Dressage Writers and Fence Judges needed
The BE course is now closed in preparation for the Horse Trials on 27 and 28 September. We are looking for dressage writers and fence judges for this event. If anyone is able to help please contact Equine Events Team on 01628 827 529.
Sept 2011
The going at BCA... 2nd June 2011
Thankfully we have had a good drop of rain to kick start things over the week end. We are on clay and the ground is hard, however we have good cover on the dressage and XC fields and are starting work this week, we have planned to agrivate and then water the dressage on Monday. The XC track will have the equivator followed by the agrivator over it on Monday and Tuesday next week followed by watering over night in the run up to the event, depending on time and conditions time we will jump in the indoor arena with warm up in the outdoor arena but will leave this decision till nearer the time and take consultation with the Chief Steward and course builders.
June 2011
Park and Ride
BCA are pleased to launch an Equestrian Park & Ride this will allow you access to 2 miles of safe off road riding around our 300 acre estate. For full details please see the new Park & Ride link.
March 2011
BE SEEN to BE SAFE
Be seen to be safe. Always wear something high visibility.
Remember, you have a duty of care to make yourself visible to other road users.
January 2011
Re-surfacing works now complete
The re-surfacing work on the outdoor arena is now complete and the arena is back in full use.
The Garth Hunt SJ competition that was due to run on 5th December is now taking place on 23rd January. See events list for schedule details.
January 2011
One Stop Shop
Don’t miss our One Stop Shop on 18 September for all Safety and Security ideas and a spot of Pre-Christmas Shopping! Click here for details
August 2010
Ragwort
The British Horse Society, in association with Rag-Fork, is appealing to everyone with an interest in horses to take time to help out with its ragwort survey taking place during Ragwort Awareness Week (12 – 18 July 2010).
Almost everyone involved with horses should know about the dangers that ragwort poses – every year animals die painful and unnecessary deaths as a result of damage to their livers from ragwort consumption. Despite this the general consensus seems to be that ragwort levels are on the increase and the BHS has certainly seen this in the number of cases reported to it over the last few years.
This suggests that the laws governing ragwort (Weeds Act 1959, Ragwort Control Act 2003) are not being enforced and that many horse owners are not taking the threat that ragwort represents seriously. However, there is presently no hard data that can be used to support these suppositions and this is what the BHS is seeking to change. Data is needed to paint a picture of the extent of the UK’s ragwort problem and can be used to encourage better enforcement of ragwort control and potentially lobby for changes in legislation.
The BHS is therefore conducting a 'snapshot survey' during its Ragwort Awareness Week and is asking for reports of the location of ragwort spotted during the week. Mapping software will be used to show the areas where ragwort is most prevalent and the number of animals grazing in ragwort infested fields will be calculated.
Reports of ragwort are sought when it is in or near fields being grazed by horses, sheep or cattle. If the ragwort is a long way from grazing livestock (for example in the middle of woodland) then it does not need to be reported to the survey. Conducting the survey during one week means that results can be compared to the same week in forthcoming years enabling trends to be identified.
If anybody spots ragwort during the week of 12-18 July they are asked to spend just a couple of minutes filling in the simple survey which will be available on the homepage of the BHS website shortly. Alternatively hard copies of report forms can be requested directly from BHS Welfare on 01926 707807. When filling in the survey please be as precise as possible with location information in order to allow accurate mapping.
The manufacturers of the Rag-Fork, eazitools Ltd., have very generously donated 50 Rag-Forks for people who fill in the survey. Anyone who is interested in winning a Rag-Fork should be sure to provide their contact details when filing their report. All survey responses will be treated in the strictest of confidence.
July 2010
!! Stolen !!
Please be extra vigilent!
Thieves are constantly operating in the area, but we seem to be going through a particularly bad phase at the moment locally. We had farm machinery and our Land Rover stolen from BCA last week and a horse box was stolen over the Bank Holiday weekend from Cox Green; it is a Burgundy DAF45/130 registration T41 GOH.
We are hearing weekly reports of plaits being put into horses manes as a sign for possible theft so please be on your guard. Thames Valley Horsewatch have a link to Ringmaster from which you can receive reports of activity in the area; they also produce some very useful information on security for your yard, your horse and your vehicles. See the website www.thamesvalleyhorsewatch.org.uk
On Sat 18th September we will be running a Security Day here at BCA. Our “One Stop Shop” will offer Security marking for your tack your horse and your transport. Please see the events page for more details.
