Horse riders: The riding
trails in Hodgemoor Wood are maintained by the Hodgemoor Riding Association
for the Forestry Commission. The objective is to keep horses on their allocated
paths and to free the wood from extensive areas of mud in winter. This
makes the wood a nicer place for walkers and ramblers. As of 1 April 2008
it is compulsory to be a member of the Association to use the permissive
trails in the wood. Membership includes sponsored rides, demonstrations
and other events, access to Thames Valley Horse Watch information, your
map of the woods and
the 3-yearly newsletter. Click
here to see a membership
application form and standing
order form.
Walkers: The Hodgemoor Riding Association welcomes walkers. Those that have joined are supportive of the maintenance efforts and of co-operation between the different users of the woods.
Cyclists are allowed on the two bridle paths, and are exceptionally permitted by the Forestry Commission on the permissive trails (those marked as horse trails) in Hodgemoor. Much of the fund-raising by the Hodgemoor Riding Association was based on the benefits to all users of the wood as an amenity. The Forestry Commission has recently confirmed that, although cyclists have no legal rights other than on the bridleways, they are welcome on the permissive trails in Hodgemoor as long as the trails are suitable for the purpose (i.e. they must be marked as riding trails with the horseshoe sign on a post). Cycling is not permitted elsewhere in the wood.
Neither motorcycles nor any other powered vehicles are permitted in the wood. Police action has recently been taken against motocross bikes in Hodgemoor.
Horse riders should also note that riding in fields adjoining Hodgemoor is not permitted other than directly on the bridleways.
Click here to see a map of the paths showing which are bridleways.
If you're browsing and would like to see a list of contents, please click here.
Since 2000 the Hodgemoor Riding
Association has been actively raising funds for renovating the paths in
the woods and off-road access. Here are the children at Aescwood who raised
over £2000 for the cause in 2003.
20
July: Unaffiliated Dressage at Windmill Farm
8
August: Combined Dressage and Showjumping at Highclere Farm, Seer Green
Map
of the Mini Cross-Country Course with new jumps in 2008
Riding
by Permit Only: Consultation Paper Click here to down load
What
is Le Trec?
Crab
Apple Jelly: click here for the recipe
Hodgemoor
Business Forum and
list
of participants
NEWS
& EVENTS
Would
you like to suggest an event or help organise one? Please contact
Susie@hodgemoor.org.uk
or phone 01494 872447
Compulsory Membership
After 18 months' consultation,
it was decided to make membership compulsory for riding on the permissive
trails in Hodgemoor Wood. With a modest membership fee of £15 (or
£10 for a standing order), the time had come to encourage all local
riders to participate in maintaining the trails in the Woods. You can look
at the reasons for the decision in the consultation
paper. Contact Susie Bicknell 01494 872447 or email
susie@hodgemoor.org.uk or download the membership form and standing
order mandate form in the blue column to the left..
Repairs to trails this summer.
It's been two years since work
was last done on bad areas in the wood. The Association has now accummulated
enough funds (around £7500) to make it worthwhile carrying out further
repairs. Bucks County Council has kindly given us £2000 to repair
one 60 metre long very boggy patch in the western bridleway just before
the old bike pits. So we apologise for any disruption to your riding in
July or August when the work will take place.
Events
There have been 2 events so
far this year: a lecture by American KC La Pierre on keeping a horse without
shoes and a cross country competition held on June 1st in the Association's
cross country field just south of Hodgemoor Woods. Remember that members
can rent this XC field at any time, £5 per person.
