Due to the excellent response to last year's
Silverhill Stables Yearbook, we have produced
another for 2008.
Featuring all of the pictures that will be on the
2009
calendar plus many more (some of the pages are shown
below), please let Vicky know if you want one when you next see her
on the yard. Or just send her a message at
vicky@silverhilstables.co.uk .
Cost will be £17.50 per copy before 9th December,
£22.50 after that date. If ordered by the 9th
December, delivery will be in time for Christmas.
Bertie At Pulborough
Following on from the 'challenges' Emma faced with Bertie at
Chilham Castle, it didn't stop her trying once again only
this time a full blown BE event at Pulborough. Entered into
Training Section O (alongside Percy), Emma was hoping for a
major improvement from last weekend.br />
As it was Bertie did himself proud starting with a penalty
score of 44.2 in the dressage under very difficult
conditions, the weather was dreadful with driving rain and
strong winds. So next up was the show jumping and Bertie was
looking good, a small mistake from Bertie and one from Emma
meant a further 8 penalties plus 5 time faults, but he was soooo much better than Chilham Castle.
Finally, it was out on the cross country and the combination
had a great ride. With the rain coming down like stair rods,
there was just a little lack of focus at the tyres but other
than that Bertie flew round and Emma finished with a smile
on her face. A score of 87.9 was not going to win the
section but to Emma it felt like she had won the Olympics
after last week!
It was the first day of sun in August and the hottest day
since the start of summer, just the weather the wedding of
Emma (Bertie's joint owner and Silverhill Yard Auntie) and
Paddy deserved.
Having been together for 11 years, and with two lovely
daughters, Paddy finally popped the question and Emma said
'yes'. Held at Fosse Bank School, the civil service went
superbly with Emma looking fantastic in her bright red
dress. On point of note was the moving Apache blessing read
by Kate (Bertie's other owner), not a dry eye in the house
(or should I say pagoda).
The guests were then treated to endless champagne and treats
whilst the wedding pictures were being taken before a
marvellous sit down reception in the marquee and excellent
speeches from Groom and Best Man plus a poem from Kate, Maid
of Honour, that had the audience in floods.
With a few days in Italy planned for the honeymoon, everyone
at Silverhill Stables wishes them both a fantastic future
together and we look forward to seeing Emma back on the yard
soon.
On Tuesday the 12th August we had to say goodbye to Tom,
otherwise known as It's A Thomahawk, who followed his owner
Sam up to Newcastle.
Sam and Tom only came to the yard earlier this year but a
job change meant Sam needed to head back to her home town
and Tom followed.
To be seen out with Vicky at Mattingley earlier in the
Eventing season, we hope to see Sam again soon and maybe
have them both back at the yard at sometime in the future.
Young James Halliday made his mark as a photographer in
early July by winning his section in the Basted Mill
Winter/Spring Photographic Competition.
Entered into the Section for Yr1 to Yr6, James won a digital
camera for his shot of the waterfall shown opposite. The
pictures were judged by an independent committee and were
then announced in the Malling Chronicle.
James was told of his success at school, Plaxtol Primary, in
front of the whole class; very embarrassing!
On the same day Vicky was competing with
Blarney at Sandhurst Farm, Annette and
Brandy aimed to give the pair some stiff
competition.
Entered into both Prelim 4 and Prelim 18
exactly the same as Blarney, Annette
rode a solid test for her Prelim 4; that
said she thought it was awful and Paul,
her husband, thought it was good! Either
way she finished with a marvellous 65.0%
which meant a fine third place (Blarney
was 6th!).
Next up was Prelim 18 and, with people
standing at each marker to help Annette
judge where the markers were. The test
looked better that the first so there
was expectation of an even better
result. Sadly, it turned out the final
score of 62.18% wasn't even good enough
for a rosette. Still it was very good to
see Annette and Brandy out competing and
we look forward to seeing her out again
soon.
As part of the new revamp of Silverhill Stables, the first
phase of the new show jumps arrived on the 20th June.
Consisting of 10 new poles and a snazzy set of wavy fish
planks plus water tray, the intention is to replace all the
old show jumps over time with the new 'Jump 4 Joy' plastic
style jumps.
