North Region Championships

Hello again! 

Midnight

I am pleased to be reporting on the success of our brilliant RDA riders at the North Region Championships earlier this month.

The day got off to an early start for staff and volunteers who had to make us look very smart for the competition.

Magic with volunteers Lily and Kirsten

I travelled in the big horse box with Magic and Gilly...

and Domino went with Rusty in the horse trailer.

It was raining when we arrived at Blackdyke in Cumbria. However, it did not dampen the spirits of the thirteen RDA riders who had come along to compete in Dressage and Countryside Challenge classes.

Ryan on Domino

Ryan Gillespie, riding Domino, was placed first in the independent dressage class and is a Championship qualifier. Derek Clemenson, who rode me, also qualified in the senior class for the Countryside Challenge.

Laura with Daniel on Rusty. Derek is behind on Midnight 

Daniel Hayton rode Rusty and came third in the Countryside Challenge.

Daniel on Rusty with (from left), Sam Orde and Laura Winter

Daniel on Rusty competing in Countryside Challenge

And the youngest rider to compete was 3 year old Connor Bamborough. He rode Gilly in Test 2 Novice Dressage and was placed joint third with Oliver Crawshaw, who also rode Gilly. Both young riders were amazing!

Connor on Gilly with (from left), Sophie, Lily and Kirsten

Connor receives a letter to post on the Countryside Challenge course

 

Riders, parents, family and friends all had a wonderful day...

 A very happy Connor holding his rosette

Daniel was delighted to be placed third in his class

Proud mum Lisa looks on as Ryan receives three rosettes

Big smiles from Connor and his mum Lindsey

and so did our fantastic team of staff and young volunteers.

Connor with Kirsten, Lily and Chloe

Every rider received a rosette and six riders from our group achieved the qualification level for the RDA National Championships in July. Congratulations to everyone!


It was a great day despite three small incidents which were all pony related...

1) Gilly and Magic succumbed to the lush green grass and shiny red apples on the Countryside Challenge course. This is understandable, but definitely not acceptable behaviour when competing.


2) Sam had to endure Magic's great big hoof on her toes until his rider completed the task of opening a gate on the course. This is never acceptable behaviour under any circumstances (and especially when the toes belong to the RDA National Chairman!)

3) Domino tried to steal hay from Rusty's net on the return journey to Northumberland.  This is not only unacceptable behaviour, it is totally unforgivable!


Of course as I am a mare, I behaved like a perfect lady, and am sure to have secured my place again at the National Championships in Hartpury!

Midnight at Hartpury in 2014

For full results of all the riders who competed from Morpeth RDA Group please visit our website for details www.thepegasuscentre.org.uk 


Many thanks to Lindsey, Lisa, Brenda and Martin for providing pictures for this post. 

Chief Reporter

Hello, my name is Chief and I have some very important news to report!

After using the indoor riding school for almost six years, our arena surface now needs to be replaced. And this means we are going to have to start raising funds to pay for it...

so thankfully we have two RDA riders, Chloe and Emilie Wyatt, to help us!

Chloe, aged 11, and Emilie, aged 6, started riding three years ago.

Over the years, they have ridden many different ponies and entered lots of competitions...

Emilie proudly holds up her rosette

Chloe with Dez

Chloe wears her red rosette with pride 

and between them, they have won many rosettes.

The girls receive their rosettes from Cllr. Valerie Tyler

Chloe rode me when she started showjumping on the lead rein...

Chloe on Chief

Chloe on Chico

but now she can canter and jump independently.

Chloe on Chief

 And Emilie now rides much bigger ponies too.

Emilie on Midnight

Their mum, Diane, said that riding at the centre "has given Chloe the confidence and ability to compete at national level and find her voice in a world she usually finds overwhelming. For Emilie, the therapeutic impact of horse riding not only relaxes her, but has massively improved her fitness and core strength".

The girls want to help raise money for our new arena surface through fundraising at school events, and with their name a bear competition. They have also set up a 'Go Fund Me' page for people who would like to help them with their RDA challenge.

If you would like to make a donation, please click on the link below.

www.gofundme.com/t4gbpg

It will make all the ponies, and their hooves, very happy!




Many thanks to Diane for providing the pictures in this post of her lovely girls.
                                                           

Rusty... in colour

Hello, my name is Rusty and I joined the centre just over four months ago.  Clearly I am called Rusty because of my colour.

Rusty can also mean 'A skill impaired by lack of practice' or 'Stiff with age or disuse' (I wonder why the lady who writes this blog is not called Rusty?).

After some initial training, I now have the many skills required to be an RDA pony and am used in sessions for our school groups.

Sam Orde teaching stretching exercises to a school group

I have also been chosen to work with our youngest RDA rider, Connor, aged 3. His parents and physiotherapists have noticed a marked improvement in his strength and balance since he started riding aged 2.

Connor with volunteers Lily (left) and Erin 

Connor holds the rein aids so he can steer

Sophie has been teaching Connor with help from our brilliant volunteers. He loves to point out letters and pictures on the walls...

Connor on Rusty with (from left) Lily, Georgia and Erin

and likes to match coloured hoops and cones.

Connor has also been practicing around the Countryside Challenge course for a competition we are having at the centre over the Easter holidays...

Connor posts a letter

and he has had many 'high fives' from Georgia for doing so well.

Hopefully the judge will not be 'rusty' when marking her score sheet on competition day!

I also work with our able-bodied riders...

Niamh shows good balance when moving hoops across

for jumping lessons...

Isobel and Rusty jumping

  and for pony parties!

Rusty all ready for a pony party with Megan

Lastly, I am a bit confused why Tess, who is stabled next to me, was not called 'Rusty'.  She is clearly much bigger than me, but...

is very rusty looking!



Many thanks to Sophie for taking most of the pictures used in this post. And clearly showing she has brilliant teacher/photographer multitasking skills! 
 

George

Hello!

George

I thought you would all like to know how I have been getting on since arriving at the centre last year.  So...
 

I have settled in very well and due to my size am being mostly ridden by adult riders. Every Friday there are two RDA riders who come to the Pegasus Centre called David and Derek.

David on George with volunteers Sarah and Jade

David rides me...

Derek on Lily

and Derek rides Lily.

David did not ride for many months after Winston had retired as there was not another horse suitable for him, but after his first lesson back riding me, David had remembered all his warm up exercises...

 how to halt between the poles...

and how to steer across the school and change direction...

with Derek and Lily following behind.

David, along with many other adult riders, really enjoy riding me. However, it is not just the bigger people who ride me...

there are little people who love to ride me too!

 Niamh meets George