What’s On

So you think you know a lot about horses! Come and put your knowledge to the test in our friendly, annual Quiz Night ….. .with a difference! The difference is that all the questions are on a horsey theme. You really don’t need to be an expert; you just need some knowledge of horses, and riding and to be prepared to pit your wits against other Members. This event is really good fun and often results in great hilarity when Caroline attempts to demonstrate some of the answers.
The venue is upstairs in Café Rouge and it starts at 7.30pm

Join World Horse Welfare for a stunning pre-Royal Ascot fashion show in Chelsea. The well-known racing pub, The Sydney Arms will host a glittering catwalk show featuring unique outfits from boutique La Belle Femme; Lizzie Hughes, wife of champion jockey Richard, will showcase beautiful hats, with shoes from up-and-coming designer Kaylie Simmone. For the most dapper of gents, the one and only Martin Ellis Jones of Hetherington Hats will be on hand to show off some of the very best silk toppers.

Funds from a special raffle will go towards the work of the charity, which helps thousands of abused and neglected horses each year in the UK and overseas. Enjoy an unforgettable evening at one of London’s friendliest bars while supporting a great cause.

23rd May, from 7.00pm

70 Sydney Street,
Chelsea,
London,
SW3 6NJ.

Join other WVS Members on this wonderful holiday organised by Inthesaddle. This is a centre based ride staying at the lovely Château Chazelles. Each day you ride out exploring this rural upland region of south central France. The horses are well trained and responsive to ride; the food is a highlight and the accommodation is really lovely.
www.inthesaddle,com
THIS RIDE IS FULLY BOOKED

Tuesday-Friday from 9.00-12.30.
Over four half-day sessions with a senior instructor, you will learn to develop a deeper, more balanced seat, to use aids more subtly and effectively, and to develop a better understanding of how to get the best from every horse you ride. There are two hours of riding instruction on each day which are followed by a lecture/demo which will reinforce the theory of what you have learnt as well as illustrating and clarifying the points covered and discussing aspects of stable management. We restrict the number of people on this course and so you will receive plenty of individual attention and, we hope, get to know the other riders.

Members from £245, non members £440

Spring Bank Holiday two hour ride around Wimbledon Common and Richmond Park. The ride leaves at 10.00 and is for level 4-6 riders only.
Members please enter the ballot if you want to take part.

3.15 - 4.30.
Grooming time is the perfect time to take note of a horse’s basic health and how he is feeling, so this session covers everything you need to know in order give your horse a relaxing and invigorating grooming session, and recognise any signs that your horse may not be feeling 100%. Become familiar with the many different brushes and tools available, learn how to pick out feet and wash a tail, and generally discover how to keep your horse looking immaculate. Practical demonstrations will be followed by the opportunity for clients to try everything for themselves. We will give you some useful handouts summarising the techniques and practices you have been shown. Free for Members (Non-members £35)
Please register by e-mail if you would like to take part in this course.

Tuesday 4th June
Friday 7th June
Sunday 9th June
Wednesay 12th June
Thursday 28th June
Saturday 30th June

Peter Cox our wonderful photographer will be coming along to the stables on each of these dates and taking photos of everyone. If you like what he's taken then you can buy them from his website: http://www.petercox-photography.co.uk/

Start of next series of 6 week short courses. We hold a series of Short Riding Courses and Horse Care for riders of all abilities. A short course can be the perfect introduction to the challenging and rewarding world of riding or, for those who have ridden before, a great way to build on experience already gained.

The Horse Care courses can teach you all you need to know about looking after horses

Whether you're a beginner, a recreational rider or an aspiring professional, Wimbledon Village Stables has a Riding or Horse Care Course to suit you.

From 3,15-4.30 p.m.
This essential session will teach you everything you need to know in order to get your horse ready for the off. From the easiest way to carry tack, to the best way to approach a stabled horse. From how to safely remove rugs, to the correct way to put on both saddle and bridle and, ultimately, lead your horse to the mounting block. We will also show you exactly what to do after riding in order to leave your horse comfortable in the stable. Following practical demonstrations you will have the opportunity to practice techniques individually. We will give you some useful handouts summarising the techniques and practices you have been shown.
Free for Members (Non-members £35)
Please register by e-mail if you would like to take part in this course.

