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e q u e s t r i a n a t c a s t l e l e s l i e e s t a t e
SPRING 2018
Grip Fast Equestrian News
Welcome to the inaugural issue of the Castle Leslie Equestrian Centre newsletter. It’s packed with all the latest news from Equestrian Centre Business Manager, Jenny Richardson and her team.
The Leslie family motto ‘Grip Fast’ originates from a famous
horse journey by Bartholomew Leslie in the 11th century. His
passion for horses was passed down through the ages and
now you too can discover the thrill of riding across one of
Ireland’s great estates. Castle Leslie Estate offers memorable
horse riding holiday experiences for riding enthusiasts of all
levels. So whether you’re a beginner or an experienced rider,
Castle Leslie Estate is the place for you. The Estate offers an
idyllic setting for outdoor activity and adventure and we are
conveniently located in County Monaghan, only 80 minutes
from Dublin airport and 60 minutes from Belfast airport.
It is the perfect place to discover the thrill of exploring
the beautiful Irish countryside on horseback. We welcome
riders of all ability and offer expert tuition in hacking, show
jumping, dressage and side saddle along with gentle hacks
and exhilarating cross country rides together with a range
of certified training programmes and clubs for children.
The Equestrian Centre combines the authentic charm of a
country estate with all the amenities you’d expect from one of
Ireland’s best horse-riding locations:
• 1,000 acres of private estate
• 300 cross country jumps
• 21 miles of meandering bridleways
• Mile-long all-weather gallop
• 56 stables
• Horse simulator - Mechanical horse for beginners
• 50×30 metre indoor arena with indoor cross-country
fences
• Tiered seating for 200 plus private dining/viewing room
• Lounge and showering facilities
• 20 × 50 Dressage Arena
• 30 × 20 Outdoor Ménage
• Sand Gallops
• SJI approved show jumps
• Horse walker
• Lorry & trailer parking
• BHS, SJI & AIRE Approved
Upcoming EventsH o r s e D r aw n Ca r r i ag e R i d e s
A horse drawn carriage ride is a wonderful way to
experience the beauty of Castle Leslie Estate.
Journey back in time on an enchanting carriage ride
through the tree-lined avenues and bridleways, sit back and
be charmed by what awaits you on your personal tour of the
most beautifully areas of the Estate. Our Stately horse and
experienced driver make this jaunt a perfect way to enhance
a visit to the Estate. Carriage rides may be booked through
reception or directly with the Equestrian Centre. Subject to
availability and advance booking is essential.
Price: €90 per Carriage Ride The carriage seats 4 adults, or 2 adults and up to 2 children and has a 1 hour durationEnhance your experience with: Bottle of Bubbly @ €40.00; Delicious Homemade Lemonade and Biscuits @ €5.00 per person; Flask of Hot Chocolate and Homemade Shortbread @ €5.00 per person
O w n a P o n y f o r a We e k
Get the opportunity to ‘Own a Pony for a Week’.
Children will get the opportunity to muck out, groom, tack
out and ride.
Mon 2nd April – Fri 6th April (Advanced children) Mon 2nd July – Fri 6th July (Advanced children) Mon 9th July – Fri 13th July (Beginner children) Mon 13th Aug – Fri 17th Aug (Advanced children) From 10am – 3pm Price: €225 per child *Must bring their own lunch
Jenny and her team have been very busy over the past few
months with Jenny having visited Olympia in London
meeting lots of new clients!
We were thrilled to welcome Greg Broderick, Irish
International Show Jumper to the Equestrian Centre on
12th January. Greg conducted a master showjumping
demonstration to a packed out audience with VIP’s
snipping on glasses of bubbly from the prime viewing
gallery. Brendan McArdle, from The Irish Field hosted
as MC and numerous prizes were given out on the night
including a hat worth over €300 from the main sponsor
Charles Owen.
s o l a r i u m
This is a custom made solarium used by all the horses
and ponies at Castle Leslie Estate Equestrian Centre. It
provides huge benefits to our horses, for example:
— Improves muscle suppleness before exercise reducing
warm up time
— Reduces the risk of colds in the horse
— Improves blood circulation
— Improves the general health of all the horses and
ponies at Castle Leslie
— Helps dry off the horses and ponies after a bath or a
workout
— Heat also assists with the recovery to injury
We are delighted to welcome Patricia Spargo to the Equestrian Centre Team as our new Yard Manager. Patricia has worked in the equestrian industry for over 25
years and ran her own riding school in the South of France
for many years. Patricia is originally from the South West
of England and is a fully qualified BHSAI instructor.
