of a bridle.

Bespoke bridles are a good option. Made by craft bridle-maker these bridles are perfectly made to measure your horse and fitted. It certainly takes the hassle out of buying and fitting one and can be extremely good value for money and a worthwhile investment. The bridle-maker will come out to measure up your horse, and if this is not possible due to distances involved they may give clear measuring instructions for you to do it yourself and feedback the measurements. Bridle fitters can help with choosing the correct size of bit and many are also bitting specialists who will carry a selection of bits for you to try. Nowadays many bridle fitters carry a selection of different makes or styles of bridle that you can try before buying, similar to the way saddle fitters do.

Bridle Fitting Advice

If you are interested in this option the Society of Master Saddlers can help as many of their members are craft bridle-makers who are amongst the best in the world.

Qualification

Last year the Society of Master Saddlers launched a new and forward thinking Bridle Fitting Qualification.

This new initiative aims to raise standards in the industry and enhance equine welfare.

The qualification, approved by City & Guilds, was developed over 18 months. At the centre of all the Society’s suite of qualifications, which are all approved by City & Guilds, is equine welfare which drives members forward to deliver the best saddlery services and goods in the world.

For further information about the Society of Master Saddlers visit www.mastersaddlers.co.uk or telephone 01449 711642. Society of Master Saddlers

For more information visit www.mastersaddlers.co.uk or contact The Society of Master Saddlers on 01449 711642.

Robinson Animal Healthcare – Emergency Away from Home

20/06/2020 by admin | Comments Off

Robinson Animal Healthcare – On the move after Lockdown

Are you Prepared for an Emergency Away from Home?

Are you Prepared for an Emergency Away from Home?

Following the latest easing of lockdown measures horse owners are once again back out on the road attending training events and with preparations tentatively underway for the resumption of competitions, are you prepared for a first aid emergency away from home?

Being prepared is vital, so it is important to check both your human and equine first aid kit is fully stocked before you leave and is stored in an easily accessible place.

The contents of the Horse & Rider First Aid Kit from Robinson Animal Healthcare provides all the essentials you might need to treat a minor wound or protect a more serious wound until veterinary help arrives.

Coming in a handy, wipe clean bag with carry straps, the bag functions as a ruck sack, perfect for at an event as it can also be used to carry other items you might need.

The kit contains all the necessary products to deal with minor cuts and grazes, including market leading products Animalintex®, which is the ONLY medicinal licensed veterinary poultice and dressing on the market and Veterinary Gamgee®.

Also included are Equiwrap® bandages, a 15g tube of Vetalintex®, Skintact® wound dressing 10cm x 10cm, Fast Aid® Cleansing Wipes and tough cut scissors.

For the rider, the kit contains a Robinson Animal Healthcare Fast Aid® Travel First Aid Kit, the perfect solution for minor first aid treatment during outdoor activities.

Showjumper and Robinson Animal Healthcare sponsored rider, Laura Renwick Renwick never leaves home without Animalintex®, Veterinary Gamgee® and Equiwrap® bandages.

For more information contact Robinson Animal Healthcare on 01909 735000 or visit www.robinsonanimalhealthcare.com

Robinson Animal Healthcare - Why Should You Use A Wound Hydrogel?

SMS – The Coronavirus Crisis

21/03/2020 by admin | Comments Off

Horseytalk.net Special Interview

The Coronavirus Crisis
Give your new horse a treat. Buy them some new tack

Without doubt and thankfully times have changed! Not that many years ago many riders and owners would buy a new horse and expect the tack they already had to fit, while others requested to buy the existing tack – it might fit the horse but would it help with rider position and balance? In this issue the team at the Society of Master Saddlers discuss the options.

Whether buying the existing tack with your new horse or purchasing brand new the most important aspect is that it is fits correctly and is checked by a Society of Master Saddlers’ Qualified Saddle Fitter.

If you decide to buy the current saddle and bridle don’t simply accept that it ‘must’ fit well, give yourself peace of mind by having a visit from a QSF.

Similarly it may fit the horse but as the new rider are the flaps long enough or too long, is the seat a good size and will the saddle help both horse and rider to perform at their best?

If budget allows, a bespoke saddle made specifically for the horse and to also suit the rider is ideal.

Without doubt the most important aspect is that whether you have the budget for a new saddle or only for a second hand one – the fit for the horse is key and must always be the first consideration.

A new saddle versus a second hand one depends on the finance available and a correctly fitted second-hand saddle is far better than an ill-fitting new one!

It is important to plan ahead and provide the ‘right’ facilities for your saddlers visit as this helps the saddle fitter to give the best possible service. Ideally you should fulfil the following criteria:

A flat, hard surface where the horse can be stood up and run up in hand.

An area where the horse can be ridden. Saddle fitting can take a considerable time and the saddle fitter is likely to want the horse owner to ride in a number of short-listed saddles, an essentially important part of the fitting procedure.

Showjumping and Cross-Country. If you are opting for a saddle designed specifically for dressage, polo or showing it is very unlikely you will be wanting to use the saddle for jumping! If you are considering purchasing a saddle that will involve jumping, it is essential to ride over a few fences.

Rider Presence.

Although this will appear remarkably obvious to the vast majority of riders, it is a fact that some believe their presence isn’t a necessary factor. Occasionally horses are ‘shared’ or ridden regularly by more than one person and, in this case, both riders should be present.

Wear something suitable.

Sometimes clients are unsuitably dressed. Jeans and trainers are always inadequate and they certainly aren’t the most comfortable clothes in which to try out short-listed saddles.

The Society of Master Saddlers generally cautions that the well-fitting saddle does not require the addition of anything under it with the possible exception of a thin saddle cloth. There are, however, exceptions to every rule. When there is a valid reason for using a numnah or gel pad the saddle fitter will need to allow for the addition.

Have your own stirrup leathers and girth available.

The saddle fitter will be carrying girths of various types and sizes but it is a good idea to have your own available. Using your own stirrup leathers is generally more comfortable and avoids the possibility of the saddle fitter’s new leathers becoming marked and therefore difficult to sell.

The saddle fitter would obviously prefer to preserve the condition of his new saddles but, in addition, the marks left on the well-groomed horse’s back after removal of the saddle are significant because they indicate bearing surfaces and further identify unwanted movement. When the horse is ill-groomed, the marks left by the saddle may be blurred or indistinguishable.

Society of Master Saddlers

For more information visit www.mastersaddlers.co.uk or contact The Society of Master Saddlers on 01449 711642.

HorseHage- Foot Perfect

08/02/2020 by admin | Comments Off

Horseytalk.net Special Interview

Foot Perfect

How Kirsty solved her ex-Racehorses foot problems

How Kirsty solved her ex-Racehorses foot problems

Their feet were very fragile, often splitting and breaking and they were always losing shoes.Two ex-racehorses, owned by Kirsty Holder, were both having problems with poor feet.

Copper Sound, a 15-year-old chestnut Thoroughbred gelding, had been raced in point-to-points and National Hunt until he was eight years old and then retired due to injury.

Kirsty introduced him to eventing, showing and dressage and the pair were very successful, winning and being placed many times. Four years ago he suffered a break in his pedal bone which took quite some time to repair but he is now recovered and enjoys hacking and flatwork with occasional jumping.

Kirsty’s other horse, Raven’s Nest (Bertie), is a nine-year-old bay Thoroughbred gelding who had raced on the flat and over hurdles but retired as a six-year-old as he had no interest in racing.

Since being owned by Kirsty, the pair have enjoyed many different disciplines and activities including hacking and flatwork as well as competing at show-jumping, dressage, showing, fun rides and eventing, often returning home with rosettes.

They competed at the ROR National Championships at Aintree in 2017 taking home the Reserve Champion title in the Intro Dressage, 9th place in the 75cm Open Show Jumping and 7th in the In-Hand Flat Horse showing class.

However, with both horses having poor feet, it was a constant battle for Kirsty to maintain them. Their feet were very fragile, often splitting and breaking and they were always losing shoes.

