Category: Shows

Dressage

Team Show Jumping

Last Wednesday we held the last of a series of 4 team show jumping competitions at Talygarn. The series has been supported by many local clubs such as Llangeinor Pony Club, Glamorgan Pony Club, Mynydd Riding Club, Millbrook Riding Club, Pensidan, Ty Luc Riders & Handfords. Eights teams were entered from Talygarn and over the series we have had many wins and places. Talygarn Pony Club Centre and Glamorgan Pony Club have managed to keep the most consistent teams throughout the series resulting in Talygarn having the most points for the 1t6 1ft9  2ft3 and 2ft6 and  Glamorgan winning the 2ft. The winning team members all received grooming bags and a selection of grooming brushes. Mother of  two Talygarn Team members Sheena Davies showed her support by becoming the unofficial team coach in place of Amelia and looked resplendent in her yellow Talygarn T Shirt. Intially Sheena was attempting to coach the teams that her children were riding in but word soon spread, and by the end of the day Sheena had become the official coach for all Talygarn teams. I understand Sheena is now talent spotting for London 2012. The Team Jumping series will start again in October this year, team members will be selected from those taking part in the riding school show jumping competitions run in the school holidays. There are more photos on the website Gallery

Easter Holidays

I can’t believe its only just over a week since I was in Greece with Martha. I knew Easter was going to be busy and going away for the week leading up to the holidays was probably not the best idea, I arrived home from the airport at 2.30am a week last Sunday and my busy week started at 6am with a trip to warwick for the pony club national quiz. The Talygarn Team consisted of 4 members Carys morgan, Millie Bushrod, Kate Owen and Sophie Thomas. The team were lying in 5th place at half time and and took 2nd place at the end. The team also received a runner up prize for their mascot which was based on riding and road safety. The winning mascot was based on the royal wedding. Many years ago it became a tradition to stop at McDonalds after Area Competitions. Nowadays its 2 stops, breakfast on the way there and meal on the way back. The following morning Amelia took her horse to Stratford to a show jumping yard for two weeks and I went to Cardiff for the Pony Club Horse and Pony Care Competition. Talygarn were had 2 junior teams and two senior teams. The junior teams were placed 3rd and 4th and the one of our senior teams was placed 2nd. Tuesday was a manic day with riding and road safety badge pony club centre and lessons. On wednesday we ran a cross country clinic which turned out to be very successful and we were extremely lucky with the weather. Friday was another busy day with a riding school show jumping competition. We also had 3 new horses arrive on friday 2 8yr old mares and  a 4yr old 16.1 gelding. (Sunday got the garden rotovated) Monday we took Sarah and Buffy and Carys and Jimbob to the hunter trials at Sunnybank. They day started well with Carys driving the land rover into the wheelie bin but did improve. Both horses had a few stops in the first class then both jumped a clear in the pairs and took 3rd place. Tuesdaya Pony Day was busy and today we have Team Junping, which is looking like another long day. We will be holding a riding school jumping competition on friday for those who don’t wont to be watching the royal wedding. With all the lessons to run as well its been a long week and I’m thinking I need a holiday.

Team Show Jumping March 2011

Sunday 20th March we held our 3rd team jumping of the series. This one should have been in December but due to the artic conditions at that time we had to rearrange it. Rearranging events in the horse world is a nightmare as there are always so many other events on. We lost a few of our regulars to the Dressage finals at Cricklands and several people from Pony Clubs were at the Monmouth Tetrathlon. Despite this we had a good turn out of 25 teams. Glamorgan PC informed me that because we had changed the date Him who decides the weather hadn’t been informed and thats why the sun shone all day. Talygarn teams rode extremely well and a Talygarn team won every class. At the end of every class the winning team is awarded a sash and rosette each and the team get to gallop a lap of the arena to Simply the Best with everyone cheering. Yesterday it was so nice to see some riders getting the opportunity to do this for the first time. Photos on the gallery Next team jumping Wed 27th April

Dengie Area Dressage

Prelim rounds for the Pony Club Area Dressage sponsored by Dengie are held throughout Area 10 during the winter months culminating in an Area Final. At the prelim rounds the first four that are placed qualify for the final. This year the final was to be held at Alps Court in Cardiff. I usually hold two or three prelim rounds at Talygarn at our usual Dressage competitions. This year Talygarn Pony Club Centre Members Kate Owen riding Hannah and Carys Morgan riding Buffy qualified for the finals. On Sunday morning the girls arrived early to wash and plait their horses. We loaded them onto the trailor for the journey to Cardiff. Buffy managed to poo all down her lovely white legs but Carys did a good job of cleaning her up with a water, stain remover and wet wipes. both horses were sharper than at home and Hannah was quite spooky. Carys rode a good test on Buffy although we both thought she hadn’t gone quite as well as she does at home, we were both surprised and pleased when she was placed 6th as there was some tough competition in the class. 6th out of 23 in the area finals is pretty amazing for a riding school pony who carries beginners and novice riders for the best part of the week. Hannah was more difficult to ride as she was very spooky in the school. Hannah didn’t get placed in the class but Kate rode her extremely well to have kept her as calm as she did. They weather was good and the tests seemed to run to time which is not an easy task with so many classes to get through. Dinas Powys Pony Club hosted the event although personally I feel all the credit should go to the Dinas Powys Pony Club Parent who made the Lemon Drizzle Sponge Cake. Photos are on the website in the Gallery I must also say thank you to Jackie Morgan and Sue Owen who insisted on giving us far more than the petrol actually cost to get them there. We enjoy taking the centre members to these events and it gives us tremendous pleasure to see them do so well. They always make a huge effort to turn themselves and their horses out to the highest standard and are a credit to Talygarn. It is also nice to be able to give something back to these girls (and their mothers) when they are always so helpful at home.