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Golden Castle News |
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It’s
been a busy summer, despite being one of the wettest we can remember, but
hasn’t stopped us organizing events at the yard and attending events away
from home – see full updates on training, competitions and rides below. The
end of the summer has been marked though now by Chester’s departure from the
horse world – he was one in a million and a faithful and loyal companion to
everyone who learned to ride with him – we’ll miss him hugely. We’re trying
to put together a picture board of his best moments at GC so if anyone has
any photos at home that we could use please send us a copy or leave a copy at
the yard. Sam
& Fiona |
Out and
About! Eventing
moves up a gear Sam has completed four events during the summer with
Cany and Goose, with Goose getting his first placing (3rd) at Park
Farm. Ice is recovering from a virus and has been rested for the last three
months, hopefully he will be able to start low-level work in the winter and
build up for next year’s season. Events summer 2008: Park Farm, Stockland Lovell, Berrington
Hall, Sapey Sapey was also a “double first” for Benson and
Maverick – Kate completed her first Intro with Benson, going clear xc and in
the SJ. Sam and Mav also completed their first Intro, with a 33 dressage
score and a clear xc. Links to photos from the event are at www.everybodysmile.biz – select
Sapey SJ and Sapey XC. Sam and Mav were also in action at Park Farm (July
30th) with a 3rd, along with Goose (3rd in the
Intermediate section) and Becky and Mini making their 3ft debut in a
competition. Irish
Adventure for Angel and Fiona As well as completing 7 events in the UK, Fiona was
called up to join the Welsh Team for an inter-country endurance event in
Glenaraff in Ireland. Competing involved a 10 hour lorry journey as well as a
ferry crossing (in what were less than calm seas) and 4 days’
camping/corralling with the team. Angel scored a Grade 1 in the 40km section
and was placed 2nd. Angel and Fiona are now ranked 15th
in the country for endurance. |
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A round up of the summer…..
Activities throughout June, July and August have
kept adults and children busy despite the rain and helped give a new focus to
everyone’s riding. As well as the usual “have a go days” , lessons and hacks
we also held the following: TREC training and PTV competition – training was run
over a couple of days with a final competitive, timed round for all
participants. PTV is known as the “obstacle” phase of TREC and involves
negotiating obstacles that could represent the sorts of hazards or challenges
you would find out hacking (up hill/down/ditch/water/low branches/sideways
and backwards turns etc). More TREC training and possibly a full competition
for GC riders to follow. Adult
and Kids Camp – though without the “camping” bit……three full days of schooling,
riding, stable management, “have a go” activities and competitions. Ten adults
and twelve kids attended across the three days. Highlights included a
dressage competition, TREC, and “have a go” on different saddles – endurance,
side-saddle, eventing and dressage. The side-saddle is definitely harder than
it looks……..look out for additional “Camp” days during the winter – many of
the participants would like follow up days during the year – see the notice
board for the next dates.. Llangyndir
Show – Rhiannon, Arianne and Bethan took part in a variety of classes
including jumping and showing, on Bonnie, Breeze and Fudge. |
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Blanaevon Saddle Club Eight
riders and horses took part in ridden showing classes and show jumping at Blanaevan Saddle Clubs summer
show. First outings for Rose and Murphy and Buttons and Julie. Mags and
Chester, Marian and Merlin, Cath and Fudge, Arianne and Breeze, Rhiannon and
Bonnie and Sarah and Lola also competed (first show for Lola too) – a host of
rosettes were taken home for ridden classes and show jumping despite the rain
and the wet conditions. A good day for everyone and would recommend other
“first-time” horses and riders going there in the future – easy to get to and
a good chance to see what a competition is like.
Training and Recognition for GC
Instructors Over
the last few months Sam and Fiona have completed a number of voluntary and
mandatory training programmes geared towards ensuring the best standards of
health and safety care on the yard. Both completed an updated course on First
Aid and safety and are qualified first aiders. As part of the regulations
governing establishments that work with children, both Sam and Fiona also
attended a course geared towards ensuring standards for care and security for
children and young people, a requirement for any business that works with
minors. Fiona, Sam and Sarah also took part in a training day for
driving horse trailers – mandatory for anyone who trailers horses as part of
a business. The course covered preparing horses for travel as well as driving
skills. All three received their certificate at the end of the session. In
July, Sam qualified for the Wales regional heat of the BHS Young Instructor
of the Year competition. The competition took place at in Cardiff, with Sam
competing against 10 other instructors. Each instructor had to teach a flat
lesson and a jump lesson, with unknown riders and horses. In addition,
references and a written application were required to support each candidate.
Sam got great feedback from her lessons (one test “guinea pig” commented that
the flat lesson was the best she had had and would have booked in more). Sam
was the runner up and commended in the heat – see the write up in this
month’s BHS magazine. |
Out
and About continued…. Baenavon
Saddle Club Show Eight riders competed in showing and jumping classes
– see full report across the page. Sunnybank
Dressage Sam and Goose scored 9s to win the Prelim 4 class,
with Becky and Cany claiming 4th in Prelim 14 and Rhiannon and
Mini 4th in Prelim 4. . And
Congratulations to Tom and Jo…. The “event” of the year, Tom and Jo got married in Abbey Dore on July 12th, followed by a honeymoon in Morocco. The wedding party was great fun and we wish them lots of luck for the future. Coming up – things for the diary Oliver
Townend Eventer Challenge – Sunday Sept 28th (Hartpury) and
Saturday Sept 18th (Cardiff) Fun
Ride – Tregoyd – Sunday Sept 28th Sunnybank
ODE – Saturday 20th Sept and
Saturday Oct 4th Hilltop
2 phase – Sunday Sept 28th and Hunter Trials Sunday Oct 19th Weekend
Ride – October 4th and 5th – with pub lunches and an
overnight stop on Saturday night. Please see Fiona for spaces. Winter Ball Date
and details for this year’s Xmas Ball have now been fixed. November 28th,
at the Old Rectory from 7.30pm – midnight. The evening includes a champagne
reception, three course meal and live band – the Jive-O-Holics. Over 80
people came last year and had a great time catching up with friends from the
yard and their partners and friends. Black tie/ball gowns definitely the
order of the day – makes a change from jodhpurs, wellies and coats. Partners,
wives, husbands, friends very welcome. Tickets are £35 per person, with a £15
deposit now and the balance to be paid by November. Lots of people put in a
request for a live band this year so hope as many people as possible can come
and have some end of year fun! |
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Joiners and Leavers The new horses: Lots of new horses……..welcome to Blaze who is Cath’s new
horse, Texas who belongs to Marian and Diesel and Ollie who are Sam’s latest
rides. ************************************************************************************************************************************************* And the leavers: Chester………..opening doors and “laughing” at riders
always…… Sadly Buttons has also left the yard. Buttons was owned
by the Blue Cross, who seek to place horses and ponies with new homes. The
society has a strict policy of only allowing horses to stay in one home for 5
years. Despite the excellent care Buttons had at GC, and loving loan owners
in first Rose and more recently Julie, the Blue Cross declined to listen to
everyone’s pleas to allow Buttons to stay. We hope Buttons is happy in her
new home. |
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