Starting at 7pm. One hundred years ago, horses still dominated London’s streets, pulling hansom cabs and omnibuses, carts and carriages, not to mention parading their wealthy owners in laces like Rotten Row. And while most of our equine friends are long gone, traces can be found everywhere – if you know where to look. Blue Badge Guide Kim Dewdney leads her fourth London Horse Walk for BHS members, friends and family to discover the equestrian connections of one section of our great city. These walks are very popular so do book your place soon. If you wish to go. This year’s walk will cover St James’s. Meet outside Green Park underground station at 7pm. The walks always end at a pub, for those who wish to cap off the evening with dinner, or just a drink. Tickets cost £10. Please send cheques (made out to British Horse society London) to Janet coe, 7 abdale road, London W12 7er; or email Janet bhs.london@hotmail.co.uk) if you would prefer to pay online. or you can pay on the day

Come along and meet some of the instructors/horses, have a coffee and discuss your riding needs with our team. Learn how we do things, watch a lesson, and find out how our Membership scheme works. We will try to answer all your questions in a relaxed informal environment and you will meet other like-minded potential riders. Feel free to come alone or with a group of friends. There will be absolutely no obligation for you to sign up for any rides or lessons and you may even find out that riding is not the sport for you, although obviously we hope that is not the case.
If you are interested in attending please email Claire or give us a ring to find out more. Numbers limited so sign up soon
This is for adult weekday riders of any standard, including complete beginners. Starting at 10.30, Next open mornings are on: 9th July

VENUE: DOG & FOX STARTING AT 7.15

Just like the Olympics Games we could not run our Annual Horse Show on the 22nd June without our wonderful team of 'Gamesmakers'. If you would like to volunteer to help on the day please come along to this meeting where we will give you a full briefing of what the day entails and what your role on the day will be.
We will also be giving out your Gamesmakers T Shirts which you can keep afterwards.
Don't worry if you have no previous experience - we will find you an appropriate job and we guarantee that you will have a great day whilst helping us to raise money for the Wimbledon Guild, a wonderful charity that supports the local community.

Every year, on the Saturday before the Wimbledon Tennis Championships start, there is a Summer Fair on Wimbledon Common. This is an important fund raising event for the Wimbledon Guild with hundreds of stalls, a dog show, displays, competitions and even a funfair.
An important part of the Fair is an Open Horse Show, held opposite Cannizaro Hotel, which is organised by Wimbledon Village Stables. Our horses take part as well as riders from all around Surrey and SW London. There is show jumping, showing classes, Sunshine Tour Qualifying events as well as the spectacular Musical Ride performed by the WVS instructors – which is not to be missed!
Members are invited to take part in the show and should enter the ballot if they would like to take one of our horses/ponies. Please speak to your instructor or any member of staff if you are unsure whether you should. If you decide to and are lucky enough to be allocated a horse we will give you lots of advice and support on what to do and which classes would be most suitable.

GENEROUSLY SPONSORED IN 2012 BY ROBERT HOLMES & CO. Traditionally Wimbledon's top-end estate agent.
www.robertholmes.co.uk

Starting at 6.00 pm. in the Stable Yard. After the horse show ….. comes the Party where we celebrate all the successes of the day – it’s a chance to relax and reflect whilst enjoying a gourmet barbeque with a nice refreshing glass of Pimms served in style by Justin from www.cateredbyjustin.com.

Only £10 each per head - tickets must be purchased in advance.

The annual rounders tournament with teams representing businesses around Wimbledon.

Come along and support the stables team, full bar and BBQ, or let us know if you would like to join the team!

From 3.15 - 4.30 p.m.
Discover the fundamental principles of feeding; learn the basics of analysing type, weight and energy requirements in order to discover how much and how often to feed both concentrates (hard feed such as mixes and nuts) and fibre (hay, haylage and grass). We will also cover essential stable management such as the type of bedding to choose, how to care for the chosen bed and how to keep the horses’ environment clean and healthy. We will give you some useful handouts summarising the information you have been given. Free for Members (Non-members £35)
Please register by e-mail if you would like to take part in this course.

