Before sharing the news from the last two months please note that new dates have been added to the calendar so get them in your diaries and get training for the Autumn league, Dressage day and the Spring league. Also polish up your dancing shoes ready for the Annual Inter Club Christmas dinner dance in December at the Silver Tassie
October is a busy month with the final of the league the start of the Autumn league and our first dressage day! in between that there’s an opportunity to take a break from jumping and dressage and spend the weekend at Gordons Bay hacking and having the craic. Please let Marina know as soon as you can if you would like to go. She can be contacted on 00353 86 8216335
SEPTEMBER
The second and third leg of the league took place at Mona and Charles and then at Gordons Bay. There were two very well laid out courses with enough challenge to keep every one on their hooves. Both days went very smoothly which is down to good planning and club members helping. Special thanks all those non riders from our own club and other clubs who helped out this weekend, Enda Cormac Kerrie Anne, Lawrence, Marina, Maura, Paddy, Rachel Shauna and friend Shauna Daly, Chloe and Brandon.Thanks also to Patricia for judging the dressage. Finally thanks to all the riders who took part even though we had to make a change of date at short notice. Marina and Francis continue to battle it out. Full information on scores can be found on our Face Book page but Marina has 6 points and Francis is on 18 which actually has him leading but its all to play for at the final as your best three results count.
And now we meet our first horse of the month
JIGALO…… who was seen in August competing at the Dublin Horse Show in the race horse to riding horse. Here’s his story told by owner Shauna Boyle
“I first met Jigalo when he arrived at the yard in the summer of 2015. At that time I was retraining another ex racer to riding horse who went by the name Jawad, who unfortunately at that time was injured. The ‘yard lit’ up when Jigs was unloaded off the truck. I was totally unaware that Jigalo and Jawad were not only owned perviously by the same syndicate they were also trained by the same trainer and had been together from yearlings but had been apart for 6 years. it was super to see them reunite! Although they did have to be moved to separate paddock as they were too attached to one another they are best buds yet again.
Since arriving Jigalo has tried his hand at every thing but his preferred discipline is mot definitely hunter trials. these seem to being him back to his racing and chasing days where he has many 1st placings knocking up nearly One Hundred Thousand Euros in prize money. in 2016 he won the AIRC Advanced Intermediate hunter trial championships! We failed to regain this years title as unfortunately we were way too fast!
Currently he is Champion Race Horse to Riding Horse in Donegal. He is now to make his debut in show jumping circuit very soon. He took a few days off after his appearance at the Dublin Horse Show having thoroughly enjoyed his very enthusiastic gallop around the main ring”.
So look out for Jigalo at the next autumn league.
AUGUST
CLUB MEMBER TANYA TIES THE KNOT
The club wish Tanya and Mark a very long and happy marriage
Enda and Tanya enjoy a wee catch up, hopefully it wont be long before we see them both back in the saddle.
DAMIEN GOES RODEO
The club would like to wish Damien a speedy recovery and hope that we will see him back in the saddle too. Mean while in order to avoid becoming a Judge Judy fan and a regular member of Jeremy Kyle show audiences he is hoping to start horse shoe crafting for Christmas. So any suggestions or ideas on what he can create please pass onto him. He is also looking to start a stall at Oakfield Park so clever or witty name suggestions for the stall would also be well received.
On that note the club would also like to wish Pauric’s daughter Beth a speedy recovery and hope that she is soon well and back on the horses.
Letterkenny Riding Club 