Future
events: info current at 27th June 2008
5 July: Pimms and Ponies BBQ,
Homefarm Orchard, Chalfont St Giles. Mounted games at 6, BBQ at 7
20 July: Unaffiliated Dressage
at Windmill Farm. Download regs
in pdf here (sorry about the quality)
8 August: Combined Dressage
and Showjumping at Highclere Farm, Seer Green. Evening event
5.30 to 8.30. Info
available in MS Word form, click here
17, 23 and 30 August: Sunshine
Dressage Challenge at Oldefields
14 September: TREC Event
at Homefarm Orchard
November: Quiz Night
Some
of our previous events:
Sunday 9th December 2007:
Christmas Dressage Day...
at the newly refurbished indoor
arena at Waylands Equestrian Centre at Seer Green. What a nice venue. Thanks
Lana! And thanks to Georgina and Susie for organising it. We ran two packed
classes
(having turned a few horses away during the week) and the standard was
quite high throughout. In the walk/trot Deborah Davies on Matchmaker Joshua
(106 points and 71%) won by a whisker from Carol Fletcher on Just Jester(106
points and 71%)... yes, Carol who came 2nd in the jumpiog in November,
see below. In the walk/trot/canter Maxine Butter Blackall on Mr Schnitzel
(133 points and 83%) won easily out of 20 horses. Full results in a download
by clicking here. Many thanks also to Georgina Blair and Di Bovey,
the two judges. Keep the pressure on Lana and us to organise more of them!
Wednesday
14th November 2007: Hodgemoor Business Forum and Unusual Xmas Present Party!
Our event
in the Memorial Hall in St Giles on Tuesday 13th November 2007 was both
useful and fun for everyone. The advertising did not bring in hundreds
of villagers but the horsey folk (with friends and families) were out in
number so business was brisk. Check out the info in the download here.
Cross
country jumping, Sunday 11th November 2007
Charlotte
Edmunds scored an extraordinary clear round, including the bonus jumps
like the triple complex at the Pyramid, to win the 11th November Cross
Country "Points Totaliser" competition. Download
the results sheet here. Competitors could choose between either the
small or big course and there are some bonus jumps as well, including new
arrowhead and trestle jumps installed 3rd November! 3points for small jumps,
5 for big ones and 7 for bonus jumps. Points deducted for refusals.
Map
available here for download. £5 for members £12 for non-members.
30 horses completed the course in ideal conditions and a relaxed ambience.
26 August
2007: TREC event
2 August
2007: Dressage Challenge
12 July
2007: Dressage Challenge
7 July
2007: Fun Evening; Horsing Around and BBQ
24 June
2007: Ride to Penn
21 June
2007: Dressage Challenge
Sun 4th
March 2007: Cross Country jumping clinic led by Sacha Hamilton
1st January 2007: 3-hour Penn
Ride, 2 groups. Lots of support and a good time had by all. Thanks!
2006
1 October 2006: 3-4 hours BHS
Ride in Wendover Woods.
7 September 2006, 6-8pm: Moor
and Fell Ponies Mini Cross Country Jumping in the middle field at Hodgemoor..
24 August 2006, 6-8pm: Mini
and 2'6 Cross Country Jumping in the middle field at Hodgemoor.
13 August 2006: Le Trec.
Despite the heavy rain, a dozen
riders cam to compete in Le Trec at Hodgemoor. 13 obstacles were completed,
plus the control of gaits (cantering as slow as possible and walking as
fast as possible). Our apologies for the delays around 11 a.m. due to the
rain and to so many riders arriving at the same time. Winner was Richard
Hill riding Guinness, with an 82% score, only 1 percentage point above
a group of 3 riders separated by a tie-breaker based on positions in the
obstacles and then the control of gaits. They were Amelia Longman
(2nd), Olivia Sullivan (3rd) and Simon Thornton (4th). Rosettes to those
four which you can pick up from Homefarm Orchard anytime. All riders are
improving; the lowest placed rider at 68% would have placed 2nd in our
first Le Trec in 2004. You can look at your individual scores and the full
results by clicking here. The 2004
results are also available here. Let
us remind you that we are willing to organise another Le Trec this year
if there is demand; please also let us know if you would like to do the
third discipline, the orienteering (and hour or two hacking, depending
on how good you are with the map).
1 July 2006. Saturday. Evening
Ride to Penn with refreshments halfway.
21 June 2006: BHS Summer
Solstice Ride at Kensham Farm, Cadmore End, near High Wycombe.
