Golden Castle News |
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Spring is officially here! The rain and wind seems like a distant memory and activities and competitions are starting up again here and at other venues. If there’s anything you’d like to do or like us to arrange then let us know. Sam & Fiona |
Out and About! Eventing has started for the year Busier than ever this year, with three horses competing, Sam has competed at the following events since the last newsletter: · Ice – Aldon, Belmont Park · Goose – Bath & West, Solihull, Hambledon · Cany – Bickenhall – her first event! Video footage of Sam’s events is usually available in the office – well worth taking a look while you’re having a cup of tea. 228 Endurance kms completed already! Fiona has been competing Angel and Toby completing the following events so far this season: Toby – Hopwas Hop (32km, Grade 1), Forest of Dean (40km, Grade 1, second fastest horse) Angel – Penaddol (40km, completion), New Forest (42km, Grade 2), Margam Park (32km, Grade 2), Berkshire Downs (42km, completion). Angel is having a break for a month now before her next competitive ride. Sunnybank One Day Event Becky/Mini, Rhiannon/Bonnie, Sam/Maverick and Kate/Benson all took part at this event on April 27th. Rosettes for Mini for dressage and overall position, for Mav for dressage and overall position, for Bonnie for show jumping and for Benson for show jumping. More out and about overleaf |
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Horse news There’s been a few months since the last newsletter and there have been quite a few ups, downs and changes in horses since then – here’s an update for everyone on our horses: · Congratulations to Georgie who is the new owner of Mani. Mani is a 4 year old TB, Sam bought last year to work with and bring on. He is a gentle character, lovely to handle, and has been a superstar going out and about – day rides, first dressage competition at Sunnybank, learning to jump (he was a flat racer). Mani is staying at GC whilst Georgie is based here in Wales. · Ceri is in foal to a fabulous Section D stallion “The Gigalo”. See the link to the Brynithon Stud which is close by to us down at Glangrwyney. She will have the foal in March next year. www.brynithoncobs.com – see the At Stud section. · And here comes the first of the foals! Lollypop, what a wonderful mum, has had her latest foal – an Arab x filly called Ditza (Arabic for joy) – full name Ditza bint Krayon. She is absolutely gorgeous – and already running around having fun. See her photo at the end of the newsletter! And Pie has now also had her foal, a bay filly with a big white star – no name yet, although likely to be Disco Diva……….. · Welcome to Dotty – she’s our new school horse, 16’1 chestnut TB. She was previously owned by Dave (Nicki’s partner). He decided that Dotty was too small for him and so Dotty has come to GC. · All change for Rose, who has moved from Buttons to Murphy as her loan horse. Rose says: “For almost 2 years the diary has read Rose - Buttons every week on a Wednesday for lessons and often on the lists for day rides, pub rides and competitions. As most of you know she has been my loan pony since I started riding at Golden Castle and has helped teach me and keep me safe since then. Last month - in the name of progress - Sam, Fiona and I decided that I should embark upon a new loan experience with Murphy. So, I would like to say a big Thank You to Buttons who is very chuffed that she can now have a treat off me without having to do the work!” · Retiring Toby….Fiona has decided to retire Toby from endurance competitions – a really rough decision as he is fit, well, and has been doing progressively more difficult rides (up to 80km). What you can’t see from the outside is that Toby has a structural defect in his heart which doesn’t cause him any pain or any problems but is a weakness. May never cause a problem, but now we know about it, it’s difficult to put Toby under competitive pressure. Did not stop him having fun XC schooling at Home Farm with Cany and as his results across the page show, he is stopping on a high! |
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Quiz night fun in Crickhowell 24 regular riders, partners and friends descended on the Beaufort Chinese Restaurant for a great night of foot (plenty!), drinks (plenty of those too) and quiz questions. The honours were as follows: 1st – End of the Table – 91.5 2nd – University Challenged – 87 3rd – Brain Boxes – 81 4th – Paul’s Team – 75 We’ll arrange another quiz evening for the summer. Riding adventure – anyone interested? Sarah and Fiona are looking at booking up one of Ride Worldwide’s holidays in October to Jordan. It’s a 10 day trip with lots of riding (Arab/ Arab x horses) as well as two days in the amazing ancient city of Petra and time to relax on the coast (Red Sea and Dead Sea). Chris is a likely candidate for the trip as well – if anyone is interested or would like to know more then please ask Fiona or Sarah. We’re going to go anyway, but if anyone else would like to join then that would be great – more the merrier – it would be a truly amazing experience for anyone who comes along. There are two different dates in October that we could go – so if anyone is keen, let us know as soon as possible. PS from Sarah – on re-entering the world of city work Well I certainly managed to get my timing completely wrong, working through the autumn and winter and agreeing to go back to London work for a year just as the rain stopped and spring came along……in reality the weather hasn’t stopped the last 6 months being fantastic in terms of working with Sam, Fiona, all the horses and all of you. I learned loads and my riding improved so much. Sad to see it decline so quickly now I’m sitting at a desk 5 days a week…….I am in Wales 4 days out of 7 so still able to get up to the yard to school and ride, and am planning some weeks’ holiday through the summer so I can spend some uninterrupted time with Mav, Lola, Ceri and Dice. Still always keen to go out and about in the trailer so if anyone fancies going off for the day then let me know. Thanks also to everyone who helped me out along the way – helping pick up buckets, taking hay out, filling water buckets and even a true “elves and shoemaker” moment when I came back on to the yard in the evening having been round the back to find the yard already swept and the brushes neatly stacked…….it makes a huge difference when you’ve had a long day…… |
Out and About continued…. GC Dressage Competition We held a competition with three tests in the Easter holidays – a walk and trot test and Prelim 4 and 18. 23 people took part and the competition was judged by an external judge, Hilda. Full results are posted outside the office. Pauntley XC Rhiannon and Bonnie and Sarah and Mave completed the 2’6 XC class at Pauntley on March. Coming up – things for the diary Please see the Events list attached for a summary of external competitions. The highlights below are events people are already planning to attend or we are running internally. Chepstow – Ice and Sam in action on the Intermediate Novice course and Cany at Pre Novice. Crychan Forest – Pleasure ride on May 18th Blaenavon Ride – June 15th GC competition – Handy Pony and Dressage – Half Term Two day Weekend ride – 21st and 22nd June – see notice board for details. This will be two day rides with an overnight away from the stables. Summer BBQ – date to be arranged for July Winter Ball – a little way off but we will be fixing the date for this years’ ball soon so everyone can get it in their diary – suggestions/feedback welcome |
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Joiners and LeaversWelcome to Nickie (new rider on a Wednesday) and Brian (Tuesdays) – both learning to ride for the first time. Welcome also to Georgie and Julie who are working on the yard Tuesday – Saturday. ************************************************************************************************************************************************* Not really a leaver but Sarah has stopped working at the yard for a year, and has taken on a one year assignment back in London. She’s still able to come up and ride 3-4 times a week and will be taking the weekend ride in June. |
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Mum Lolly and new foal Ditza |
Rose and Buttons |
