GREEN WORKING HUNTER CLINIC & COLT INSPECTIONS
The Clinic run by Philip Scott on Saturday, gave spectators an introduction to the newly introduced
This new competition – aimed to encourage those with young ponies – was introduced this year by the Breeders Society for registered Connemara ponies four years old with rider any age, is set to run at two qualifiying Shows this season, namely at Corrandulla, Co.Galway in the West and Boswell in Wicklow in the East of the country.
The Final, is billed for the Wednesday of Clifden Show Week this August. A riding judge will assess the rideability of each pony, this being a departure from the usual W.H format. The class is open to geldings, mares and stallions (rider over 14) and snaffle bridles will be used. Philip’s thorough presentation and humorously factual answers to questions left a knowledgeable audience going home well-informed on this new competition.. There will be more information available shortly on this new competition from www.cpbs.ie,
COLT INSPECTIONS MARCH 2011 Of thirty seven pure-bred Connemara colts catalogued for Friday’s Colt inspections, seventeen were passed and deemed worthy to receive the Connemara Society’s Class One merit. Henrietta Knight, Clare Oakes and Padraig Hynes, with input from Phillip Scott (jump) and farrier John McLoughlin, made the difficult decisions to either accept or reject, as licensed stallions, all colts which came before them. The young colts – mainly just three years.old – were judged on conformation, type, athleticism and movement while loose-jumping over two low fences was part of the test. There was a more senior colt there, a grade A show-jumper who has made quite a name for himself over the past four years, and the judges were happy to accept the nine year old Menlo Boy (Castlestrange Fionn – Festy Lady) into the Class One stallion ranks. He is seen in the gallery below ridden by Jessica Lee in the Clifden Show Puissance event last August All colts had already passed a visual and veterinary process at an earlier date in order to qualify for the final phases at Clifden. Inspections at the well-manicured show-grounds went on all day before an appreciative and knowledgeable crowd in beautifully clear and sunny weather This Weblog does not unfortunately have pictures of all the newly-passed stallions, but here are ones I managed to get. Names of owners are given. Click on pic. to enlarge