Patricia is married with one son and is living currently in
Armagh.
What’s New
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Fast & Furious!t r a i n e r j e n n y r i c h a r d s o n b h s a i s h a r e s h e r t i p s o n s p e e d i n g u p yo u r s h owj u m p i n g r o u n d .
It seems that as we climb the showjumping ranks, e.g. by
jumping higher fences or progressing from unaffiliated to
affiliated shows, there’s more at stake. The class numbers
get higher, as do our expectations. Initially, we entered
for the experience - then we were hoping for a clear-
round, and maybe a placing - and now we’re perhaps
wanting a first place!
Accuracy is key, but time will of course play an important
part in our success. The time allowed in any class should
be viewed as a reminder not to go too slowly; not as the
ultimate goal! The jumps themselves are the test in hand.
It is easy to make mistakes if you feel under the pressure
of a tight time limit, and it is a common error to ride the
first half of the course a little slowly, and then realise you
might be running out of time, and then take unnecessary
risks to catch up.
– To p t i p s –
1 Choose your short cuts at the course walk stage
The course walk is vital. Find the course plan and study
it well, noting the speed at which it is set, and the time
allowed. When walking the SJ course, there will usually
be a few options for the route, eg. going around wings
or cutting inside. Pick one or two obstacles that are
favourable to you and your horse to shorten your route,
without having to increase your pace.
2 Plan your pace
It is important to plan your route and pace early on.
If you do need to make up more time, note the most
achievable places to do so - e.g. a straight area where you
can slightly open out your canter, regaining collection a
few strides before your next fence.
3 Note the line between the fences
See if you can find out the line between the fences
that the course builder used to ascertain the time and
distances; as this is the optimal route. Watch the course
builder early on if you can, to see where he places his
wheel; or see if the course plan shows the measurement
route drawn between the jumps - or just ask the course
builder for some tips, if he or she is available!
4 Practise your strengths
In your preparation and training at home, work out your
‘short cut’ strengths, based on your horse’s expertise and
size, e.g going outside or inside fences. Practice this at
home, e.g. cantering through a small gap representing
two jump wings.
Jenny Richardson is Equestrian Centre Business Manager at Castle Leslie Equestrian Centre and former head instructor at Dubai’s Jebel Ali Equestrian Club.
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If you require any further information, please contact the Equestrian Centre on 047 88 535 or email stables@castleleslie.com
Castle Leslie Estate, Glaslough, Co. Monaghan, Irelandwww.castleleslie.comtel: +353 47 88 100 email: info@castleleslie.com
wellington is used for dressage and side
saddle. Wellington is 17 years old and comes
with a wealth of experience. He is 16.2hh and
one of the best dressage horses at Castle Leslie
Equestrian Centre.
One of the younger members of the team,
Blueberry is used for the advanced riders.
Blueberry is an Irish Draught and is 16.2hh.
charlie is a little cheeky and enjoys lots
of treats. Charlie is 15.2hh and is 7 years old.
Charlie is mainly used for jumping and he is a
flying armchair out on cross country.
One of everyone’s favourites at Castle Leslie
Equestrian Centre, Two Tone enjoys life and
hacking around the Estate. Two Tone is a very
kind horse and excels at everything, Two Tone is
17hh and is used for beginners to advanced riders.
Our horses welfare is of paramount importance to us at Castle Leslie Estate
Equestrian Centre. Our aim is to provide an extremely high level of care to
our horses and we work with a number of key suppliers including an equine
chiropractor: Ted McLaughlin, equine dentist: Carol Perkins, farrier: Shane
Cullen and vet: Donncha Houlihan MVB MRCVS. We now have 27 horses
in our equestrian centre and in each of these quarterly newsletters, we will
be featuring some of them. In this edition, we’d like to introduce you to
‘Wellington’, ‘Charlie’, ‘BlueBerry’ and ‘Two Tone’..
Meet the Horses