All of this has caused people to ask Vicky if we can put a
show on this year and she's already started work on it;
watch for an announcement in the near future.
Sunday the 15th June was a very good day for the combination
of Jemima and Pippa. Out for the day at Warren Barn Farm,
the pair were entered into two classes on the day.
First up was the Working Hunter class and with a perfect
ride on a perfect day the pair finished clear winners. If
that wasn't enough they were also entered into a Showing
Class later in the day although the result was no different.
As such, Jemima and Pippa arrived back on the yard full of
smiles. It's not often you get a day just as good as Sunday
the 15th!
Earlier
this year we announced that we were just about to finish the
first phase of the new electric fencing. Well it's taken a
while but we are now delighted to say that all the old
fencing that needed to be replaced, has been replaced; even
that old tacky stuff along the sand school!
That said we have actually gone one better. There is now a
new semi-permanent electric fencing system in the summer
fields that can be transferred to the winter fields in a
fraction of the time it used to take. Plus in the summer
fields we have added a water system; so no more dragging a
long hosepipe around.
As you might expect, it isn't going to stop there (although
finances are getting a little stretched!). Next up is a
replacement for the old shed, turning it into a potential
scoring/secretary office plus a store for yard 'stuff' and a
new deck, table and chairs to replace the old curling boards
next to the shed.
We will continue to strive to make Silverhill the 'perfect'
place for you and your horse.
A belated welcome to the new Chicken Yardies who arrived on
the yard May Day Bank Holiday.
Following the sad departure of Gloria, a new gang of
chickens was always on the cards and so we now have Specklie
(the speckled one), Whitie (the white one), Goldie (the
brown one) and then finally Blackie (yes, you guessed it,
she's the black one).
Vicky has come up with all sorts of different names but
James prefers the simple ones! Long may they live and long
may they lay, many omelettes and boiled egg breakfasts to
come!
Although
it was always going to be a long day for everyone at
Mattingley, Sam and Tom (or should I say 'It's Thomahawk')
were looking forward to their first one day event of the
season.
Entered into Intro Section Q, time was tight when we arrived
but Sam was quickly changed and Tom tacked up for the
dressage. Tom behaved himself in the arena and the pair
notched up a respectable 42.0 penalties. Always keen to 'get
on with it', Sam changed from dressage to show jumping
attire in seconds and went over to the ring to see if she
could jump early. As it was she got her wish but had one
down in the process.
Finally it was the cross country, what we all wait for
really. A good clear round with just the odd 9.6 time
penalties meant it turned out to be a good day out for the
combination and 19th place overall. Now to Borde Hill on the
26th to see if they can go even better!
The fabulous weather on Saturday the 3rd
May meant it was a perfect day for new boy Tom and his owner
Sam to make the short trip to the Hop Farm for the Kent
County Fair.
The Fair had loads of classes for horses and featured all
sorts of Pony Club games and musical rides (Jemima and Pippa
playing their part as Pony Club die-hards). But it was Sam
and Tom who scored a notable success in the first the Scurry
and then the Intermediate Open Show Jumping.
The pair finished 6th overall in the Scurry and finished a
very respectable 3rd in the show jumping. Next stop for Tom
is Mattingley and the One Day Event there on the 18th May,
let's hope the results are just as impressive.
And
so it was that, on a disappointing day for Vicky that saw
her withdraw after the dressage section, the combination of
Emma and Bertie truly went for it!
It was not a good day to be out, weather was dull and the
mud was deep. However, Emma was determined to complete the
event what ever it took. And that determination was put to
the test very early on when Bertie cantered into his
dressage test. Emma managed to get him back in order and
ended up posting a score of 46.5%. Then came the show
jumping, it wasn't easy but, with some help from the judges,
Bertie only had two fences down! (plus 15 time penalties).
So, out of the rosettes this time round, the pair went out
to enjoy themselves on the cross-country. Although the final
result was not in when we left, Emma was happy enough that
she had completed her first One Day Event on Bertie and had
come out alive!
It is with very great sadness that we have to announce that
Coke is no longer with us. Last week Vicky arrived on the
yard to find her limping badly and after a visit to the vet
they found she had broken her leg. The injury sadly was
serious enough that Vicky had to make the tough decision to
have her put down.
