This 2day event is in aid of the Help for Heros and is taking place on June the 26 and 27.

Be prepared to get spoiled as you will be seeing some horses that will be heading of to some major world class events this year.

There will be a range of Novices and Intermediate riders present this year. We have the current Badminton winner Paul Tapner , Mark Todd, William Fox-Pitt, plus Lucinda and Clayton Fredericks, plus lots more.

Not only will you be able to see some great names and horses taking part in team selection trials and cross country there will be two Help The Heroes auctions and various trade stands. The auction starts on on Saturday 26th of June at 12:15pm opening will be a parade of Help The Heroes syndicate race horses trained by Kim Bailey. Lots of others things will be up for grabs too including coveted memorabilia from top British sporting idols such as Mike Tindall, Ricky Hatton and Jackie Stewart oh not forgetting to throw a bit of pink in to the mix will be Katie Price who has donated a Equestrian jacket signed by the lady herself.

The gates at Salperton Park open at 7am, dressage tests start at 8am, trades stands are open for 9:30am the same time the show jumping and cross country commence.

Cost to gain entry is £5 per vehicle and serving members of the British armed forces and BritishEventing members gain access for free.

More Information

Wales has many terrain’s for Horse backing such as the mountains of Snowdonia, hills of Anglesey and the Welsh Marches all situated in the North. If your in South Wales you can go to where it all began well Pony trekking anyway . The Beacon Beacons. This is not all that Wales has to offer in the South as there are many beaches and coastlines the National Park and many other great places to go.

The Riding Center Wales is your one stop place if you are planning a trip to Wales or just looking for somewhere to have a new horse back adventure Suitable for new and seasoned riders the RCW can comfortably set you up for a great time.

Rides they offer.

• Traditional Riding
• Cross Country
• Beach Rides
• Carriage Driving
• Tuition

Got something else on your mind the RCW are confident they will find it for you!

The RW website is run by the WRTA people that are passionate about riding and horses, this means they take a strict attitude ensuring the content they provide you is to a high standard all B&B’s Hotels and accommodation been checked of quality by Wales Tourist Board, AA or RAC. All the riding centers have been checked for quality too ensuring your safety.

This section is from the Riding Wales site

The association is the longest running independent organisation of its type and was the fist to develop an Operators Manual which has since been adopted by the Association of British Riding Schools (ABRS). It aims to provide a safe and enjoyable riding experience for the novice and experienced alike, whilst also looking after the well being of the horses and ponies. All members are regularly inspected to ensure high standards are maintained, all must comply with very stringent regulations and criteria.

So if you want to entertain the kids this summer of just fancy a different Scenery get in contact with Wales riding Center we are sure they will make sure you have great fun what ever age or riding skill !

Lucinda is an equestrian sports women who competes at the highest levels of the Equestrian Eventing . From a young age Lucinda was achieving great results in 3day events with records in the Britain’s Junior and Young Rider teams . After getting married to Clayton she changed the Nationality she competes for and now competes for Australia.

As Lucinda and her experience grew she was able to take many titles from ** events at Windsor and Blair to *** Blenheim . After accomplishing many 2 and 3 star wins, Lucinda wanted more , she wanted a 4* added to her success. It was in her twenties that she was smiled upon being able to persuade a horse that was scared of water around a 4 star course . She also piloted a slightly more fearless horse called Arctic Goose. (She was long listed to compete in the Dressage event of the Sydney Olympics upon the advanced Azupa Gazelle)

In Lucinda’s 30’s she wanted to generate a stable income for her and her family , having a natural eye for good young horses along with the skill and dedication to produce Four-star and World, European and Olympic horses such as Springalong, Simply Red, Beacon Hill, Dalliance, Tina’s Gold, Lovell Lass she knew found the perfect way to build a stable life.

For any equestrian eventer finding a partnership that works can be difficult, after Lucinda met and rode Bally Leck Boy just once, one of these partnerships was formed. This was a horse so talented and strong whatever fate or problems life would decide to present this would be one partnership that would never be broken.

Within 12 months of competing Bally Leck Boy he had won Punchestown CCI***. This success produced a herd of offers to purchase him. Lucinda took an offer of a part share from Vicki Miller a stock broker from London. Sadly a spell of bad fortune was about to hit , Bally Leck Boy contracted a virus causing him to be a head shaker, developing splints on both fore legs for which surgery was carried out. Poor Bally had barley been out the stables since his successes at Punchestown handling him became difficult and Lucinda was left with no options other than to have him destroyed as the insurers were not prepared to keep paying in a loss of use. Lucinda did not give up that easy! Bally was back in 2006 he made a victorious comeback at Somerely Park CCI** and in under three months completed Luhmuhlen CCI****. This just demonstrates the skill, dedication and patience Lucinda has instilled to her qualities as an Equestrian eventer and horse carer.

After much success and difficult times shared between the two things were set to change and sadly Bally was lost in 2007.

The start of another chapter for Lucinda was about to commence and this chapter was to see another rare partnership to be formed. This partnership was to be fashioned with Headley Britannia.

