Golden Castle

News

June has been a month of fantastic firsts – Rhianne and Toffee and Sam and Benson took part in their first Intro Level One Day Event, Ceri and Maverick won their first rosettes in SJ and XC, Lola did her first big ride out (down to Llangattock as part of the pub ride), Rose bought her first foal (see more about Chilli Bean below) and Monkey and Helen went to their first competition (dressage at Talygarn). We’ll have to work hard in July to do more! Everyone should have a go at the Show Jumping competition here in the afternoon/evening of July 16^th. Heights from Mini (very small) to 3ft – so all our riders can see what it’s like to compete – come along and have a go – rosettes and prizes for places!! Oh, and Sam got engaged…congratulations to her and Steve!!

Sam and Fiona

Out and About!

XC Practice – Cilwich and Glanusk

May 29^th and 31^st, groups hacked down from GC and practiced jumping, steering and sometimes both, covering individual jumps and a string as a small course, including ditches and water.

Hilltop and Home Farm

Ceri/Sarah and Maverick/Chris tackled their first two phase competitions (SJ and XC) on June 3^rd and 10^th. Ceri had a double clear and a 4^th and Maverick had one pole down/clear xc and then a first place at his second event with Chris. Rosettes and a voucher for a bag of feed for Maverick!

Lola’s Big Adventure…(aka the June Pub Ride)

Ever popular, 12 people/horses rode down to the Vine Tree for drinks/snacks. Hidden away in the group of riders was Lola on her first big ride – a long way for a 3 year old but she behaved brilliantly. Lola has been up at GC since March enjoying her first few months of proper work.

Show Jumping at Allensmore

GC riders (Kate, Sarah, Sam and Rhianne) had a good Saturday morning on the 23^rd of July taking four of the top five places in the 2’3 class (including Rhianne placed 1^st) and 2^nd and 4^th in the 2’6 classes. Rhianne and Sarah both won cash prizes (a mighty £5 each) which was promptly spent on lunch!

More Eventing Success – and Toffee and Rhianne’s First Intro Event! 

Sam and Ice gained their second BE points at West Wilts on June 13^th, with a double clear (XC and SJ) in the Novice section. Rhianne and Toffee and Sam and Benson entered their first Intro event at Stonar, Wiltshire on June 26^th, both coming safely home clear on the XC. There are DVDs of this and all Sam’s events so far this year in the office. Rhianne is completing a write up of what it felt like doing her first affiliated event for the next newsletter before she goes to Borneo for 6 weeks!

Out and about continues over…..

Horse and Rider – a profile of our horse and rider “teams” – this month Helen and Monkey

“Horses and Divorces”… Helen and Monkey’s Story! Last month I sat in the Kestrel pub with my parents, Aimee, Sam and Fiona and celebrated a year in Brecon. And what a year it has been!  I first arrived at Golden Castle last June and quickly learnt that I had a long way to go and an awful lot to learn. After a month or so, I was delighted that Sam and Fiona had enough confidence in me to allow me to take Rosie on loan.  We had the most wonderful summer and I grew enough in confidence and ability to eventually take part in the Golden Castle X Country competition and received my first rosette!! By the autumn Sam and Fiona felt I was ready to take the plunge and we started to look for a horse to buy; I shall always have fond memories of me and Sam, driving round Newport eating chips and curry sauce – you could have televised that day and it would have made a very comical documentary ! Eventually, and true to Fiona’s prediction, my horse found me, and in October, Sam, agreed to sell Monkey to me.  I knew from the start that I would have a lot to learn and would have to start all over again to learn about him, about riding and how he would fully test my abilities as a rider.  I was ready for the challenge and was full of optimism and excitement. Just as we began our journey, my world fell apart and I was knocked sideways by the end of my marriage. Looking back, Monkey was the best thing that ever happened to me and whilst I never felt it at the time, came into my life at the perfect time. We started all over again, together.  It has been a slow but steady journey for him and for me.  After many lessons and oh so many hiccups we started over the last couple of months to take some tentative steps forwards.  My highlight so far has to be the day that I went to the indoor Trec with Fiona ; I learnt so much from Fiona that day, the nerves were almost overwhelming but we gave it our best shot and both Fiona and I came 4^th in our respective classes.  It was a huge turning point. So I say a huge thank you to Sam and Fiona for their brilliance and unswerving support, but also a big  thank you to all of you reading this, for the walks round the block, the help on the pub rides and the constant encouragement that have started to make me believe that I can do it !  We took so many steps backwards initially I never thought that I would move forward, but we are, and both Monkey and I are facing an interesting, exciting summer!

Six new loan “owners” for four of our horses

GC has been running a “loan horse” scheme for a number of years – matching regular riders with school horses, giving riders a chance to “own” a horse and have the freedom to ride out, take horses to shows, muck out, feed or just give them lots of care and attention and treats. Lots of our riding activities (shows, pub rides) are offered at a discount to loan owners, as for people who own their own horse. We’ve recently added six new loan owners to our group, making a total of ten. Many of our loan owners go on to buy their own horse – it really is a great way of developing confidence and ability to manage a horse on your own.

