Have you heard about plaits in manes in this area? How safe is your horse?

There have been countless emails recently about owners finding plaits in their ponies’ manes, presumably as identification for some wicked person to steal away your horse during the night. Is this fact or fiction?? The Police say it is fiction. To find out more on this hot topic and also learn how we can deter the thief, Avon & Somerset Police will advise on precautions we can all take to safeguard our horses, yard, tack and trailers. There will also be an opportunity for your tack to be marked by the police with your postcode so bring along your clean tack.
The Old Mendip Inn, 7.30pm

The Cranmore Ride

The popular Cranmore ride around the quarries offers a great start to the season. 12 mile and lead rein routes. Good but restricted all weather parking, may be limited to 100 pre booked riders.

Click here for more details and to download an entry form.

A very special evening with Holly Davis – horse communicator

Wouldn’t it be helpful if you could ask your horse a question? Well on April 12th you can, when Horse Communicator and therapist Holly Davis is with MBBA for their April meeting.

Holly can, by using a photo of your horse, give you the answers straight from your horses’ mouth. Bring a photo of your horse and for £5 it will be put into the hat for Holly to pull out. She will only have time to answer two questions on each horse to allow for the maximum number of people to take part in the evening.

If you wish to take this experience further or would like to have a lengthy discussion with Holly she can discuss problems over the phone or via her website centaur-therapies.co.uk

A very entertaining, enlightening and informative evening. 7:30pm at the Old Mendip Inn.

Click here to view the event poster.

Massage and manipulation for your horse

The first of our ‘away’ fixtures. MBBA member, Catherine Howes, who is qualified in Equine Sports Therapy will give a ‘hands on’ demonstration of her work and show you simple exercises that will improve your horses’ well-being and mobility.

This evening is aimed at the happy hacker who has only limited time to work with their horses and need easy and effective exercises, that can be done each day. These exercises will help horses to remain comfortable and effective for many years.

Catherine is also qualified in Craniosacral Therapy and Equine Massage and will be very happy to answer questions during this informal and very useful evening. The venue, which will be under cover, will be confirmed shortly.

Please bring a chair for your comfort and there will be ample opportunity to ‘have a go’.

Click here to view the event poster.

A Visit to Horseworld, Bristol

MBBA has arranged a private visit to this first class charity, including a tour of the welfare unit, demonstration of their work and a guided tour of the visitors centre.

There will be time to have lunch in the restaurant and so this special visit could, if you wish, take up nearly the whole day, or as long as you would like to stay.

More details to follow.

The Pennard Ride

Through farmland and lanes using land not usually open to riders. By kind permission of Mr and Mrs Nurse. Field parking.

The Great Greenscombe Ride

12, 6 and 3 mile routes. Optional jumps. Unlimited entries.

An evening with popular Equine Dentist, Wayne Abbott

Along with shoeing your horse, one of the most important professionals who will look after your horse is your equine dentist. Horses usually need to be seen by the dentist about twice a year. A check up will highlight any problems with the horse’s teeth and the appropriate treatment can be carried out. Unlike us, a horse’s teeth continue to grow throughout its life and left unattended, teeth can become sharp and uneven which will affect the horses’ comfort and ability to accept the bit. Like us, every horse is different and so an experienced and calm dentist is just what you need - we don’t like going to the dentist and neither do our horses. Wayne is renowned for his expert,gentle and patient work with horses of all sizes.

Click here to read the write up.

MBBA Quiz Night

Mendip Bridleways and Byways started the new decade on January 4th 2010 with the annual quiz at The Old Mendip Inn near Oakhill.

Lynda LeRay compiled the questions getting the teams scratching their heads. The final winners were “The Maybees” with a result of 73 out of 75 possible marks Second were “The Peoples Front of Judea” with 69 points and joint third were “Just Us Plus” and “Fantastic Fourleg” with 67 points. Some team names were quite amazing, the winners won a bottle of wine each.

The next meeting is February 1st when Horse Dentist Wayne Abbot will give us an insight into the equine mouth at The Old Mendip Inn 7.30pm.

MBBA Annual General Meeting

followed by talk from local farrier.

Click here to read the minutes from the AGM.