Galloping into the season

Half term and last weekend saw much equestrian activity at Twin Palms Riding Centre.

Three pony camps each attracted around 20 children with mornings of learning, fun and shenanigans, followed by lunch all the children went home ecstatic and the instructors totally exhausted.

As a pre-empt to the festive season, Twin Palms will be holding its Christmas Gymkhana on December 11 - more info will follow shortly.

Shakhoora Riding Centre hosted a dressage workshop on Saturday as a precursor to its 'In House Dressage to Music' event to be held this Friday starting at 9am. For more information contact the stables on 17591103.

Popular instructor Ian Wright arrives into Bahrain this week and commences a packed schedule of dressage and show jumping lessons, as well as two show jumping clinics, catering for beginner to advanced riders.

He starts at Twin Palms Riding Centre tomorrow and is here until Saturday, December 4.

All information regarding Ian can be found on the Twin Palms website, and to book any lessons or attend the clinics, email Twin.Palms.Riding.Centre@hotmail.com. Lessons and Clinics are open to all, although spaces are now limited. Specific guidelines will apply to visiting horses.

The Dilmun Riding Centre is also gearing up for their Christmas In-House Rodeo! Sounds such fun, more information regarding this unusual event will follow soon.

Twin Palms Riding Centre held the second of its dressage events on Friday and it was a total success, and a beautiful day.

Young Florence Finzi, with her own pony being currently out of action, decided that quantity was the order of the day, and rode a total of three horses throughout the events. Leaving next year, she is determined to depart as young champion of Twin Palms ... if not Bahrain! The event was the inauguration for Ellie Harding and her mount Sim Sam who, considering the horse has never been in a dressage ring, more used to racing, performed beautifully.

Lydia Martin brought her musical skills to the dressage arena and aboard Woody went on to conduct a simply lovely test.

Email Helen with your horse stories on helen2blake@hotmail.com

Results: Working Equitation A

1st Florence Finzi / ToyBoy, 2nd Sue Parker / Poncho, Joint 3rd Paula Canseco / India & Chantal Gramm / Ruby, 4th Florence Finzi / Aramis.

Working Equitation B: 1st Florence Finzi / ToyBoy, 2nd, Lydia Martin / Woody, 3rd Florence Finzi / Aramis & Florence Finzi / Bling, 5th Sue Parker / Poncho, 6th Lea Brown / Pearl.

Preliminary A: 1st Helen Blake / Apollo, 2nd Idrak Alaquel / Ecco, 3rd Idrak Alaquel / Duke, 4th Florence Finzi / Bling, 5th Lydia Martin / Woody, 6th Ellie Harding / SimSam.

Preliminary B: 1st Idrak Alaquel / Ecco, 2nd Helen Blake / Merlin,

3rd Kate Addison / Duell Time, 4th Helen Blake / Apollo, Joint 5th Maggie Andersson / Cash & Lydia Martin / Woody.