Rethink the Horse Tax
The "Rethink the Horse Tax" campaign, launched by a coalition of organisations representing a broad cross section of the UK horse industry, is calling on riders, breeders and veterinarians to make their voices heard by visiting a new campaign website "www.rethinkthehorsetax.org" and take action by writing to their constituency MPs and by signing an online petition to the Prime Minister. Under new plans, all horse owners would be charged (up to £100/horse per year) on the same basis as keepers of livestock farm animals. See the campaign website for further details.

RIDING & ROAD SAFETY
Lucy Lempriere is now a qualified BHS Riding & Road Safety Trainer. If anyone is interested in taking their R&RS test, please contact Lucy on 01403 730333.

CARAVAN !!! We are asking if any member would be prepared to lend or donate a caravan to the Riding Club to be used as a judges box at our major competitions. These would be the Hunter Trial, Horse Trials, and Summer Show. Our current caravan is getting overdue for its retirement and not worth repairing. We would take great care of any caravan lent to us and return it in good clean order. If you are able to help, pleae call Carol Porter on 01403 741355. Thank you.

SKILLS AT ARMS
Have you ever fancied having a go at tentpegging with sword or lance and other jousting skill? Why not give it a go at Ditchling Common Stud who will organise a special day for HDRC members. If interested, call Jo Radford-Smith on 07703 549780.

Our Bridleways Liaison Officer, Lucy Lempriere, will provide regular updates concerning all matters relevant to our district. To see the latest report, go to our RESULTS/REPORTS page.

EQUESTRIAN ROAD ACCIDENT STATISTICS AND REPORTING OF ACCIDENTS.
Dear All,
I hope that you have, and never will be, involved in a road accident with a horse, but please could you report any accidents/ near misses to the BHS & encourage other riders to do so. There is a report form available from the BHS webiste, see:- http://www.bhs.org.uk/content/accident-report-form.asp.
Mark Weston has just assembled the most recent accident figures reported to the BHS. They show accidents involving horses are reducing. eg. 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, accidents reported to the BHS were 269, 141, 117, 114, 91, 78, 96, respectively. This could be due to less reporting, inaccurate reporting, less road use by equestrians or be genuine. Road accident statisitics are valuable to argue for more off road access for equestrians. No accidents reported/occur, no need for more bridleways!
Janice Bridger, BHS Access & Bridleways officer for West Berkshire, BHS Access & Bridleways officer for Southern Region.

HELP WANTED.....
Happy Landings Carriage Driving Group for the Disabled urgently need help. They meet every Wednesday morning from April to October at Dunsfold, Surrey. If you would like to help, please ring Carol Porter on 01403 741355. No driving experience is neccesary but ability to ride a bike is an advantage!

POSTAGE
Could Members please note that due to the change in the postal system, it now costs 50p to send dressage sheets and rosettes, if you do not want to stay until the end of the class. If leaving an SAE with the organiser, please leave ENOUGH money. Thank you.