So you think showing isn't for you?

So you think showing isn't for you? Well we're determined to prove you wrong. Join the team at Leigh and District Horse and Pony Club—where there is something for everyone.

I’ve never done it before. Horseowners of all abilities are welcome at Leigh and District. Younger riders who are not as confident can try lead rein classes, first year first ridden or capabil-ity ridden. Older riders who are new to showing can try our novice classes.

My horse isn’t a registered breed. We have classes for every type of horse, from mini cobs and veterans to retired racehorses. Why not try a riding club horse or pony class where your horse will pop a small fence, or family pony if you have that rarest of creatures, a true all-rounder. Equitation classes are open to all breeds and our showjumping starts at 40cm.

I prefer dressage. We have an open style and per-formance class which would be perfect for those aspiring to wear top hat and tails. The show in-cludes a three or four loop serpentine, lengthened trot and extended canter across the diagonal. We also have both in hand and ridden classes for sport/competition/dressage horses.

My child just can’t stay clean for long enough to make it into the ring. That’s why we have the Thelwell pony and rider class!

We have shows throughout the summer, visit our website for more information

Tell us on Twitter (@leighridingclub) why you love showing - use the hashtag #showingisforme

PRESEASON SHOW SUNDAY, MARCH 18TH

Some good news from across the pond

We do like a bit of good news here in the Leigh and District camp, and we were particularly worried about the horses caught up in Hurricane Irene as it swept across America. However, we've just received this rather sweet story from North Carolina:

"The 116 wild Shackleford horses, 400-year residents of North Carolina’s Southern Outer Banks, weathered another storm. Immediately following Hurricane Irene, a new foal was born only hours after 90+ miles per hour winds struck Shackleford Banks, the horses’ permanent home. Appropriately named “Aftermath,” the new born foal is perfectly healthy, serving as a testament of the fortitude of the wild Spanish Mustangs.

"At the southern end of Core Sound, a valuable part of the Cape Lookout National Seashore, lies a gem of an island known as Shackleford Banks. The only permanent residents on this nine-mile long island are Spanish Mustangs, locally known as "Banker ponies." The majestic horses, survivors of Spanish galleon shipwrecks, have roamed freely across the miles of pristine beaches for more than 400 years. Visitors make their way to the island by private boat or on one of the ferries running from Harkers Island, Beaufort and Morehead City."

Championship news and dressage is back!

Hello all!

Sorry it's been so long, it's been incredibly busy over at L&D towers. However we're thrilled to report that last weekend we won the Osbaldeston Classics showing championships by a whopping 60 point margin. We're really pleased and would like to thanks everyone that came along and represented us. This weekend is the team showjumping event, so let's hope we can dominate that, too!

Here's Darren and Ann with our trophies...



In other news, Leigh and District's winter dressage series has returned for its third year, giving horse owners in the North West the chance to brush up their dressage skills from next month riding their tests in the shelter of our indoor school.
Once again, we're offering separate classes for beginner riders and green horses aged six and under, plus a choice of two prelim and two novice tests.
For those who become dressage members there is the chance to compete for an end-of-season trophy, while the test schedule has been co-ordinated to help horses and riders improve over the course of the season.
Leigh and District's dressage committee pride themselves on being the friendliest in the area and are always happy to answer questions from newbies and provide advice on everything from tack and togs to how to interpret the judge's comments.
The first competition will take place on Sunday, October 9th, at Landlords Farm Equestrian Centre, on Dicconson Lane in Aspull, Lancashire.
For more information, test schedule, membership and entry forms, email leighanddistrict@yahoo.co.uk.

Phew!

Where on earth has the season gone? It doesn't seem like five minutes since we were worrying over whether the fields would be dry enough for the first show - and now it's May bank holiday!

Don't forget, this weekend's show will be your last chance to qualify with us for the Ponies (UK) sumemr champs, and is also a BSPS championship qualifier and area 2a points show. I've been looking round the websites of other clubs recently and I believe that we offer the widest selection of qualifiers anywhere in the North West - although if you know of one we've missed then let us know!

Still to come are more Equifest and UK Showing qualifiers, CHAPS, TARRA (for retired racehorses), plus more opportunities to qualify for the North West showjumping and working hunter championships before Ponies (UK) winter qualifiers at the end of summer.

Sunday's show will also have a working hunter ring, with clear round until 11am. For logistical reasons the working hunter is NOT on the main show field - unlike some shows we don't believe it's fair to ask 15 section Ds to gallop round a 20 by 20 ring! If you cross out of the show field by the bottom gate and go across the flat field (spare car parking) you will come to our beautiful, professionally built workers course. It jumped really well at the show at the beginning of the month, so we hope you will come and give it a go.