New loan owners/horses are:

Stranger – Becky and Andriette; Merlin – Eleanor and Morgan; Hollwood – Cath; Beau – Elise

Joining: Chester – Mags; April – Julie; Ali – Jackie; Buttons – Rose.

Horses available for loan are Louie, Murphie and the little ponies. Please ask Fiona/Sam for more information about being a loan owner or any of the current loan owners for their experience.

Nothing like seeing yourself to improve yourself…….

In the last newsletter we trailed a new lesson concept – structuring a lesson so that the horse and rider can be videoed, with a DVD of the lesson at the end of the session. Seems like we were on to something as this month’s issue of Horse magazine featured a top tip for success from Lucinda Fredericks (this year’s Badminton winner). She says, “Watching a video of yourself schooling can be so useful. On the Tuesday and Wednesday before Badminton I was filmed riding Brit, and then I’d go straight back to the horsebox and watch the tapes. It’s so useful to see how things look, check you’re sitting straight and so on. Ultimately the harder you work, the more success you will have”. Later in the same issue, a feature on a company that specializes in biomechanics saying, “Watching yourself riding and identifying areas for improvement is one of the most powerful training tools available”.  Sam has completed a pilot of the new service, videoing Sarah and Maverick/Ceri in a jump lesson and Lola doing flat work. Each DVD has approximately 20 minutes of film and allows you to watch back and hear/see Sam’s commentary and instruction alongside your actual riding, something you never get to do when you are on the horse yourself. Follow up sessions are booked 6-8 weeks after the first video lesson, so you can see how you and your horse have improved. Not only is it a great way of seeing how your riding and what you need to work on, it’s a great video diary of your horse. See Sam to book these sessions.              

Please tell us what you’d like to get from your riding and us

We’d really like to hear from everyone about what else we can do for you, your horses and your riding. What would you like to change? What would you like us to offer that we don’t now? What do you enjoy most/least? We’ve attached a short form at the end of this newsletter – please do add any comments and leave in the office or email to us – no need to put your name on if you’d prefer to stay anonymous, and just add the comments you want to - we want to know how we can keep changing things/adding things to the lessons and activities here.

Talygarn Dressage Success

Monkey and Helen and Ceri and Sarah completed Prelim 4 and 14 at Talygarn’s indoor arena. The quiet must have suited Ceri as she got ribbons in both classes. Monkey behaved impeccably at his first event with 6s and a 7 for his trot.

Another Pub ride!

A theme that is emerging for our riders – everyone seems to love walking down to the pub in the evening and having a good trot/canter back. This one, on July 2^nd was to Llangyndir, with 12 people completing the ride.

Coming up – things for the diary

July 11^th – Show Jumping at Allensmore

July 14^th – Level 1 TREC at Cefn Mably, Cardiff

July 14^th – Sam and Ice in action at Stockland Lovell, Novice One Day Event.

July 16^th – Show Jumping Competition at GC! Mini, Novice, 2’3, 2’6, 2’9 and 3 ft classes, starting at 5pm. Maximum of 3 classes per horse. Book with Sam/Fiona - £8 per class (£5 for loan/own horses).

July 17^th – Ice and Sam are competing again at the Novice event at Cheltenham.

July 23^rd – evening ride and XC practice

July 30^th – Pub Ride to the Vine Tree

New Orders for GC rugby shorts and t-shorts – for those of you who missed the last order/need different sizes/different things – please give your order to Fiona asap.

Also, look out for work starting on the outdoor school in July, draining water, relaying the surface and leveling the ground. A major piece of work but will mean more lessons being able to take place outside, even in the wet weather.

And coming soon, GC’s own Horse Walker! Due to be in place by the end of July, and really for use in the winter months when the horses can’t be out as much as we would like. Four horses can walk at a time at a speed regulated by us. Wonder how long it will take before Chester works out how to get out of it!

Everything you wanted to know about TREC by Marian Bough

What is TREC?

TREC stands for Technique de Randonnee Equestre de Competition.  The sport started in France in the late 1960s to test the skills of professional guides in the riding holiday industry – and soon the tourists themselves were taking part.  Other countries, both in Europe and beyond, have also adopted the sport and it was introduced to this country by the British Horse Society in 1998 as BHS TREC.  TREC competitions are designed to test a horse/rider combination through a whole range of activities rather than focusing on one particular discipline. The sport is growing in popularity with a reputation for being friendly and relaxed, with the emphasis on having fun.  Although there is a need to have a basic set of equipment, competitors (and horses) wear everyday riding gear – no cream jodhpurs, hacking jackets or plaited manes required.

