Hi from Hannah and Maisy!

I've had a few busy few weeks of doing none riding things. I've done two triathlons, started to learn polocross, done some badges and we have had my PC Branch's end of year supper.

My triathlons (shooting running and swimming) were in Wing and Oundle. In the first one I came 7th as an individual and my team 8th. I was 2nd in the shoot with a score of 940/1000 which was my best ever score! In the 2nd tri my team was 3rd.

I had my first on foot polocross lesson this week. We learnt how to hold the racquet and pick up the ball. We have two more on foot lessons then we get to try with our ponies!

We went to St Tiggywinkles Animal Hospital for our Wildlife badge. We even got to meet hedgehogs - one had lost its spines cos someone had put glue all over him! There were lots of foxes and badgers there too.

At St Tiggywinkles!

In half term week I did my Saddlery badge which was done at my local tack shop, RBE, who were great fun. They had their big plastic horse to show us how to fit a bit, bridle and saddle properly on a horse. We learnt how to check for bad stitching and broken trees in saddles. We had a race to put a bridle back together - which my team won even though it took us ages cos we didn’t put the keepers on properly ......

We also did our Public Speaking badge at lunchtime on our gymkhana day. It was scary having to talk in front of people, even if I knew them all!

We played handy pony in the afternoon which I loved and so did Galaxy, my new pony. We had loads of things including a post box, washing line, stepping stones and false grass to face! The two best bits were mounting from the wrong side and apple bobbing ... I got soaked!

Apple bobbing was good fun.

Galaxy checks out the stepping stone game.

Last Sunday I took my D plus Pony Club Test, which I passed and I was dead chuffed!
My Pony Club Branch had its prize giving end of year supper. All the trophies are handed out and there are loads of them. I got the Pony Club Gold stripe for managing to pass 21 badges. Not many members get this and I'm one of the youngest! I also got stripes for being on the Endurance Team, Prix Caprilli Team and Quiz Team. I was surprised too cos I got a stripe for riding over 250km in endurance. I didn’t know I'd gone that far!

There is no more endurance riding this year, but I'm ready to start early after Christmas to fitten my new pony Galaxy for our first competition in the New Forest in March.

Hi peeps

Sarah and Tippy here:

Long time no see! Sorry, been ultra busy with the mag… but for a quick catch up… have you heard Grandstand Media Ltd, the organizer behind Horse of the Year Show, has announced that SKY Sports are going to be showing highlights from the show this Crimbo? The special two-hour programmes will feature showjumping, Pony Club Mounted Games and Osborne Refrigerators Scurry Racing. Check the schedules for Sky Sports channels 2 & 3 nearer the time – programmes are currently scheduled for Dec 31, Jan 1 and Jan 3.

Tippy's due for a visit from the farrier next week so her shoes will still be nice and shiny for Xmas.

Also, congrats to H+P’s columnist Emily Hanstock who raised another £1,000 plus for the Brooke at a fundraising fashion event last night.