Earlier this year, when Kirsty was visiting the Badminton Horse Trials, she spoke to the team on the HorseHage & Mollichaff trade stand to ask about a calming feed for Copper Sound. When she mentioned the problems she had with both horses’ hooves, she was told about Mollichaff HoofKind Complete.

Mollichaff HoofKind Complete is a complete, fibre-based feed specially formulated for horses and ponies prone to laminitis. It is made from a balanced blend of high quality oat straw, dried alfalfa, fibre pellets, soya oil with added vitamins and minerals, trace elements, including magnesium and natural plant-based antioxidants. It also contains added biotin for strong, healthy hooves.

How Kirsty solved her ex-Racehorses foot problems

It’s low in starch and sugar, high in fibre and does not contain any cereals. It provides a low level but high quality protein and restricted calories to give limited, controlled energy from high quality digestible fibre and oil-based ingredients. When fed at the recommended levels, it can be used as the sole bucket feed.

Said Kirsty: “I have been using Mollichaff HoofKind Complete since May 2019 and I have to say that I have seen an incredible improvement in both horses’ feet. No lost shoes, no brittle feet and they are now both barefoot. Bertie originally had to go barefoot after pulling a shoe off and damaging his hoof which meant the farrier was unable to attach a shoe. The farrier said it would take 12 weeks before he could be shod but after six weeks he was amazed and could not believe the difference in their feet. The only thing we had changed was their feed to Mollichaff HoofKind Complete.”

For further advice on feeding horse, ponies or donkeys, please call the HorseHage Helpline on 01803 527274 or visit www.horsehage.co.uk

SMS – Saddle Fitting for the Wider Horse or Pony

01/02/2020 by admin | Comments Off

Horseytalk.net Special Interview

Saddle Fitting for the Wider Horse or Pony

The Society of Master Saddlers offers advice when it comes to finding a suitable saddle for a wider fitting horse or pony.

Saddle Fitting for the Wider Horse or Pony

Without doubt certain types of horses and ponies are by nature harder to fit and those with less wither and wider, flatter backs can prove thought-provoking when it comes to finding a suitable saddle.

This type of conformation can lead to a host of issues which need to be discussed with a Society of Master Saddlers’ Qualified Saddle Fitter.

Whether choosing a new or second hand saddle you will need to consider the activities you are undertaking with your horse or pony, his shape, development and age.

Issues you may need to look at include preventing the saddle sliding up the neck due to the lack of whither which will lead to the back of the saddle bouncing and them being unhappy.

With the wider fitting horse or pony if riders are quite tall sometimes getting a saddle that is large enough with big enough flaps without swamping them can be challenging.

The saddle must be comfortable and in the case of the younger rider make them feel secure to help build confidence, but it is equally important that the horse or pony is also comfortable.

It is essential that the tree of the saddle is suitable and correct, too narrow a seat on a broad backed horse or pony may not sit securely into the back, so allowing the saddle to tip and rock, whilst the rider may feel perched above.

It is imperative that the front width fitting, as well as the shape of the tree in general is correct. Too wide and the saddle will tip forward, causing considerable pressure and discomfort in the area behind their shoulders. The back of the saddle will lift and bounce, also causing discomfort. Too narrow a tree can tip the saddle back, causing pressure under the back of the saddle. Also, the saddle may well ‘run forward’ on to the neck. Part of the tree called the side rails (the bit that narrows under your leg before broadening out into the seat) must also be of a suitable angle and have a suitable width between them. Too close together and angled and the saddle will rock, too far apart and the saddle might come onto the spine.

If the saddle has a flocked panel, a good saddler can ‘fine tune’ the fit so that the saddle is in perfect balance. The flocking should be of a good quality wool and be quite soft, not hard or lumpy.

The best way of avoiding a saddle that rolls to one side, rides up the neck or bridges is to use, whenever possible, the services of a Society of Master Saddlers’ Qualified Saddle Fitter. They will know, by assessing the horse and rider, the style, shape and size that will do the trick. Some saddles now come with several positions of girth straps and this can help the saddle fitter to overcome any conformation difficulties that may cause these actions. However it is the ability to look at a horse or pony and see what these difficulties are and to know what is available saddle wise that is the key to successful fitting.

Society of Master Saddlers

For more information visit www.mastersaddlers.co.uk or contact The Society of Master Saddlers on 01449 711642.

Horsey Interviews 2020

25/01/2020 by admin | Comments Off

Horsey Interviews 2020

TopSpec – Feeding the Older Horse
TopChop-GRASS
Horseytalk.net Special Interview Feeding the Older Horse There are several factors to consider when feeding an older horse, such as his activity level, the environmental conditions, and any health concerns. Whilst he remains in good health, his diet may not need to change. However, as certain problems develop, alterations to his regime are more likely to be necessary. These health ...
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Caroline Mckain
Caroline Mckain
Horseytalk.net Special Interview Caroline Mckain Psychic horse helped me find love - Full story Why bother with swiping for hours on Tinder when a psychic horse could find you love? Caroline Mckain, 56, says that her horse, called Fred, is responsible for her meeting her soulmate – because he told her exactly where to look, with the help of a ...
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SMS – How to Find a Qualified Saddle Fitter
Horseytalk.net Special Interview How to Find a Qualified Saddle Fitter Please do not confuse a Master Saddle Fitter or Qualified Saddle Fitter with a Master Saddler or Qualified Saddler. Master Saddler and Society of Master Saddlers’ Registered Qualified Saddle Fitter, Kay Hastilow answers: What is the best way to find a Qualified Saddle Fitter? Are there any qualifications I can ...
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SMS – Is your saddle safe?
The Society Master Saddlers, Lecturer / Assessor on Saddle fitting courses and Master Saddler Laurence Pearman
Horseytalk.net Special Interview Is your saddle safe? How to check your saddle for safety Twice president of The Society Master Saddlers, Lecturer / Assessor on Saddle fitting courses and Master Saddler Laurence Pearman provides advice on checking your saddle for safety. Question What areas of my saddle should I check for wear or damage? Are there any areas that are ...
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SMS – Career Becomes Your Passion
Horseytalk.net Special Interview A Career with Horses. See if this fits It’s easy to get stuck in a rut when it comes to your career. If you like meeting new people, enjoy variety and being outdoors whatever the weather, saddle fitting could provide the answer. The first point of call would be to visit the Society of Master Saddlers website ...
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Robinson Animal Healthcare – Go for a Hack
Sophie Wells tips for a Safe and Happy Hack
Robinson Animal Healthcare - Break Free. Go for a Hack Sophie Wells tips for a Safe and Happy Hack Hacking out on a lovely sunny day is one of the great joys of owning a horse, providing both you and your horse are confident that you can tackle any situation that might arise. For some riders, the idea of hacking ...
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SMS – Bridle Fitting Advice
Bridle Fitting Advice
Horseytalk.net Special Interview Bridle Fitting Advice I have just bought a new horse and need to buy a new bridle, what should I look for in a new bridle and how do I ensure it is fitted correctly and will be comfortable for the horse? Says The Society of Master Saddlers: First of all you need to think about the ...
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Robinson Animal Healthcare – Emergency Away from Home
Robinson Animal Healthcare - On the move after Lockdown Are you Prepared for an Emergency Away from Home? Following the latest easing of lockdown measures horse owners are once again back out on the road attending training events and with preparations tentatively underway for the resumption of competitions, are you prepared for a first aid emergency away from home? Being ...
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SMS – The Coronavirus Crisis
Horseytalk.net Special Interview The Coronavirus Crisis Give your new horse a treat. Buy them some new tack Without doubt and thankfully times have changed! Not that many years ago many riders and owners would buy a new horse and expect the tack they already had to fit, while others requested to buy the existing tack – it might fit the ...
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HorseHage- Foot Perfect
Horseytalk.net Special Interview Foot Perfect How Kirsty solved her ex-Racehorses foot problems Their feet were very fragile, often splitting and breaking and they were always losing shoes.Two ex-racehorses, owned by Kirsty Holder, were both having problems with poor feet. Copper Sound, a 15-year-old chestnut Thoroughbred gelding, had been raced in point-to-points and National Hunt until he was eight years old ...
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SMS – Saddle Fitting for the Wider Horse or Pony
Horseytalk.net Special Interview Saddle Fitting for the Wider Horse or Pony The Society of Master Saddlers offers advice when it comes to finding a suitable saddle for a wider fitting horse or pony. Without doubt certain types of horses and ponies are by nature harder to fit and those with less wither and wider, flatter backs can prove thought-provoking when ...
Read More
Harriet Morris-Baumber – On Solid Ground
Horseytalk.net Special Interview On Solid Ground To soft? Too hard? How do you know when the ground conditions are good enough to compete and when you should save your horse for another day? Here event rider and trainer, Harriet Morris-Baumber, helps us understand the effects of riding on ground that could be considered detrimental to your horse. The 2020 eventing ...
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SMS – Different Types of Martingale
Horseytalk.net Special Interview Different Types of Martingale www.mastersaddlers.co.uk The Society of Master Saddlers look at the different styles of martingale available today. Jamie -Lee Day and Hanleen Didjeridoo A martingale is a piece of tack which is usually used to control head carriage and act as an additional form of control. There are several different types of martingale which are ...
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Harriet Morris-Baumber – On Solid Ground

