Golden Castle News

Another busy month at the yard and so relieved to see some sunshine! A new feature this and every month – Horse and Rider – telling everyone a bit  more about our riders and their horses or our horses and their riders – it will be a good way to get to know everyone better, and find out what people do when they are not riding. Any volunteers for the April issue let us know!

Sam and Fiona

Out and About!

Quiz Night Success

Before moving on to the horsey activity this month a big thank you to everyone who came to the Kestrel on Monday 26^th for the first Golden Castle Riding Club quiz night. Six teams battled it out over a range of general knowledge and horse related questions, some easy some fiendishly difficult – scampo as the singular for scampi will be remembered by everyone. The “Spotless Foals” aka Rhiannon, Tom, Chris and Sarah piped “Team Eleanor” to the post by the smallest margin – ½ a point – and shared the bottles of wine with the runners up. Lovely to see old riders (in terms of their time with GC!) and partners there as well as lots of regulars. Another one to be held in April.

Dressage

Rhiannon and Bonnie and Sam and Benson rode two dressage tests at one of Bromyard’s evening dressage competitions. Rhiannon and Bonnie had a 3^rd and Sam and Benson a 2^nd in the Pony Club class and Sam and Benson also had a 2^nd in the Prelim class.

Endurance

Fiona and Toby completed a 42k ride in the Forest of Dean, one of the first competitive rides this season, completing the ride at a rate of 15.58 km/h and receiving a Grade 2.

Riding Out

Sarah and Michelle rode 20k from Golden Castle to Trewalkin, via a packet of crisps, diet coke and a coffee at the Farmers Arms in Cwn Du.

Show Jumping

Rhianne and Kelsey took Toffee and Ali show jumping at Talygarn – as the newsletter was being completed – results next time!

Horse and Rider – a profile of our horse and rider “teams” – this month Rose and Buttons

I came to live in Wales 2 years ago with my husband Mat who originally hails from Glangrwyney. Previously we have lived in Somerset, Brighton, Sydney, back to Brighton again and then Hertfordshire and now have a house in Clydach. I’ve been riding at Golden Castle for about 18 months and am the besotted Loan owner of Buttons – the beautiful black pony with the purple rug. In lessons I’ve just started to jump and am more thankful than ever that both Fiona and Buttons have plenty of patience! At the end of last year I began work for Nicholls, Crickhowell who employed me to open a tack shop within their mill premises so please feel free to come and see us!  When I’m not working or riding I can often be found in the woods with a Longbow. Field Archery has been a passion of mine for five years. I make and fletch my own wooden arrows which, to the relief of my fellow archers, work pretty well! I shoot at a lovely woodland course near Chepstow, if anyone fancies having a go please let me know - at the very least I guarantee a lovely walk in the woods and a cup of tea. Well, that’s about me, but finally I’d like to take this opportunity to say ‘thank you so much’ to Sam and Fiona who’s continuing instruction and support have made the last 18 months riding an absolute pleasure and to Buttons of course, for always being pleased to see me - especially at tea time!

Rose & Buttons

Hunting with the Brecon and Talybont – Tom Rolfe

So what’s it all about? A mad bunch of the upper classes tearing up farmland and generally annoying the neighbors? Well “mad” might be applicable, but as to the rest – b*****s!

Since the ban, hunting has become more popular than ever. It’s an opposite of the conundrum of the way CB radio died in the UK when it was legalized. Ban something and it’s a lot more fun. So do we still go out and kill foxes? Well I have to say the answer is no. We hunt within the law following a pre-laid trail. (That’s the legal method used by the Brecon and Talybont, our local hunt). The huntsman, Darren, can still go out legally to kill foxes, using 2 hounds and shooting the fox (at other times when off duty, not officially “hunting”), so the hunt can still provide a pest control service to farmers. The B & T also collect fallen (ie dead) farmstock for disposal, again providing a service to farmers. The hunt has a symbiotic relationship with the farmers. We ride over their land and the hunt (or rather Darren, the huntsman) helps the farmers out.

So what’s the attraction for the average horse owner? You get to ride over some superb country, sometimes at speed and go some places where otherwise you’d never go. You can watch hounds working – following a scent and see how they behave and react, doing what they’re bred to do. There’s also the company aspect, as you’ll meet a range of backgrounds and outlooks of followers (but the Charter88 members (http://www.charter88.org.uk/), like myself maybe in the minority admittedly). Hip flasks serve a purpose too!

Do you need to be a good rider? People always say hunting is too scary for them. I manage and I’m not that good. The B & T do very little jumping if that’s what worries you. We do cross rough ground at speed and you can expect some sliding around, but most people can still walk at the end of the day. If anybody fancies a day I may even lend out a certain grey old mare who knows exactly what to do! Something faster might be available as well. Hunting has now finished around here, but I’ll do one more day near Gloucester on 17^th March. The hunt has a few things on for the spring/summer (listed across the page).

Well that’s all folks. See the Nag and Dog article on the B & T when it comes out. With any luck Seren will feature, and that meet at Castle Madoc was the last time I hunted her this season. The new mare, Batty is going well, and Seren made it out a couple more times with a friend.

Tom Rolfe (trolfe@iee.org)

Coming up – things that are on and that people are doing!

Event – Aldon – March 16

Sam and Ice are kicking off the eventing season with a Pre Novice one day event at Aldon. Fiona is videoing the classes so everyone can see how the professionals (Sam!) do things. There are some other more local events coming up and everyone would be welcome to come along and support “Team GC”.

Pleasure Ride, Pembrey – March 25

Ride on the beach! A marked ride, done at set speeds or your own speed. Sarah, Chris, Rhiannon and Fiona are all signed up to go to this, Fiona at speed on Toby and the others a more leisurely pace. 

Brecon and Talybont Point to Point

Reorganised for March 25^th – Llanfrynach - a real opportunity to see racing over jumps close up – and to do some betting!

GC Day Ride – Golden Castle to Talybont – April 4

A long day ride there and back taking in hills, forest trails and a pub lunch at the canal in Talybont. See Fiona or Sam for details.

Gower Le Trec – April 21

A level one pairs and individual event is being held at the Gower Riding club. Introduction level for Le Trec with all the obstacles/control of paces/orienteering that you find at the major competitions – but set at the lowest grades (ie heights/pass levels).

Fun Ride – Lower Chapel – May 6

Brecon and Talybont hunt are organizing a fun ride for Sunday May 6^th. Rosettes for all who complete the route.

Joiners and Leavers (not really “leavers”…….)!

Fiona is Pie’s new owner(!) - and will be looking to breed a super new foal from her. Current plan is for her to go to Alderfarn II, a coloured Trakehner, adding some dramatic colour to Pie’s good breeding, and then down to Ty Mawr to be with the other mares. Said Sarah – “Pie is a lovely horse and really talented – but just a bit to trixy for me. The TB sharpness is something Fiona loves and she’s a super horse to breed from – I’m really happy she is going to such a good home!”.

And Maverick…….Chris and Sarah have bought Maverick from Sam! Everyone knows Maverick and have watched him grow up at GC from a gangly 6 month old foal to a stunning horse with a fantastic temperament and willingness to have a go at anything. One in a million – he will of course be staying at GC. Very, very lucky new owners!

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Say hello to our new school horse, Louis, a dark bay TBx gelding, 10 years old.

And say hello to Suzanne Farmer from Pengenffordd who has just started riding at GC. In her spare time Suzanne breeds Alpacas – they can be seen over the hedge from the A479 near Cwmfforest.