Lucinda first met Headly at her yard, a pupils ride called Emma Robson . Headley was only 15.5 hands some pro’s would think that is a little small. But not for Lucinda her qualities were about to shine through again with the want to progresses this horses career , in fact Lucinda and Lit Brit (Headleys nickname) did very well together winning 3 of the world’s total 6 CCI4* FEI events. These being Burghley, Badminton and Kentucky. Headley Britannia is the only mare to have ever won all three events. In fact Lit Brit is one of the only mere’s, the first in 33 years to have won all 3 events. The good always come with the bad whilst accomplishing great results with her through the years Fredericks almost lost Lit Brit to a virus.

In 2007 Katinka and Neil Thorburn Headleys owners gifted her to Lucinda.

n 2006/07 Fredricks did very well competing Burghley and badminton back to back to take the winning position for both of the four star competitions. After the success Lucinda had Headleys embryos go to stud.

Fredericks had not finished with Headley as in 2009 she won the CCI*** CCI**** Rolex Kentucky Horse Trials riding her diminutive mare. The pair started and finished on an impressive dressage score of 32.3, adding no penalties to their score in the cross country and show jumping events.

Anyone who has me Lucinda will know what a lovely kind caring successful women she is, always willing to give advice and offer support. With such a following it is pleasing for all to see her be appointed team trainer to the Dutch three-day event team.

We at Lehel wish Lucinda all the support, success and luck with her future work.

Keep up the good work Team Fredericks !

Lucinda on Video

At 9 years old Young Karin started her journey and joined the pony club St. Clement Minderhout it was at this club she participated in her first tournaments such as mini crosses. It was here that Karin realised her passion with Horses. She then started riding with St. Clement Minderhout Riding.

Karins big breakthrough happened in 1992 , This year saw her take part in her first Olympics games in Barcelona. The young inexperienced Belgium team won fourth place and Karin achieved a great individual place of 8th . There were 86 participates from 17 countries this was a real good result for Karin and showed her talent.

Shortly after the Olympics Karin trained in Horsemanship and was the only coach in Flanders. A trainer qualification of the Flemish Trainer School in all three disciplines of equestrian sport dressage , show jumping and eventing.

Karin is a truly dedicated women her passion and desire for horses and the equestrian world is clear in her lifestyle she utilises all of her time and dedication to training horses and students.

Karin has a successful breeding platform with her parents from which many of her successful rides have come from. One of such horses bred was Paymyra and was elected Elgian Warmblood Horse of the Year in 2005. Which was another fantastic result for Karin and is a reward for her hard work and dedication

In 1996 Karin was scheduled to compete in the Atlanta Olympics, sadly this never happened her horses were deemed medically unfit.

Some years later In preparation for the 2000 Sydney Olympics no one could of predicted what was about to happen a fire broke out at her stables on Febuary 11 2000. This fire was caused by a garage near Karins stables. The stables housed 20 horses. Most of the horses were brought to safety in a nearby meadow sadly the 3 top horses Better Times, Duc des Guillon, Glenn Doc broke free and were killed on the highway this was a devastating day for team Donkers. Karin was due to ride Better Times in the Olympic games so something had to be done fast so Karin worked hard and trained up one of the younger horses Oekie, to the standard required for the Olypics games and was able to participate. The bad luck was not over for Karin yet as during the games she fell and broke her back fracturing one o f her vertebrates

Karen did not let these setbacks damage her confidence and took it all in her stride, she came back even stronger in 2005 finishing with an overall 5th position for the best Women in the world.

Karin continues to win top ten placements in the events she participates, and is one of the most highly regarded trainers , dressage and event rider s in the world.

Keep your eyes open for the 2010 Olympics where I am sure we will all be congratulating Karin for another successful event, we wonder if her beautiful chestnut stallion Charizard will be her horse of choice … we will have to wait and see. Earlier this year Donckers rode and preformed a stunning dressage test at Express Eventing with Charizard but at only 8 years old and as courageous as he was jumping proved a little too much for the stallion, he was just not ready and they retired during the cross country.

Good Luck Team Donckers from the Lehel Team

Karins Record

• 8th FEI Rider Ranking (as at 1 January 2008)
• Represented Belgium at the European Championships 2007 and Olympics in 1992, 2000, 2004 and Beijing in 2008;
• World Equestrian Games 2006.
• Other recent notable successes are:
• 9th Individually Beijing Olympics 2008 (Gazelle de la Brasserie)
• 4th Blenheim CCI*** 2005 (Gormley)
• 2nd Barroca d’Alva CCI*** 2008 (Gazelle de la Brasserie)
• 4th Aachen CIC*** 2007 (Palmyra)
• 6th Luhmühlen CCI**** 2007 (Gormley)

Karin on Video

There seems to be a lot of confusion over the new rules and the actual legal position. What VOSA are really saying is that if you have a 9-5 job mon-thurs, own a truck over 7.5 tonnes, then you will not be able to drive your horsebox lorry over the weekend despite the fact that your normal job is not driving. If you do drive on one of the days of the weekend, then you have to have a rest period of 45 consecutive hours. You cannot drive for both days.

