Riders who compete in International Teams as Young Riders can automatically apply to the Senior Squad but are welcome to join the SDS for support with new horses if they wish. The same applies to Adult Riders who have previously competed successfully for International Teams.

Please send full details of yourself, horse and a copy of your horse’s mastercard to date to Chair of Selectors - Cathy Brown ( address in egb file ). or for more information please contact Development Squad Team Manager - Andrea Baker 01252 820815 ( eves)

Senior Development Squad Announces Team for Mont le Soie

21/2/2009

Following the final assessment and selection ride weekend held recently and hosted by the Kings Forest ride, The Senior Development Squad MT and Selector –Cathy Brown were able to observe horses, riders and crews during the weekend and on the 80k ER held on the Sunday . The following horses and riders have been selected to travel to the 120k 2* ride in the Ardennes Forest on 3^rd May.

• David Yeoman – Kiria
• Sharon Parr – Rumilito de la Boulen
• Jill Semmens – Evermore Exciting
• Lesley-Ann Parker – Velvet Echo
• Caroline Cherry – Paramal
• Tanya Manser – Magical Spirit

The squad will meet at Houghton Farm near Dover on Tuesday 28^th April and travel to Belgium early the following morning. We are grateful for continued support from the EGB International Fund as well as Performance Equestrian who have provided team clothing.
Andrea Baker – Chef d’Equipe

p.s We now confirm that sadly Tanya Manser’s – Magical Spirit has had to be withdrawn from the squad trip to Belgium. The squad will now be made up of the other 5 riders selected. 

Senior Development Squad Update 2009

10/2/2009

The Senior Development Squad met in November 2008 at Hornshill Farm ( courtesy of Rosemary Attfield) and for most squad members – this was the first time they had attended a training and assessment day.  The Squad is roughly split into 2 groups – the already qualified riders and horses ( completed a min of 2 x ER’s ) and those at Advanced level who have yet to qualify with the minimum numbers of ER’s required to become full squad members. For those riders not yet qualified it was an opportunity for them to see first hand what is involved in being a squad rider, and just what we want them to do to qualify in order for us to consider them for the International squad trip in 2010.

For riders already qualified and aiming for the International Trip to Mont le Soie ride in Belgium at the beginning if May 2009, it gave our Team Vet, Farrier and Physio – a chance to have a good look over horses, discuss training plans, ride plans etc. Following the outside sessions, an indoor training session on Vet Gate procedure was held as a group exercise.

It was hoped to repeat this training session on 8^th Feb at Oakleaze Farm near Bristol ( by kind permission of the Rich family) however the recent bad snow forced us to cancel this training session and it is hoped to re-schedule this shortly.

Our final selection ride for those hoping for a team place for the Mont le Soie trip is at the Kings Forest Ride on 29^th March and we will depart for Belgium on 28^th April with a team of 6 riders hoping for success in their first foray abroad. The ride is in the heart of the Ardennes Forest and is a 130km 2* ride.

Development Squad Team Management who will accompany the riders on this trip will be :-

• Andrea Baker – Chef d’Equipe
• Stevie Martin – Assistant Chef and Logistics Manager
• Jo Woodman – Team Vet
• Tim Godfrey -  Team Farrier
• Pippa Windle-Baker – Team Physio

The horses and riders being considered for selection for the Mont le Soie ride are:-

• Lesley-Ann Parker – Velvet Echo -  Cambridge
• Karen Jones – Macadamia and Dancing Ruzala - Devon
• Caroline Cherry – Paramal - Huntingdon
• Jill Semmens – Evermore Exciting- Cornwall
• David Yeoman – Kiria and Banko- Wessex
• Tanya Manser – Magical Spirit - Norfolk
• Sharon Parr – Rumilito de la Boulen- Gloucester

The Development Squad are always looking for new horse and rider combinations to join the squad. If you are at Advance level or have already completed some ER’s – and are interested in finding out about competing in FEI rides in the UK or Internationally please contact either Andrea Baker  or Stevie Martin .