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Discounted tickets go on sale for Balcarres
Online advance tickets have gone on sale for Balcarres International Horse Trials’ inaugural three day event, which takes place from 14 – 17 June in Colinsburgh, Fife.
In additional to individual day tickets weekend passes and camping tickets are available. Organiser James Oakden said, “We are delighted to have this facility available and hope that by offering camping facilities people will be encouraged to come and make a long weekend of the event.  I hope lots of people come and enjoy this fantastic new event in this wonderful park in the East Neuk of Fife with its fabulous aspect overlooking the Forth.”
The discounted tickets are priced at just £5 per person for Thursday and Friday, with Saturday and Sunday tickets just £10 each. Under 16’s go free. Tents, caravans and horseboxes welcome for camping, with shower facilities and electric hook up points available.  

What the Judge sees!
Four star eventing dressage judge Les Smith will host a fun interactive dressage lecture demonstration at Sandyflats RDA centre on Wednesday 20 June @ 1900, showing dressage from a judge perspective.
The event is being organised by Strathclyde BHS, with the demonstration involving students riding four different tests that will be marked and analysed by Les. Two from the British Dressage list  and two from British Eventing list.
To add a twist to the evening, some of the tests will also be scored by the spectators, enabling them to have their marks compared against those from Les.
Tickets are only £10pp, with students and pony club members only £7.50pp and can be purchased in advance from the names below or on the night at Sandyflats, Sandyflat RDA Centre, Summerston, Glasgow G23 5NA.
For further information or tickets please contact: Ann Kennedy

The future for sports horses and riders – using technology to improve welfare and performance as ISES comes to Scotland
BHS Scotland discount unveiled
The International Conference of Equitation Science (ISES) symposium takes place in Scotland this July and BHS Scotland’s registered instructors are offered an amazing 60% discount to the practical day.
The event concentrates on the welfare of the ridden horse and how to improve the training of the horse through three themes: coaching riders, how the rider influences the horse and a scientific approach to the sustainable equine athlete using pressure detecting technologies to educate riders and equipment design.
The practical day  at SNEC on July 20, entitled “Looking through the Lens of Learning Theory” promises to be interactive and inspirational with presenters including; Dr Andrew McLean, Prof. Paul McGreevy, Jody Hartstone and Warwick McLean.
For more information and booking click here.

NFU Mutual, The British Horse Society and PRP Rescue Services are running a series of nationwide seminars for equine students and BHS Safety representatives, to highlight the importance of horsebox and trailer safety.
You will learn about:
• Introduction to horsebox and trailer safety
• The law and how this affects you
• What to do if you break-down or have an accident
• How to perform basic safety checks
Open to BHS Members only. If you are not a member but would like to attend we can offer you basic membership at 20% off making it £15.80!
Whilst this seminar will not lead to an accredited qualification, attendees will receive proof of their attendance at the seminar, which may form part of their Continuing Professional Development.
Click here for Further Information or for our Booking Form.

Tarragon Trophy goes to Ace for his big heart and lovely personality
Every year BHS Scotland presents the Tarragon Trophy to a special Scottish horse that gives so much to human beings, this year it was presented to Ace!
For 12 years Ace has brought joy and happiness to disabled riders of all ages, helping and teaching them to find a sense of achievement and confidence, which in turn makes their lives easier and more fulfilled.
This very special horse had a hard start to life as a logging horse working on the Pentland Hills, Midlothian. Ace came into his own when he joined the team at Thornton Rose (member of Riding for Disabled Association) in 1999, thanks to money raised by a rider with the group.
Click here for full Press Release

British Horse Society elects new chairman
Lynn Petersen was recently elected as chairman of The British Horse Society (BHS) following the decision of Dr Phil Wadey to step down as chairman due to the demands of new ventures at his satellite communications company.
For the past year and a half, Lynn has been the board trustee responsible for the Society’s modernisation programme. With her business experience as European Director for TIME magazine and Global Director for Kraft General Foods sponsorship of Women’s Tennis, she has brought a new dimension to the Society's plans for the future. Most recently as Director of Sales, Marketing and Fundraising for The Outward Bound Trust, Lynn worked closely with HRH Prince Andrew in transforming the charity with modern management strategies.  
"Our volunteers and our members are at the centre of our work. The BHS is determined to serve professionals, owners, riders and enthusiasts with enhanced and relevant benefits for horse and rider.  
“I am looking forward to serving as Chairman committed to developing a new chapter in the Society’s distinguished history."
Carole Broad remains as Vice-Chairman and is joined in this role by Claire Aldridge who has served the Society as a trustee and safety and welfare volunteer for a number of years.