Needless to say Tango seems quite lost without her sister
and follows everyone around on the yard constantly. If you
see her, make sure you give her an extra cuddle, she needs
it.
After a very long stay at Silverhill Stables (well for
Lucero at least), the handsome pair of Jack and Lucero moved
to Hunton to live at home with their owner Sue at the
beginning of March.
Sue had been Vicky's business partner for a good number of
years but the opportunity to build a brilliant new house and
have the boys at home was just too much to resist. And so
Sue moved into the house at the end of February and first
Lucero and then Jack followed her shortly afterwards.
Still considered to be very much part of the Silverhill
Stables setup, Sue and her boys are regarded as being 'just
off site at our sister stables'. So watch this space as we
keep up to speed on Sue's exploits with Jack and his
dressage this year (including Quadrille where four horses
complete a dressage test together to music) and the progress
Lucero is making with his Spanish riding techniques.
The
first major project for 2008 is now nearing completion. As
many of you, if not all of you, will have noticed, the
fencing on the yard was getting to the point where it had
seen better days far too long ago.
And so it was decided to revamp all of the permanent fencing
that needed repair. But as opposed to just replacing like
for like, it was decided that new high-visibility electric
fencing was to be installed. Firstly to stop the horses
chewing the wooden rails and secondly to make the whole set
up last longer.
The winter fields have now been done and the summer fields
will be completed by the end of the Easter weekend. Then
work will begin on a better approach to the semi-permanent
electric fencing used to split the main fields.
And then watch out for the next project, all aimed at making
Silverhill Stables one of the best livery yards around.
The great response we had to the Silverhill 2008
Calendars, and the request for more copies, has led
us to produce the first Silverhill Yearbook.
Featuring all of the pictures seen on the 2008
calendar plus many more (some of the pages are shown
below), you can now see the yearbook and order your
own by catching up with Vicky when you next see her
on the yard. Or just send her a message at
vicky@silverhilstables.co.uk .
Cost is £15 per copy, delivered in 14 days.
Arthur Peter Davis
Vicky and Steve wish to announce the birth of a bouncing
baby boy called Arthur Peter Davis on the 23rd November 2007
at 9.58am. Arthur weighed 6lbs and 10ozs at birth and both
Mum and Dad are very proud parents (again!).
Although there were some complications with Vicky due to the
scars from when James was born and she lost more blood than
expected but by Sunday she was out of the woods and both
mother and baby were doing just fine.
The 10th November marked a milestone for a true Silverhill
favourite; Sandra Trewhitt celebrated her 60th Birthday and
with that the prospect of imminent retirement.
Sandra has been training the liveries at Silverhill Stables
for the past eight years and in particular she has been the
driving force behind Vicky and her achievements in both
Eventing and Dressage. In her time Sandra reached the very
top in her chosen field of Eventing, competing with the best
the world had to offer at top class events like Burghley/p>
She was born and bred in Yorkshire and will be heading back
in that direction in March when she goes into
semi-retirement. With plans to come back down to Kent every
month, we hope she will still be seen teaching at Silverhill
for many years to come.
Emma
And Paddy Get Hitched
James
The Photographer
Good Day Out For Brandy
New
Jumps For Silverhill
Earlier
this year we announced that we were just about to finish the
first phase of the new electric fencing. Well it's taken a
while but we are now delighted to say that all the old
fencing that needed to be replaced, has been replaced; even
that old tacky stuff along the sand school!
Although
it was always going to be a long day for everyone at
Mattingley, Sam and Tom (or should I say 'It's Thomahawk')
were looking forward to their first one day event of the
season.
And
so it was that, on a disappointing day for Vicky that saw
her withdraw after the dressage section, the combination of
Emma and Bertie truly went for it!
The
first major project for 2008 is now nearing completion. As
many of you, if not all of you, will have noticed, the
fencing on the yard was getting to the point where it had
seen better days far too long ago.
The 10th November marked a milestone for a true Silverhill
favourite; Sandra Trewhitt celebrated her 60th Birthday and
with that the prospect of imminent retirement.