25/01/2020 by admin | Comments Off

Horseytalk.net Special Interview

On Solid Ground

Harriet Morris-Baumber - On Solid Ground

To soft? Too hard?

How do you know when the ground conditions are good enough to compete and when you should save your horse for another day?

Here event rider and trainer, Harriet Morris-Baumber, helps us understand the effects of riding on ground that could be considered detrimental to your horse.

The 2020 eventing season follows one of the wettest winters for many years and event organisers will be working hard to ensure ground conditions are as favourable as possible.

As the eventing season spans spring, summer and early autumn and the changing weather that these seasons can bring, ground conditions can vary tremendously.

So, how do we know when wet is too wet and hard ground is too hard, forcing a rider to make the difficult decision not to compete?

Harriet Morris-Baumber - On Solid Ground

Whatever the ground conditions, the fitter a horse is and the better the condition of the muscles, the less likely an injury is to occur. As the muscles fatigue with work they lose the ability to contract and release as quickly, making it more difficult to instantly compensate for any loss of balance caused when they lose their footing.

It is also worth considering that horses can easily lose their confidence if the going doesn’t suit them.

On very wet, sloppy ground a horse can propel themselves through the mud, which can have an effect on their traction control system, but not necessarily cause an injury directly.

Wet, holding ground however has a sucking action with every stride and the horse has to work harder to pull their legs out of the ground with each stride. This repetitive action can cause strains to the soft tissues of the lower limbs and will fatigue the muscles quicker resulting in a reduced ability to balance, turn, and change pace.

Wet or deep ground, while being much kinder to the joints than hard ground can cause stress to the soft tissues.

One competition in muddy conditions in unlikely to result in an injury but if your horse has previously had tendon or ligament issues and or excessive speed is used the likelihood of an injury greatly increases. Continuing to push a tired horse to go faster, particularly in deep holding ground also massively increases the chances of an injury.

Another factor to take into account when considering the ground conditions is that the horse’s hoof is designed to slide very slightly as it hits the ground. In wetter conditions this slide can become too much and so the use of studs can really help to aid the horse’s ‘traction control’.

Hard, rutty and uneven ground causes the hoof to over-pivot on the end of the leg, putting extra stress on the joints and soft tissue of the lower limbs as they attempt to keep themselves and the upper limbs stable.

Harriet Morris-Baumber - On Solid Ground

Hard ground has the added negative of causing a concussive effect on the joints. This is where the shock absorption system is struggling to counteract the repetitive pounding of working on hard ground.

Some work on hard ground can be a good thing. Working at slower speeds, such as hacking in walk and gently trotting on the road can strengthen bones and build condition in soft tissues. Bone is constantly being broken down and remodelled, hence why a break can heal very efficiently in a relatively short timescale and can adapt to the forces it’s subjected to, so working on a harder surface can have a positive effect by increasing the bone density.

Soft tissue doesn’t have this same ability hence why soft tissue injuries take longer to heal and have a less successful prognosis. Also, if a bone has healed well, there is little or no weakness in the structure of it, whereas soft tissue will always carry a degree of weakness as the fibres do not always heal in the correct fibre pattern. As a result the reoccurrence of an injury in the same area is more likely.

Good grass cover is important as the grass roots hold the soil together and the grass on the surface has a cushioning effect as well as giving the hooves something to ‘bite’ into.

Consistency of the going is fundamental for reducing the risk of injury. Travelling at speed and a sudden change from hard to very sort ground gives the horse no time to compensate and will unbalance the horse. In that split second when the horse compensates for the imbalance, he can easily over strain the soft tissues within the limbs.

However, having said all of this, only ever riding your horse on a perfect, level artificial surface will not prepare your horse’s body for coping with the varying terrain that is likely to arise out eventing.

Knowing your horse, doing the correct conditioning work and riding at the appropriate speed will all enable you to compete on various types of ground without a problem.

Harriet is available for dressage, show-jumping and cross-country lessons at her base near York.

harriet-morris-baumber

To find out more call Harriet on (07795) 562745 or visit www.harriet-morris-baumber.co.uk

Harriet Morris-Baumber – Setting Achievable Goals

14/12/2019 by admin | Comments Off

Horseytalk.net Special Interview

New Year Riding Resolutions – Setting Achievable Goals

www.harriet-morris-baumber.co.uk

Harriet Morris-Baumber

Event rider and trainer Harriet Morris-Baumber offers advice on setting goals that are achievable.

Whatever your resolution or goal seeing it through is all about making sure they are achievable in the first place. This is not to say that you shouldn’t push yourself out of your comfort zone but in equestrianism, ambition can sometimes outweigh ability like in no other sport.

Your goals should also be defined by your horse’s ability as well as your own. Pushing a horse too far out of his comfort zone will only damage his confidence and set you back in your progress.

Effective goal setting must be specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time bound. This means no vague fantasies like ‘I’d love to win an event’ it needs to be more refined, such as ‘by the end of the 2020 season, my goal is to finish on a sub 30 score’.

This goal might then create a series of smaller goals (minor goals) that are needed in order for you to achieve the bigger goal. For example, improve the dressage by five marks, eliminate the four faults or be able to go 10 seconds faster cross-country in order to make the time.

If you’re really being super analytical then it can be taken a step further and broken down into micro goals, such as improve the free walk by one to two marks, or set off from the start box more effectively.

Often to make an improvement to achieve a goal it is about improving 10 things by 1% rather than improving 1 thing by 10%.

Once you have your goal – write it down! This is the single most valuable thing to do as the process of writing it down makes it feel real. You can keep it in your purse, on your bedside table or pin it up on your desk.

Tell your circle about your goal, your friends, your family, your trainer, anyone who supports you and has an interest in you. They will be able to help and encourage you and keep you on track.

Because you are now a savvy goal setter, you have set a time scale on your goal, so you have the present date and an end goal. You now need to add in some key dates in your timeline to assess, review and repeat.

If things don’t go to plan, for example we have heavy snow for two weeks in February; you may have to adjust your plans.

Sometimes it can be good to write down why you want to achieve this goal. When you feel demotivated or you lose confidence you can look back on your ‘Misson Statement’ and this should help to inspire you to keep going.

Goal setting is much more than simply stating you wish something to happen. Unless you clearly define exactly what you want, why you want it and how you can accomplish it, your odds of success are greatly reduced.

By setting smart goals with a timeline you can set goals with confidence and enjoy the satisfaction that comes with knowing you achieved what you set out to do.

