Call us: 01684 311 511  home about Jane, Ken & Steph our horses tuition, courses & holidays livery & training pony club & camp dates childrens riding parties news links contact News The latest news and events at Walnut Equestrian Centre are published here on this page. Please visit again for up to date information. Christmas 2008 Congratulations to Molly Turner and Charlie Brown for winning the Puissance competition jumping 3ft' 1" (though we know he wanted to jump higher!). Well done to Emily Hockney who received with Molly a 3' jumping certificate. Congratulations also to Holly Coles on Dilys who won the junior competition by jumping 2'' 11". Well done, brave riding! Well done Laura Whitehead and Chloe for winning the Fancy Dress Competition. National Dressage Finals, Hartpury College, 16th April 2008 Hartpury College near Gloucester was the setting for this years British Dressage National Winter Finals. Ken won each of his qualification rounds, which were held previously, in order to take his place against the top 19 riders in the UK in the Biotal Equine Gold Medium Restricted Winter Championship. After a long day of competition Ken finished as Reserve Champion, and won a special award for the highest placed owner/trainer of his horse Moorhouse Cavalier. Pony Club Centre Riding Championships, Draycott House, Derbyshire. 21st August Four riders represented Walnut Equestrian Centre at the Championship. Freya Pratty and Emma Somers rode in the senior section whilst Beth Stark and Emily Hockney headed the junior team. Only being allowed to take two ponies (one for each team), we decided to take Arthur and Columbo. Arthur was impeccably behaved and jumped a double clear with his riders. Columbo suffered with stage fright in the Jumping, however his Dressage tests were a fantastic success. It was a wonderful experience and we are already looking forward to next years' competition. Cross Country Course Having recently acquired an additional 14 acres of neighbouring land, we are very excited to begin the construction of a new permanent cross-country course. The fences constructed so far have various height options. Pony Club Senior Campers were able to ride the course for the first time during this year's summer camp, and for some, experience the gallop for the first time! The horses too had a thrilling week! Chloe and Storm Welcome to Chloe and Storm, our two new additions to the riding school. Chloe: will be used predominantly for children's private lessons however she will sometimes be ridden in the group lessons. As an experienced all rounder she is more than qualified to teach the children all they need to know. Storm: Will be used mostly for adult private lessons for the more experienced rider. As an ex-race horse, he is loaded with stamina and has recently been re educated to work in the arena in a classical way. Young Malvern The arrival of the school holidays always means the start 'Young Malvern' fortnight. It was very successful course with over 50 children enjoying the experience, some riding for the first time. The course included stable management tuition as well as riding. The weather was glorious and each course finished with mounted games and rosettes. A thank you barbecue was held for all the helpers at the end of the second week, and they still had enough energy for a game of rounders! Bromyard Throughout the summer we have been organizing regular trips to Bromyard Equestrian Centre for Show Jumping on Wednesday evenings. This has proved to be a roaring success as it has enabled the children to experience loading, grooming and supporting their teammates as well as the actual riding in competition. Thanks go to everyone involved and we intend to continue providing this fantastic opportunity to compete.