he second weekend in September saw 20 cadets from Newbury Squadron attended Goring Heath Horse Trials to help raise funds for their squadron.
Competitors from all over the country arrive with their horses to compete against each other at several levels, from near beginner to very experienced rider, in 3 different areas, the Show Jumping, where the horse has to clear several fences without knocking them over, the Dressage where the rider has to make the horse do certain commands and shows how well the horse is trained, and the cross country, a long course stretching out through the Oxfordshire countryside through forests, over water and hills, whilst jumping strategically placed fences.
Some cadets attend on Friday evening, to help set up the event, whilst the rest arrive on Saturday morning. For the advance party, Saturday is a very long day, starting before 6am and not finishing till around 10pm, during which time there are two main tasks to be completed. The advance party, on Saturday morning, spread themselves out over a large field with big foam hands to attract the attention of incoming competitors in their horseboxes, so that 2 cadets can park them. The remaining advanced party stay on the gate to the field, separating out the traffic, and allowing horseboxes to enter freely, but cars have to be charged an entry fee, which goes to the event organisers.
The cadets which arrive on Saturday morning act as relief to the tired advanced party, and take over their jobs, or go to the show jumping arena, where each time a fence is knocked down, the Arena Party, generally in twos and threes stationed around the arena safely run to the knocked down fence and re-erect it.
Saturday and Sunday evenings are a chance to relax and enjoy each others company, but not before we have all danced to the departing horseboxes and cars, who sometimes offer small donations for all the hard work put in. Many just donate for the chance to see the large foam hands again!
All in all, a very tiring and usually very hot weekend, but one which raises morale, and lots of money for the squadron towards the new bus and other new equipment.
Article written by Sgt Luke Pepperell