and a challenge for members attending the AGM!!   and I don't mean getting down the M5 or along the M4.

I am sure we all have a vision of  'Donkey Life' - which is the title given to a competition to be staged at the AGM.  
It could be one photograph or a series of photographs of your donkey or a donkey you have seen; a tapestry portraying donkey life,  a painting, collage or model or maybe even a donkey project in a folder, or for those cooks amongst us, a donkey cake, or gingerdonkey biscuits !! and those are just a few ideas, I am sure there are many more, and so much easier to accomplish than having to hitch up a trailer and clean bridles.
Whatever your chosen medium, bring your interpretation of 'Donkey Life' it with you on the Saturday morning and enter it into the competition to be judged during the lunch break.

The web site has been given a major update to change not only its appearance but also to make it simpler to navigate your way around the information it conveys.

One of the major changes has been to the Photo Gallery which has made the viewing of the photographs easier and at the same time making a great improvement in the quality of them. We would appreciate it if members could send in any photos that they have taken at any Donkey Events this year so that we can include them in the Gallery and keep it fresh and interesting.

It would also be helpful the the photos were accompanied with information as to where the photos were taken and if at all possible who is on them so we can include this information in the captions. Each photograph should be sent on a size of around 1280x1024 "pixels" or a little larger preferably in "JPG" format.

If the file is less than this the photo can lose a lot of its quality when it is uploaded onto the web site. Much larger images can be uploaded, but would not be seen - unless the "viewer" explicity elects to do so and they will take MUCH more time for both you and us to upload!

Could you please send the photos to photoeditor@donkeybreedsociety.co.uk

We would also like news of what is going on in the Regions and Areas so that we can update this section of the site.   As some of you have done previously when organising an event please let us know, when, where and how much and details will be posted on the appropriate regional page as well as the events calendar.   Please submit these to info@donkeybreedsociety.co.uk

I am sure that there isn't anyone out there unaware that all new passport applications have to be preceded by microchipping of the donkey or horse.

Microchip insertion is considered an intrusive procedure and may only be carried out by a veterinary surgeon; he or she has to sign your application form to confirm that they have first scanned for any existing microchip and then to record the electronic code that has been transmitted from either that existing chip or a newly inserted one. This same information must then be added to the silhouette section the location of the microchip marked and the page signed where indicated, this will be scanned and form part of the passport document.

It is therefore imperative that you have sufficient application forms available at the time of the vets' visit if only to avoid trekking to his surgery with them after the event.

Application forms for both donkeys and horses and instructions as to how they should be completed are available as downloads from this site or if you have any difficulty accessing them, by email request: info@donkeybreedsociety.co.uk

Could you supply some colostrum stripped from a donkey mare within 24 hours of her own foal being born? The colostrum is urgently needed to supply vital antibodies to a foal due shortly whose own mother will be unable to feed him or her for medical reasons. If so please email: registrar@donkeybreedsociety.co.uk

UPDATE

Sadly Lady the donkey mare had to be put to sleep she went down and in spite of efforts of everyone including the local fire service she could not be got up. The vets decided that she had gone through enough and decided that the kindest thing was to put her to put her to sleep.

Pam Moon the Area Welfare Officer for the Donkey Sanctuary who was dealing with the problem would like to thank every one who gave their help and support and the colostrum that one of our members supplied will remain frozen just in case the need should ever arise again

The show, which was held at Moreton Morrell Centre, Warwickshire on 22nd / 23rd August, was a huge success. This was our first time at this new venue, and whilst there are a few 'wrinkles' to be ironed out, on the whole, we enjoyed oursleves and things ran pretty smoothly.
 Congratulations to our Supreme Inhand Champion, the 4 year old stallion 'Gamlingay the Alchemist'.  Big Al - as he is known at home - is owned by Ann Hunt of the Perehill Stud in Surrey. He was bred by Janet Lee, of the Gamlingay Stud in Bedfordshire. Ann had an amazing weekend as she also took the Inhand Reserve Supreme title with her home bred yearling colt, Perehill Mitch.
The Supreme Driving Champion was JIll Oliver from Essex with her skewbald stallion Mixandmatch and the Reserve was taken by Debbie Street driving her team (Hapgood, Rosencrantz, Guildenstern and Arcadia).

Driving Novice Champion was Peter Hill driving a pair of stallions, his own Wooster and David Capps' Jeeves

•  The Sunday Points Champion was Jade Weaver.
•  Junior Young Handler Champion was Phillip Moon, Reserve Rochelle Blakeman.
•  Our Champion Young Rider was Tamsin Dunstan with Reserve Opal Weaver.

There was a tremendous fun atmosphere with exhibitors old and new and of all ages thoroughly enjoying themselves. It was great to see so many people attending their first Championship Show and hopefully they enjoyed themselves so much they will come again next year.

Many thanks to the judges, stewards, show office staff, photographer, medical officer, show committee and all the other people who helped make this such a great weekend.

See you all in 2010!

CLICK HERE FOR FULL RESULT DETAILS

STOP PRESS PHOTOS ARE  NOW ON THE GALLERY PAGE CLICK HERE