News - Hodgemoor Woods

Dressage results 7 December 2025

22nd December 202522nd December 2025Marcus Bicknell

For those of you who competed at the successful fund-raising dressage at Windmill Farm on 7 December, there is an added incentive to come to this 28 December event too… the prospect of winning the Golden Horse statuette for the champion across both events. The judges, the HRA Secretary and Chairman will discern the winner on the basis of marks, achievement compared to previous, youth, Christmas dressing-up and entertainment value. Anyone entering both events gets a special rosette. Geoff’s widow Deborah and daughter Sophie will be there on Dec 28 and have agreed Geoff’s grand-daughters will make the presentation... ten minutes after the last test. As Geoff would have liked, this will be a festive occasion, with mulled wine and other goodies and no doubt some impressive Christmas gear from entrants.
This is an open event, not just for Hodgemoor members, and there is parking for boxes and trailers available. Tests are Intro 1, Prelim 1, Novice 1 and PYO Novice 1 or Elementary 2. We can accept lead rein entries for Intro 1 (HC) even though it is not marked on the entry form. So before Christmas preparations take over, please get your entries in at https://hodgemoor.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/schedule_dressage_waylands_28_december_2025.docx

https://hodgemoor.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/Dressage-7Dec2025-results.xlsx

The Association’s AGM 2025

15th November 202516th November 2025Marcus Bicknell

We had a very productive meeting on Wednesday 12th November with about 30 members present.

Read the minutes at https://hodgemoor.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/agm2025.pdf

The meeting opened with an excellent talk by Ruth Dunkin, Head of Community & Events at Thames Valley Air Ambulance. What makes their rescue service different from the NHS is their highly equipped helicopters and road ambulances bring an A&E capacity to the location itself. Time is of the essence, with heart attacks being the most frequent call out. CPR, or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, is a life-saving emergency
procedure that involves chest compressions (and, for trained individuals, rescue breaths) to keep blood flowing and oxygen moving through the body when a person’s heart and breathing have stopped. If you encounter an unresponsive person who is not breathing normally, immediately call emergency services (999 or 112), and then begin CPR, which includes hands-only compressions for untrained rescuers. We have put the map of defibrillators closest to Hodgemoor on the last page of these minutes.

Support the Thames Valley Ambulance with their lottery https://www.tvairambulance.org.uk/support-us/lottery/

Having had a few moments of silence at the opening of the AGM to give some thoughts for Geoff Gudgion, our friend and long-time Treasurer who died of cancer on 3rd August, we made two decisions:
a) A proposal to name a trail or entrance after Geoff Gudgion was fully supported. It was decided that “Geoff’s Jolly” for the Western Bridleway was the best, as Geoff used to love having a good old canter up it!
b) A bench in memory of Geoff was also discussed. The committee will progress on alternatives, maybe in the raw-hewn style of Frank Everest’s at Waylands.

We urge members to have a look through the useful topics in the minutes and to plan on coming next year.

Christmas Dressage at Waylands 28 Dec 2025

23rd October 202522nd December 2025Marcus Bicknell

Hodgemoor Riding Association

In memory of Geoff Gudgion, who was based at Waylands with his horse Ida.

A Between-Christmas-and-New-Year Dressage

Waylands Equestrian Centre, Indoor Arena, Seer Green HP9 2RQ

Sunday 28 December 2025, from 9.30

Download your entry form in MS Word here: schedule_dressage_waylands_28_december_2025

Download your entry form in jpeg here, details on the first page. You need the second page to fill out your entry:

https://hodgemoor.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/schedule_dressage_waylands_28_december_2025_page_1-scaled.jpg

https://hodgemoor.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/schedule_dressage_waylands_28_december_2025_page_2-scaled.jpg

Prizes for best Xmas or New Year’s Eve outfits! Photos will be taken on the day of any outfits (horse or rider or both) and posted on the Hodgemoor Facebook page. Prizes will be awarded on the number of Likes after a week and the judge’s assessment. However, dressing up is not obligatory, just correct dressage attire is fine. Mulled wine. Special Rosette and gift for those who take part and also at the Hodgemoor Dressage at Windmill Farm on 7 December (for which the entry procedure is via MyRidingLife.com not Susie, see poster below).

