Message from Chairman of the Northamptonshire Committee

Hi Everyone! Our Spring Newsletter is here at last and we are all starting to get excited about what the year can offer. Looking forward to the better weather and longer days - more daylight - great! and plenty of fun with our horses in whatever discipline we choose!

Your BHS Committee are also looking forward to organising some exciting events for 2008 but are very disappointed with the lack of response from members following our last Autumn News Letter. We only had four replies for the proposed events and no-one assisted our plight with 'Stuffing the Envelopes' twice a year by kindly supplying us with email addresses to reduce paperwork and also 'Save Trees' and 'BHS Funds' that could be much better spent. We know not everyone has 'Internet Access' but please come on those of you who have - email me your details marking the 'subject box' BHS - so it doesn't get swallowedup as 'Spam'. sue@wardleandkeach.co.uk

Like yourselves, all the people on the Committee and our brilliant Team of Helpers, who kindly help out with Events are very busy people. Most have horses of their own that need looking after and exercising + holding down full-time jobs. Life gets more pressured and moves faster for everyone. Therefore, please, please make the effort to support your local BHS Committee and the Events they propose organising for the benefit and fun for us all. Hopefully there is something amongst the events for everyone, but if not please don't be shy, contact us with new ideas or support if you feel you can. Lets try to make our BHS Area an active one.

Where we can we will be providing you with Dates for these future Events, but if you see that they are 'to be advised' then please look on the BHS Website: www.bhsem.org.uk go to East Midlands Area, Northamptonshire Diary Dates to make sure you put your particular favourites in the diary or if you aren't participating perhaps you would be kind enough to put your name forward as a helper. The other helpful factor towards us making sure the 2008 Events are all run well with extra facilities where needed, is if you respond quickly to the Adverts. At our Diamond Jubilee 'Sponsored Ride' in June last year at Boughton Estates it was very nearly cancelled because of lack of support, yet right at the end the situation changed and we received 74 entries. Had we got that support right at the beginning there would have been more facilities and stands booked for your comfort and enjoyment So please if you want to join in reply straightaway or risk the Event being cancelled due to lack of interest.

Finally following our Meeting at Moulton College in October 2007, when amongst the speakers, we had Jeremy Kemp-Symonds from The Animal Health Trust discussing Strangles and the current 'Breaking the strangles hold campaign' we thought you might like to know that our Committee has donated on your behalf £200 + the Raffle Proceeds for that evening. All the best and hope to meet loads of you supporting our Future Events.

Sue Henry – Northants County Chairman

Taken from the Northamptonshire Spring Newsletter 2008