Remember a dream without a goal is just a wish!

Harriet is available for dressage, show-jumping and cross-country lessons at her base near York.

To find out more call Harriet on (07795) 562745 or visit www.harriet-morris-baumber.co.uk

Whatever your resolution or goal seeing it through is all about making sure they are achievable in the first place. This is not to say that you shouldn’t push yourself out of your comfort zone but in equestrianism, ambition can sometimes outweigh ability like in no other sport.

Your goals should also be defined by your horse’s ability as well as your own. Pushing a horse too far out of his comfort zone will only damage his confidence and set you back in your progress.

Effective goal setting must be specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time bound. This means no vague fantasies like ‘I’d love to win an event’ it needs to be more refined, such as ‘by the end of the 2020 season, my goal is to finish on a sub 30 score’.

This goal might then create a series of smaller goals (minor goals) that are needed in order for you to achieve the bigger goal. For example, improve the dressage by five marks, eliminate the four faults or be able to go 10 seconds faster cross-country in order to make the time.

If you’re really being super analytical then it can be taken a step further and broken down into micro goals, such as improve the free walk by one to two marks, or set off from the start box more effectively.

Often to make an improvement to achieve a goal it is about improving 10 things by 1% rather than improving 1 thing by 10%.

Once you have your goal – write it down! This is the single most valuable thing to do as the process of writing it down makes it feel real. You can keep it in your purse, on your bedside table or pin it up on your desk.

Tell your circle about your goal, your friends, your family, your trainer, anyone who supports you and has an interest in you. They will be able to help and encourage you and keep you on track.

Because you are now a savvy goal setter, you have set a time scale on your goal, so you have the present date and an end goal. You now need to add in some key dates in your timeline to assess, review and repeat.

If things don’t go to plan, for example we have heavy snow for two weeks in February; you may have to adjust your plans.

Sometimes it can be good to write down why you want to achieve this goal. When you feel demotivated or you lose confidence you can look back on your ‘Misson Statement’ and this should help to inspire you to keep going.

Goal setting is much more than simply stating you wish something to happen. Unless you clearly define exactly what you want, why you want it and how you can accomplish it, your odds of success are greatly reduced.

By setting smart goals with a timeline you can set goals with confidence and enjoy the satisfaction that comes with knowing you achieved what you set out to do.

Remember a dream without a goal is just a wish!

Harriet Morris-Baumber

Harriet is available for dressage, show-jumping and cross-country lessons at her base near York.

To find out more call Harriet on (07795) 562745 or visit www.harriet-morris-baumber.co.uk

Pieces about Bits

07/12/2019 by admin | Comments Off

Horseytalk.net Special Interview

Pieces about Bits

Pelham Waterford hrc

Designed and produced by highly skilled craftsmen, every bit is individually handmade and can be customised to suit your requirements.

The possibilities are endless, even for traditional bits, as they can be lightweight, normal weight or made with a variety of mouth and cheek pieces.

Bitting experts, Abbey England, make thousands of bits in their UK foundry every year. Designed and produced by highly skilled craftsmen, every bit is individually handmade and can be customised to suit your requirements.

The possibilities are endless, even for traditional bits, as they can be lightweight, normal weight or made with a variety of mouth and cheek pieces.

Bits in the Spotlight: The Pelham

The Pelham is a bit with two points of rein attachment; an upper (Snaffle action) and lower (curb action) rein. A curb chain should be fitted and a lipstrap attached. Pelham bits are useful for horses with smaller “full” mouths e.g. Cobs, that could not accommodate the two bits of a Double Bridle.

How does it work?

Pelhams encourage the head down and inwards. The action on the lower/bottom rein encourages the head down and inwards by placing pressure downwards on the poll and mouth as the lower rein is used. The curb chain will place pressure on the chin groove and to a degree the mouth via the bits mouthpiece through the leverage action as the lower rein is applied.

The action on the top rein of the Pelham acts with a simple Snaffle action on the lips, tongue and bars. A single jointed mouthpiece with have a squeezing upwards action.

Pelham Copper Ball

Using two reins on a Pelham is vastly preferable to the “fudged” action of Pelham rounding’s. It is also worth noting, a single jointed Pelham needs to be used with extra care, placing the curb chain through the top ring to ensure that it sits and acts in the correct position on the horse’s chin. Try a straight mouthed Pelham first if possible and ride with two reins, particularly when using a jointed Pelham.

When is it used?

To give greater control of a horse that requires his head and neck to be brought downwards so that he can then be ridden predominantly on the Snaffle rein. The lower curb rein just being used when he becomes too strong or lifts his head up adversely. Also used to provide an inwards tilting action of the head, popular in showing when the horse’s mouth can’t accommodate two bits for a Double Bridle.

Pelham Cherry Roller hrc

Fitting a Pelham: The bit should fit comfortably into the corner of the lips with just a curve upwards. If you buckle the bit too high it will continuously stretch the corners of the lips. If you put your fingers onto each cheek and pull gently down the bit should not leave a gap at the corners. The top purchase (the part of the cheek just above the mouthpiece) on a well-made Pelham should bend outwards to stop the top of the cheek sticking into the horse’s face. There should be approximately ¼” of bit sticking out of each side of the horse’s mouth.

The Curb Chain

It is very important to get the set of the curb chain just right. Too loose, and the bit creates too much downward mouth pressure and too much poll pressure. Too tight and the horse gets no release or reward from the pressure. Twist your chain so that it is flat on the jaw and then hook your chain up on the near side of the bit, you should gently get hold of your bottom reins and pull backwards towards the horse’s chest. The cheek of your Pelham should only go to 45 degrees and then the chain should touch the back of the jaw and stop the cheek rotating any more. If your horse or pony is sensitive then you could use a leather or elastic curb instead of a chain.

Curb Chains are supplied with all Abbey Pelham Bits. Chains supplied are normally stainless steel with nickel, brass or nickel plated available on request. Single chains are available in pony, cob and full size, whilst doubles are also available in extra-long. Flat Polo chains and Brass chains are available at extra cost.

Pelham Copper Cherry Roller hrc

There are many mouthpieces that can be used in a Pelham including:

  • Cherry Roller ( 12mm thick ) s/s copper sweet metal
  • Copper Roller (15mm thick ) s/s copper sweet metal
  • Copper Waterford
  • Copper Ball
  • Egerton Link
  • Copper Nut
  • Hartford Link
  • Copper Roller Port
  • Rollers either side of one of the above central links

These mouths then fit on a wide range of cheeks all available from Abbey England.

Abbey England hosts one of the largest collections in the UK and as a bitting expert understands the importance of both performance and comfort. All their bits have been designed and manufactured to the highest standards using only the best quality materials.

www.abbeyengland.com

Winter’s coming

30/11/2019 by admin | Comments Off

Horseytalk.net Special Interview

Winters Coming

Stabled or Living Out – What’s Best for Digestive Health?

Stabled or Living Out – What’s Best for Digestive Health?

Stabled or living out during winter is a continuous issue that divides opinion but what is best for your horses’ digestive health?

First and foremost, it is important to recognise that not all horses are the same and what is right for one is not always right for another.

Management is also a major factor for many horse owners who don’t have enough acreage to allow their horse the luxury of 24-hour turnout during winter, and with the flooding caused by the heavy rainfall experienced at the start of autumn, sometimes stabling is the only option. Practical restrictions, such as work, personal life and available facilities all contribute to the management of the horse over winter. In some cases, that management is dictated by others for many reasons.

The number one priority regardless of whether your horse lives in or out is to ensure they are getting enough fibre to keep their digestive system working efficiently, with access to ad lib forage being the ideal solution.

Grazing is obviously the most natural situation but most owners don’t have an abundance of grass at this time of year so additional forage in the form of hay or haylage must be provided in the field. If this is not an option because your yard doesn’t allow it then being stabled may well be better than being out.