As ever, more details are available on our website, or you can leave a comment or email leighanddistrict@yahoo.co.uk with your thoughts.

See you on Sunday!

Dressage results and fabulous gala day!

**** February results ****

After the postponement of the January dressage competition due to the heavy snowfall, we were thrilled to see that competitors braved the cold for Leigh's February dressage competition.

Karen Calderbank won the senior beginners' class on her pony, Gigman Sandypipit, while Holly Watson took junior honours on Carrwood Goldleaf.

The open prelim class was won by Debbie Dobson on her shire cross, My Gentleman. Abi Lilley and Euphoria Queen won both the junior prelim and novice classes. The elementary winner was Jackie Fare on Oskar.

Katie Hodson won the prix caprilli (dressage with jumping) on her Connemara pony, A Bouncing Star.

**** March dressage ****

The final dressage competition of the winter series will take place on March 20. The classes will be beginners prelim 4, open prelim 13, novice 30 and elementary 49. The competition will be a qualifier for the Veteran Horse Society dressage championships - currently the only qualifier for the champs in this region.

**** Dressage Gala Day ****

The dressage committee have just announced that they will be holding a Dressage Gala Day on July 3rd.

Riders will have the chance to improve their dressage scores in clinics with British Dressage listed judge Jenny Johnson, followed by classes in the afternoon including lead rein, young horse, beginners and prix caprilli, plus prelim, novice and elementary classes.

The day will also have qualifiers for the Veteran Horse Society dressage championships and the UK Riders dressage championships.

Details and entry forms are available on the Leigh and District website, http://www.leighanddistrict.co.uk

Winter Dressage - February 13th

Yep, after some snow-induced confusion we are back with the second to last of our Winter Dressage series. December's tests have now become February's tests to keep the increase in difficulty as gentle as possible.

Tests are:

BEGINNERS: Prelim 1

OPEN: Prelim 10, Novice 25, Elementary 49

PLUS! Prix Caprilli 2 (dressage with jumping)

There are several Prix Caprilli tests floating around on the internet. The CORRECT Prix Caprilli 2 is available to download and print off from the Leigh and District website.More details and entry forms are available from http://www.leighanddistrict.co.uk.

Deadline for entries is Wednesday, February 10th. Please ring between 8 and 10pm on Friday, February 12th for times.

We are also thinking about holding adressage day in July with qualifiers for VHS dressage and possibly the Fearns Farm Dressage Championships, plus two dressage clinics and potentially a chance to try your hand at medium level. If you like the idea of this and it could potentially be something you would be interested in, or you have any other ideas of what you would like to see included in a dressage day, please message me or email leighanddistrict@yahoo.co.uk.

Show clinics and dressage

There are no more places left for the January clinic with Julie Templetone. If you have paid for a place but haven't heard about what time your slot is yet, please email leighanddistrict@yahoo.co.uk

Places for the February clinic are also going fast! You can download a booking form from the Leigh and District website but if you are an M&M owner I would recommend texting first to check there are spaces available. Absolutely no calls before 6pm on weekdays please!

We are also now taking entries for the next dressage competition on February 13. Again, you can find more details from the Leigh and District website. It's a great chance to come and try your hand at dressage, and we have classes for everyone, from beginners to elementary.

For the March competition and the dressage day in July (details yet to be announced) I am considering holding a VHS dressage champs qualifier if enough people are interested. Please comment below to let me know your thoughts.

I am also thinking of organising two one-hour clinics at the July event if there is enough interest - again, comments below please!

Julie Templeton places going fast!

Just a quick note to say that places on the Julie Templeton clinics are going fast. The clinics will take place on Sunday January 31st and Sunday February 28th. Booking forms are available from our website and cheques should be made out to Leigh and District Horse & Pony Club.

Julie Templeton showing clinics

Top show rider Julie Templeton will be holding two showing clinics at Leigh and District next year to help people prepare for the new season.
Julie’s impressive list of wins and placings includes HOYS, the BSPS champs and the RIHS.
A gift voucher for a session would make the perfect Christmas present for any horse-mad friends or family who want to be in the ribbons next season.
The clinics will take place at Landlords’ Farm Equestrian Centre, Dicconson Lane, Aspull, on Sunday January 24th and Sunday February 28th.
Sessions will last an hour and each session will be divided into types, so it is relevant to each participant's needs. There will be no more than six horses in each class.
Each session costs £25 per horse.
For more information, ring Kat on 07833 523295 or visit www.leighanddistrict.co.uk