** General Info **

Please can we remind all members that if you bring your dogs to WDRC events, they must be restrained on a lead at all times; alternatively, please ensure that they are securely shut in your vehicle (be it car, trailer or lorry!)

May we remind everyone that there is no fresh water supply available at the Club Field, therefore anyone attending events is advised to bring their own water (& buckets) with them

If you are planning to enter on the day, it would be hugely appreciated if you could try to bring the correct money with you. Organisers do bring a float with assorted change, but when everyone appears with £20 notes, it doesn’t take long for that change to disappear! I know it’s a pain lugging the coins along with you – but I suppose the other alternative could be that all entry fees go up to a round £10 per class, just to make life easier! Seriously though, if you could all appear rattling your piggy banks when you make late entries, it would be a great help…

MEMBERSHIP NUMBERS Please remember to bring your new competitors numbers to all events this year (Open and Club) as they will need to be produced to the event Secretary to prove current membership. Without your number you will not be allowed to enter Club events on the day and will have to enter Open events as a non-member.

This is an email from a fellow horse owner.

I had a horse die this week of EAM equine atypical Myopathy. I had not even heard of it. In this mild weather a bacteria has been growing on grass particularly on wet ground and under trees. Mostly young (but not always hence atypical) horses up to 3 can get it that are out on grass 24/7.

If you bring them in at night and feed hay, the toxins don't build up and they are safe.

The symptons are a horse ties up at the back end and is usually found on the ground immobile but oddly still wanting to eat. Laboured breathing, sweating and inability to pass urine but when a cathetar is placed it comes out dark muddy blood coloured.

There is only a 12% chance of survival and even then muscle damage and liver/kidney . Having been through the whole dissaster I would reccommend that a horse found with it is best shot as it really is hopeless, mine was 18months irish colt massive lad and strong and healthy and I thought he would make it - He lasted two days on a drip!

I have asked Blackmore vale to put a thing in the paper but it wont make this week. My ground isnt wet, there are a few leaves but not many but Berwick is a damp place. I have to say I am really gutted, as it is so easily prevented, I just didnt know.

Yours in sport,

Kirsty