17th-22nd July.
As one of the biggest outdoor shows in the country, the Longines Royal International Horse Show uniquely sees the elite of many equestrian disciplines compete side by side: it has everything from the thrills and spills of international showjumping to the elegance and glamour of the country's best showing horses and ponies, to the exhilarating buzz of the country's best eventers flying across country.
For showing riders, this is exclusively a championship show, and is the culmination of many months of qualifications throughout the winter, with a host of prestigious classes for every breed of British horse and pony. The show also stages the peak of winter national showjumping qualifiers as the home to the British Showjumping Winter Finals. As one of only eight global hosts to the FEI Nations Cup™ Series, the show is also the British public's only chance to see their national showjumping team compete on home ground.
See Hickstead website for further information: http://www.hickstead.co.uk/horse-shows/the-longines-royal-international-horse-show.aspx

Our Children’s Holiday Courses are restricted to only 12 children and are hugely popular and therefore you are advised to book early. The Holiday Courses are aimed at children under the age of 10 with a riding level of 1, 2 or 3 including complete beginners. The three day courses run from Wednesday to Friday from 1.45-4.15. The children enjoy a riding lesson every day and also play fun pony games and quizzes. Most of all they relish helping to look after the ponies and, under close supervision; they are able to help with things such as grooming and feeding. On the last day of the course they are awarded a Certificate and a beautiful and coveted Wimbledon Village Stables Rosette.
*Please dress for the weather and bring a drink and a snack.
We will start taking booking after the May half term, DATES TO BE CONFIRMED

From 3.00-4.30 p.m.
This enjoyable and worthwhile session will enlighten you as to all that’s involved in the day-to-day care of one of our wonderful horses. From early morning feeding, mucking out, grooming, exercising, daily health checks and maintenance of tack and equipment through to essential late night housekeeping, this session will also illustrate the importance for the horse’s health and wellbeing of a regular routine and settled environment. Please note that literature summarising techniques and practices will be given to take home and use as reference.
Free for Members (Non-members £35)
Please register by e-mail if you would like to take part in this course.

On Sunday 4th August there is a bike ride called RideLondon that will be passing through the village. There will be lots of road closures in place and the rides times are having to be adjusted.

We will be doing rides at 6am, 7.15am & 8.30am. If you are able to ride on Saturday please let us know so we can change find a time to fit you in.

Saturday, 3pm – 4.30pm
Have you ever thought about buying a horse but would like to know more about what’s involved in horse ownership? This incredibly informative course has been created for all those who have thought about buying a horse but would really like to know more about what’s practically involved before making a decision. This session will, through talks and practical demonstrations, impart all the basics of horse ownership along with the implications and responsibilities of becoming a horse owner. Please e-mail if you would like to attend. Free for Members (Non-members £35)
Please register by e-mail if you would like to take part in this course.

To mark the end of the summer holidays we hold an annual show which is for our Members only. If you have never competed before but have always wanted to give it a go – this is the event for you but it is also suitable for more experienced riders. There are showing classes in the morning and show jumping in the afternoon and it is all managed in a supportive and encouraging way and our staff will be on hand to help you. There are fabulous rosettes for all, and the rider who gains the most points throughout the day is the Champion of the Day.
Let us know if you want to take part and we will enter you in the ballot. We also need volunteers to help us run the show, so if you would like to be involved but don’t want to ride, come along and help us!
MAIN SPONSOR SOUGHT FOR THIS EVENT. If you are interested please contact the Office.

Come along to the Wimbledon Village Stables 'Oscars' which is being held at Hemingways Lounge Bar in Wimbledon Village starting at 6.30 p.m.

All members are asked to nominate and vote on each category and (just like the Oscars) the winners are announced on the night. Categories include: Horse of the Year, Pony of the Year, Most Improved Senior, Most Improved Junior, etc and there are a few novelty awards too.
A fun event with great food and wine for those who don't take themselves too seriously!

Sunday 20th October and Tuesday 22nd October. For the past 37 years Carol and Caroline have been running an annual sponsored ride which, over the years has raised more than £500,000 for various national and local charities. This year will be the 38th Sponsored Ride and once again we will be supporting the excellent work done by The Royal Marsden Cancer Campaign.
The ride takes place over a 10 mile course across the beautiful scenery of Wimbledon Common and Richmond Park. Everyone is asked to wear Fancy Dress and before we start the ride there is a wonderful parade down Wimbledon Village High Street. After the ride we all meet in the Cafe Rouge for a fabulous lunch and presentation of the rosettes.
If you would like to take part let us know so that you can enter the ballot to allocate the horses. We always need helpers on the day so if you don’t feel like riding but would like to be involved please volunteer.