Class 1: Intro 1
Class 2: Prelim 1
Class 3: Novice 1
Class 4: PYO Novice 2 or Elementary 2

Young riders (two age groups; 11 years and under; 12 to 16 years on the day of the event) will be classified with the adults and also judged separately, so give your age on the entry form. Cost: £15 per class, £20 if you are not a member of the Hodgemoor Riding Association. Entries close: 8 p.m. Wednesday 24th December (extended by one day on 22nd December). Numbers will be limited.

Download your entry form here: schedule_dressage_waylands_28_december_2025

CHRISTMAS CHAMPION. This solid gold / Cartier jewel-encrusted / much loved / previously owned / life size / patina of ages (delete whichever inapplicable) horse trophy will be awarded by the Secretary and Chairman to the champion across the two events. Criteria considered will be marks, achievement compared to previous, youth, Christmas dressing-up and entertainment value.

STOP PRESS 7 December: We are delighted to announce that Geoff’s family, led by granddaughter Ruby, will make the presentation at the end of the dressage tests on Sunday 28 December at Waylands probably at 2pm, to be confirmed, and we express our thanks to them

Hodgemoor and e-Bikes – paper for the AGM 12 November

19th October 2025Marcus Bicknell

The Hodgemoor Riding Association was made aware in May 2025 of the recent policy decision of Forestry England to permit e-bikes on their land. They say on their web site “Forestry England generally welcomes e-bikes on their designated trails, provided they are road legal and not modified. This means they must comply with the UK’s Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycle (EAPC) regulations, including a 250w output, 15.5mph motor cut-off, and pedal-assist only. Electric motorbikes, which are more powerful and lack pedals, are not permitted” and “These must be road legal and not modified. Visitors cannot use e-scooters as they are illegal (except on private land or as part of formal government trial).”

The opinion of any sane-minded user of woodland, whether or not a nature-lover, would be against allowing any two-wheeled visitors going even faster than pedal bikes now or allowing any two-wheeler with a motor. E-bikes are in distinguishable from motorbikes of a similar power, for danger to walker, danger to horses, disruption to wildlife, damage to path surfaces and for riding off the surfaced trails. Hodgemoor is in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest. In our study document we have given twelve reasons why e-bikes should not be allowed in Hodgemoor Woods and the paper can be downloaded and consulted at e-bikes_study_doc_28jul2025

The issues are complex, especially the distinction in law between ePacs and higher-powered e-bikes, and we would not be able to enter into a meaningful debate in full meeting of the AGM of the Hodgemoor Riding Association on 12 November 2025. However, your committee would like you to approve the provisional approach we propose to make in the paper. We urge those of you who are interested to download and read the paper then to express and difference or new information before 10th November by email marcus@bicknell.com or WhatsApp 07748111444 to the Chairman. This enables the committee to assess any input provided and to summarise that at the AGM. A favorable vote on the principles will be enough for us to take the matter forward as described at the end of the paper.

With thanks for your understanding and looking forward to your input.

Geoff Gudgion – his life

3rd October 20253rd October 2025Marcus Bicknell

We thought you might like to read more about Geoffrey’s life, in fact several in the riding and writing communities have asked to know more.

I cooperated with Geoff’s family, Cambridge friends from 50 years ago and more recent writing friends to bring together details of his terrific life which will interest you. This is not so much an obituary as an account of his life which serves as a long-lasting online tribute to a good friend of Hodgemoor, the community and those who knew him.

With thanks to James Gudgion for coordinating the family’s input; to Graham Wiltshire, James Wrigley and Charles Style for inputting from the perspective of Geoff’s Cambridge friends; and to writing friend Clare Christian clare166@gmail.com www.clarechristian.co.uk

The account of Geoff’s life… click on https://hodgemoor.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/Geoffrey-Nigel-Gudgion-his-life.pdf

Geoff’s funeral, order of service… https://hodgemoor.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/Geoffrey_Gudgion_order_of_service_8Sept2025-1.pdf

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Visit the Roman Road in Hodgemoor 27 July

4th June 2025Marcus Bicknell

Those of you who attended Nigel Rothwell’s talk in Seer Green on the Roman Road between Verulamium (St Albans) and Silchester in April may be interested to know that he will be leading walks around Hodgemoor Woods, including visiting the road, on 27th July. This is part of the Council for British Archaeology’s Festival of Archaeology and is in conjunction with the Buckinghamshire Archaeological Society. Booking is essential as the number of attendees is restricted. However, the walks are open to the public and can be booked either from the Festival website at https://www.archaeologyuk.org/festival/festival-event-listing/hodgemoor-woods-heritage-and-wellbeing-walk.html, or directly with Buckinghamshire Archaeological Society at https://bas1.org.uk/bas-outings-july-2025. There is a small charge for non-BAS members of £5 – cash or card (assuming the technology doesn’t let us down).

