Equestrian News NI » feature

Aimee and Gusty clean up at Knockagh

News Desk — Wed, 02 Apr 2014 08:38:52 +0000

Claire Dobbin and Louie winners of the 60cm class ( photos courtesy of AP Photography )

Knockagh View Equestrian centre, Greenisland held an outdoor derby on Sunday. The weather held up and allowed everyone to enjoy their day and the winner of each class took home a beautiful Knockagh View rug. The Star of the day was young Aimee Jenkins and her consistent pony Gusty winning both the 70cm & 80cm classes. Claire Dobbin and Louie jumped a lovely clear to top the 60cm class. Elaine Gardener riding her beautiful horse Sam made light work of the course jumping clear and taking top spot in the 90cm class. Knockagh View has training showjumping nights every Wednesday starting at 6.30pm with 50cms to 1M. For full details of all events at Knockagh View visit our website www.knockaghviewec.com and follow us on facebook for regular updates.

Results
60cms
1st Claire Dobbin, Louie
2nd Katie Bamford, Scout
3rd Katie-lee Houston, Minto

(From left) winner of the 90cm class Elaine gardener with her lovely Knockagh View rug, Sabrina McAnulty on chocolate chip and Dylan Kelso on Roxy

70cms
1st Aimee Jenkins, Gusty
2nd Mag Ross, Chester
3rd Aimee Roscoe, peter
4th Ruth Odornan, Midnight Maddy

80cms
1st Aimee Jenkins, Gusty
2nd Dylan Kelso, Roxy
3rd Chloe Wright, Flash
4th Mag Ross, Chester

90cms
1st Elaine Gardener, Sam
2nd Sabrina McAnulty, Chocolate Chip
3rd Dylan Kelso, Roxy
4th Steven Wilson, Minto

Training nights at Knockagh
Knockagh View Equestrian Centre is holding showjumping training shows every Wednesday night starting at 6.30pm with classes from 50cms to 1M. Courses designed each week by Regional SJI course Designer Alistair Megaghey. For more details contact Ruth on 07732809188.

‘Doonaveeragh Camiro’ in a League of His Own at Connell Hill

News Desk — Tue, 25 Feb 2014 07:22:28 +0000

Saturday the fourth date of this SJI Horse League, with six dates remaining before the final on Saturday 26^th April, saw a large number of competitors arrive to jump a technical track of colourful fences, designed by Mr W Crean, which demanded controlled precision riding. These tracks rewarded riders, spectators and owners with an exceptional day of excitement with a high standard of jumping in a pleasant, relaxed safety conscious environment. The day got off to a roaring start with the 80 cm class which saw Pauline McKeown on ‘Miss Darcy’, Clara Dawson on ‘Coral Blue’ and John McKinney on ‘Carrick Aldato Girl’ all jump super double clear rounds. The ladies took control of the 90 cm and 1.0 m classes with Shannon Cole jumping double clear on both her horses ‘Casalena Me Amore’ and ‘Battlestown Price Tag’, and Lucy Hanna on ‘Rock Black and Blue’ in the 90 cm class with Lucy going on to jump double clear in the 1.0 m class on ‘Greannanstown Cougar’. With the Winter Olympics in full swing Claire Ireland on ‘Going for Gold’ jumped double clear in the 1.0 m class with Kathryn Watt on ‘Derg Bonnie Rose’, Julie Steele on ‘Wellview Lenny’ and Nuala McNally on ‘Song of Charm’. Nuala then went on to jump double clear in the 1.10 m class on ‘Song of Charm’ with Alistair Barr striding in to take the challenge and jump double clear on ‘Colt Forty Five’ with John Higgins on ‘Doolin De Reve’. Competitors walked the course for the 1.20 m class but there was no stopping John Higgins, the very talented young man from Magherafelt, who claimed the only double clears on ‘Creevagh First Lady’ and ‘Doonaveeragh Camiro’. The course then set for the final class, the 1.30 m, and once again John entered the arena on ‘Doonaveeragh Camiro’ who just ultimately jumped big to win with the only double clear of the class.

Training Shows will continue next Friday night at 6.30 pm, X-Poles – 1.10 m classes, where everyone will receive a warm welcome with café facilities for hot and cold drinks/snacks.

*Horse Training Show* Thursday 27^th February at 10.00 am, classes 80 cm – 1.20 m. This show is ideal for schooling and the perfect opportunity to train or that little bit of extra fitness before jumping registered on Saturdays.

SJI Horse League continues on Saturday 1^st March at 10.00 am, classes 80 cm – 1.30 m. League dates are 1^st, 8^th, 22^nd and 29^th March, Sunday 13^th, Saturday 19^th and final on 26^th April. Competitors must jump at five league dates to qualify for final.

Grand Prix Horse Show on Saturday 15^th March at 10.00 am, classes 80 cm – 1.30 m.

James Wray Trust Working Hunter Show on Sunday 16^th March at 9.00 am.

IPS Pony Show on Sunday 23^rd March.

Connell Hills’ Two Day Horse Show on Saturday 5^th and Sunday 6^th April at 10.00 am, this is a show not to be missed with a total prize fund of £2,500.

Further details contact Gillian on 078 03 178 009 or Grace 077 65 884 254, www.connellhill.com

RESULTS

80 cm: Pauline McKeown – Miss Daracy, Clara Dawson – Coral Blue, John McKinney – Carrick Aldato Girl

90 cm: Shannon Cole- Casalena Me Amore, Lucy Hanna – Rock Black and Blue, Shannon Cole – Battlestown Price Tag,

1.0 m: Lucy Hannah – Greenanstown Cougar, Clare Ireland – Going for Gold, Kathyrn Watt – Derg Bonnie Rose, Julie Steel – Wellview Lenny. Nuala McNally -Song of Charm.

