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September 8, 2008

Sunnybank BSJA

Filed under: Home — Chris Rogers @ 1:54 am

After our disastrous day at the Vale Show. Sunnybank today was much more successful. We took Muppet and Leo, we were going to go to the BSJA but there is none in S Wales leaving us no option but to travel to Hand in somerset or go unaffiliated at Sunnybank. Muppet napped quite a lot last time out and was very badly behaved. Amelia rode him in the 2′6 today and although he had two fences down he was very well behaved. Leo was on form today and won the 3′3 and the 3′6. Sunnybank have decided to not hold any further BSJA competitions due to the fact they make such a loss on them compared to the unaffiliated jumping. This is such a shame for the people in South Wales that wish to compete BSJA as venues in S Wales are very thin on the ground, The Wales and the West don’t hold any competitions during the winter therefore we are left with only one competition this year at Pencoed College. Perhaps the BSJA should be looking at ways they can encourage venues like Sunnybank who have excellent facilities to hold competitions rather than discouraging them by giving them nothing to bring people in and piling ever more increasing costs on venues. We have had very little decent summer jumping due to the bad weather this year and Area 35 only have one winter show this side of Christmas to offer. After all the BSJA are more than willing to take our subscriptions and I don’t suppose they would like to offer us a reduction

August 27, 2008

Murphy and Whispa, Horses at Talygarn

Filed under: Horses — Chris Rogers @ 1:11 am

There was some disappointment for a few people last week with the sudden departure of Murphy who has been at Talygarn for a good few years now. Murphy has been loaned to us by his owners to use in the riding school as are several horses here and whereas the owners have the right to take them back it is generally agreed that notice will be given on either side. Although I can’t say I was sad to see him go I appreciate that very often clients form bonds with certain horses and are upset when they go, at the very least they would’ve liked to have had the opportunity to say goodbye. Unfortunately this didn’t happen with Murphy as his owners rang on Tuesday and informed me they were taking him on Thursday. I wonder what they would have said if I had given them two days notice to have him back. Two more ponies should be arriving on trial this week a 13hh pony called Gem and a 14hh pony called Murphy. Strange that one Murphy should go and another one arrives, at least we won’t be confused having two with the same name.

Whispa is also leaving us soon possibly on Saturday. Whispa has been here since we started the riding school. I remember going to see him at quite a posh place with Hayley Bevan who use to help out here in those days. My daughter Jen rode him and he seemed very quiet then Hayley got on him and he took off leaving huge footprints in their neatly mowed front lawn. He was 6yr old then. I wouldn’t say he is the easiet pony to ride as he has rather short legs for the length of his body but he has a terrific jump and has been a favourite of many clients and staff. In fact it is a ex client that has asked if she can have him when he retires. Whispa is about 21yr old now and whereas he is fit enough to stay in work and doesn’t need to retire yet (21 is not too old for a riding school pony) he is also quite a clever pony and over the last couple of years he has worked out that although he is happy to jump, trot and canter for those that can ride he definitely knows who can’t ride and pretends he can’t move faster than a snail. I think he will enjoy the change so I have agreed that Kayleigh can have him as I know she will look after him. I always said I wouldn’t sell him as he has been good to us and I would worry that as he suffers from sweet Itch he would not be looked after properly. He’s given us some good times over the years, many kids have fallen off jumping him due to his rather big jump, Those that can jump him loved him and I know Carys is planning to jump him bareback on Friday for the last time. He has taken part in the Musical ride at the BBQ & open evening with several children riding him. In his early years he would often take off in the outdoor school sometimes taking other ponies with him and mayhem would occur when kids fell off in all directions. The Funniest time was a lesson where a lad of about 9yrs was riding him and asked him to canter in the bottom corner of the outdoor school he had been told not to hit him with a whip but he did and Whispa took off in canter a bit fast, the lad panicked then screamed and let go both reins and put his hands over his eyes consequently he fell off going around the next corner. Amelia fell off him when she was about 5yrs whilst learning to canter, I even remember Emma Davies (instructor) falling off him playing Polocrosse, he was one of her favourites for Polocrosse and Gymkhana. He used to be very good at them until he punctured his eye. He probably lost some sight in it and then became nervous of horses galloping at him from all directions. When he goes Lucy will take his title of being the horse thats been here the longest.