May 2010
Latest News Hall Place Veterinary Centre in association with BCA is pleased to present a series of Evening Equine Lectures click here
April 2010
Well done to BCA Equine Students
A team of BCA equine students visited Moulton College last Friday for an inter college competition. There were 7 other colleges taking part in the competition. One of our riders (Charlotte Waldon, ND1) got a fantastic individual 2nd overall for her dressage test, and our quiz team (Steph Plato, Kelly Gunner, Helen Amoss and Amber Davidson) all came 1st in the quiz against all of the other college teams.
As a team we came 7th out of 8 overall due to a few poor show jumping rounds at the end of the day which was unfortunate. However overall an excellent day for BCA Equine!
March 2009
National Diploma Year 2 Students raise £500
The National Diploma students organised and ran a show jumping competition for students, staff and external competitors. The event raised an amazing £500 for Children in Need. Click here to view image.
BCA Horse Trials June 2009
The BCA welcomed around 500 competitors over 2 days, at the recent Horse Trials triathlon for horses, involving 3 different elements: Dressage, Show Jumping and Cross Country.
The college and event team are partucularily grateful to the 2 main sponsors, Warings and Amtrust Equine for their support, also to the local sponsors.
Amanda King, Event Manager said 'we have had excellent feedback from competitors on the Cross Country Course design and ground conditions and the friendly atmosphere we create. The students were amazing and helped create a great showcase for the whole college.'
Amtrust winner press release and image
June 2009
BCA Inter College Competition
View galleryThe inter college competition at BCA on 19th May 2009 involved a team of BCA students competing against teams from Sparsholt and Moulton College. Our National Diploma Year One equine students were responsible for turning out all the horses, which were bathed, plaited and groomed to a really high standard. The other colleges were very complimentary about our horses, however Sparsholt College won the competition, Moulton came second, and BCA third.
The students rode a dressage test, show jumping competition and all took part in an equine and general knowledge quiz. The equine department will be organising another inter college competition for next academic year and we hope to see even more college teams take part.
A big thank you and well done to the ND1 and Foundation Degree students for assisting in the running of the day. Everything ran smoothly and a thoroughly good time was had by all!
May2009
BCA Diamonds shine brightly at the Polo Nationals
They may be novices, they may have been training for less than three months, and they may have been riding borrowed ponies, but that didn't stop the team of four girls from BCA making a lasting impression at their first Polo championship.
In the words of their coach, Charley Cudworth, ‘they were amazing!’ The team ‘BCA Diamonds’ won two of their four games, scoring well against the Royal Agricultural College and beating Edinburgh in a nail biting penalty shoot-out, at the recent National Universities Arena Polo Championships in Bristol.
Polo is often seen as a sport for the rich and famous, but Crystal Simons, 17, and her three fellow students worked hard to raise funds and source grants to support their passion to succeed in this fast paced, exhilarating sport. This included £300 from Supa, sponsorship from their College BCA, and further support with the loan of ponies from Georgiana Crofton, at a local polo club.
BCA is extremely proud of the girl’s achievement, and how with it’s help they have had the opportunity to experience a new and challenging field within the equine industry. The Diamond Girls said ‘the experience was a real boost for our confidence; it will help us with our university applications and has opened up new doors for our work experience placements’.
With such early success who knows what the future holds for the Diamonds, but it certainly looks bright!
Feb 2009
Results:
28th February 2009
British Dressage Affilitated Competition
POLICE NOTICE - stolen horses more...
Feb 09
Fancy jumping out of a plane and raising money for charity - The Strangles Appeal? more...
Notice: BCA Strangles Awareness‘For the sake of any doubt, we do not have Strangles and never have had a case of Strangles.’
Should an outbreak of Strangles occur at BCA, the policy for dealing with it would be to follow the British Horse Society (BHS)/ Animal Health Trust (AHT) Strategy to Eradicate and Prevent Strangles (STEPS). Website
We have spoken with our vets, Hall Place Vets and they are not treating any cases in the area at present.
BCA are supporting the BHS Strangles Appeal which will enable research into a strangles vaccine.
To this end I am joining the Sponsored Parachute Jump! Please watch this space for details of how you can sponsor me or sign up when you are next at BCA.
Amanda King
Equine Events and Facilities Manager
22/01/09
