Out and about in the west

Pullaheany Hunt, St Stevens’s day

After a very merry Christmas everyone was ready for The St Stevens day hunt in Pullaheany, Inishcrone!  Luckily weather was on our side and the rain stayed away, at least while we were riding.  Brendon Dolan and his beautiful fiancé Deirdre McDonald bought the hounds along and led 140 hunt members and followers around the town .  I was riding a four year old cob pony, Kelly, my 12 year old daughter, rode 13h Snowball, and Glyn, my mother, was riding her old favourite boy Rocky!  Parading around the town was great fun and we really got in the spirit of things with hot whiskeys being handed out along the way!  We made our way along the road out towards the pub in Pullaheany, where loads of walls were waiting for us, the first couple of jumps was in a field!  Lots of walls a bit of beach riding plenty of water and rivers and more walls, back to the pub for more hot wiskys and burger and chips!  And everyone made it back in time before the rain kicked in!

Bunniconlon Hunt, New Years Day

Again the three of us set out and again the weather blessed us it was cold day, with rain on the way!   We joined the other 150 members, and the hounds led the way and made plenty of noise.  At first I was towards the rear of the hunt having a giggle with a couple of girls Tara Timlin, Charlotte Walsh, Maria Brown and Sabina Linka.  At first I didn’t want to jump the first couple of fences but the wee cob took me over with ease and after we stopped at Barrett’s Pub for hot ones there was no stopping me!  The hunt had organised a field of jumps to go around and a trail up near the gap where we jumped a string of jumps, nothing too big or scary but plenty of them.  We were just of the road and I bet we looked great from the road!  There was plenty of steam and the craic was mighty!  When we got back to Barrett’s there was plenty of food and drink going around and I’m sure some of the older men were calling wife’s to collect them later in the evening!

Dromore West, 12 January 2014

Building up to this hunt we was concerned that the hunt would go ahead, but the morning came and it was a wet one!  So dressed in waterproofs I braved the elements!  I love this hunt, it’s one of them hunts that’s as close to a real hunt as you can get with out it being one, you do things you wouldn’t normally do, the bogs and water and mud is so much more than you’d ever do at home.  It’s safe to say that if a horse has done Dromore west it will have no bother with water at any cross country any where in any country!  Just over 50 members joined in and most of them were kids.  I got to say they are a hardy lot, leading the way over jumps and galloping down the bog lanes, which are like rivers!  Great fun!  We went into the Flying Horse for the refreshments and those that stayed were treated to a feast!  And believe me it was needed!

Sligo Hunt Pony, 6, 12 and 19 January 2014

Pony club instructor Penny brought the keen riders back to the beginning and has them riding on long reins and using their seats and getting their ponies and horses stretching.  The children found this great and really enjoyed the lessons, the children all love to learn new things and Penny has a great way of teaching.  Rallies continue every Sunday catering for all level of rider including beginners, improvers and advanced. Concentration on flat work for the first couple of weeks.  Swimming training continues on Fridays for those interested in minimus or tetathalon competitions. It is important to indicate your interest in these team competitions. Shooting, running training will be organised for team members.  Please contact Pony Club Secretary on 0877601064