August 23, 2008

The Pony Club Championships

Filed under: Pony Club, Shows — Chris Rogers @ 12:28 pm

Every year the Pony Club Championships are held in August. This year a team from Talygarn competed in the centre member competition. 2 children over 12yrs ride one horse and two children 12yrs ride another horse. The team consisted of Carys Morgan Sarah Blake Carys Reville and Sophie Goddard and the horses were Fred and Buffy. Wednesday night I didn’t bother going to bed as we had to be up at 2am to get the horses ready to go. After packing the lorry and loading the horses we left at 3.15am. Steve drove, Amelia (the team trainer), Carys Reville, her father and myself travelled up in the lorry. We arrived at 7am and met up with Sarah, Carys M and Sophie. 19 teams took part in the competition, each competitor had to ride a dressage test and jump a course of fences and they were judged on their riding. Carys M and Sarah have done quite a lot of competing including the Novice challenge Dressage and Team Jumping but Sophie and Carys R are less experienced. The Tack and Turn was at 8.30am and Buffy and Fred looked very smart all plaited and washed. Sarah was first to do her Jumping at 9.35am and last to go with her Dressage at 3pm the rest were spread out in between. Amelia was rushing back and fore between rings (which were a field apart) making sure they had warmed up and knew what they were doing. Whilst Steve & Gaynor Blake and myself sat in the sun with our cans of strongbow. At 4pm all the girls had to be dressed and the horses tacked up and in the ring for the presentation. Amelia and I had a look at the scores and we were sure that they would get placed. They announced the teams in reverse order starting at 10th place by the time 4th place had been announced I think the team were feeling a little disappointed so the look of shock and surprise on their faces was amazing when they were called out into third place. Steve and Gaynor went into the ring to hold the horses whilst the team took their place on the podium to be presented with their rosettes and Salvers

It was a very emotional moment and Sophie’s mum was even shedding a tear or two. Next came the individual placings. Carys Reville took 4th best Junior and Sarah Blake took 3rd best Senior. The girls brought bright pink commenerative pony club sweat shirts with their names on the back so you cant miss them on the yard now. Even Todd (our Jack Russell) got to compete in some show jumping although he wasn’t too impressed and knocked two fences down. After a stop at McDonalds and a long drive home we arrived back after 10pm. It was a fantastic day and we are very proud of the team all the pictures can be seen in the gallery www.talygarnec.co.uk

August 21, 2008

BSJA Vale of Galmorgan Show

Filed under: Shows — Chris Rogers @ 2:06 am

I sent the entry in for the Vale of Glamorgan Show a week ago thinking that Amelia could jump a class with Leo and the weather would change and we could have a nice day out. Wrong, It rained all week. We loaded Leo on the box at 1pm then wondered as we stood in the pouring rain whether we should bother at all. I’ve come to the conclusion Leo does not like jumping on wet muddy ground and the collecting ring resembled a ploughed field. He seemed fairly stressed and lacked brakes, then to add to the problems next to the collecting ring the hunt complete with hounds appeared, at this point he grew 2 hands and had even less brakes. Amelia was not feeling too positive. The class was run on drawn order and Amelia was drawn first to go after walking the course the hunt appeared to have gone although Leo wasn’t anymore settled. On entering the ring the next display in the adjoining ring started - A motor bike display. I think that finished him off altogether, having 3 people on a motor bike revving it up and appearing to be riding towards you as your about to jump a double was too much and he slammed the brakes on, after a few more fences with no control Amelia retired. The rain hammered down while we took the studs out, not that there was much point in having them in the ground was so soft and wet I think they probably slid straight through the mud. Anyway we we were soaked through so we didn’t manage to have a look around. After having a brilliant weekend and a number of rosettes in in very big classes at The Wales and the West last weekend its amazing how it can all then go so wrong but thats horses for you. Its a shame for the show to have such awful weather, So many people put such a lot of effort in and its such a lovely show.

August 15, 2008

So Much Rain

Filed under: Home, Horses, Riding School — Chris Rogers @ 1:10 am

I think camp this week must have been the wettest ever. The rain has been torrential flooding the yards and fields and nearly going into the indoor school. Certainly hasn’t been the year to have the roof down on my car, although when they said convertible maybe they mean’t converts into a swimming pool. It was impossible to ride in the fields at all but at least we have the indoor school and I think everyone enjoyed themselves. The wheelbarrow races were hysterical. The funniest comment I heard this week was from one of the staff who informed me she had come prepared for the rain, as she was soaking wet and didn’t have any dry clothes with her I asked her what she mean’t and her reply was ‘I didn’t wear any mascara so it won’t run’ Hadn’t thought of that myself. I was asked to write a weekly column for the local paper last week, (more writing at 2am) the Llantrisant Observer. The first one came out yesterday and I’ve sent next weeks in so make sure you buy it! Show Jumping today was a little quiet as most people are away on holiday but for once it didn’t rain. Doubt we will be so lucky show jumping at Broomes this weekend. Next Show Jumping for the riding school clients will be Friday August 29th and we will have that very popular (and Funny) parents class back by demand. The Pony Club centre members will be running this show to raise funds for the Halloween party so the more support the better.