As members of Area 3 we have a lot to be thankful for. In the past 15 years we've seen interest in western riding grow and have enjoyed opportunities to attend a lot more events, some virtually on our door-step. Area 3 was also strongly represented at the 2009 WES National Championships and we're delighted that Devon riders Jeanette Jones and Judith Hubbard did us proud. So why this group?

Well it's pretty simple; we believe that it's essential for us to have access to top-class training and to be able to enjoy our sport in a friendly, supportive environment.  Most importantly, we want to do more to help those who are genuinely committed to our sport to become better horsemen and women. That takes effort, and we encourage all of you out there who really want to make that commitment to join us!

The group is run by three staunch supporters of WES, Judith Hubbard, Judy Jones and Andrea Ware. We all live in a small, very rural, village about 8 miles from Okehampton and each of us has been involved in western riding for many years.  We thought it would be helpful to include brief profiles so you can get an idea of what motivates us.

Judith Hubbard is a WES Approved Instructor and Judge. She is also a qualifed WES Event Manager. During 2010 Judith is taking a break from teaching so she can focus on producing her three young competition horses Forest Jac (aged 5),Song's Bright Spark (aged 4) and Skip 'n Dazzle (aged 3).

Judith has competed at national level since 1995, winning numerous hi-points and championships on several horses including her own anglo-Arab mare Blue Savannah. She is perhaps best know for her partnership with the beautiful Arabian stallion African Sky, with whom she won numerous national titles. More recently she and Forest Jac enjoyed a very successful 2009 WES National Championship Show where they were placed consistently and won the Open Horsemanship class. This was a remarkable achievement on such a young horse, as Forest Jac was 4 at the time and was competing in Championship and Open classes. At just 14 hands he was also the smallest horse there!

For 2009 Judith also achieved the WES reserve National Hi-Point in Open Horsemanship, and was runner-up to our good friend Chrissie Mayhew.

Those of you who read the Equine Canine & Country Life magazine will recognise Judith as the western correspondent. Forest Jac's stable name is"Woody" - he's the young horse featured in "Woody's Diary".

Judy Jones has been involved with western riding since 1995 and is a former Area 3 Representative. Judy rides western on her coloured cob Megan and is a big fan of the western lifestyle, but has absolutely no interest in competing - she'd rather hang out with friends and chat! In 2001 Judy received her Montana Silversmiths belt buckle under the WES Trail Award Scheme for riding 150 hours in a western saddle.

Judy sits on the Council of the Western Equestrian Society as Publicity Officer.  She's a qualified WES Event Manager and has a track-record of organising very successful shows, camps and clinics throughout the south west. We know she has a real job as a management consultant, but to be honest none of us understands exactly what it is!

An avid supporter of Area 3, Judy designed and built the Area 3 website and also this one, so we try not to upset her or she'll post the most un-flattering pictures she can find.... oh and yes, she's the one you'll see at events taking loads of pictures and videos which could one day end up on these pages. Because she has a degree in English she fancies herself as a bit of a journalist and has had various articles published, including an interview with Monty Roberts published in Equestrian Now which - so Dan Wilson tells us - Monty really liked!

Andrea Ware has been involved in western riding since 2000, and has competed successfully on her pony Toby, who just about everyone in Devon's western community knows and loves! With Toby she has won numerous hi-points and also the Western Performance Pony Association (WPPA) Pony of the Year award.  In 2008 Andrea took Toby to the WES National Championships. They had a geat time!

Andrea also owns a 3 year old quarter horse affectionately known as Anni. Anni was bred in Devon and has already been shown in hand, doing very well in breed classes. She'll continue her training in 2010.

In addition to working with Judy and Judith to organise training events during 2010, Andrea has kindly offered to host some social events at her home, for which we are very grateful.  We can guarantee a very relaxed atmosphere, but be warned - don't drink the sloe gin - Andrea makes the best in Devon, it goes down very easily but boy does it have a kick!

So, that's a bit about us. We hope you'll think of us as a support network at local level, but don't forget that the main Area 3 site provides much more news and information and a link to the National site. In the meantime, if you want to contact us directly please use the Guestbook  and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.