WE HAVE DONE IT AGAIN !
Thanks to our wonderful team and loyal support from riders, not to mention the fantastic horses, we have again won a prestigious business award in the Merton Business scheme. We were delighted to have been invited to attend the Award Ceremony at the All England Tennis Club and thrilled that for the second year running we were winners in the Hospitality and Leisure section. It is so rewarding to have our efforts recognised by the judges, especially against the other very impressive businesses that had entered. We cannot thank you, our riders and mainstay of our business, enough.

The Animal Health Trust UK Equestrian Awards first began in 1989 and has since grown in size and stature into one of the highlights of the equestrian calendar.
Since its launch over 20 years ago, the Equestrian Awards have marked the achievements of riders, owners, trainers and horses from all areas of equestrianism: showjumping, dressage, eventing, racing, veterinary care and voluntary service have all been celebrated and each year a Special Award is given to an individual, or team, who have made an impact in some way over the last 12 months. The black tie event is being held at the Lancaster Hotel, London, situated near Hyde Park and Notting Hill.

The first of our Christmas get-togethers for Members.

The venue is the wonderful Dog & Fox pub next door where we will meet at 12.30 in the raised area at the front. They will be serving a tempting selection of buffet food along with mulled wine and mince pies. It's a great way for everyone to meet up before Christmas and for you to kick off the festive activities with your horse riding friends.

This is a magical event and has become an essential part of the Christmas festivities.
It is a traditional Carol concert, held in candlelight in the stable yard, with a choir, mince pies, mulled wine and even a visit from Santa. It is a perfect event for children but is thoroughly enjoyed by all ages and is open to all.

There are two performances 5.00 and 6.30.

Tickets will be available from 1st November 2013

A chance for everyone to meet up and celebrate Christmas in style!
We hope that as many Members as possible can come along as we would love to celebrate Christmas with you!

Save the date - venue tbc

16th-22nd December 2013.
Olympia is a fantastic Equestrian Christmas Party and is host to the UK’s only Show Jumping and Dressage FEI World Cup™ Qualifiers.
It also has outstanding Equestrian Displays. There is a great Shopping Village and a magical Christmas Finale.

See website: www.olympiahorseshow.com

Our Annual Dressage competition takes place over the duration of this week. Riders can complete the dressage during their usual weekly ride and at the end of the week the scores will be collated. The winner will be presented with the WVS Dressage Trophy at our Annual Charity Ball.

Our Annual Charity Ball is always a sell out – so put the date in your diary now! The evening starts with a glass of bubbly at the reception, before sitting down to a superb three course meal. There are a couple of short presentations followed by our famous raffle and the evening is rounded off by dancing until the early hours with our amazing DJ. There are some excellent magicians to entertain you and one of the highlights is the Party Photo Booth.
The Cannizaro House hotel really encourage you to make a weekend of it by offering really amazing room rates!

Time for some Easter Fun in the Village again


Easter Bonnet competition
Easter Egg Hunt
Shetland pony rides
Fun fair rides
Lots of treats from participating restaurants
AND loads of chocolate……………………

Over the years we have seen some rather amusing photos that have been taken at the Stables and some of these can be viewed on our Facebook Page in the Caption Competition Album.

If you see a caption that amuses you don't forget to 'like' it! Or better still think of a caption of your own.

www.facebook.com/WimbledonVillageStables

Dear Members, Aubaine in Wimbledon Village would like to invite WVS Members to a complimentary lunch once a month to experience the delights of their restaurant. The delicious meal will include a glass of wine or soft drink. Numbers are limited to 15 so don't delay reserve your place now in the Stables office. This is a wonderful opportunity for Members to meet up and enjoy some truly exquisite food.
“Aubaine is at the heart of Wimbledon High Street, an integral part of Village life. Family centred yet chic and sophisticated with a large secluded terrace perfect for summer dining, Aubaine serves great food all day, every day. www.aubaine.co.uk”
We are very grateful to Aubaine for this wonderful offer and are looking forward to enjoying their hospitality.E-mail the office now if you would like to come.