Quick update - Sarah is still top of the BR Green as Grass class but now has a 10.5 point lead!!!
Following the recent International at Bodiam in July, I thought you might like to know how our Area Members are doing in British Reining.
Our Sarah Nock, riding Skeet n Quick, is currently leading the BR Green As Grass with a lead of 9.5 pts. They are also lying in 4th place in the BR Rookie. Go Sarah!!!
We also have Sally House, on Haida Bar Lena, jointly leading the Limited Non Pro with Lita Pocock on the stallion Santa Cruz Whiz. Haida Bar Lena was also ridden by David Gray in the 1* International to a 5th place. Watch out for an offspring of Lena, known as Elvis, who is starting to go out and about being ridden by both David and Sally.
If any members have news to share please let me know as we would love to hear about it. Just drop me an email aj.gray@tiscali.co.uk
Thanks to all the helpers and officials who made the show yesterday such a success. Special thanks to David and Kim as our Judge and ring Steward, to Wills and his family for running the secretary's office so smoothly on top of commentating, to Heidi for organising the rosettes so well, to Bob doing such a good marshalling job in the collecting ring. Beth for being our Medical officer. To all the team at the Mendip Stud but above all to the competitors and spectators some who travelled from as far as Manchester to show – there’s no show without you and the fun we had and spirit and atmosphere that went with it was wonderful.
Thanks to all the sponsors but especially Jim and Lesley from Hooves Western.
Details and reports of all events are included in our quarterly newsletters for members, which are either e-mailed or posted. Click on the link to the right for the latest edition.
... and if you're not yet a member but decide to join us, here's the application form! Don't forget that some events are limited to members only, and the only way to enoy the full benefit of everything that's on offer is to join the Society.
We're delighted that 3 of our members have featured in the 2009 National High Point Awards. For full details check out the WES UK website, but this is what you need to know from the Area's perspective!
First of all we must congratulate Henrietta Campbell, who has been an avid supporter of WES and has also competed nationally in AQHA competition throughout 2009.
Many of you will have seen Henrietta competing on her two horses, Dewstow Major Tom (aka Tommi, now owned by Mike Hargadon of Area 6) and Best Chex Yet (aka Scout). Henrietta is pictured to the left riding Scout at Bodiam.
Picture by kind permission of Art & Light.
It's certainly fair to say that Henrietta has had an outstanding year! She is now the National High Point winner in the following divisions:
Overall Intermediate Amateur;
Intermediate Amateur Horsemanship.
Henrietta is also the Reserve National High Point winner in the Intermediate Amateur Pleasure division.
Many of you will also know David Gray and will have seen him at various Area 3 and National events in recent years.
David has been another regular supporter of WES throughout 2009 and has had a good year with Steady Lil Smartie, owned by Heidi Van Hummerston. Steady Lil Smartie has won the National High Point in the Open Reining division.
David and Steady Lil Smartie are pictured to the right at the WES National Show, where they won the Open Reining and Championship Reining classes.
The picture is shown by kind permission of Nathan Haynes of NRH Photography.
Judith Hubbard is an Area 3 member who is also a Judge and WES Instructor. During 2009 Judith took a year off teaching to focus on her string of young horses, the oldest of which is Forest Jac (aka "Woody"). It paid off! In his first full year of competition, as a 4 year old, Woody has helped Judith to achieve the Reserve National High Point, Open Horsemanship division.
During 2010 Judith will once again focus on training and competing her young horses and will not be teaching, though she will continue to judge.
Judith is pictured to the left at the WES Area 3 show in June 2009.
We must also mention our great friend and supporter of Area 3, Taliska Baden. Taliska had a very busy and successful year and is joint winner (with Jessica Moore) of the Novice Youth National High Point award.
We realize that effective and user-friendly communication with members is critical to our success, so we aim to make it very easy for you to keep in touch. Those of you who use Facebook can join the national group "Western Equestrian Society" and also the local "WES in Devon" group.
First of all we must congratulate Henrietta Campbell, who has been an avid supporter of WES and has also competed nationally in AQHA competition throughout 2009. 
Many of you will also know David Gray and will have seen him at various Area 3 and National events in recent years. 
Judith Hubbard is an Area 3 member who is also a Judge and WES Instructor. During 2009 Judith took a year off teaching to focus on her string of young horses, the oldest of which is Forest Jac (aka "Woody"). It paid off! In his first full year of competition, as a 4 year old, Woody has helped Judith to achieve the Reserve National High Point, Open Horsemanship division. 