1.10 m: Alistair Barr – Colt Forty Five; Nuala McNally – Song of Charm; John Higgins – Doolin De Reve

1.20 m: John Higgins – Creevagh First Lady, John Higgins – Doonaveeragh Camiro

1.30 m: John Higgins – Doonaveeragh Camiro

Strule Valley Riding Club Demo Planned

News Desk — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 07:11:23 +0000

Strule Valley Riding Club Est 1997

Talk/Demo

With

Roger Gordon, Master Saddler

and

Anne Torrens, Muscle Care in Horses

Wednesday 16th January 2013

7.30pm

RDA, Omagh

***Everyone welcome***

If you would like an appointment with Roger, please phone Alison on 82 246652

Journey Europe Officially Begins!

News Desk — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 23:25:10 +0000

Few things in life bring me more joy than riding good horses with good friends. This weekend was full to the brim with joy and happiness but as with most wonderful things it didn’t come without tremendous effort. What was supposed to be our sunny south Texas getaway started early Friday morning at the balmy temperature of -20F with frozen water, frozen hands, and frozen highways….

After a long cold morning and five hours on the road, we were informed that the highways in Texas were closed. So our first adventure became finding lodging for ourselves and our seven horses. Thanks to the world wild web and the surfing skills of my father we contacted Johnny Bean’s horse farms in El Paso. He was willing and capable of caring for our equine friends for the evening. Once the horses were settled we sought refuge in a local hotel to wait out the ice. As the sun set and the temperature dropped it appeared we had made a good decision until we tried to leave for dinner. Then we were informed that we needed to return to our room while the police processed the armed robbery scene in the lobby. So with the glow of the red and blue lights we faded off to sleep hoping the next day would be less eventful. We woke the next morning to fresh snow in El Paso, so much for less eventful. After a quick breakfast for us and the horses we were on the road again heading across West Texas with the iPod blaring Guy Clark, Jerry Jeff Walker and Robert Earl Keen Jr. For the first time in my life I saw snow on the Guadalupe mountains which was spectacular sight except for the fact we were planning on sleeping in a tent. Our plans of camping out were quickly replaced with a soft bed in Marfa, Texas. So after a rough start, Journey America’s 60 miles to Mexico was about to begin.

Sunday morning in Marfa, Texas…blue skies and fresh snow made for a cold but beautiful beginning to the end of Filipe’s ride across the US. As we rode along the highway enjoying friendship and times with good horses we were continually reminded that most of the horses that travel this road are on a one way journey to Mexican slaughter plants. Semi load after semi load passed by stuffed with horses that were no different from the very horses we were riding. Four years earlier I bought Gunsmoke, one of the horses being ridden, at a slaughter auction in New Mexico. Had he not come home with me that day he would have been in one of those trailers instead of proudly carrying Daryl to the border. I was struck with sadness as I watched Gunny making that trip to Presidio knowing that it was only by the hands of destiny that he would get to come back to the ranch with his new best friend Texas. Texas was Filipe’s horse. He was donated to him in Wyoming by a rancher and he has traveled diligently alongside Bruisier and Frenchie all the way to Texas. But apparently his name was an omen of where his trip would end. Not all horses are made for all jobs and traveling another 8,000 miles was not in Texas’ future. But again fate was good to Felipe and I was able to find him a beautiful American Mustang to replace Texas. Taos is an adorable palomino mustang from the Taos herd in New Mexico. He is a pint sized version of Frenchie and will make the trip to Brazil with dignity and honor. Already the three of them have buddied up and are getting along well. Texas returned to New Mexico with me where he and Gunny have become best friends and he is enjoying a simpler life on the ranch.

Monday we arrived in Presidio as the sun was setting over the West Texas desert. Taking pictures in front of the “Welcome to Presidio” sign it seemed almost scenic and beautiful. Unfortunately you don’t have to look far to see the pain and desperation of humans and animals on the border. The war on drugs, the fiasco that is our immigration laws and the transport and handling of livestock all combine to make Presidio a very sad and depressing place. We didn’t linger long after our photos and headed back to Marfa to get the horses a night’s rest and fill their bellies before the long drive back to New Mexico. After the horses were tended to we all met for one last dinner to share a meal and stories from the trail. Everyone had ridden for their own reasons and to support their own causes but in the end it was about the horses and respect. Respect for each other, respect for animals, respect for our planet and respect for our heritage. Filipe had ridden from Canada to Mexico for his own reasons but along the way he has shown us this country is full of goodness of humanity. In the midst of so much sadness and despair pressed hard against the Mexican border this group of rag tag cowboys that Filipe has collected along the way proved to ourselves and the world that where there is kindness and humanity there is hope.

Leaving Marfa proved to be as hard as getting there. Not because of the weather but I knew I was leaving Filipe and Emma behind, if not forever, for a very long time. The friendships we made with Neta,Daryl, Trent, Deborah, Gary and Margo will last a lifetime and Filipe and Emma will always be considered family but life moves forward and for now that means moving away. Filipe is headed to Brazil and Olivia and I are headed to Ireland, each of us on a Journey with horses but each of us on a path of discovery all our own. Many have said human history has been written on the back of the horse, for me, my history is written through their eyes and on their hearts. As we rolled out of Marfa the under the big West Texas sky the iPod played Guy Clark’s “Desperado’s Waiting For a Train”, I wiped away my last tear as the BNSF train rolled past headed for the border.