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!

Dressage points champions

Congratulations to all the competitors who took part in our winter dressage series.
Holly Watson took the beginners junior champion title with her very cute little pony Carrwood Goldleaf, and Karen Calderbank took the senior beginners title on her pony Gigman Sandypipit, who was originally bought for Karen's daughter Abbey, but commandeered by mum!
There were double winners in both the junior and senior prelim and novice sections. Abi Lilley won both titles with her pony Euphoria Queen. Abi says she will be trying her hand at elementary level next year.
Debbie Dobson won the senior prelim and novice sections on her "gentle giant", the part-bred Shire My Gentleman. Look out for Debbie and "Sheldon" as he is known at home in our new heavy horse showing classes, which we have introduced this year.
The open elementary champion was Jackie Fare on her chestnut gelding Oskar. Jackie had to ride some particularly difficult tests to win this season, including the fiendish elementary 49 - sorry Jackie!
Special mention also goes to Savannah McMullen, who was our most improved junior rider, and Karen Calderbank who was our most improved senior. And Abi Lilley won the highest score award for getting a massive 72% in the prelim 13.
It was also great to see some veteran horses showing the youngsters how it's done as they competed for the qualifying spots for this year's Veteran Horse Society dressage championships. Congratulations to everyone who got through - they now go on to the regional finals, where they will be battling for the chance to go to the VHS dressage national championships! The dressage gala day on July 3rd will also be a VHS qualifier, so if you missed out this time make sure you enter in time - and hope for sunshine as we will be venturing out of the indoor arena.

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