Photographic evidence of our recent expedition to Ecclesville is now up on the Prime Photography website. There was also a full report in Farm Week last week with a lovely photo of Tanya on Jack.
Perfect weather for hunting has resulted in some beautiful photographs from the Donegal Harriers meet at Porthall on Emerald Guitars’ Flickr site. Spot Leo and Grace in fine form!
This is the time of year when the horses’ coats really get thick and woolly. To Clip or Not To Clip? — this is the question posed and answered by Lorna Keogh on the Stable to Stable equestrian magazine website. It makes interesting reading and has plenty of common sense advice.
Deanes are running a registered dressage show in Bruckless on Sunday 28 November. Full details are available on the Dressage Ireland website. Further information from Alax at Deanes.
Thanks to the Donegal Gaeltachts for tracking down this link to Sunday’s hunting photos: Donegal Harriers | Maggies | 10 November 2009.
AIRC HQ have just published the dates for next year’s national championships:
Sunday 17 April – Hunter Trials Championships
Saturday 11 & Sunday 12 June – Riding Clubs Festival
Sunday 17 July – Show Jumping Championships
Sunday 7 August – Team Show Jumping Championship Final
Sunday 14 August – Dressage Championships
Sunday 21 September – Masters Series Final
Sunday 11 September – Horse Trials Championships
The venues won’t be published until the new year but hopefully Flowerhill will remain Flowerhill. Read the full news item on the AIRC website.
Here’s something to get our winter features rolling:
When We Were Young(er)
Erica has successfully arranged a clinic on Working Hunters with expert Toni Donnelly for this coming Saturday at Cyril’s arena in Milford. The session is being divided between the riding club and the pony club and there are some final spots which need to be filled. If you’re interested in participating in the clinic (or in arranging a straightforward jumping or flatwork lesson with Toni), contact Erica on 083 370 9333 as quickly as possible.
Further information on Working Hunter clinics with Toni Donnelly.
Pictured below: Toni Donnelly in competitive action.
Alice McGinley of Ireland’s Horse & Pony has revealed what product each club is being asked to test for their forthcoming feature:
Mackey Ireland Hawthorn Boot & Turnout Rug | Cheval Riding Club
Bucas (Shamrock Power – multi-purpose cooler/under rug/stable rug) |
Letterkenny Riding Club
Bucas (Max Saddle pad – anti bacterial wicking saddle pad)
Tara Hill Riding Club
Darragh Equestrian Solutions (MacWet Performance Gloves)
Long Acre Riding Club
Darragh Equestrian Solutions (William Funnell Breeches for Men & Bisbane Jodhpurs for Kids) | Mo Chara Riding Club
Back on Track (Knee Brace & Fleece Bandages) | Corrib Riding Club
Back on Track (Back Brace & Royal Quick wrap) | Ashwood Riding Club
Samples are due any day now. With luck they’ll arrive before our AGM on Monday and we can decide at that point how to distribute them (if they can be pried from the secretary’s claws).
Sunday sees the beginning of the Donegal Harriers hunting season and the long wait is over for the pack’s large membership. Mick and Leo will be putting the final touches to their hunting seats in Valerie’s lesson tonight while she rolls her eyes to heaven and exclaims for the thousandth time, “How do these people stay on out hunting?”. The answer of course is “extremely well”. There’s nothing quite like the hunting field for encouraging a rider to stay in secure partnership with his horse!
Keary and Anne have joined the Harriers this year and Sharon Lee will also be out as often as she can manage it this winter. Rachel and Libby, diehard hunt veterans, are taking this season off.
For anybody who feels like going along to watch, Sunday’s meet is at Maggies Pub near St Johnston. The Donegal Harriers’ official website has been taken off line but photos inevitably appear from various sources on Flickr.
Pictured below: Libby, Mick and Leo at the Donegal Harriers meet at Maggies, November 2009.
Torrential rain made warm-up at the Strule Valley Team Show Jumping Challenge less than pleasant but our team members greatly enjoyed the experience of competing in the spacious indoor arena amongst a very friendly crowd with a positive and encouraging judge. There was no victory for Letterkenny on the night, top spot going to Strule Valley Riding Club’s red team. Several of our competitors found themselves disadvantaged by the long travel time, appalling weather conditions and hurried warm-up. Nevertheless everybody finished up their two rounds (one standard, one against the clock) drawing plenty of positives from the whole experience. It was a great opportunity for novice riders to get out and learn the ropes.
Lucinda Houston, chairman of the Strule Valley club was deeply appreciative of the effort and enthusiasm shown by Letterkenny in attending the event and there will be plenty more opportunities for similar invitations, if we’re keen.
Audrey was surely the hero of the night, withstanding atrocious weather conditions to help everybody warm up properly before their competitive round. Francis kept things flowing and was invaluable in his support and management of the teams.
There were no club cameras there on the night but there were a couple of professional photographers on the scene and we’ll track down the details of their websites. Alison Donnell, secretary of Strule Valley, is going to send on a few of her photos as well.
Letterkenny Riding Club