Friday 22 April 2016


THE START OF OUR SPRING COMPETITIONS

Saturday was the first of our dresssage competitions at Intro and Prelimary level. A good entry set the bar high to make it a very competitve day. 

 Riders from Wheatfield equestrian centre took the journey around the lough to join us in Carlingford. Bethany and Katie diligently spent an hour learning and practising there tests before facing our new judge from Dressage Ireland, Christine Keane.
 They set a great example.Check out the web site www.carlingfordloughequestrian.com for results.

 Martin well deserved his excellent 2nd placing on Princess. He has worked hard and it paid off. Martin must also be praised for the effort he put in to the cleaning and plaiting of the ponies for Saturday's competition.

There are two mini riders Tiernan Thomas and Leah Molly at our equestrian centre who are coming on great. They will definitely be ready to enter the next phase of show jumping and dressage.

 This week was also the first visit from Dundalk Grammer school transitional year students. Welcome to the two new students Mallaek and Elizabeth. Sharon Brown, the year head co-ordinator has also joined in, riding her old friend Neptune.

 These students were beginner riders in the Autumn session. They were a little nervous at first but once they took up the reins it was like riding a bike. Well done to everyone.
  My own competition horses, Henry and Indie are being trained now for the up coming Northern Ireland Dressage Festival.
 
A big thanks again to Christine, Martin and all our competitors.

Friday 15 April 2016


The playful madness of the Easter camps was infectious. The ponies and horses all had to have some fun, including Indie before his first competition .

Two heels to poor Moyet after she washed and groomed him. He broke out and rolled and rolled in the mud. Henry watched on smugly as it was his week off, but Indie still strutted his stuff on the Sunday with a good dressage score of 66%.
 
The children are the heart of the riding school and saturday was the first of our Spring two phase competitions. Our new jumps made by Colm Cunningham stood proudly in its new home, our arena.
 

Lots of praise to Thomas finishing 1st in the 30cms with Charlotte on Hymesh 2nd.

The 60-70cms was won by Holly and her beautiful pony Willow. 2nd was Moya on the elegant Beauty and 3rd was Creta on the adorable Annie.
 
Martin was beaten in the 90cms by Kayleigh Brady. Next time Princess ' don't eat all our Easter Eggs!' and you be able to jump the fences!!
 
This week is the dressage. Into A and Prelim 13. Tests can be called out if required. We also welcome our new judge Christina Keane. I hope the sun shines across the Mournes and Lough to give us a beautiful day.
 
Thank you to our benevolent sponsors Boyd's stores and Carlingford Lough Craft and tack shop.
 
This week the team feel a special recognition must be given to Holly Mcguire. Her work on Willow paid off and thank you to every.body at Carlingford Lough Equestrian Centre for making it our little horsey home.

Sunday 3 April 2016


Oh what a way to end a week. If only we could sell rain to the Arabs!!

We were 
 lucky, our very eventful Easter camp was a little damp on friday 





but the children's enthusiasm only brought sunshine to the yard.

A large group of hard working children, Holly, Moya,Louis, Bethany,Charlotte, Katie and Sinead.had an exciting and educational week on their ponies.

  Tuesday was a day where the children were taught the importance of cleaning and regularly  checking their tack for wear and tear. This is very important for safety,  both for their ponies and themselves.

  After after a day of teaching we needed a day of fun, fun, fun. Wednesday was play day and what high jinks we had.The ponies thought this was great and hide and seek was taken over by the them who decided to take off on their own and hide in the paddocks. Poor Martin had to catch all the naughty ponies and bring them back.Louis was alot more sensible than the ponies and he won the childtens's game.

 The rain descended on us in the afternoon so we retreated to the tack room for a quiz. We had 3 teams, Holly and Sinead,( ginger gals)

Moya, Leah and Bethany,( the BLM club )

and the clear winners were the A team, Katie and Leah. The A team correctly named had a fantastic score of 88.

  Thursday was a more sedate day with a gentle hack up the mountain.

  Friday came with rain and an excitable group of children. Today was jumping day.Six pence was very naughty and threw Katie off. What a bold pony but Katie was ok, just a little stunned. We played 'chase me charlie.' This is a game where everyone jumps a single fence. The riders who go clear go to a second round and carry on until one rider is left. Leah and Moya tied for 1st place, jumping 96cms, almost 1 metre. Amazing.

 As usual Martin's Easter Egg hunt was an hunt and a half. ' Martin did you and Princess eat all the eggs!!'

 At the end of the day Cairlinn did a lovely bbq  and Sinead and Holly were presented a prize for having the tidiest and cleaness yard.

  Thank you Holly, Moya, Leah, Louis, Bethany,  Charlotte, Katie and Sinead for giving us a wonderful week