BHS TREC comprises three phases (for those in the know I have included the original French):

CoP  Control of Paces Phase: This involves riding along a marked track first at a canter which is as slow as possible, then at a walk which is as fast as possible.   The slower the canter and the faster the walk, the more points are awarded.  Breaking into a trot from either pace results in “nil points”.

PTV Phase (Parcours en Terrain Varie): This is a cross-country obstacle course, with the kinds of obstacles which might be met when out hacking.  Some are undertaken dismounted and all obstacles are optional, so you may for example miss out the jumps or mounting your horse from the off side (while he stands still!) if you would rather not attempt these.  Points are awarded for completing each obstacle correctly, with extra points for style. 

POR Phase (Parcours d'Orientation et de Regularite): This is basically orienteering on horse back.   Riders follow a route which they mark on a map, and there are check points at unknown points along the way.  At each check point a speed is given for the next stage, and penalties are incurred according to the number of minutes above or below the optimum time for each stage.  Sounds complicated, but some basic information on time, speed and distance helps to keep track of where you should be and when. Practicing with a GPS helps, but this is definitely not allowed on the day.

Competitions are held in a number of levels, level 1 being the easiest (held on one day), up to levels 3 and 4 which are held over two days and might involve steering by taking compass bearings or riding at night.  Entries can be as singles or pairs – for which the orienteering is ridden as a pair and the other phases are done individually. 

BHS TREC competition on the Gower.

On 21 April, Sarah and I set off on a hot sunny day for a level 1 competition on the Gower with Ceri and Ali.  We were one of 26 pairs entered. First phase was the control of paces and though neither of us earned points in the canter, we both gained points at the walk.  In fact both Ali and Ceri had walked at exactly the same speed. After a short wait, the next phase was the PTV, which involved lots of zig zagging around a large field.  Riders started on their feet, the first obstacles being leading through a trailer, down and up a step, leaving the horse to stand still in a circle (no go on that one for either of us) and then mounting while the horse stands still (or is supposed to) in a small circle.  Next was a hedge to jump, accompanied by an encouraging cheer from the photographer.  Walking over railway sleepers, a noisy footbridge and a ditch, were all negotiated well by Ceri and Ali.  However other exercises, mainly those which did not involve “free” forward motion, definitely left room for improvement, including the S-bend, rein-back and gate closing.  A look at our scores when we received them afterwards showed we were generally either scoring the full 10 or a miserable zero.  At least it is clear where we need to practice!

Time for a rest and some lunch, then on to the map room where we copied out our route, before setting off into the wilds.  Well, more of a housing estate actually – in fact the compulsory equipment of compass, torch and whistle was rather out of place as we rode through residential areas.  With Sarah responsible for time keeping, I was in charge of steering us in the right direction. There was quite a stretch on a busy road, and we were glad to leave this and reach the first check point.  We duly left this in the wrong direction and again met the busy road, but we soon realized our mistake and were quickly back on track without having to retrace our steps. 

Then off onto bridle paths in a steep wooded valley.  Before the next check point we followed another pair for a time on a steep narrow path, one of whom was leading their horse.  We later wished we had  been more assertive and gone past this pair – they slowed us up and this stage gave us the most penalties. 

After successfully negotiating a scary walking golfing umbrella we reached a twisting sandy track alongside a golf course, which offered a good chance to quicken the pace.  Then we reached the final check point and had to negotiate the even scarier man offering us our purple rosettes – the trusty Welsh cobs did not want to go near him!  We had been too quick on this section – but had enjoyed the canter.

The final leg was finding the riding club again.  That done, it was back through Swansea town centre – successfully done despite a complete lack of signposts – and home to Golden Castle.  We waited, and waited, and nearly a week later the results finally went up on the web site – 6^th place out of 26 pairs which was an excellent result.  We are off to another level 1 TREC at St Mellon’s in July – we will let you know how we get on.

Last, but certainly not least, a big thank you to Fiona and Sam for all their support and encouragement.

Joiners and Leavers

Chilli Bean – not really a “joiner” as he is Lolly’s newest foal (we named him Cha Cha Cha) but the exciting news is that Rose has bought him, and given him a new name – Chilli Bean! He is a gorgeous Appaloosa colt, out of a stallion called Wah Ha Dar and was born in May. See his fabulous photos below.

Wayne, who completed his work experience with us last month, along with Georgie, is going to continue helping on weekends and when he is free during the week.

Welcome back to Fred as a weekend helper (and now his exams have finished, weekdays too).

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No leavers this month (unless you count Rhianne’s expedition to Borneo – but she is coming back at the end of August!).

Introducing Chilli Bean……...

See the newsletter online/by email: if you would like to get the newsletter by email then please send your email address to Fiona-g@uk2.net or leave a note in the office. All previous newsletters are now on the website at www.golden-castle.co.uk. We’d love to have more photos for the website so if you have some please send them to us!