Side Saddle Association

Lynn (Russell) phoned me up in 2001 and said to come round to see another cob just over fro m Ireland, I had already turned down about 3 and many others from ads etc.Buzz, then named Muggle, was a fairly slim chap as they normally arefrom Ireland, he had a virus or shipping fever and had snot pouring from his nose but the moment I saw him I fell in love with him and everything in me said ‘this is the one’Martin had returned to the car muttering ‘another wasted journey’He was surprised to know I had bought him but I knew he would be a super hw cob.Martin often says he remembers watching Buzz enter the NEC the first year he qualified for HOYS and thinking he had to eat his words about him not making a show horse.

He was a rebel to start with, the rest of 2001 was basically teaching him to go forwards instead of backwards!The first show in 2002 he stopped dead in the middle of the ring on changing rein and refused to move .Lynn said to me afterwards bring him up for a lesson.This I did at the beginning of the next week, he did it again with me and Lynn told me to smack him not tickle him!Lynn got on and very bravely or stupidly, which ever way you see it, on being smacked he turned his head around to look at Lynn and told her to …. Off.Lynn said no horse told her to …. Off and said go home this horse needs borstal.Just over a week later Buzz came home a different horse, looking bonny and I would like to thank Lynn for her help.He tried it on with me one more time and I followed Lynn’s instructions and this time when he looked around at me he had a smile on his face which said ‘nice one mum, you’re good enough to ride me now.’He never gave me another moments trouble, he was the consummate professional and he made you feel so safe, you knew he was taking care of you.The late dear Dennis Fisher said to me in the side saddle class at South of England one year ‘Buzz is priceless, he took you round the ring as if you were Dresden china and he is doing the same with the judge, you cannot buy a temperament like that, he is worth his weight in gold.’

2002 was successful but short lived as he developed a splint so was laid off for rest of season.A few of his achievements were Novice Champion of South of England

2003. He also qualified for RIHS (8^th in HW) and HOYSPoints champion in Novice, Open and H.P. and overall supreme.3^rd
Nat Nov behind Robert Walker and Lynn Russell.

2004 qual for RIHS and HOYS.O/R champion of R. Bath and West and Lincolnshire County.HW cob of Gt Britain Royal London Ch.

2006 changed to Maxi and won 9 out of 10 qualifiers entered.Also started side saddle and was in the ribbons at Windsor, South of England. 2^nd in his first Cob class at SSA Nationals.4^th RIHS.Maxi cob again of R.L. and res. Overall supreme.But I think our proudest moments werein

2007 & 2008 he was National S/S cob champion with S.S.A and again in the ribbons at Windsor and S of Eng. Qualifying each year for Maxi final.

2009 having qualified for all his classes I broke my leg so I asked Lynn to ride him at MaxiFinal at RIHS and he came 6^th out of 26.

2010qual for RIHS once again, in the ribbons at Windsor, S of E. side saddle,ending up with winning Maxi Cob ch. at Royal London for third time.He went out once this year to new equifest qualifier for Maxis and won his class.

I am very proud that all the qualifiers that he achieved were done by Buzz and I.It takes a talented horse to take an older amateur to the shows he did.He gave me 10 years of happiness, success, love and loyalty, he was a gentleman to care for, he made dreams come true.

Thank you Buzz, you were my horse of a lifetime.

I thought I would send you a photo or two of me braving the elements and ride the naughty Buzzlines Delikatesse to my recent wedding to Mr Timothy Roberts on the 30th March 2007. Although it was misty and drizzling all day - nothing was going to dampen our arrival. My father has just been diagnosed with cancer and we arranged for him to come to St Marys Church, Stelling, by pony and carriage. I was also escorted by Emily Kelland who had only been riding side-saddle for four weeks. Rebekah Marks-Hubbard kindly fitted a saddle to her horse and we all clubbed to gether and found a habit for her to wear.

My wedding dress was made by Carol Gillings, who has made all my other costume habits, which we wore when placed at the Royal International and at Windsor.

Deli and I are now competing at Advanced dressage and about to tackle our first PSG in May, because of this and her unfortunate habit of being disgustingly naughty, often only having one hoof on the ground, we have virtually stopped competing her in sidesaddle classes. However, we have a new horse in the pipelines who may be ready in time for the summer season.

