Looking forward to a relaxed club gathering, maybe even with some sunshine…

John & Sharon’s Christmas ride-out was a victim of the winter weather last December but it’s looking increasingly likely that tomorrow’s catch-up event is going to escape this summer’s usual treatment.

Meet to ride at 3pm. The group may be split into two groups, depending on how adventurous and energetic people are feeling. John helped his neighbours draw in 1800 bales of hay recently and we’ll reap the benefits of his labour with some cantering around freshly cut fields. Sharon is going to do gate duty and, if anybody needs/wants to bring children, she’ll entertain them in the field with a game of rounders while their old folks are out hacking.

Bring your own fodder for the grill and whatever your horse might need to keep body and soul together while you kick back and enjoy a sociable evening with the club. You can also leave your horse at home and come along just for the barbeque end of things. Contact Sharon for directions to the yard. If the sun shines we should be in for a good old fashioned hoe down!!!

Two new members, one new Secretary’s assistant

There have been several reports recently about the increase in club memberships across a wide number of disciplines. It seems to be one positive effect of the downturn, which is really saying something. Certainly Letterkenny Riding Club’s membership continues to thrive and this week we welcome two more primary level riders to the ranks.

Hazel Mahony lives in the Kilmacrennan area and has kept her horse on livery with John and Sharon for a couple of years now. She’s a happy hacker who looks forward to enjoying a broad range of the club’s activities.

Sally Turnbull is from Craig, just south of Rathmullan, and as a youngster was a partner in pony crime with Libby. She took a long break from riding before beginning lessons at Glenleary a year ago with her twin sons. She’ll share Rachel’s and Libby’s ponies and horses while she finds her club feet.

And as the club continues to thrive, the workload for the secretary increases apace. Orla is stretched to her limit and has called on the able assistance of Erica to make sure things continue to run smoothly. Erica and Orla will decide on a week to week basis how best to divvy up the duties so you may hear from either of them as time goes on. Erica is contactable on 083 370 9333.

Bruce looks for a new life

Bruce, the bay thoroughbred that Rachel brought to the first few legs of the North West League in February, injured a tendon several weeks ago and his racing career is ended. He’d love to continue life as a pleasure horse and, with several months on the easy list, should be well capable of carrying on work at a less competitive level. Now 4 years old, he’s an exceptionally good natured horse who can be hacked out safely from the field in any conditions and is a pleasure to handle in the stable. Bruce is available free to a good home. Contact Rachel on 086 161 7087 for further information.

Pictured below: Bruce at Templemore, Spring 2011.

TREC competitors prove a hardy bunch

Quote of the weekend: “TREC is the sport for hardy feckers!” Orla reports that it was “a good weekend, camping was a challenge, well pretty much everything was a challenge but there wasn’t one single complaint about ground conditions for the PTV and all bar the 30KM route riders managed to get home with only a few showers”.

On a weekend when Falcarragh Gymkhana and Claragh Races bit the dust, it’s quite an achievement to have pulled off the event. Well done everybody.

Ride-out and BBQ at John & Sharons, Saturday 23 July

Close your eyes and imagine a sunny summer’s afternoon… All we can do is hope that the weather plays ball for our ride-out and BBQ at John and Sharon’s Kellee Stables near Kilmacrennan on Saturday coming.

The ride is along tiny quiet roads with stretches along laneways and paths and optional diversions into large, newly-cut hayfields. The ride will set off at (tbc) 3pm and will be followed by a BBQ at homebase. There’s lots of stabling so your horses will be comfortable while you kick back.

Full details from Sharon on 086 338 9166. Let her know in good time if you plan to go along.

Mullingar marathon pays off for Martina

The weather wasn’t quite as bad in the midlands as it was in Donegal on Sunday but there was no shortage of muck on Martina’s boots as she finally wound down after a gruelling day at Mullingar. After riding in two qualifiers and two finals, she and Smuggler hit the road for home with Letterkenny’s first ever National Show Jumping Championship ribbon lighting up the dashboard. The pair had finished a brilliant third in the Primary Mini-Derby to put the finishing touch on a 13-shows-in-13-weeks marathon.

The Gaeltachts also had a great Championship and there were ribbons on the road to Donegal with them as well.

Well done Martina (and well done Des!). And congratulations to all our neighbours on their great performances.

Pictured below: The club’s very first ribbon from the AIRC National Show Jumping Championships.

Weekend menu with plenty of variety

If you’re the kind of rider who makes last minute decisions about what activity to pursue each weekend, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at what’s on offer over the coming days.

There’s nothing like waking up on a Saturday morning with aching muscles and limbs after an intensive session with Jackie McPherson at our Friday evening flatwork lesson. The sense of achievement is almost worth the agony but your horse is probably lying comatose in the field thinking “never again”. If you want to participate, check with Sharon on 086 338 9166 whether there are still spaces available (and next time, try to book in by Wednesday).

For TREC enthusiasts, Donegal TREC returns to Hillsborough Farm, the site of our wonderful Derby show, for a 2-day festival beginning with training sessions on Saturday. Members from TREC clubs throughout the country will be competing on Sunday in Donegal TREC’s first competitive event. The orienteering/long distance riding element of the test is ridden in pairs. The obstacles and other disciplines are undertaken individually. The event is open to anyone over the age of 12. Even if you’re not participating, you’ll find it interesting to go along and watch something entirely different. Contact Orla on 087  643 2458 for more details.

If you haven’t entered in advance, don’t spontaneously decide to load your horse and head for the AIRC National Show Jumping Championships in Mullingar on Sunday. Leave the horse behind and go as a spectator with a view to being quicker off the mark next year. You can cheer Martina and Smuggler on.

But if you’re hell bent on bringing the horse with you, veer north west instead of south and stop when you get to Falcarragh. Packie Ferry and Tommy McGinley are running their infamous Falcarragh Gymkhana and the sport will be mighty. It’s not a riding club event so there’s jumping for children as well as adults, with a cup up for grabs at 90cm.

Enjoy your weekend, whatever you end up doing.