2008 September | Chris's Blog

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http://blogs.talygarnec.co.uk/2010/02/nestle-get-set-go-free-promotion/ I think they are having a laugh. 2 days ago
Come to "Unaffiliated Show Jumping" 21 March from 10:00 to 17:00. Unaffiliated Show Jumping Starts with Lead rein... http://bit.ly/dkAclC 1 week ago
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Archive for September, 2008

French Exchange

Thursday, September 25th, 2008

Amelia and I have been to visit a riding school in France with the view to organising and exchange visit between some of their kids and ours. We arrived in Charles du Gaulle Paris on Friday and we were met by Sylvie the owner of the riding school after lunch we went to the riding school where we were shown around and then Sylvie’s husband John took us out on a hack. It was so nice to ride in such beautiful countryside with not a car in sight. Although John did take us up this rather steep hill and then galloped back down it and up the other side. He and Frances (English speaking guy who came with us as John does not speak English) were laughing at Amelia who took off after them but I decided this was a good time to teach my horse that it cant always just go with the rest and thank goodness he saw it my way and we jogged down half of it and then cantered the rest. Later we met Isabelle the riding instructor that we stayed with who had originally contacted us. Saturday was a very busy day at the school. There are three schools two indoor one very small for young riders and a large outdoor school. The majority of the children from 4 to 12yrs ride shetland ponies when they begin, then appear to move on to other horses and ponies when they have the basics of riding. The system seems to work very well and although I would say our more experienced kids ride better, their younger ones are far better than ours. The reason for this is because their expectations are different. The ponies are no better than ours some worse in fact but the kids do not grumble they fall off, they get on and they sort it out. None of the ponies wear boxes and they do bite, one bit me but thats ponies for you the kids and parents realise that. Amelia and I had a go in the vaulting lesson. The horse FanFan is a 16hh very large cob. Its definitely not that easy to stand up whilst moving, some of the children doing the vaulting are as young as 4yrs old. Sunday was their open day which started with a show jumping competition. I don’t think I have ever seen so many kids fall off in one competition but everyone got up and carried on. One child fell off a shetland which then galloped around the arena, approx 10 kids and three dogs chased it and when they caught it they chucked the kid back on and she carried on around the course. Amelia was given a horse to jump, very unlike the ones she is used to but she came third on it. After there was a barrel racing competition which Amelia came 2nd in and Sylvie and I had our own barrel race on two shetlands (I won). Next was the vaulting display followed by a TREC demonstration and then several musical rides for all ages. Lunch was mussels and fries Amelia was horrified and just had the fries I enjoyed it and especially with the Kir (French Liquer in white wine) that came with it. Saturday afternoon we visited Chantilly which is known as the Capitol of the Horse it has 2,600 thoroughbreds ridden by 600 jockeys, Europe’s largest Polo Clubs with between 300 and 500 hundred horses and 600 hundred horses for leisure purposes and the Museum of the horse, They have sand covered tracks with white rails up the main roads like we have bicycle tracks and miles of sand laid gallops and tracks through the forests. Amelia and I particularly enjoyed the French way of life where eating socialising and wine drinking every evening seem to be the way of life. We could definitely get used to that. Although not many people spoke English everyone was very friendly and went out of their way to make us welcome. We are hoping to arrange an exchange next year we will try to find out on both sides which kids would be interested and pair them up, the French are planning to come here in April and us going there in July. Pictures are on the Gallery www.talygarnec.co.uk/Gallery.php

Posted on Thursday, September 25th, 2008 at 1:19 am You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.

