Clyn Du Newsletter - August 1999
Clyn Du is closed from July 25th to August 8th for a well-earned summer break! Horses and ponies will be rested but, of course, a riding centre proprietor's work is never done! Thomos, a new arrival at the centre, will have to be brought on and there's feeding, grooming...it goes on and on!
Baby Max (aka Mad Max!) is doing well and Oliver did Bobby proud by achieving a clear round in the cross-country and the show jumping. A baby in eventing, he is showing great potential and will hopefully take on the mantle of Jen, soon to be retired from eventing.
Congratulations to Bobby and husband Julian, who celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary on July 26th.
The Clyn Du yard staff visited Builth Wells for the Royal Welsh Show on Thursday, 21st July. Horses dominated the day (surprise, surprise!) and the weather was fairly kind for a change!
The Pony Club Camp begins on July 25th and runs for five days. Members will spend their time learning about horses and riding and, of course, having fun!
Coedcae School Visit Clyn Du
On July 19th, 14 students from a local comprehensive school - Coedcae - spent a day at
the riding centre. The purpose of the visit was to allow the students to learn the basics
in horse management. They also had the chance to ride. Despite the fact that it was a tyical
Welsh mizzly day, all students had a good time and learnt about moving around a horse,
picking out feet and tacking-up. Bobby led the activities and Rhian took the riding lesson for the
more experienced riders.
It is hoped that the school can organise a group of young riders for regular lessons
when the new school year begins.
Work Experience
Coedcae student Victoria Davies spent a week at Clyn Du deciding whether she
wanted to follow a career in horses. She found the work demanding but rewarding
and she experienced a variety of activities, including riding out on a hack.
While Victoria has yet to decide what she wants to do, it is certain that she will
work with horses in some capacity
Bryngwyn pupil, Rhian Ellis, joins Clyn Du Team for a week...
Rhian had never been short of initiative. Her ambition is to be a vet and she hs
worked at Gibson and Jones veterinary Practice duing holidays and weekends to get a taste
for the work.
She realises, though, that a vet's work neither begins nor ends in the surgery and
instead of brooding over the forthcoming GCSE results, so crucial to her ambitions,
she asked Bobby whether she could spend a week at Clyn Du working with horses. Bobby
was happy to oblige and Rhian's common sense and maturity made her an asset to the centre
for the short while she worked there.
Rhian enjoyed her week so much that she has decided to take up riding.
Meanwhile, she passed her GCSE's with flying colours and will study sciences at
A level.
Back to Work!
Monday, August 9th, Clyn Du is back in business. Having closed down for a fortnight,
the centre reopens for lessons. Anyone wishing to book a lesson should contact Bobby
on 01554 834084
EVERY ONE'S A WINNER!
BOBBY AND THE TEAM AT HAVERFORDWEST
Sunday, August 15th. By 7 a.m., Clyn Du's yard is abustle. Ponies are being groomed
and their young riders are unusually quiet; excited but aprehensvie, too: this is the day
they enter their first team dressage competition. The four competitors, Sarah Bush, Sarah
Pettigrew, Rachel and Emiline are new to the discipline. They know that dressage takes more
than the brash courage that sees many riders through show jumping. It takes discipline.
Concentration. It takes horse and rider in complete harmony. The tossing of a head or
swishing of a tail could mean disaster. They have their lessons behind them but how will
it be without Bobby or one of her team to chivvy them along? No-one to tell them when their
ponies are about to slow or perform an incorrect transition?
Ponies groomed, manes and tails plaited, white socks chalked and they are ready. They
set off for the one and a half hour journey to Haverfordwest in a convoy.
Meanwhile, back at the yard, Bobby and Rhian have time to reflect. They are not competing
until midday and so they can afford to take more time. Horses loaded, water carriers, tack
and competition wear organised, and by 9.15 they, too, have hit the road.
They arrive in time to see the girls briefly before their dressage competitions.
Last minute advice, calming of nerves... The girls feel special knowing that Bobby is
watching. Hands still, little leg signals, keeping the contact, remembering the test...
All four girls performed well. One snag, though. Sarah Pettigrew, almost sick with
tension, is told she must ride the test again. The judges had marked the wrong test! Not
their fault - just a paper-work glitch that can happen to anyone. Sarah groans. But she has
a second chance. Determined to do her best, she takes her pony, Cracker, back into the
dressage arena and overcomes her nerves to perform to her near-best.
It's time to relax for the girls, but for Bobby and Rhian, Adrian and Alexa, there's
dressage to prepare for and show jumping to do. It's the girls' time to watch. Bobby and
Adrian do well, ending up in the ribbons for both their dressage tests. Jen and Katie
jump clear in both show jumping rounds and it's smiles all round.
Then the news breaks - the Pony Club team won the dressage! A first for their first
competition! Exhillarated, they rush to tell every familiar face. But within the hour
considering the future: a hard act to follow!
Sonny's turn and Rhian has to put him though his first ever dressage test. Another
rosette for the Clyn Du tack room! Triumph!
Ceremonies over, it's time to make the journey home. Bobby arrives at the yard around
8 p.m. and then it's unloading box and car, relieving the horses of their safety gear,
feeding and mucking out and then a well earned cup of coffee! Fourteen hours after the
day dawned and it's all over. The horses are resting, the riders are relaxing and the
rosettes are hanging alongside the hundreds of others earned over the years.
Gower Show marks end of summer events
The Gower event, held on August 30th - Summer Bank Holiday - is the last local event
of the season. Bobby will compete on Oliver, only his second event, and Rhian will
compete on Sonny for his first event.
Peggy, a Clyn Du resident owned by Elizabeth Pugh, is also entered in what will be
her last event before Elizabeth goes to college.
Meanwhile, Katie travelled to Chepstow on Sunday, 29th August to extend her experience
at eventing. She has an aversion to corss country, and has been know to nap in the early
stages. She actually made it to jump 13 before napping at Chepstow, and Adrian and Alexa have c
confidence she will overcome her fears for nect season's trials.
Clyn Du News