4 June 2006. Sunday morning.
Cross Country Clinic with Sacha Hamilton
Sacha Hamilton held a cross
country clinic on the Hodgemoor course over the 2ft 6/2ft 9 jumps.
We will also organise a schooling day for those wanting to practise over
the lower course. Contact Susie@hodgemoor.org.uk or phone 01494 872447.
21 May 2006. Sunday.
Native Pony Dressage Day at Windmill Farm
Committee member Georgina Blair
is busy this year. Not only has she done the Treasure Hunts, but
she also organised this open event to give purebred and part-bred natives
a chance to compete against each other, and to encourage dressage newcomers
to have a go with their “hairy” mounts. There were 5 classes: a walk/trot
test, Prelim 7 and 10, Novice 21 and 24. The Prelim 10 and Novice 24 classes
were qualifiers for the Chiltern & Thames Rider 2006 Dressage Championships.
23 April 2006. Sunday morning.
Treasure Hunt In Hodgemoor.
Georgina Blair fabulated another
hunt on April 23rd, this time with a Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
theme.
2005:
Various TREC, crss-country and ride events
Thanks for your support!
4th November 2004: Hodgemoor
honoured by BHS
Today Susie and Marcus Bicknell
were in the Saddlers Hall in London to receive the British Horse Society
"Access Award 2004". The new BHS President Noel Edmunds made the presentation.
Susie and Marcus were accompanied by their guests Brenda Wickham (our local
BHS champion of access) and Audrey Holbrook (who young riders at Aescwood
raised so much money over the last four years to help the renovation of
trails in the wood). The BHS citation stressed the way all users of the
wood have benefited from better conditions, including walkers.
14th July 2004
Show Jumping demo & Clinic
by Lana Craker, Wednesday, at Waylands Equestrian Centre.
Friday 18th June 2004
Another Fun Jump
Following the success of the
Easter Saturday Fun Jump, we had another one on Friday 18 June. You
can look at a description of the course and a
plan by clicking here.
13 Feb 2004
Another bridleway cleared
Jonathan Clark of Bucks County
Council reports that their contractors have cleared a route on the entrance
to Whites Hill bridleway next to the gypsy camp. This is on the A355 ½
mile South of the Magpie Public House, and a favorite spot for riders crossing
from Seer Green to Coles Hill. "Some vegetation should also have
been cleared on the verge. Maybe list it for a crack of dawn Sunday morning
ride (like us cyclists) to avoid the traffic."
12 Feb 2004
Another £3000 raised
Audrey Holbrook's young horse
riders have now raised over £3000 in their 2004 sponsored ride campaign.The
photograph and article in the Bucks Advertiser today are excellent -
excellently written, positive to our cause and heart-warming. Don't miss
it. Our congratulations to Amber Gunn who raised the highest sponsorship
at £345 and who will have the new North route (see last newsletter
on www.hodgemoor.org.uk) named after her. And our continuing thanks
to Audrey Holbrook whose efforts beyond the call of duty sets new standards
for us all to follow.
10 Feb 2004
March Pleasure Ride
The BHS is organised a Spring
Pleasure Ride near Wendover on Sunday 7th March.
Nov 2003 Hodgemoor's New
Treasurer 
Robin Richards told as at the
HRA AGM that this will be his last year doing his wonderful work on keeping
the books up to date and the finances organised. We would be very grateful
if some good person would volunteer nto take over in the autumn of 2004.
You do not have to be an accountant, just honest and competent. There are
3 or 4 committee meetings a year, some cheques to bank and some payments
to make. A one page report is needed for our AGM. If you can help please
call Susie Bicknell on 01494 872447. Update: Tim Taylor has offered
his services and was elected at the AGM in October 2004
July 2003 Trails opened
The renovated trails in Hodgemoor
Wood were officially opened on July 8th in the presence of senior officials
of Brett Environmental, Chiltern District Council, Bucks County Council,
Forest Enterprise, the Chiltern Society and others. With thanks to our
many partners who have complemented our own fund raising with financing
for the work in the wood.
Press release