Living in doesn’t necessarily lead to poorer digestive health – it really depends on the access to forage and the ability to trickle feed. If, in some cases, living in means restricted forage and increased (sometimes excess) hard feed in fewer meals then without a doubt turn out would be better.

Stabled or Living Out – What’s Best for Digestive Health?

If, however, living in still means they get ad lib forage and can trickle feed with any hard feed being offered in small amounts across a greater number of meals then digestive health per se should be just as good as being turned out.

For exercise and weight management obviously turnout is much better. In the wild horses would put on weight during the summer months and then lose this over winter. However, this natural form of weight management is something that has been lost in the management of many domestic horses. Over-rugging, excess feed and protected from the elements can have a significant metabolic impact, as well as an indirect effect on the digestive health of the horse.

Stress is another factor that can compromise the health of the digestive system and limited access to turnout during winter can be a significant cause for some horses during winter.

Whether your horse lives in or out good digestive health very much depends on the ability to ensure sufficient fibre intake to minimise gut disturbances.

When making the decision about what is best for your horse, it is not just ensuring the health of the digestive system that determines if they should live in or out. There are other contributing factors to making the decision that a horse should live out 24/7, such as respiratory disease and mobility issues.

The Lifeforce Range of all-natural, daily digestive aid supplements from Alltech is designed to benefit horses of every stage of life, from breeding stock to pleasure and performance animals.

Stabled or Living Out – What’s Best for Digestive Health?

For further information please visit www.lifeforcehorse.co.uk or telephone 01780 764512.

 

How to Cope with Winter Hazards

How to Cope with Winter Hazards

It would be nice to think winter is all about clear blue skies and riding on a crisp frosty morning, when in reality for many horse owners it is an endurance test to make it through to spring in one piece.

The difficulties of owning a horse during the winter months can make life a challenge, negotiating the hazards that a British winter can throw at us.

Horse owners have already been tested this winter with an unprecedented wet autumn, causing muddy conditions and as temperatures drop, being prepared will help ease your way to spring, stress free.

During muddy conditions it is best, where possible to allow your horse’s legs to dry naturally and then brush the mud off. If you must wash your horse’s legs it is essential that you dry them properly. Bandaging the legs with Veterinary Gamgee® helps to absorb excess moisture and provide warmth and insulation.

Equiwrap® is Robinson Animal Healthcare’s range of flexible and lightweight cohesive bandages and they come in a variety of colours to brighten up your first aid kit and are ideal for securing Veterinary Gamgee®.

How to Cope with Winter Hazards

Hard frozen ground or even deep muddy conditions can lead to strains, tendon injuries and knocks. Cold therapy is ideal for the treatment of inflammation and soft tissue injuries but traditional cold hosing with water in the winter months may lead to cracked heels or other skin problems.

Koolpak® provides instant, dry cold therapy, without the need for refrigeration, reducing heat and swelling.

As we head into the depth of winter ensure that you store your first aid kit in an appropriate place to prevent liquid items from becoming frozen.

Always break the ice on water buckets and drinking troughs and add warm water to the bucket as some horses are reluctant to drink extremely cold water, increasing the risk of colic.

How to Cope with Winter Hazards

Based in Scotland, sponsored rider, Louisa Milne-Home is used to braving bad weather during winter. Here are her two top tips.

· Keep a plentiful supply of salt to hand and always salt pathways and ramps to muck heaps. Stock up early as once the freezing conditions hit, supplies will quickly sell out.

· If you are lucky enough to have your own arena, keep it harrowed regularly to help prevent it from freezing.

Robinson Animal Healthcare has a wide range of products for all your first aid requirements including the market leading Animalintex®, which is the only VMD licensed multi-layered absorbent poultice available in the UK and the legendary Veterinary Gamgee®.

How to Cope with Winter Hazards

For more information contact Robinson Animal Healthcare on 01909 735000 or visit www.robinsonanimalhealthcare.com

SMS – Give your tack a Christmas treat.

23/11/2019 by admin | Comments Off

Horseytalk.net Special Interview

Give your tack a Christmas treat.
Take care of it

The Society of Master Saddlers advice on tack care and maintenance to help ensure your tack lasts and stands the test of time.

Cleaning a bridle

Good quality, handcrafted saddlery can last for years but only if carefully maintained and looked after.

When using saddles and bridles on a daily basis, the rigours of riding puts them to the test so regular cleaning, care and attention is vital to ensure you are still using them in many years to come.

As we all know, investing in good quality tack is likely to be one of the most expensive and important purchases you make for you and your horse. Once you have the right saddle, bridle and other tack accessories it is then over to you to ensure they remain in good condition and last for years.

Your saddle and bridle should be checked each time you tack up and a more in depth look taken when cleaning. In general leather should be supple and free from cracks. If allowed to dry out, leather becomes brittle and weak, making it prone to splitting. Pay particular attention to straps which are subjected to a lot of stress e.g. girth straps and stirrup leathers. Make sure stitching is secure, metalwork e.g. buckles are not damaged and that holes have not become enlarged. If the tack is in poor condition it can injure you and your horse or cause a serious accident.

Checks to tack should be thorough; this will involve turning your saddle upside down to check underneath it and lifting up all flaps. To check a bridle properly it will need to be taken apart as buckles often hide cracks in the leather.

Cleaning a girth

Steps to maintain leather must be taken to ensure it stays supple and safe. Ideally tack should be cleaned every time it has been used, but this is not always possible. At the very least bits should be washed in clean water and dried with a clean cloth after they have been used. Also if tack gets wet and muddy it should not be left or it is likely to become brittle or may stretch. Remove mud and dirt with a warm damp cloth and allow it to dry at room temperature, and then apply a leather conditioner.

It is advisable therefore to thoroughly clean your saddle and bridle at least once a week. The aim of thorough cleaning is to remove all dirt and grease and then to feed and condition the leather. There are numerous products available on the market for conditioning leather such as sprays, wipes, soap bars, creams, oils and balms. Always read manufacturer’s instructions carefully to make sure the product is suitable for your particular type of leather. Whether you use a sponge, brush or cloth to clean and apply product make sure it is not too abrasive so that the leather isn’t scratched.

To clean metalwork you can use a metal polish, this will leave buckles and stirrups etc looking brighter and clean. Never use polishes on bits though as they may be harmful to your horse. Even if you think you have washed a polish off it is likely a residue is left behind which you cannot see.

If a saddle is good quality and well cared for it should last for years, and if it still fits your horse there is no need to replace it. You might like to replace certain parts though such as the girth straps and stirrup leathers. Stitching may also need re-doing on certain parts of your saddle or bridle after a few years.

Society of Master Saddlers

To find your local saddler, who can carry out any necessary repairs or your local saddle fitter visit www.mastersaddlers.co.uk or contact The Society of Master Saddlers on 01449 711642.

What Riding For The Disabled Association Means To Me

16/11/2019 by admin | Comments Off

Horseytalk.net Special Interview 

What Riding For The Disabled Association Means To Me

2019 has been a very special year for Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) and throughout this anniversary year the 50 Faces campaign has been highlighting the amazing people that make the organisation so diverse and inspiring.

As the year draws to a close we decided to catch up with a few of the 50 Faces to find out what RDA means to them.

Yolanda Hansford

Yolanda Hansford

Yolanda Hansford began riding with Yeovil and Sherborne RDA in 1974 on the recommendation of her orthopaedic consultant as a form of therapy for scoliosis.

Having been born with a narrowing of the aorta, throughout childhood Yolanda was in and out of hospital, and discovering RDA was the first time in her life that she felt in charge of something.

Following open heart surgery for the third time, Yolanda was diagnosed with lung disease and was devastated to have to give up riding. She then discovered RDA Carriage Driving that enabled her to carry on life with her beloved horses, regularly competing, going on carriage driving holidays and even representing her RDA Group at Royal Windsor Horse Show.

Said Yolanda: “I became Regional Chair for RDA in the South West last year, which has enabled me to not only champion the work RDA does, but at the same time be able to give something back. After all, the RDA has given me so many wonderful experiences and memories that will last forever.”