The walks are 3.5 km and 3 hours, on woodland paths. All information is also all provided at the Festival booking site.

E-bikes not allowed in Hodgemoor

19th May 2025Marcus Bicknell

Further to recent incidents in Hodgemoor Woods and enquiries from members of the public, we publish here the law which prohibits e-bikes in these Woods.

Section 34 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 (as amended by Schedule 7 Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000) states that it is illegal to ride or drive a motor vehicle on common land, moorland, Forestry Commission land or any land that is not forming part of a road without authorisation. There are a range of penalties available including heavy fines, and the power to confiscate vehicles and bikes which are used off-road in a manner which causes ‘alarm, distress and annoyance’ in s59 and s60 of the Police Reform Act 2002.

This applies on Forestry England land whether the bike is an ‘electrically assisted pedal cycle’ (EAPC) or not. Users of e-bikes are reminded that you must know the specification of your e-bike and whether it is an EAPC or not before setting out anywhere, including roads and pavements. Not certain? Check it out. Until the new bill comes out classifying e-bikes as motor vehicles for all legal purposes, the follow is the definition of an EAPC:

An EAPC (electrically assisted pedal cycle’ (EAPC)

must have pedals that can be used to propel it
can have more than 2 wheels, for example a tricycle
It can be propelled up to 15.5mph without pedalling but only if it’s been approved.
must have an electric motor with a ‘continuous rated power’ output of no more than 250 watts and
which must not be able to propel the bike at more than 15.5 miles per hour (mph)

Hodgemoor donation to Thames Valley Air Ambulance

15th May 202515th May 2025Marcus Bicknell

On Saturday 10th May the Thames Valley Air Ambulance, at their Stokenchurch HQ open day, received a donation for £500 from the Hodgemoor Riding Association, Frank Everest, Susie and Marcus Bicknell. Our photo shows, Nicola Bishop (Community Fundraising Manager) and Ruth Dunkin (Head of Community & Events) of the Thames Valley Air Ambulance with Marcus Bicknell (chairman) and Susie Bicknell (secretary) of the Hodgemoor Riding Association. £300 of the donation was from Frank Everest whose fee for maintenance work in Hodgemoor Woods he wanted to give to charity. Frank at Waylands Equestrian is a great support to the riding community. £200 was from Susie and Marcus.

We can strongly recommend you attend one of the open days of the Thames Valley Air Ambulance (Open Days 15 Aug & 12 Dec https://www.tvairambulance.org.uk/hq-open-days) where you can get to understand the extraordinarily high medical skills deployed by the organisation across Berkshire Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire on an average 9 times a day by helicopter and by car. Their objective and specialisation now is to co complete as much treatment as possible on the scene of the incident including surgical operations, setting wound fractures and administrating advanced drugs. Of their 3000 interventions per year 65 are equestrian related. We horse riders remain grateful for the knowledge that they can come to help if required.

The charity is totally funded by the community it serves, receiving no government or lottery funding – there are lots of way you can support from making a donation, taking part in an event or even leaving a gift in your will. In addition volunteering is a huge help to the charity, whether as a one-off or more regularly. The team would love to hear from you to discuss any of the above further and can be reached via fundraising@tvairambulance.org.uk

The Hodgemoor Riding Association has raised over £300,000 since 2000 to encourage horse-riders away from busy traffic and into the woods and horse trails in the Seer Green, Jordans and Chalfont area. www.hodgemoor.org.uk

Look at the media release or forward it in pdf: Thames Valley Air Ambulance Hodgemoor donation 10May2025

Philipshill Wood – an interesting hack from Chalfont St Giles

5th May 20255th May 2025Marcus Bicknell

Long leisurely hack to in the cool of Monday…. Two hours including the roadwork from the top of St Giles, through the village and up the other side on the Chorleywood road.

Philipshill Wood is delightful, nice clear bridle ways and a loop at the end round the fields. About 40 mins off road. Recommended for any quiet rider with a quiet horse. Not too much traffic today.