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THE last Dilmun Riding Stables In-House Show Jumping League Event took place on Friday with competitors fully aware that the points gained at this show would determine the final league standings.
Tutor Basel Aldossari created four challenging courses ensuring the riders needed to finish as they had started, with determination.
Sporting psychology also featured as a rich array of trophies was placed on display to encourage the riders, thanks to show sponsor Dr Mona Al Awary – Orthodontist Specialists.
The pre-green class proved very popular and attracted 10 newcomers to enter. Riders were allowed assistance in this class if they wanted it.
Young Charlie Downs and Natalie Gunby were the only two who completed the course of all eight fences without help. Watch out for these two – they are obviously the new stars of the show.
The green horse/rider class was a tricky one with some tight turns. Brilliantly, Liz Sinclair riding Neptune, Kathryn Spink astride the lovely Spirit, and Amelia Boyd, riding Billy, all took home ‘clear round’ rosettes.
The next classes saw the fences raised along with the ante! Junior One and Adult One were both speed classes, the course consisting of eight challenging fences. For the adults these were raised to 90/100cms.
In the Junior Class Sami Mendes riding Tutu clinched victory, with Hannah van der Eyken steering Billy into second place. Hot on her hooves Ma’oof Al Rumaihi, astride Kuwait, finished third.
In the adult section Amelia Boyd riding Rangerino gave everyone the time to beat – 40 seconds.
Fran Downes with the wonderful Lollypop Man secured a respectable second place with a time of 61.18 seconds.
Sharon Nicklin, who had ridden two horses in this class, brought Mia Vita home to a third position - an unfortunate elimination had put Tayar out of the winning line-up earlier.
The final classes of the afternoon, were the two-phase class Junior Two and Adult Two. Competitors had to clear the first six fences, and if they were successful they went immediately into a timed jump off, with 13 fences to be negotiated.
For the juniors, young Aimee Keen rode Sedona. The pair accomplished a superb round in a record time of 35.47 seconds with one refusal.
She was followed by Hannah van der Eyken riding Billy and finished her round in 35.81 seconds, but an unfortunate 12 faults meant she was pipped for second place by Ma’oof Al-Rumaihi ,who manouvered Kuwait deftly round the arena in a time of 57.83 seconds, but with only eight faults.
For the adults the competition heated up with Amelia and Fran both out for gold. However, it was ultimately Amelia who seized the winning trophy.
So, as the Dilmun Riding Stables In-House Show Jumping League took down its fences for this season, the winners can now look forward to a presentation evening on June 22.
Send your equine news to helen2blake@hotmail.com
Dilmun Riding Stables
In-House Show Jumping League
Juniors: 1 Aimee Keen / Sedona 86 points; 2 Hannah van der Eyken / Billy 51 points; 3 Ma’oof Al-Rumaihi / Kuwait 35 points; 4 Sami Mendes / Tutu 32 points; 5 Charlotte Gunby / Magnum 26 points; 6 Tamara Alomari/ Various 18 points
Adults: 1 Danielle Shaw / Rangerino 64 points; 2 Fran Downes / Lollypoppman 48 points; 3 Fahad Aldossari / Tayar 42 points; 4 Hamad Fakhrawi/ Various 39 points; 5 Sharon Nicklin / Mia Vita 27 points; 6 Manal Fakhrawi / Kuwait 18 points
Shakhoora Riding Centre will hold its In-House League Show Jumping Event on Friday starting at 9am. The next dressage event will be held on May 4.
Twin Palms Riding Centre has re-scheduled its forthcoming dressage event to also take place on May 4.
Horsemanship clinics for riders
Quan Gonzales is coming to Bahrain and will conduct two clinics on Natural Horsemanship at Twin Palms Riding Centre on May 3 at 4.30pm and May 5 at 9.30am.
There are many famous natural horsemanship trainers, and there are countless ‘schools’ or theories, though consistent in the majority is that horses are social herd animals evolved for social interaction but with a highly-tuned ability to escape predators.
The horse has an advanced communication system practiced primarily through body language, using ear/head position, speed of movement, along with threatening gestures such as showing of teeth, swinging of hips, and many other gestures to communicate.
Natural horsemanship similarly uses body language to communicate with the horse, coupled with other forms of gentle persuasive pressure, teaching through pain and fear does not result in a beneficial relationship between horse and trainer, a horse that feels calm and safe with its trainer or handler is quick to bond with that person, and the results can be remarkable. It takes practice, but the reward is a calmer, happier and willing partner in your horse.
The cost for the clinic will be BD25. Call 39566809 for details or email Twin.Palms.Riding.Centre@hotmail.com
