The competition season is drawing to a close and the Hunter trials at Gower have been postponed due to inclement weather. Bobby and Rhian were all set to compete on Oliver and Sonny. There's always next year...!
The finer coated horses are now being rugged-up as the weather turns colder. Rain is a problem at the moment but it should be at least another month before the horses are stabled for winter.
Max, the orphaned colt, has been unwell with a bout of collic. However, a few days of stabling seems to have done the trick. He is now turned out with the ponies and loving it!
Clun Du was the venue for the Pony Club Combined Training Competition, held on Sunday, October 19th. lots of young riders entered the dressage and jumping contest and the overall winners were Sarah Bush and Lady, first, Emma Shiggins and Sunday, second and Sarah Pettigrew and Cracker, third. The dressage was judged by Adrain.
As October drew to a close, Wound Management was the theme for an evening organised by Bobby in conjunction with Warrwickshire College and Smith and Nephew, the pharmaceutical company.
Forty nine people signed-up for the lecuture and the evening was most informative and enlightening.
Rhian and Adrian attended a jumping clinic on October 31st on Sonny and Katie respectively. The clinic was taken by John Winter and horses and riders were put through their paces. Both Clyn Du residents jumped well and we can look forward to the improvements when they compete next.
October ends on a sad note. Mouse, a Highland mare owned by the local RDA and one of the centre's best-loved equines, collapsed on October 28th. As it became clear there would be no recovery, Bobby made the hard but brave decision to have her humanely put down. The vet confirmed that the cause of collapse was old age.