Lesley Morrill

Lesley Morrill

Lesley Morrill has been a volunteer at Hope In The Valley RDA since 1985. She has taken on a number of tough challenges to raise much needed funds for RDA, even becoming a member of the 100 Marathon Club.

Completing 100 marathons in two years and six months, Lesley became the oldest woman to start doing marathons and reach the one hundred mark.

The challenges helped remind Lesley of the difficulties faced by RDA riders on a daily basis.

Said Lesley: “We all have different reasons for volunteering with RDA but for me it is the joy of seeing the riders succeed and helping someone to be a part of something. It’s not about rosettes; it is about what you can do for someone to give them a better quality of life.”

Mike Butcher

Mike Butcher

For Mike Butcher, horses have always been a release. Growing up in a complicated family environment meant he has always appreciated the benefits of spending time with horses.

After leaving school at 16 he had one ambition and that was to work with horses and he was introduced to RDA when he volunteered as part of a college course. This inspired Mike to become an RDA Coach as with his experience he could see how he could help the riders progress.

One of Mike’s proudest achievements is the pivotal role that he played in introducing show jumping as an RDA discipline, adding an exciting challenge to RDA sessions.

Said Mike: “I am always proud to see riders improving year on year at the National Championships. I see all the benefits of RDA – it’s proven, it’s a fact, with the help of the excellent structures they have in place, RDA works.”

Sam Cyrus

Sam Cyrus

Sam Cyrus is a participant and volunteer at Wormwood Scrubs RDA. She began riding about 30 years ago and would cry every time the volunteers tried to take her off the pony.

After leaving school she began volunteering and has just completed her British Horse Society Certificate in Horse Knowledge.

Said Sam: “RDA has encouraged me to push me out of my comfort zone, to do things that I have never done before. RDA has helped me to believe that I can do anything.”

About Riding for the Disabled Association

RDA - Riding for Disabled

Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) is dedicated to improving the lives of people with disabilities through horse riding, carriage driving and hippotherapy. Through a network of around 500 volunteer groups throughout the UK, RDA provides opportunities for therapy, achievement and enjoyment, improving health, wellbeing and self-confidence, and benefiting mobility and co-ordination.

  • RDA brings together 500 volunteer groups throughout the UK
  • More than 25,000 adults and children enjoy the benefits of riding or carriage driving
  • Each year more than 19,000 dedicated volunteers give a total of more than 3.5 million hours of their time

RDA is reliant on voluntary help, donations and legacies to deliver its services. Please donate now at www.rda.org.uk

RDA is a charity registered in England and Wales (No: 244108) and Scotland (No: SC039473).

EquiBiome – Hidden Health Issue

02/11/2019 by admin | Comments Off

Horseytalk.net Special Interview

The Hidden Health Issue Compromising Your Horse This Winter

The Hidden Health Issue Compromising Your Horse This Winter

Do you notice a decline in your horse’s health over winter? A drop in weight or performance, colic, loose droppings and behavioural issues could all be signs of a gut imbalance.

It is easy to dismiss these health concerns and blame the colder weather or change in routine but a horse with a healthy balanced hind gut should be able to cope with the challenges winter brings.

Making changes without the facts can be costly at best but also further compromise health if there is an underlying issue which is not addressed correctly.

To find out exactly what is going on in your horse’s hind gut, the EquiBiome Test Kit is available to all horse owners to enable microbial analysis of the hind gut, simply by collecting a faecal sample.

Knowing what type and how many of the good and the bad bacteria, gives valuable insight into the type of diet that can help, and the type of pro and prebiotic that will suit the biome.

Many of the bacteria within the list of pathogens are linked to gastrointestinal upsets such as diarrhoea, inflammation and discomfort. The Equibiome Test identifies them all and gives insight into management.

The test is so accurate that it can identify water contamination (arsenic/nitrate/nitrite), dietary deficiencies, mineral and vitamin imbalances, acidosis, antibiotic resistant bacteria and emerging pathogens.

The EquiBiome Test Kit is ordered online at equibiome.org and once it arrives follow the instructions and return your horse’s faecal sample for testing. You will then receive a detailed report with recommendations to improve your horse’s gut health.

With the right management, based on facts not guess work, your horse’s gut health can be improved.

For further information or to order an EquiBiome Test Kit please visit equibiome.org and follow the ‘EquiBiome’ page on Facebook.

RDA – Lizzie Bennett

26/10/2019 by admin | Comments Off

Horseytalk.net Special Interview

Vault a Coach !
Meet Lizzie Bennett

RDA High Performance Coach of the Year

Lizzie Bennett has been awarded the RDA Performance Coach of the Year 2019.

Lizzie Bennett leads by example, which is one of the many reasons that she has been awarded the RDA High Performance Coach of the Year award for 2019.

The RDA National Coaching Awards are designed to recognise the significant impact that coaches make to RDA Groups and their participants through their dedication as volunteers.

Lizzie’s involvement with RDA began when she joined Cambridgeshire College RDA as a participant. At the age of 22, Lizzie was diagnosed with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, which is a genetic condition that affects your collagen and is in about 98% of the body’s cells. Although she was only officially diagnosed with the condition in her early twenties, she had suffered with symptoms all her life.

Holder of 12 national para-vaulting championship titles, Lizzie turned her sights on coaching and qualified as a vaulting and riding RDA coach and is now the vaulting coach for Cambridgeshire College RDA.

Lizzie Bennett has been awarded the RDA Performance Coach of the Year 2019.

The judges were impressed by Lizzie’s commitment to the cause, single-handedly reviving vaulting at the group, travelling across the country to gain experience and even buying a vaulting barrel to share with the group.

She spends weeks choreographing routines, making videos to help vaulters learn their moves and planning costumes, as well as raising funds to secure the future of the group.

Perhaps most important is the impact that Lizzie’s contribution has made to the lives of some of her participants, including one who no longer requires painkillers for her bad back, and another who came second at the RDA National Championships, despite her doctor laughing at the thought of her taking up vaulting.

With inclusivity being at the heart of everything RDA does, friendship and camaraderie are central to the success of Lizzie’s vaulting team.

Said Lizzie: “I am so grateful to the RDA for all the opportunities it has given to me. I started as a participant five years ago, was volunteering within a year and moved to coaching over the last two years.”

“There is something special about coaching, especially coaching vaulters, because we really have to work as a team and so we are especially close. RDA vaulting has been genuinely life-changing for several of us and although there does need to be someone like me as a coach making it happen ‘on the ground’, we wouldn’t be able to do this without the support of RDA higher up!”

Lizzie Bennett has been awarded the RDA Performance Coach of the Year 2019.

Lizzie was presented with her award by Russell Mackechnie-Guire from Centaur Biomechanics at the annual RDA Coaching Conference.

2019 has been an incredible year for Lizzie as she also features in the RDA 50 Faces campaign to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the charity. The campaign tells the stories of some of the amazing people who make RDA the extraordinary organisation it is today.

You can read Lizzie’s story, and meet the other 49 Faces of RDA at www.rda.org.uk

50 Faces has been supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery.

About Riding for the Disabled Association

Lizzie Bennett has been awarded the RDA Performance Coach of the Year 2019.

Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) is dedicated to improving the lives of people with disabilities through horse riding, carriage driving and hippotherapy. Through a network of around 500 volunteer groups throughout the UK, RDA provides opportunities for therapy, achievement and enjoyment, improving health, wellbeing and self-confidence, and benefiting mobility and co-ordination.

  • RDA brings together 500 volunteer groups throughout the UK
  • More than 25,000 adults and children enjoy the benefits of riding or carriage driving
  • Each year more than 19,000 dedicated volunteers give a total of more than 3.5 million hours of their time

RDA is reliant on voluntary help, donations and legacies to deliver its services. Please donate now at www.rda.org.uk

RDA is a charity registered in England and Wales (No: 244108) and Scotland (No: SC039473).