Area 8 Members Win the The Pairs Class at the London Riding Horse Parade 2006
Sue Pashen riding Dashing Gold and Elizabeth Deen-Sly riding Buzzlines Delikatesse joined forces again to win the strongly contested pairs class. The pair only meet up once a year and it does help to have two horses which are madly 'in-love' with each other & stick together like glue. Dashing Gold known as 'Blue' to his friend & 'Deli' always meet under the chestnut trees in Rotton Row Hyde Park once a year (see picture). This year Elizabeth chose to ride astride & Sue was riding Side Saddle.. Even the heavy down pour could not take away the pleasure of winning a class in such a place.

This was the last Parade for organiser Ms Marilyn Hawley who is retiring after 21 years and she was given a presentation by the riders & helper & Judges.

This competition was revised in 1965 by the South London branch of the Pony Club with the support of the British Horse Society and is now a popular event for riders across the Southern England. It originally started in 1938 to raise the standard of turnout of riders on Rotton Row.

SSA Area 8 Dog Show
On 22nd of July, roving reporter Rowena Zelly was too busy yapping to take many pics and record results. However, she did say that there was a fab arena party coordinated by Martin, Keith, Dennis and others unnamed, for which she gave gratuitous thanks. There was a moment of inelgance with Tristan crawling through the tunnel but Rowena was laughing too much to photograph it for posterity. There was a sterling job done by Judge Vanessa Friar and her able Steward Tracy although said Steward did collapse into giggles when the call of nature came (from the dogs) followed by a quick rush for poo bags. It was also very lovely to have Mrs Harwood with us whose kindness allows us to hold this event.
As ever, super food by Renee and his team and the weather was a typical summers evening and despite the forecast we escaped the rain, well it doesn't rain on the righteous does it!!!

Lt Col Sir John Miller
It is with deep regret that we announce the death of Sir John on 17th May 2006; the Side Saddle Association has lost yet another stalwart supporter. Link to Guardian Obituary Monday May 22, 2006

Betty Skelton
The Side Saddle Association is sad to announce that the President of the Side Saddle Association, Betty Skelton passed away on 20th January 2006. Link to the Times Obituary January 28, 2006.

As in 2004, the weather in 2005 was unhelpfully hot for the competitors and the ground unhelpfully hard and lumpy, but this didn’t stop Emily Butterick and Bolgoed Newydd Zydni repeating their 2004 success and reversing the placings with Sam Boxall from the intermediate equitation championship at the National Side Saddle show a few weeks earlier. Five competitors came forward, which was disappointing, but the standard was very high.

The results of the class were as follows:
1. Emily Butterick -Bolgoed Newydd Zydni
2 Samantha Boxall - Parklands Piper
3. Ashley Rossitor - Dun and Dusted
4. Deborah Emery- Mundham Double Blue
5. Gabriella Ivey- Powder Pink

Area 8 member takes Supreme Championship at London Riding Horse Parade, August 2005

Side saddle Area 8 member and dressage champion Elizabeth Deen-Sly and Buzzlines Delikatesse have won the Supreme Championship title at the London Riding Horse Parade for the second time. She was presented with the Southern Equestrian Agency Perpetual Challenge Shield by parade director Marilyn Hawley. Elizabeth, an estate administrator at Lees Court Estate, Faversham, and Buzzlines Delikatesse, a Danish warmblood, first took the top title at the famous competition at Rotton Row, Hyde Park, in 2002.

Elizabeth, who lives at Stelling Minnis, said: "The London Riding Horse Parade was originally set up in 1938 to raise the standard of the turnout of riders on Rotten Row. The Row really is the birth place of leisure riding and was the place to be 'seen'. Its great to be able to have the chance to ride side saddle on the row and imagine it in its heyday".

Elizabeth went on to say "I was thrilled with Deli, as this was her first side-saddle outing since September last year after she managed to throw me whilst practising for the Area 8 dressage competition, I fell on my back and did quite a lot of damage as well as my confidence. It has taken a lot of time and courage to take up riding side-saddle again on her, thanks must go to my good friend Rebekah Marks Hubbard who persuaded me to try again with her".

The competition was revised in 1965 by the South London branch of the Pony Club with the support of the British Horse Society and is now a popular event for riders from across southern England. Ms Hawley said: "Elizabeth did very well and greatly impressed the panel of judges. It was an extremely good parade this year attracting 60 competitors and many spectators."

Liz also joined forces with Sue Pashen to take 2nd place in a strongly contested pairs competition held later in the day.

Elizabeth is sponsored by Buzzlines, the leading coach operator in the South East based at Lympne Industrial Park.