Membership increases again with Marys, old and new

The club quota of Marys has been restored to its usual healthy level. Mary Finneran, a founder member of the club, has rejoined after a very short spell on the sidelines while Mary Friel joins us as a new member. She hails from Tamney on the western side of the Fanad peninsula and will ride her lovely bay cob for club activities. We look forward to seeing you both out with us over the remaining months of 2010.

National Trails Day dead end

Months ago, following the first announcement of Sunday 3 October as the 2010 date for National Trails Day, the club submitted a request to Coillte for permission to hold a ride-out in Ards Forest Park. Silence. Repeated attempts to confirm that the request had been received were greeted with… yes, silence.

A couple of weeks ago Coillte issued a press release encouraging all interested groups to log their intended activity for National Trails Day on their website. A follow-up phone call landed us at the desk of the person whose name was attached to the press release. He promptly took the details of the club’s request and promised that the forester at Ards would be in touch post haste. Since then? Silence. That was until Martina was able to provide direct contact details for Kevin McCarthy of Coillte in Donegal. He at least had the courtesy to contact us to deliver his emphatic “No!”.

Foresters don’t like horses and there’s also an awkward question of “mixed use” on any one day. Mixed use poses an insurance problem. Given that Ards is always open to the general public, it’s highly unlikely that they’ll ever agree to keep the walking and cycling enthusiasts locked out for a few hours while we are admitted to ride in the forest. Well, it was worth a try…

Pictured below: The view from Mongorry Hill on our 2009 National Trails Day ride-out in Mongorry Woods near Raphoe.

Hunter trialling in the (scarcely) distant past

A quick google search for further details on the (hopefully) upcoming hunter trials at Annaghmore in Sligo threw up this article in the Irish Independent. Reading the intro paragraphs, it’s amusing to think that it was written just over three years ago — especially the line about the rows of shiny 4 x 4s. Many of them were probably commercials and will soon be up on blocks when their owners can’t afford to tax them!

The Thrill of the Hunter Trial

No joy for Donegal at National ODE; British success for AIRC show jumpers

Provisional results from the National ODE at Annaharvey yesterday have been posted. Neither of our Gaeltacht neighbours finished among the ribbons but hopefully it was a worthwhile expedition nonetheless. A full report will appear on the AIRC website in due corse.

AIRC National One-Day Event 2010 | Provisional Results

On Saturday, Greenhills Riding Club, representing Ireland and the AIRC, pulled off a major victory at the British Riding Clubs Senior Team Championship. What a great achievement.

Looking beyond the rain to Millers Hill

The countdown continues. Less than a week now to our trip to Millers Hill and, despite the gloomy view out the window over the last few days, it looks like we might pull off the usual miracle with the weather. Campers will need warm sleeping bags but we might be able to pack lightly on the rain gear end of things:

Accuweather | Armagh

As last year, the plan is to arrive at Millers Hill around noon on Saturday and we’ll have lunch once the horses are settled in their quarters. The cross country course will be the highlight of the first day and arrangements are in place for our expedition to Gosford Forest Park on Sunday. The National Trust rangers have kindly agreed to open the back gate to the estate so that we can hack safely and easily to the forest.

This year we haven’t formally arranged any polocrosse activities but there’ll be nothing to stop people having a go at it, if they wish. Carriage driving is very definitely on the itinerary.

Bon vacances, Fenway – what’s another year?

12 months ago, Fenway and Libby were in Tullamore competing at the National ODE Championships. A year later, having just completed 6 weeks of box rest and walking rehab, Fenway is celebrating Week 1 of a year’s sabbatical — only 51 to go. A recurrent suspensory ligament problem which defies all rehab programmes, care and nursing, has earned the club’s most fragile four-legged a year out in the field.

Damien has dispatched Armstrong to Rathmullan to take up super-sub duties. He’s settled in happily and, all going according to plan, he’ll stay until Christmas. At that stage he’ll be relieved of duty by Libby’s earliest riding club mount, her sister Catherine’s Anglo-Arab mare, Mai. Mai currently has a foal at foot but she’ll be weaned by the end of the year.

Now Libby is considering her chances of reaching the bestseller lists with her proposed book, Surviving the Heartbreak: Home-baked Psychology for Horse-Owners. Meanwhile she’s available 24/7 for counselling distraught club members whose horses have hit the skids.

Pictured below: Fenway‘s last riding club appearance at the Border Counties ODE in July; Enjoying Week 1 in the sanatorium with pal, Prophet.

Cyril and Ava take dressage honours

Our three weeks of flatwork instruction were put to the test on Friday evening when about half of Jackie’s pupils turned out to ride a formal test. For a couple — Suzanne and Maura — it was their first ever dressage test and they overcame the psychological hurdle with smiles on their faces. Their’s were probably the greatest achievements of the evening but, in formal terms, it was Cyril on Lady in the Primary & Advanced Primary division and Ava on Spirit in the Intermediate & Above class who were the night’s big winners.

A very big thanks to Jackie for the detailed and constructive feedback on the tests, to Audrey and Rachel for scribing, and to Ed for camera duty (there were other cameras there on the night too so cough up the photos everybody!). The biggest thank you of all goes to Martina who managed record numbers of members on each of four Fridays in an expert manner.

Pictured below: Club chairman Francis presents the 1st place prizes and rosettes to Cyril and Ava.

Pilates classes at the Milford Inn

Several of our members have benefitted from the pilates classes which take place at the Milford Inn on a regular basis. There’s a new series starting on Wednesday next, 15 September. Classes are at 10.30 am and cost €60 for six weeks. If you’re interested, contact Jackie on 086 341 0756.

Team show jumping invitation from Strule Valley Riding Club

The club has received a very nice invitation from Strule Valley Riding Club in Tyrone to send two teams to their Inter-Club Show Jumping Challenge on the evening of Wednesday 3 November at Ecclesville. Following the usual SJAI format and rules for team competitions, two riders will jump 75 cm and two will jump 85 cm. A team can be made up of three or four riders.

We can discuss it at our general club meeting on Sunday 26 September.