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ANNAPOLIS PONY CLUB 2008Assistant D.C. - Luanne Gertridge Secretary; Susan Foote Treasurer; Michelle Parker Past DC; Theresa Steele Testing Rep.; Cinda Kalkman MEMBERSHIP This year we have 27 members ranging from age 7 to 17 with pony club levels from E to C2.   Our Riding lesson program is held at CLAYHILL FARM in Sheffield Mills under the direction of club coach Julia Young. STABLE MANAGEMENT SESSIONS are held during the winter months. Lessons are comprised of one hour weekly sessions for ten weeks from mid February to April. Stable management lectures are divided into three groups, novice to D; D2-C; and C1 and up. While we wait for warmer riding weather, there is much to learn about horse care including grooming, preventative medical needs, tack , bedding, exercise, feed and watering etc. etc. The lessons are designed to allow each member to prepare for the written exams to be held in May. Stable management also helps prepare our members for regional and national quiz competitions. For 2007 and 2008, Rachel Foote from Annapolis has proudly represented our branch on the NS Quiz Team at Nationals. DRESSAGE Annapolis is hosting the western Nova Scotia Regional Dressage Qualifier on June 15th at Clayhill Farms. Members from West Valley, Evangeline, Avon, Eastern Shore and Annapolis will compete to proceed to the Regional Dressage Championships in Truro on August 16th. SHOW JUMPING In 2007, Annapolis members Claire MacDougall, Brittany Parker, Damita Hansen and Rebecca Ongo represented our club at the Regional Show Jumping Competition in Truro. Julie Ansem, who coached the members in 2007, traveled with the team where several members placed 2nd in their division. Annapolis will be sending another team to the 2008 Regional Show Jumping Competition, which this year will be held in conjunction with the National competition. 
SUMMER CAMP Our camp program provides instruction in stable management, dressage, jumping and cross country lessons. In August 2008, we will hold a 4 day overnight camp at Hobby Horse Farms in Coldbrook, NS. For more details about our camp program, see this PDF document. The highlight of our summer program is a cross country clinic and picnic at Applewood Farms hosted by Nancy Marshall. Members go through the Applewood cross country starter course with Julia Young, and the more adventurous members take on the pre-training course under the instruction of Nancy Marshall.  During lunch, members enjoy a club sponsored picnic lunch among Applewood's beautiful gardens.  2004 saw the inaugural regional Prince Philip games. Our A level team consisting of Sydney Goodfellow, Brittany Parker, Dezaray Balcom-Winkleman, Claire MacDougall and Damita Hansen brought home the PPG CHAMPIONSHIP CUP. Since then, Annapolis has participated in the regional PPG competitions with both A, B and in 2007 a Masters Team who brought home the cup. Members on masters team were Damita Hansen (who proceeded to represent NS at the PPG National Competition in 2007), Brittany Parker, Rachel Foote and Dezaray Winkleman. D AND ABC RALLY Each year the Annapolis club sends teams for both the D and ABC rally regional competitions in Truro. Our C team members mentor our younger D riders through D Rally, while our D team provides grooms and support to our more experienced C Team members.  
OTHER ACTIVITIES Throughout the summer and fall our club members participated in many fun shows, hunter shows, horse trials and trail rides in the orchards. All of this training and hard work led to great results in the members riding and practical tests in August. D CHALLENGE The last major pony club event of the year for our club is the Avon Clubs D days event held in Windsor. Annapolis riders, Hannah Gertridge, Adelaide Smith, Delaney McKenzie, and Hannah Foote took home first place trophies from the D Challenge competition in October 2007. |