Not Enough Hours in the Day

Friday, September 19th, 2008

Well if last week wasn’t bad enough this week has been worse. We eventually ended up with 8 full time students, 15 part time and 29 I think on Horse owners and people are still trying to enrol. Lynne started as yard manager this week and two of our three schools started back on the E3 programme. Three schools next week. Amelia and I are going to France tomorrow to visit the french riding school that want to link up with us with the idea of perhaps organising an ecxchange visit for some of our clients. Today I sorted out the ride list for the day and several other things then rode Destiny for an hour then I had an appointment to have my hair cut at noon and then I thought I would do all the lesson lists and make sure everything was in place for the next four days. So getting back from the hairdressers just before 1pm I grabbed a quick sandwich and sat down at the computer. When a large van arrived. Last week I bought a flat screen TV to go on the wall in the lounge but I thought it was being delivered next week but no it was today. so leaving the lists I cleared a space in the lounge the men brought all the stuff in then casually said ‘where’s your bracket love’ to which I replied ‘what bracket’ apparently I had bought one but the store hadn’t given it to me, So off I go to Comet in Talbot Green to pick up the bracket, its now getting on for 2pm The workman insisted I sat on the settee and stared at a large piece of cardboard which he held on the wall to decide where I wanted the TV. I can now seeing the hours running away and I have to leave for the theatre at 6pm. So I’m tempted to tell them to stick it anywhere but no I have to decide. Eventually I get back to the work I need to do when the school turns up, realising that Lynne has never done schools before and neither have the new students I am now running around like a headless chicken trying to get them started. I sort of get the rest of my lists done by 6.10pm and manage to pick up my friend late and meet the other two in time for one vodka before the start. Have to say we went to see Fiddler on the Roof and it was absolutely amazing. Anyway dropped everyone off and am just finishing the rest of the work I have to do and then I am gonna pack. Leaving at 6.30am will tell you all about it next week.

Posted on Friday, September 19th, 2008 at 12:57 am You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.

Equine College Courses

Monday, September 15th, 2008

Now we have just about recovered from the school holidays Monday sees the start of term for our Equine Students. Laura Jones Griffiths will be back Monday night to teach the Adult evening course. So if you are planning to do the course make sure you are here on Monday between 3pm and 7pm to enroll, earlier than the course start time if possible. I have gone over the health and safety induction so many times this week I think I could recite it in my sleep now. There will be 6 full time students this year and 15 part time students on a variety of courses from NVQ to BHS Stages and PTT during the week plus 30 Adults on Horse Owners courses on Monday evening. We are welcoming Lynne on board this week as Yard Manager/Instructor making a total of 9 teaching staff. This week has been quite manic trying to keep up with the amount of paperwork to sort out for next week which include staff rotas, schemes of work for every course, Lesson plans etc. Despite the weather and the so called credit crunch Lessons have been extremely busy. The new ponies Murphy and Gem have settled in well and a new horse arrived this week on Trial - Max a 16.2 TB x Irish Draft, unfortunately he cut his leg whilst travelling here so we have yet to try him out. Hopefully we will get him ridden tomorrow.

The Pony Club have brought out a series of Mini Achievement badges and an E test for the younger members so Mini Pony Club Centre will be starting on Saturday 4th of October with one hour sessions for 4 to 8 year olds the sessions will be £5 an hour and if you would like your child to attend the sessions pick up a form from the office to join the pony club.

Posted on Monday, September 15th, 2008 at 1:22 am You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.

A Very Sad Day

Wednesday, September 10th, 2008

Yesterday was the funeral of Alan Bayliss, Alan is the grandfather of Debra Bayliss. Debra has been riding at Talygarn for 8years and Carol and Alan have always been supportive bringing Debra to lessons and other events and always taking a keen interest in her riding. Alan was taking part in a parents event riding Buffy when he suffered from a coronary thrombosis and collapsed outside the indoor school. All entries that were paid for that class were given as a donation at the funeral to Cancer research as requested by the family. Alan will be missed at the riding school and our thoughts are with the family at this time.

Posted on Wednesday, September 10th, 2008 at 6:33 pm You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.

Sunnybank BSJA

Monday, September 8th, 2008

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

Posted on Monday, September 8th, 2008 at 1:54 am You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.