The British Horse Society Scotland presents a compact but stunning 11th Borders Festival of the Horse
The unique Borders Festival of the Horse is taking place for the 11th time
this year with 30 events running over 10 days starting with a varied
programme on Friday 18th May. From jousting to jumping, incorporating working horses, equitation science and horse whispering and introducing clever donkeys and equestrian art 2012 promises to be a unique equestrian feast, as BHS Borders celebrates the place of the horse in local culture. For full press release click here or for all dates and events visit www.bordersfestivalhorse.org

_Spring is in the air but horse owners urged to think twice before letting their horse get fruity!
With today being the first day of spring, many horse owners will be thinking about putting their horse in foal. However, The British Horse Society (BHS) is pleading with owners to give it serious thought before adding to the country’s oversized horse population.
Thousands of horses are suffering every day in the UK because there are not enough safe and knowledge homes available to care for them. Equestrian charities are almost at breaking point struggling to keep up with the demand for their help with recent figures suggesting there are around 12,000 horses and ponies in the care of member charities of the National Equine Welfare Council (NEWC) and fewer than 100 vacancies across the whole of Britain.
Click here for full article.

_ Equestrian Audit of the A9 and A96
BHS Scotland is undertaking an Equestrian Audit of two major roads in Scotland in order to ascertain equestrian access, business locations and any other equine issues that need to be considered before major work to upgrade the roads network takes place.
The Scottish Government is committed to dualling the A9 between Perth and Inverness by 2025 and the A96 between Aberdeen and Inverness by 2030, and along with other access bodies the British Horse Society Scotland is involved in early engagement with Transport Scotland in order to ensure that as far as possible access and rural issues are taken into consideration. The BHS has to ensure all equestrian needs and access is catered for in this major infrastructure work.
A series of local BHS meetings will take place along the length of both roads this spring and summer where anyone who either runs an equine yard adjacent to the road or rides across or along either road will be very welcome.
BHSS Development Officer Helene Mauchlen said: “It is very important that we make sure equestrian needs are taken into consideration when these major works take place. At all costs we must avoid these busy routes becoming barriers to equestrian access.”

_Coaches get the Inspiring Edge from Top Mentor
William Micklem FBHS came to Scotland in March to deliver a sports psychology CPD day to over sixty riding coaches in Auchterarder. William's presentation on “Safe, Simple and Sunny” Coaching was extremely well received. Coaches learned about the three F’s every coach should be teaching: Forward, developing Feel and helping instil the 'Fifth leg' for horse rider combinations. William used a combination of teaching methods including pictures, exercises and discussion; coaches also practiced their presentation skills. William said: “Every coach and rider needs to have the winning EDGE, which is - be Enquiring and Demanding yet Generous which will result in Empowerment.”

_The multi-agency approach to improving the lives of equines in Scotland
Scotland has five new BHS welfare representatives trained to offer practical assistance and prevention through education in their regions following a training course, held recently on a farm in Perthshire.
Pictured are the five new welfare reps with Sue Kilby, BHS Scotland Chairman of Welfare, John Burns from World Horse Welfare and Tom Gatherer from Scottish SPCA and of course ‘Rosie’ the miniature Shetland who took part in the afternoons condition scoring workshop.
If you are interested in being a welfare rep please contact; bhsscotland@bhs.org.uk

_Calling Young Instructors across Scotland
It is the intention of the BHS Scottish Training Committee to present the Anne
Balfour-Kinnear Training Legacy towards the end of 2012. Please encourage young instructors aged 25 and under and who reside in Scotland to apply by April 30th 2012. This is a very prestigious award with a valuable bursary of £500!
More info click here.