Is your horse normal?

19/10/2019 by admin | Comments Off

Horseytalk.net Special Interview

Is your horse normal?

Now you can check.

The University of Sydney are launching a global database of horse behaviour. Both vets and owners can log a horse’s physical, mental and social development, creating an evidence base on what constitutes normal and abnormal equine behaviour, and what defines good, effective and humane training.

Since ancient times, horse behaviour, and the bond between horses and humans, has been a source of intrigue and fascination.

The horse-lore that has accumulated over the centuries is a rich mix of both useful practice (approaching horses from their left side, making them slightly less reactive) and unsubstantiated myth, such as the one that chestnut horses are especially difficult to deal with.

That’s why the University of Sydney are launching a global database of horse behaviour. Both vets and owners can log a horse’s physical, mental and social development, creating an evidence base on what constitutes normal and abnormal equine behaviour, and what defines good, effective and humane training.

Read more: Touch forms the foundation of the powerful human-horse relationship

This project builds on a similar project for dogs, which has collected information on over 85,000 dogs and been used in more than 70 research studies that have revealed behavioural differences that relate to head and body shape and the astonishing effect of desexing on behaviour.

Now it is the horses’ turn

They have created an online behavioural assessment package for horses and ponies, called the Equine Behaviour Assessment and Research Questionnaire (E-BARQ) that collects anonymous data for horse behaviour researchers, veterinarians and coaches. It’s a not-for-profit project that allows the global horse-folk community to donate their observational data to the University of Sydney and gain useful benefits in return.


Photos of horses paired with life data can be very useful; for example, head shape is thought to predict behaviour. David Dirga/Shutterstock

Horse owners can upload photographs and videos to a custom-built app, recording their horse’s progress in training and competition over time. For the first time, they’ll also be able to compare their horse’s behaviour with that of other horses. The “share-&-compare” graphs will reveal attributes such as trainability, rideability, handling, compliance, boldness, and human social confidence.

There are two benefits. Firstly, owners can compare their horses’ behaviour to others around the world, giving them a useful benchmark.

Secondly, it will reveal the true impact of ancient traditions and modern trends. This can use used by everyone from the general riding public to veterinarians.

 

As E-BARQ can monitor the longitudinal consequences of different training methods, it can be a powerful tool for advancing horse welfare. It will also inform evidence-based judgements on the ethics and sustainability of horse sports.

Human safely, horse welfare

Horse vets know the importance of horse behaviour, as it often affects their safety. Indeed, a recent UK study has shown equine vet practice to be the civilian occupation with the highest risk of injury, surpassing firefighters. But vets also rely on owners to observe horse behaviour because it indicates health and recovery from surgery or disease. With the permission of owners, vets and riding coaches can monitor their clients’ horses over time in the app.


Being able to compare the behaviour of horses around the world will provide a hugely useful database. Grigorita Ko/Shutterstock

The questionnaire and app will expose how training and management influences horse behaviour, and vice versa. They will reveal how breeds differ in responses and illuminate breed-typical personality types, how male and female horses differ, how horses used in different disciplines (such as showjumping versus dressage) differ in their behaviour and how horse behaviour changes with maturation and training.

A horse’s behaviour has a direct impact on its usefulness and that, in turn, affects its value and – sadly – the care it receives. There is evidence from Europe that over 65% of horses outside the racing industry are slaughtered before the age of seven, very often for behavioural reasons.

Read more: Getting the facts about work in horse stables

Understandably, given riding is the most dangerous sport for children, parents crave authentic assessment of ponies’ behaviour. Information in E-BARQ could potentially help buyers identify warning signs of dangerous behaviours and make more informed choices.

By providing researchers with an unprecedented wealth of information, E-BARQ has the potential to revolutionise the way we train and manage our horses and, as a result, make real and lasting positive changes in horse welfare and the sustainability of horse sports.

The Society of Master Saddlers – Helen Reader

12/10/2019 by admin | Comments Off

Horseytalk.net Special Interview

The Society of Master Saddlers – Helen Reader

www.mastersaddlers.co.uk

Helen Reader

Society of Master Saddlers’ Qualified Saddle Fitter, Helen Reader, answers some frequently asked questions on saddlery

1) I have just purchased a horse which is rather short in the back. My 17.5 inch event saddle looks very long on him but is a good fit for myself. I am long in the leg. How can I resolve this so that we are both comfortable and safe?

I would recommend a visit by a Society of Master Saddlers’ Qualified Saddle Fitter in the first instance to assess your current saddle and fit. A shorter saddle would be required, so that it doesn’t sit on the lumber region of the horse. To accommodate the your leg the saddle would need to be either more forward cut or have a high knee block which your leg can sit under. This would allow you to remain balanced and secure in the saddle which is obviously important especially when going cross-country. Another area to look at is a saddle with a flatter seat as this can also give the ypu more ‘room’ in the saddle than a deep seat would.

2. How far back is ‘too far back’ on a horse’s back for the saddle to sit?

The horse’s back needs to be carefully looked after whether a leisure horse or one competing at the highest level. It is important that the tree of the saddle must not go beyond the last rib. The panel of the tree can go past this but not the tree.

3. Could you tell me how to tell if my saddle is the correct size for me?

Again a visit by a Society of Master Saddlers’ Qualified Saddle Fitter is always the best starting point. When sitting in the saddle there should be four fingers behind the rider – for example between the rider and the back of the cantle, as a general rule of thumb. At the front of the saddle the rider’s knee should not come over the front of the knee roll or flap, this is a sure sign the saddle is too small and not a correct size.

For more information visit www.mastersaddlers.co.uk or contact The Society of Master Saddlers on 01449 711642

EquiBiome – Dietary Changes Led By Science

05/10/2019 by admin | Comments Off

Horseytalk.net Special Interview

Dietary Changes Led By Science

equibiome.org

EquiBiome - Dietary Changes Led By Science

The test is so accurate that it can identify water contamination (arsenic/nitrate/nitrite), dietary deficiencies, mineral and vitamin imbalances, acidosis, antibiotic resistant bacteria and emerging pathogens.

We all want the best for our horses so that they can be as healthy as possible but with a drastic loss of biodiversity over the last 50 years, grazing and hay is often lacking in what our horses need.

Combine this with a huge feed and supplements market in which the quality of products varies drastically and the choice can be confusing, and it is no wonder many horses have gastrointestinal health issues which can be linked to disease and poor performance.

Until now, there hasn’t been a detailed way of analysing the microbiome in the hind gut which is made up of both good and bad bacteria. So any changes made to the diet in response to poor health or loss of performance have been guess work, unless invasive methods such as passing an endoscopy in to the stomach to diagnose gastric ulceration have been utilised.

Now thanks to EquiBiome leading the way in gut health, there is test kit available to all horse owners to enable microbial analysis of the hind gut, simply by collecting a faecal sample.

Knowing what type and how many of the good and the bad bacteria, gives valuable insight into the type of diet that can help, and the type of pro and prebiotic that will suit the biome.

Many of the bacteria within the list of pathogens are linked to gastrointestinal upsets such as diarrhoea, inflammation and discomfort. The Equibiome Test identifies them all and gives insight into management.

The test is so accurate that it can identify water contamination (arsenic/nitrate/nitrite), dietary deficiencies, mineral and vitamin imbalances, acidosis, antibiotic resistant bacteria and emerging pathogens.

The EquiBiome Test Kit is ordered online at equibiome.org and once it arrives follow the instructions and return your horse’s faecal sample for testing. You will then receive a detailed report with recommendations to improve your horse’s gut health.

With the right management, based on facts not guess work, your horse’s gut health can be improved.

EquiBiome - Dietary Changes Led By Science

For further information or to order an EquiBiome Test Kit please visit equibiome.org and follow the ‘EquiBiome’ page on Facebook.

