Shining in the sun

Welcome back to Too Hot to Trot for the 2013/2014 season and an autumn of events in more pleasant climes … although the weather has not played ball, putting in one last sprint to end the summer on a sweltering note.
The opening events have also been truly sizzling affairs.

Twin Palms Riding Centre (TPRC) has produced an extensive event schedule for the forthcoming season, having started back with a fun Show Jumping afternoon. Its first class of the season, a pairs show jumping event, was probably more popular with the ponies than the riders! Starting their season with flying colours and taking podium positions were Kate Addison riding Sirocco and Lucy Lunt-Bell on Candy. The afternoon mellowed off with a pleasant clear round of jumping.

Twin Palms Riding Centre also hosted two extremely popular Pony Camps during the half-term break, giving pony and horse enthusiasts an opportunity to come and own a pony for the day.

Participants had to catch, groom, tack up and ride after ensuring the comfort of their ponies, putting tack away before going off for a snack-filled theory lesson.

Theory is always an integral part of pony camp, but there is nothing like kinaesthetic learning to really give an insight into owning a pony, which is what pony camp is all about.

TPRC season also held an open show jumping event. Three clear rounds with jump-off classes were held, with fences ranging from 70cms to 90cms high.

The show was well attended despite the soaring temperatures, and setting off her season as she intends to continue was Kat Rushton astride the talented and agile Bingo who claimed a double victory in the first two classes.

Continuing her reign of success was one of last season’s top juniors Aimee Keen who claimed her first triumph this time round winning Class Three with her clever and capable mount, Rio.

The Dilmun Riding Stables have hosted an in-house dressage event, using the British Dressage Preliminary 7 test. Many young riders took to the fray to participate in the first of this season’s dressage events, which was an introduction to future challenges.

All the young riders took this extremely seriously, practising all week and as a result the turnout both in terms of effort and enthusiasm was enchanting. Taking her place on the top of the podium was Clare Walsh riding JD.

The Dilmun Riding Stables has not yet published its full schedule, however, next on the agenda is a show jumping event with a difference entitled The Eliminator on Friday.

BREEF – Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation has now published its proposed schedule for 2013/2014 for endurance rides and show jumping events.

This season BREEF will host eight show jumping events, all being held at the BDF Equestrian Centre in Sakir, first of which will take place on November 22.

Following it will be the first of eight endurance rides scheduled to start with a qualifying race on November 30.  
Good luck to all competitors this season and please remember, anyone with any news, views or opinions about equine matters, email Too.Hot.To.Trot@hotmail.com 

Remember, people who say riding isn’t a sport are just intimidated ... because in OUR game, the ball has a mind of its own. 

* Shakhoora Riding Stables will stage its opening Show Jumping training event on Friday at 9am.
 
Riders are invited to come along and give their horses a kick start to the season, a clear round course awaits, horse/rider will be allowed two minutes on the course. Fences will start at 60/70cms and be raised after each round. 

Call Shakhoora on 17591103 for more information.