Ride-out and fun night swap places in the calendar

With half the McNicholl Fun Team engaged in choir duties at the blessing of the boats for SeaFest in Rathmullan on Friday 22 June, Francis’s Fun Night is being pulled forward by a week to next Friday. This dovetails perfectly with the farming calendar at Castleshanaghan where the silage was cut earlier this week. The freshly manicured grass at the Jacobs farm will make a perfect playground and a great night’s challenging entertainment is in store.

The juggling of the calendar sees the ride-out at Stranorlar move back to Friday 22 June. This might be a blessing in disguise since all the rally adrenalin should have dissipated by then.

Cross country skills polished in Glenleary arena

The weather certainly wasn’t very promising for Mary Finneran’s cross country skills lessons yesterday evening but the enormous bulging black cloud that hovered menacingly in the northern sky finally gave up on the determined riders and floated off to new horizons. Not a drop of rain fell as Vera enjoyed a solo lesson on Tia, working on cross country flatwork skills in the arena before venturing out onto grass to put everything into practice.

The land could cope with one horse but the six who turned out for the second equally dry lesson were wisely confined to the arena. That didn’t impede the learning process one little bit as everybody practiced how to ride a straight line in a good on-going rhythm down to an ever-skinnier jump. Minds were focussed and determination was heightened. Great entertainment was provided by the old man of the evening, Zak, who jumped with characteristic gusto despite his mildly unorthodox approach.

Many thanks to Mary for more great instruction, to Orla for organising the evening, and to Audrey for providing the all-important refreshments.

Inter-club regional training day set for Sunday 17 June

For those who attended, last year’s regional training day at Cloncaw was one of the highlights of 2011. The sense of focus and spirit of learning was palpable and everybody took home some valuable insight from the experience.

This year’s training day has been put together with great thought and effort by Mona and Roisin who have struggled with the calendar and shrinking budgets to ensure another worthwhile day. It’s happening at fairly short notice on Sunday 17 June in Falcarragh.

Show jumping and dressage take place on Ballyness Bay and cross country at Manus Kelly’s, Ballyness, Falcarragh. There’s plenty of parking at both locations and they are also within easy riding distance of each other. Lunch/BBQ will be at Manus’s.

The organisers will let members know the instructors’ names and entry fees (costs will be kept to a minimum) as soon as possible. For now they need to know which two (or one or three) disciplines members wish to train in and at what height/level. Please pre-enter as early as possible to Roisin on 087 918 0008 (text/call) and pay on the day.

Spots will be allocated on a “first come first served” basis. Places may be limited if particular disciplines fill up fast. Roisin and Mona will do their best to accommodate everyone but please pre-enter ASAP. Times will be issued on Friday 15 June.

… And remember, it will all be good practice before the Gaeltacht’s Cross Jump and Beach Show in Falcarragh and our own Derby in Ramelton. July will be hectic on the competition front!

Pictured below: Last year’s regional training day at Cloncaw. See all the photos in the Gallery.

Cross country tuition at Glenleary, Friday 8 June

After last Friday’s open playground, cross country training moves to Glenleary Stables’ facilities this coming Friday, 8 June. Mary Finneran will provide her expert tuition.

The plan is to work in two groups, the first for more novice riders (or horses) who want to work on building up confidence in cross country jumping. For the more ambitious there’ll be the opportunity to work on cross country skills, particularly accuracy in jumping and tackling skinny fences.

If you plan to participate, please contact Orla on 087 643 2458.

Cracking cross country evening attracts a huge attendance

A run around some of the county’s finest fields is a treat at any time. When the weather plays along like it did last Friday evening, it’s difficult to imagine that life could get all that much better. With the Foyle as a backdrop and the old railway tracks as a feature, there was no shortage of visual stimulation for the human and equine participants.

After a mounted group course walk, a small group of five riders worked for a little while in the sand arena with Kelda before moving out into open territory once confidence was established. The main body of riders rode the course individually, each timed to help monitor the correct pace for cross country competitions. Afterwards, those who wished rode the course again in pairs.

A huge turnout rewarded the time and effort put in by Marina and Enda, with plenty of help from Leo. The mounted exertions were followed by a get together around the Hamilton’s creaking table, laden with goodies produced by the extended family. A very big thanks to the hosts for a memorable evening and wonderful hospitality.

Pictured below: Paddy and Sharon looking picturesque on the cross country course. More photos in the Gallery.

Active Donegal training show, Lenamore, Sunday 10 June

Cormac is behind a training show planned for Lenamore next weekend, Sunday 10th June from 1pm:

Classes: Lead rein and lead rein jumping classes.
Jumping classes at 50cm, 70cm, 90cm, 1.00m & 1.10m.

All classes open to ponies and horses as there will be no doubles or trebles included in the course.

As part of Active Donegal month there will be a “just try it” session where , friends, husbands, wives, girlfriends, boyfriends etc can experience the thrill of sitting on a horse and maybe end up pursuing a new hobby through one of our clubs.

For riding club members who are not travelling to the Festival it will be an ideal opportunity to get a show in to practice your skills and hopefully weather permitting the show will be held on grass which is a novelty these days. Special entry fee for riding club members in that one fee will cover all classes as at NW league.

Cross country skills at Marina & Enda’s, Friday 1 June *updated

This Friday sees a return to open country with a cross country and/or trec training evening at Marina and Enda’s home in St Johnston. With Orla tied up at work, Marina has kindly volunteered to organise the evening’s activity.

The plan is a route through fields with cross country jumps (including some new jumps added since the riding club last visited Marina & Enda). A team of cattle have been dispatched on grazing duty and have promised to have the grass at optimum length. The route will be marked with flags so riders can learn the route and practice riding at different speeds. This is a very handy skill for cross country competitions and for the PTV and POR phases of TREC.

It’s also possible to enjoy the evening on horseback without doing any jumping. How often do most of get to ride around beautiful big fields? Even walking and trotting the course will be a pleasure.

Orla needs riders to confirm by Wednesday evening if they are attending so that she and Marina can look at speeds to match their grades and (more importantly) know how many to cater for. Contact her on 087 643 2458 to let her know if you’re planning to ride.

N.B. Kelda will be on hand from 7–8.30pm to provide help and instruction for anybody who would like to avail of it. You may also batter away on your own, if that’s what you prefer. The cost for the evening will be €10 per head.

Putting your cross country skills into practice: Cloncaw 2-phase league kicks off this Sunday

Geraldine Bellew’s very popular 2-phase league at Cloncaw Equestrian Centre in Glaslough kicks off its 2012 season this Sunday, 3 June. It’s a non-riding club event so will be of particular interest to members with children who ride. The course at Cloncaw (scene of our regional training day last June) is always a fair challenge and a great schooling ground. And show jumping on grass is a novelty these days.

For full information visit the Cloncaw website.

The secret lives of others: Monday Club

How often do any of us witness what goes on amongst our novice brigade on a Monday evening? Week in, week out, Rachel teaches two stalwart members who turn out at Cyril’s arena come hail, rain or shine. Occasionally they’re joined by others who want to brush up on some fundamentals or get a start in riding club but in general Maura and Cyril work away by themselves.

This evening’s pictures show us just what we’re missing. If you’d like to join the lesson, contact Rachel on 086 161 7087 by lunchtime on Monday.

Pictured below: Embarking on a cross country career.