Peebles and District Riding Club

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Committee

If you would like to raise any points for discussion or suggestions for future events at our next committee meeting please email Kirsten or Lisa.

Committee

Hon President - Anne Chilman

Hon Vice President - Hilda Rose

Name & Position	How to spot us...
Sarah Brown - (Joint) Team Coordinator & Press Officer I started riding aged 7 when my mum got sick of me nagging her about it! My first horse followed a few years later, a two year old welsh D, not exactly an ideal first horse for an 11 year old! Luckily we made a pretty good team and went through PC together and on to RC, competing in all team events. He also gave me my first taste of affiliated eventing and was successful at county level working hunter. He was a true all-rounder who could turn his hoof to everything, normally with great success. 16 years on he is still with me and is on loan to another RC member who is continuing to have great fun on him. I bought my ‘big’ horse in 2005 and he is the one you will normally see my out and about on, he is also the reason I joined PDRC 2 years ago! Jake was a rather challenging project but one thing you will find out about me when you get to know me is that I'm rather stubborn and don’t give up without a fight! I joined PDRC to take advantage of their winter dressage series as Jake liked to do his best rodeo horse impression in a dressage arena. It worked, and I went from having a horse who had never been placed at dressage (and unsurprisingly so!) to winning at Prelim and then Novice, and more surprisingly 18months later winning our first Elementary! I currently participate in both SJ and eventing teams for the club and we have just completed our first season BE. I am immensely proud of my big lad and don’t regret the blood, sweat and tears (and I mean that literally!) that turned him into the horse he is today. I joined the committee this year and have just taken over the reins as team co-ordinator, so if you would like to be part of a team then please get in touch. We are a very friendly bunch and try to cater for horses and riders of all levels and abilities and everyone is encouraged to give it a go. I can normally be found on a 16hh coloured being almost jumped out the saddle, do come and say hello, I don’t bite! Email: Teams
Jan Currie - Secretary I moved to Biggar in 2000when we acquired the Biggar pharmacies. Being surrounded by countryside revived my childhood dream of riding and owning a horse. I worked up the courage to start lessons in 2002, bought my first pony Orla in 2004 and joined PDRC. Upgraded to a 16hh horse (Quinn) in 2004 . An interesting couple of years followed... I knew virtually nothing but volunteered for the Novice Area showjumping team when someone pulled out at the last moment. Ignorance is bliss! Sadly had one too many unscheduled departures off Quinn and now have a lovely cheeky 15hh TB cross called Connor who is slightly accident prone (understatement of the year) and I'm hoping to start riding club activities again in 2009 after 1 year off with tendon damage. I Joined the committee in 2006 and became membership secretary. Have added secretary to my duties this year. It is great to be a part of such a dynamic, friendly, forward looking club. I have met so many nice people who have helped me develop as a rider and taught me how to care for my horse. And I really really love my life! Email: Membership
Liz Fletcher - Helpers coordinator l cannot remember how long l have been a riding club member - it must be a long time! l enjoy all sorts of activities the riding club put on. l have been on pleasure rides, tresure hunts as well as the competiton events, usually at novice level. The horse l most often ride is Annie who, generally is like the rider and has a go at most things! l bred her myself and foaled her so l get a great kick out of her doing well on occasions. l dont have a particular job on the comittee but please ask if there is anything you would like mentioned at committee level.
Sandra Lamb - Dressage Entries I have been a member of PDRC for around 10 years and have spent a fair bit of that time on the committee. I am also secretary for Area 1 and Riding Clubs in Scotland, both of these jobs take up a fair bit of time but it means that Peebles RC is kept pretty well informed. I used to be a regesterd nurse and in the summer of 2008 I was approached by the equine dept of Clyde Veterinary Practice and asked if I would like a job. Safe to say, I jumped at the chance. I love my job, it is interesting, rewarding, fascinating but also sometimes a bit sad. I have two horses, Penny who is around 20 and is just hacking around gently, and Toad who is six - he loves himself and I think of him as the Robbie Williams of the horse world. In my limited spare time I play in a Samba drumming band which is great fun, we can often be seen gigin' at Galas and marches.
Louise Leaney - (Joint) Team Coordinator I have always loved horses and although I had lessons at riding schools as a child, I never had the opportunity of having my own pony, so it was always a dream of mine to do it one day – I just had to wait a bit longer than I had hoped! As this was to be my first horse I wanted to be sensible, I started looking for an older been-there, done-that native type that could ease me into horse-ownership gently – oops! I came home with Fresco; a 4 yr old, 14hh (on tippy-toes), very green, extremely fat and furry young man who took off with me and threw 2 other people off when I went to try him – I don’t know what it was but I did what I would have told anyone else that they were crazy to do and bought him anyway! I still smile when I remember the look of shock on his then owner's face! 3 years later and I wouldn’t change my stubborn, opinionated, suspicious, cheeky, often cowardly but ultimately sweet and giving little pony for anything. We have been through a lot, there have been tears, there have been tantrums but he has taught me an incredible amount and we are moving onwards and upwards. We are hoping for a little bit of dressage glory and to keep working on our jumping prowess but at the end of the day to just keep enjoying ourselves, improving in our own way and staying fit and healthy. We enjoy taking part in all kinds of riding club activities and it has given us the opportunity to try our hand at a number of new things in a friendly and encouraging atmosphere – hopefully the club can do the same for others. You can generally find us trying to give the ‘big boys’ a run for their money in the dressage arena or, in my case at least, looking very scared around show jumps! Please do come and say hello... Email: Teams
