Twitters from Talygarn

Posting tweet...

Powered by Twitter Tools

Navigation:
Categories:
Archives:


Website From Only £70 Banner
Meta:

Archive for November, 2007

BHS Stage 2

Saturday, November 17th, 2007

Last week Laura Thomas and Leigh Humprey took their BHS Stage two exam at Summerhouse Equestrian Centre in Gloucester. Leigh and I left at 5.30am as we weren’t sure how long it would take us to find Summerhouse. We arrived at 7am and sat in the car for an hour observing the staff arriving for work. Then we walked the show Jumping course set at 2′6. It is always a good idea to be above the level when taking exams and as Leigh is currently jumping at 2′9 and 3′ the course appeared small to him. I left them at 8.30 when the exam commenced. Stage 1 is a basic exam held in a morning but stage two is a full day exam covering Flatwork, Jumping, a course and a Grid, Theory, Practical and Lunging. Several Years ago candidates received their results on the day but things have changed and now it is a week before they find out. I am pleased to say both Laura and Leigh passed both sections and now have their full stage two. Three years ago I took on Leigh as a complete non rider and it gives me great pleasure to see him acheiving this level in such a short time. Although Marina is now responsible for his training and I no longer teach him, no college will take on a non rider and I feel proud that on giving him the chance he has acheived so much and I have great faith in him that he will acheive his AI. Laura started riding at this riding school at approx 9 years of age and has worked her way through all levels and has acheived a lot through pony club here, I hope Laura will now go on to do her PTT .

Congratulations and well done to both of you

Posted on Saturday, November 17th, 2007 at 10:11 am You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.

Buying Horses

Friday, November 16th, 2007

My search is still on for new horses. Today Leigh and I traveled to somewhere outside of crickhowell to see a 7yr old TB x Shire gelding 16.1hh called Magic. I spoke to the lady the night before and got directions and also an e mail with a couple of photos. Looked promising. We set out at about 10.30 and got there just after noon. Directions are always amusing although these were pretty good, except for the turn right before cattle grid. How do you know where the turning is if you don’t know where the cattle grid is? Needless to say we missed it and as the lane was very narrow had to continue up mountain till I found a large area to swing round. The view was magnificent all mountains sticking out of a blanket of fog unfortunately I’m not very good at driving where there are drops on the side of the road so was quite worried. Eventually we found the farm and the horse was tied to the side of the house with a haynet of straw. No rug and the weather was freezing cold. We had a coffee and a chat about how to kill a duck via the internet (buts thats another story) and then looked at the horse. First impressions are always good and I liked the look of him. Nice size not too heavily built. I then felt his legs which had a few splints but no swellings and looked ok. Then I looked at his teeth I’m not the best with teeth but I would have said older than seven although he has a passport and is aged as seven. He lacks muscle but she admitted he had not been ridden for sometime and I felt he could do with feeding up but. Leigh trotted him up the road and then the owner did, so we could look at his action and for any lameness. Things are looking up, appears to be sound. He stood very still and calm whilst being tacked up. Leigh did his usual jump from the ground and straight on but he was not fazed. Leigh trotted him on road, slightly close behind and a very slight dish in front but nothing serious. Leigh then took him in a boggy field and had a trot and a canter on a circle. Its very hard to make a decision when there isn’t facilities to try a horse out which is why I prefer to have them on trial but its not always possible. Anyway we both decided we liked him so decided to buy him. which means another trip to pick him up. We also purchased a 16.1hh Grade B show jumper this week which amelia will jump BSJA and will be used in some lessons. Honey a Large Irish Draught type has been here on a weeks trial but is not suitable due to lameness so she is going back and I could do with finding another horse as Lincoln will be going soon.

Posted on Friday, November 16th, 2007 at 2:50 am You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.

Dressage

Tuesday, November 13th, 2007

Organising competitions is a nightmare at the best of times but organising any competition that requires entries in by a certain date is murder and Pony Club Dressage has to be the worst. I have run a Pony Club Team Dressage in November for approx 4 years now because I think it is nice to have some local pony club competitions but I think this might be the last. The closing date for the entries was Monday usually we have 8 teams, this year we have 5. I have to cancel lessons on a saturday afternoon to run this event and what I lose in lessons is not covered by Dressage entries after I have paid for rosettes medals, juding sheets a judge and some staff. It is difficult to arrange a judge when I cannot tell the judge how many entries I have and therefore do not know what time I need them. I am supposed to have a list Judge for the Dengie Dressage but this is Wales and they are thin on the ground, having spoke to Pony Club on this matter I now have an experienced Judge but not a list Judge. Judging sheets came today, I have too many but that’s because I had to guess as entries weren’t in till today and money still isn’t in. I am also missing names of horses and some surnames as well and I still don’t have anyone to write. Along side this is the usual running of the riding school with umpteen staff off this week for one reason or another. Two horses which came on trial last week both lame and three kids to be taxi service for and an oversize house, no wonder I feel the need to go to the pub

Posted on Tuesday, November 13th, 2007 at 4:43 pm You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.

The Car

Monday, November 5th, 2007

Not having had a newish car for many years and being used to driving old bangers I never cease to be amazed by all the fascinating little gadgets it has particularly all the information it gaves you. The other week I had to leave early in the morning to pick my daughter up. I got in the car thinking the windows has condensation on them, started up the engine and a sign flashed up saying ice alert. I got out of the car leaving the engine running felt the windows and they were covered in ice. So off I toddled to get some cool water thinking ‘what a clever car’. I stood at the side of the car and poured the water on the windowscreen. When the water hit the automatic windscreen wipers it set them off and promptly flicked the water all over me, so much for clever cars!

Posted on Monday, November 5th, 2007 at 4:08 pm You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.

Talygarn Show Jumping

Friday, November 2nd, 2007

As if Team Show Jumping all day Wednesday wasn’t enough, Thursday we held another show jumping competition for riding school clients. I do enjoy these competitions its lovely to see the kids having a go but the funniest class has got to be the parents. This time we had a pairs competition for a rider and a parent. The rider jumping a course as fast as possible then dismounting and leading their chosen parent around the same course, obviously small jumps. Ten parents took part and the pics are posted on the Talygarn website gallery. Leigh Humprey (rider) and Huw Cogbill (parent) took first place with an extremely fast round. Carys (rider) and Kath (parent) took 2nd, Someone told me Kath fell off after the last fence. Hannah (rider) and Kim (parent) were third which was an amazing acheivement as kim nearly fell off over just about every fence. Sheena we are installing a swear box for you. The Bareback Jumping class is good fun too, although none of the parents seem to want to enter that one. Overall it was a good day and well done to all the girls who worked hard all day to keep it running also Leigh and Amelia Judging and Freya on entries and generally organising everyone.

Posted on Friday, November 2nd, 2007 at 3:01 pm You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.

Main Site Links

Riding Lessons

Riding Lessons

BHS/NVQ Training

BHS/NVQ Training

Pony Club

Pony Club

Competitions

Competitions

Gallery

Gallery

Horses/Ponies for sale

Horses/Ponies for sale

Website From Only £70 Banner