Working hunter activity with the Tirconaills

Working hunter classes will soon be vying with actual hunting for popularity, albeit amongst a somewhat different crowd. The ongoing NWWHA league in Coleraine switches venue to Eglinton after Christmas which is good news for anybody from our area who wants to give it a shot.

And it’s great to see that our neighbours in Tirconaill Riding Club are hosting a working hunter and showing demonstration with highly-acclaimed coach and showing expert, Toni Donnelly. (Many of you will remember that Erica organised a very successful working hunter day with Toni at Cyril’s last year.)

The event will be held in Deane’s Equestrian Centre in Bruckless on Wednesday, 7 December at 7.30pm. Toni will finish the evening with  a Q&A session.  Admission is €10 adults, €5 child/student. If you are interested please text/call Brenda on 087 631 7425 so that adequate seating can be arranged.

There will also be a Working Hunter Show in Deane’s EC on Sunday 11 December.

Ray (of) sunshine on a Sunday afternoon

On a weekend of truly awful weather, the riding club managed to come out on top with two hours of brilliant sunshine and just one fleeting shower in the final 100 meters of a most enjoyable ride-out.

Zak and Fenway escorted their band of grey mares (Lizzie, Hannah and Sapphire) along tiny little roads north of Ray up into Glenalla before turning west and taking the off-road track back across the hill towards Lough Swilly. The horses were fresh and stepped out at a great pace and the riders had plenty of time for leisurely conversation and enjoying the scenery.

As true club gentlemen, the geldings looked after gate duty for the mares, with Francis and Libby both having their difficulties at times getting back in the saddles of their keen mounts. By the time the group returned to the trailers, the cobwebs were well and truly blown away and five contented horses headed for home with their riders.

Pictured below: Francis and Zak manhandle a slap at the highest point of the route while the girls enjoy the view south east over Lough Swilly. More photos in the Gallery.

Ride-out this Sunday from Ray

This Sunday, some members may travel the long road to Knock for the final of the Western Region Autumn Show Jumping League while others will be ferrying their little horrors to the East Donegal Pony Club’s rally at Templemore. Another few may be soaking in hot baths recovering from a great day’s sport with the Donegal Harriers at Peter & Richard Smyth’s famous Victoria Bridge meet on Saturday.

For anybody who’s at a loose end, Libby will lead a ride-out from the football pitch at Ray Bridge, between Ramelton and Rathmullan. The circular route will cover the area north west of Ray, taking riders along tiny roads and some untarred tracks. Beautiful scenery is guaranteed and at present the weather forecast looks promising.

Contact Libby on 086 830 1392 in advance if you plan to ride. Start time will be around lunchtime — exact time to be agreed amongst those who are going.

Demonstration with Peter Smyth, Necarne, Thursday 24 November

Local international showjumper, Peter Smyth, is giving a demonstration in Necarne Equestrian Centre on Thursday 24 November at 7pm sharp. He will work three different horses and demonstrate suitable warm-up procedure for a novice horse, warm-up and riding a course with an experienced horse and finally jumping a Grand Prix course. Prices are £10 general admission or £5 for students.

Friday evening practice makes for perfection on Sunday

A small band of six members turned up at Templemore on Friday evening and enjoyed a great session of clear round jumping and socialising. Leo, Liz, Vera, Cormac, Karen and Laura made the most of their time using both the indoor and outdoor arenas. Leo and Cool put in a speedy round at 70cm before Leo dashed off to honour his civilian obligations. Liz, Karen and Cormac coached each other around the course at increasing heights while Vera and Karen burned off some equine energy outdoors on their own. Karen then tackled the course in fine style on Jack while Cormac popped a nicely warmed-up Tia around the jumps.

Strictly speaking puissance is a word that we’re not allowed use at riding club events but surely Cormac, who finished the evening with a meter round on Charlotte, is entitled to puissance-style honours for his efforts?

Height isn’t everything and whatever work Laura did with Jessie paid off in spades on Sunday. Congratulations to the pair on winning their class at the Working Hunter Show in Omagh. Very well done!

Pictured below: Laura on Jessie beautifully turned out for their victorious appearance at Sunday’s Omagh Working Hunter Show.

NWL 2012 meeting, Tuesday 22 November

With 2012 now just around the corner, next Tuesday sees the first meeting of the three Donegal riding clubs to get the ball rolling for our fourth annual North West League. Paddy, Cormac and Libby are Letterkenny Riding Club’s coordinators this time around. If you have any bright ideas for the league, contact any of the trio in advance or feel free to stick your head into Tir na nOg on the evening.

Autumn League Final, Sunday 27 November, Upper Mace EC

Last year’s Western League Autumn Final at Kesh Equestrian Centre proved a memorable event for the six Letterkenny riders who travelled to the show. It was a double show, of course, with the Benbulben RC show taking place first followed by the Final itself. Now that’s value for a journey. The only minor drawback was that our members were still jumping at 9pm with the warm-up jumps invisible in dense fog and the surface freezing fast. It was a late night but the journey home is never as long as the journey out and the atmosphere and camaraderie on the day had been brilliant.

This year’s final takes place at Upper Mace Equestrian Centre in Knock.

Western Region Autumn Final 2011 Schedule

Thinking ahead: Western Region Dinner Dance, Saturday 28 January 2012

For any socialites who want to start filling up their 2012 calendar, make a note of the Western Region Dinner Dance in the Carlton Shearwater Hotel in Ballinsloe. The dance is on Saturday 28 January and includes the prizegiving for the region’s 2011 leagues and awards.

Marina is interested in attending and would like to hear from anybody else who wants to join a Donegal table for the night. Orla has danced the night away for the past couple of years so talk to her if you want to get a feel for the social potential.