SMS – The Importance of Saddle Checks

28/09/2019 by admin | Comments Off

Horseytalk.net Special Interview

The Importance of Saddle Checks

www.mastersaddlers.co.uk

The Society of Master Saddlers discuss the importance of regular saddle checks and reflocking.

The Importance of Saddle Checks

Horses change considerably over time. A horse’s ‘shape’ is very dependent on the horse owner’s management.

A horse can change shape for many reasons. Maybe he is enjoying a break from work turned out in a field with lots of grass. Possibly, the competition season is well under way, and he is leaner and more muscled than he was at the beginning of the season. Maybe he is a young horse and he is going through a period of rapid growth and development. Maybe his owner, school over for the summer, has vastly increased his exercise and schooling programme. Or perhaps he has lost condition over winter.

It’s surprising how many owners notice a rug getting tighter but the fact that the saddle no longer fits well completely escapes them. This is why it is very important to get saddles checked regularly.

Saddle fitting checks are an important part of horse care. Yes, they cost money. And yes, occasionally the saddle fitter may need to return quite quickly because the horse has changed shape so rapidly. This isn’t an unnecessary expense it is vital to make sure your horse is comfortable.

The Importance of Saddle Checks

A saddle that is too narrow and is pinching and exerting other unwanted pressure – or too wide and pressing down and restricting the horse’s ability to use himself correctly – can result in welfare, veterinary, behavioural and performance problems. Overcoming the resulting problems could be expensive in terms of veterinary, schooling and other professional services. Meanwhile the horse has suffered totally unnecessarily.

Recognise that changes in exercise and feed regimes have the potential to alter the horse’s shape. Try to stick to the principle one saddle should fit one horse and remember a saddle adopts the contours of the horse, if placed on a different horse, it could be very uncomfortable. When a saddle suffers an accident or when the horse suffers a fall whilst being ridden the saddle should be examined by a Master or Qualified Saddler. Internal damage such as a broken tree can be difficult to spot and, not rectified, it may result in complicated veterinary problems.

Use the services of a Society of Master Saddlers’ qualified saddle fitter to undertake fitting checks regularly. Always have a new saddle fitted and recognise that it is at least equally importance to have a second-hand saddle fitted. SMS saddle fitters have a comprehensive knowledge of saddle brands and designs. They are aware of the rules and regulations applicable to tack and equipment used in all the equestrian disciplines and sports, and offer advice and professional services.

Top tip: Whether buying a new or second hand saddle it is important to have it fitted by a qualified saddle fitter and have it checked regularly. Also remember old saddles can be improved with a complete re-flock.

To find out more information on The Society of Master Saddlers and to find your nearest Registered Qualified Saddle Fitter visit www.mastersaddlers.co.uk or contact on 01449 711642.

RDA – Cameron Branchett

21/09/2019 by admin | Comments Off

Horseytalk.net Special Interview

Cameron Branchett

www.rda.org.uk

Cameron Branchett

The Calming Effect of Horses

There are many benefits of horse riding for children with autism, autistic people see, hear and feel the world differently to other people and this can cause considerable anxiety.

The rhythmic movement experienced during horse riding has been found to calm this distress and the actual physical contact with the horse may also help to build other relationships and reduce negative reactions.

Communication and empathy may also be increased by the interaction with the horse as their excitement of riding encourages them to speak to their horse and they begin to understand that their reactions can have an impact on how the horse behaves.

Riding different horses, introducing new activities and the rotation of volunteers that help out during riding sessions can assist with the resistance to change that is often associated with autism.

Cameron Branchett has riding been since 2011. When he began to get frustrated with his progress, Malvern Riding School, an Accessibility Mark accredited centre, stepped in to help. Here his Dad, Jonathan, tells his story.

Cameron’s Story

Cameron was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in December 2006. In 2011, after discovering that the rocking motion on the pelvis when riding a horse released oxytocin that can help calm people, Cameron tried his first riding lesson.

The effect on him was immediate. Trying to cope in a main stream school, Cameron was showing symptoms of Tourette’s Syndrome alongside his ASD. All of this stopped every time he sat on the horse.

He was hooked and we were amazed that a half hour lesson could have such a profound effect on him. They say certain animals have an affinity with humans and this is certainly the case with every horse Cameron has ridden. He forms a genuine bond with them all and they seem to instinctively understand his needs.

With ASD comes difficulties, listening to and understanding complex sets of instructions can be challenging at times. Cameron never expressed any desire to be a champion rider, or show jumper, he just enjoyed riding and trotting.

However, he began to get frustrated with his own limited progress and was starting to find the lessons troubling. In 2016, he was on the verge of giving up. That’s when we turned to Malvern Riding School. Julie and the staff there are simply wonderful.

Within a few months he had mastered his rising trot, something he had never managed in five years! He now canters and jumps with ease and he is so much more confident and enthusiastic about his riding now and determined to become as good as he can be to help him with his dream of becoming an actor.

Julie and the staff, have a way of sensing when Cameron is getting a little disengaged with his riding and quickly change the lessons to keep him interested.

The way they communicate with him really resonates and he responds well to them. The little things like stopping the horse and talking towards him rather than shouting to his back as he rides past make all the difference. They also know the best way to challenge and support him even when he doubts himself.

Accessibility Mark status is awarded to a riding centre that has been approved by the RDA following training and assessment. The close link with the RDA means that it can offer continuous support to the establishment to ensure it provides a first-class experience that aims to be hugely beneficial to riders of varying levels of disability.

There are currently 53 Accessibility Mark-approved centres across the country.

To find your nearest RDA Group or Accessibility Mark centre visit www.rda.org.uk

About Accessibility Mark

In partnership with the British Equestrian Federation, the RDA launched the revolutionary Accessibility Mark scheme with the aim of getting more disabled people to participate in riding.

This project has been kindly funded by Sport England through the British Equestrian Federation.

SMS – Different Types of Martingale

07/09/2019 by admin | Comments Off

Horseytalk.net Special Interview

Different Types of Martingale

www.mastersaddlers.co.uk

The Society of Master Saddlers look at the different styles of martingale available today.

Jamie -Lee Day and Hanleen DidjeridooJamie -Lee Day and Hanleen Didjeridoo

A martingale is a piece of tack which is usually used to control head carriage and act as an additional form of control. There are several different types of martingale which are used for varying reasons and are seen across several disciplines. In this feature we look at the different martingales and explain their design and uses.

The two most common types of martingale are standing and running. A standing martingale consists of a strap that attaches to the girth and runs between the horse’s front legs up to the back of the noseband. This runs through a neck strap which fastens around the neck and keeps the martingale close to the horse. This type of martingale should only be fitted to a cavesson noseband or similar and if correctly fitted, the main strap should be able to touch the throat lash when raised. It is not recommended that a standing martingale should be used for jumping as it may restrict the horse.

The running martingale attaches to the girth and then passes through the horse’s front legs before splitting into two straps with a ring on the end which the reins pass through. Martingale stops, which can be either rubber or leather, should be used on the reins between the bit rings and the rings of the martingale to prevent the martingale straps from slipping forward and interfering with the bit. The running martingale prevents the horse from raising its head above a certain point as it applies additional pressure to the reins and consequently the bars of the mouth.

If correctly fitted the ‘fork’ of the running martingale should slacken about an inch when the horse lowers it head and there should be a straight line running from the rider’s hands to the bit rings when the horse has his head in the correct position and the martingale is not acting on him. A running martingale is very popular for jumping disciplines as it gives the rider extra control without interfering unnecessarily with the horse.

The Irish martingale is not like others, but rather a semi martingale. It is simply a short leather strap with a ring at either end which the reins pass through, quite close to the bit. It is not designed as a form of control but rather to prevent the reins coming over the horse’s head in a fall. They are most commonly used in European racing.

Bolesworth Show 18.06.17  G.P. Anthony Condon on Balzac

A full list of Society of Master Saddlers members who will be able to give you help and advice and can supply ‘off the peg’ or bespoke bridlework can be found at www.mastersaddlers.co.uk or telephone 01449 711642.