Sad news as the horse world loses a legend

Tragic news today from the Eilbergs whose fabulous Grand Prix horse Two Sox has been put down less than two weeks after retiring. Two Sox didn't miss a national championship in 10 years, and was national champion in 2008 with Maria.

The news was broken, as far as we know, on www.horsehero.com, who had the following statement from Maria's mother, Geri:

"Such sad news: Barely two weeks into retirement, Two Sox, our beloved Ed, shattered his pastern while grazing and was put down yesterday. It is a complete mystery how this happened as he appeared to be settling perfectly into his new routine of hacking and turnout. The paddock was small, level and in view of our outdoor arena so we could keep an eye on him and he seemed perfectly relaxed in the october sunshine. We are all devastated it is like losing a member of the family, he was such a special horse, one of the best. it's been a terrible shock, especially for Maria. Geri Eilberg."

You can watch Two Sox's retirement lap of honour, and the standing ovation this great horse received, at www.eqtv.co.uk.

Your horse is fit... are you?

With just over a week to go until the first competition of our winter dressage, we know that many of you have been working hard to make sure your horses are fit enough for competition - but what about yourselves? It takes a lot of work just to "sit there looking pretty", so to help we've found a helpful article about lengthening your leg from the fab American magazine Dressage Today. Personally I really wish there was a magazine like this over here in England - if you're on Twitter why not follow them at @DressageToday

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.

Racehorse to... dressage ring

I know quite a few of you attended our TARRA (Thoroughbred and Retrained Racehorse Association) qualifiers at the July show, so you might be interested in the news that British Dressage have teamed up with Retraining of Racehorses to run a racehorse to riding horse dressage championship. More details can be found on the British Dressage website, here

Meet The Team!

Ever wondered who those wild-eyed purple-clad folks you see in the cabin are? Here's a quick rundown of a few of those faces... more snaps to follow from next show!

Our leader, Ann. Currently suffering fron laryngitis, so it's lovely and quiet.

Barbara "Granny B" Dibbits. If a job needs doing, Granny B'll make sure it gets done.

Field manager Darren "Tea two" Gowland. He's a Geordie, so we can provide a translator if you don't quite understand where he's telling you to park.

Treasurer Liz "Mother" Mottershead. Adding some much-needed glamour to proceedings.

Chief hooter boy Rob Penny. Never knowlingly overworked.... (Sorry Rob!)

Of course, we also have a little help of the four-legged kind who are always happy to play with new volunteers, and occasionally drag a rope across the field as they "assist" with setting up...

Lucky makes a surprisingly good van driver.

Holly adds an extra element of hyperactivity to the team.

Sasha thinks cuddles are much more important than hammering in stakes

We always need volunteers to help set up, car park and steward. If you are interested in helping out just pop by and see us in the cabin.

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!