The horse industry is uniting to fight this new law asking for exclusion for large horseboxes claiming this is recreational use. The Territorial Army has already been successful in achieving an exception.

Mark Lee (Managing Director of Lehel) comments:

As anyone will confirm, if you have been away for the weekend with your family, friends or team mates in a modern Lehel, it’s far from tiring or stressful. I do agree that normal tacho hours should be adhered to but after 4 ½ hours of travel it is not good to stop for 30 minutes or so and water the horses and give them a hay net. I think a couple of short stops suit horses and humans alike.

To suggest that because you have been behind a desk or working on the farm means you cannot drive your truck at the weekend is wrong. If I drive my Lehel/Scania from Ascot to Edinburgh or my BMW it’s less tiring in my Lehel as we travel at lower speeds. You have to navigate in and out of traffic and keep far more focused travelling at 80-90mph than 56 mph.

As you load your horses you will see that the ramp is not too steep and is covered in a specialised rubber to cushion any jarring. Inside, the horse area is constructed of solid aluminium which is strong enough to withstand any horse that may panic and kick out. All the metal inside is tubular meaning there are no sharp corners for the horses to catch themselves on. The flooring and walls are covered in soft comfort non-slip specialist Dunlop rubber matting. The partitions are fully adjustable for easy loading, with thick padded headboards. They are also manufactured to allow the horses to be cross-tied from the partitions. This means that the animals can only stand straight and are unable to get themselves into awkward positions and hurt themselves.

On route electronic devices are in place allowing you to monitor your horses. In the larger boxes three cameras allow you to watch form the cab from different view points. If necessary you can quickly and easily walk from the cab, through the living area to the horse area to pacify a nervous horse. From the cab you can also regulate the temperature and check the humidity.

When you stop along the way it is easy to feed and water your horses via full length stainless steel feed bins. And when you arrive the Lehel fully adjustable tie-rail mechanism has hay nets, buckes and a horse tie. Your horses can relax in the shade of a 5 metre awning.

If you’re crossing the water you need to go by ferry as horses are not allowed on the Eurotunnel. Ferry companies charge by the length of your vehicle and need to be told in advance that you will have horses on board. Always remember to phone ahead on the day of travel to make sure there are no delays or rough weather. Ferry companies will not allow horses to travel if the sea is rough.

The most popular crossing are:

• Dover to Calais
• Newhaven to Dieppe
• Harwich to the Hook of Holland
• Hull to Rotherdam
• Holyhead to Dun Laoghaire
• Pembroke to Rosslare
• Stranraer to Belfast

If you are travelling a long distance then there are stables you can book to stop for a rest on the way. Here is a list of some of the places to overnight your horses in Europe:

Ireland

Taking your horses over to Northern Ireland is very easy. Once again, you need to inform the ferry company that you have horses on board. They will then inform the vet in the port who will need to inspect your horse to make sure it is fit to travel. You need to ensure that there is no loose hay or straw in your lorry as this is not permitted on a ferry to Northern Ireland. Sealed bags of hay and feed are OK as are loose shavings.

France

To take your horses to France you need an Export Licence which you can get from DEFRA. You will need to include the value of your horses. For France, registered horses do not need a TRACES document as all horses now have passports the health certificate is no longer required.

Other

Horses travelling to the rest of Europe need an export licence and a TRACES document. You or your vet can apply to DEFRA for the health certificate for the country your horse is travelling to. The certificate will be sent directly to your vet and you will need to make an appointment with him or her for the horse to be inspected no more than 48 hours before it leaves the UK. You will be asked to show this at the port but it will be returned it to you as you will need this in your destination country. When you come back to the UK, you will need a health certificate to be issued and signed in your destination country. (again not applicable for France or Ireland).

It is also a good idea to have a route plan to show that your animals are being transported under the Welfare of Animals Transport Order 1997. This is a form you can get from DEFRA. The form will be stamped by DEFRA and you will complete it during your journey and keep for 6 months afterwards.

Horses travelling to or through Switzerland or Norway are subject to customs clearance and will need to travel on an ATA Carnet. This allows them to travel free of taxes or duties.

Then there was a change in direction as Clayton moved on to event participation and was soon crowned rider of the year,1994 saw Clayton and his partner BUNDERBERG take second in punches town at cci***level.
In 1995 Clayton secured a place on the open European championship team and soon became well known in the European equestrian arena with good results at all levels not least taking the novice champion in the UK and soon earned the respect of his fellow competitors .
His current horse Bunderberg was then retired and a new partner found in Boundalong ,this partnership was soon on track with an incredible set of results in cross country before disaster struck in the shape of a fatal road accident which brought about a tragic loss for both Clayton and the horses owners Peta and Edwin McAuley.

Not deterred Clayton soon found a new partner and friend in Ben Along Time, two years hard work and determination then paid off in the form of a win at the world cup, Clayton and Ben then proved that this was no one off with a steady stream of great results including wins at both Samur and Chatsworth.
Clayton was then selected for the Australian team for the world equestrian games and went on to secure a bronze in the team event followed by a silver for the owners in the individuals.