Helen MacNeil - Training Coordinator (Dressage & Cross-Country) We moved to West Linton on a glorious hot dry day in the summer of 2006 and finally achieved a long time dream of having horses at home! Although I've been riding since I was 10 years old, I was never actually lucky enough to have a pony or horse of my own until 2001. Usually can be spotted riding one of the greys - Rocky (aka the great muddy one) or Mack (aka the rug thug) and challenging to be one of the brightest, most visible riders about with my bright yellow fluorescent jacket! I love getting out there and doing different things and going to new places. Always on the look out for new rides, so please send me an email, if you have a favourite hack and would like some company! Likewise, if you are new to the area/club or just wishing to explore round West Linton, let me know and I can show you some of the rides! Email: Training
Justin MacNeil - Webmaster I work as a Computing Officer for the University of Edinburgh, when I'm not running around after Rocky and Mack, our two overly large greys... I've been riding off and on since I was a student at University - initially just lessons at riding schools, but we've had our own horses for the last few years. Initially just Rocky, shared between Helen and myself, but now Mack as well. We moved to West Linton and joined PDRC in July 2006. I don't tend to compete much - usually I leave that to Helen! Though I did finally join in on a couple of PDRC team outings in 2008. Email: Website
Kirsten McPhillips - Chairperson I have been riding since the age of 3 due to my dad's encouragement which I remind him of regularly. I have been breeding horses for approx 15 years now, originally Irish Draught crosses progressoing onto Holstein crosses more recently which gives me great pleasure progressing them through the stages and seeing them improve. Today I have 4 horses, with the two I compete being homebred, Cracker (A Bit on the Side), I.D. x T.B. and Guinness (Pure Genius), Hol x T.B. British eventing as well as at any riding club shows which I enjoy immensely although I am not sure sometimes where I find my time to fit everything in but I do it somehow. I have been part of PDRC since 1997 where I have been involved in all activities and joined the committee in 1999. Previoulsy I was team co-ordinator for approx 7 years as well as organising Andrew Hamilton lessons and anything else as and when required however I have now taken the plunge into the 'hot seat' of Chairperson! PDRC is a friendly and active club that likes to encourage new and existing members to participate in our ridden and social events. But if you don't give it a go you will never know what you are missing! You will spot me at the shows normally on a green tinted grey!! Email: Kirsten
Lyn Miller - Rosettes, cups & points coordinator I received a course of six riding lessons for my 11^th birthday and have never looked back. I have worked and trained with horses for the past twenty years including training with the Bartles at the Yorkshire Riding Centre and Gleneagles where along the way I passed my BHSII and Stable Managers exam. My main love is eventing and I have a young horse at the moment which I am bringing on. I also enjoy teaching at all levels and run my own livery yard from home. I have been in the riding club for seven years and this is my third year on committee. I am the trainer for the Club's "Fledglings" training sessions for those just getting (re)started at Dressage and/or Jumping. I have been involved in various riding club teams and activities over the years and hope to contribute to the smooth running of the club.
Kathryn Muir Another somewhat enigmatic member of the committee who hasn't yet provided any information about herself for public consumption.
Lisa Mullen - Vice Chairman, Showjumping Entries & Health and Safety Officer I have lived in the Biggar area for 10 years, joined the club in 2000 and have been a committee member since 2004. Hopefully you can recognize me and my horse Desmond from this photo. Being on the committee involves a measure of hard work and commitment and is made worthwhile when an event runs well and we are all enjoying ourselves. My attitude to horsemanship is that it should be fun for human and equine and that we should all aim to do the very best for these animals we are privileged to care for (oh, and not worry so much about the mortgage repayments). PDRC is a strong and successful club but please let us know if we are not catering for your interests. See you around and about - I'll be the one on the cheeky, bright orange horse crying over my Dressage score. Email: Lisa
Arran Waddell - Treasurer I have been involved with horses all my life, having been brought up at Mount Lothian farm, which at one point grazed 300 horses destined for Penicuick slaughter house. My first pony was called black beauty. I had various other ponies as a member of Dalkieth pony club. I have bred and competed on thoughbreds for many years because they are intellegent, bold and loyal, and am a great fan of national hunt racing. I joined Peebles and District club about 15 years ago because I wanted to compete again after having my family. At my first AGM I was appointed treasurer and somehow I still am. I enjoy the club's social scene, training lessons and competitions, and also enjoy showing some of the younger members I am not knackered yet!

If you are interested in becoming a committee member or even becoming more involved in the club please do not hesitate to contact one of us as per the above links.