equestrian at castle leslie estate summer 2018 Grip Fast Equestrian News Welcome to the summer issue of the Castle Leslie Equestrian • 1,000 acres of private estate newsletter. It’s packed with all the latest news from Equestrian • 300 cross country jumps Centre Business Manager, Jenny Richardson and her team. • 21 miles of meandering bridleways Castle Leslie Estate offers memorable horse riding holiday experiences for riding enthusiasts of all levels. So whether • Mile-long all-weather gallop you’re a beginner or an experienced rider, Castle Leslie Estate • 56 stables is the place for you. The Estate offers an idyllic setting for • Horse simulator - Mechanical horse for beginners outdoor activity and adventure and we are conveniently located in County Monaghan, only 80 minutes from Dublin airport • 50×30 metre indoor arena with indoor cross-country and 60 minutes from Belfast airport. It is the perfect place to fences discover the thrill of exploring the beautiful Irish countryside • Tiered seating for 200 plus private dining/viewing room on horseback. We welcome riders of all ability and offer expert tuition in hacking, show jumping, dressage and side saddle • Lounge and showering facilities along with gentle hacks and exhilarating cross country rides • 20 × 50 Dressage Arena together with a range of certified training programmes and • 30 × 20 Outdoor Ménage clubs for children. The Equestrian Centre combines the authentic charm of a country estate with all the amenities • Sand Gallops you’d expect from one of Ireland’s best horse-riding locations: • SJI approved show jumps • Horse walker • Lorry & trailer parking • BHS, SJI & AIRE Approved equestrian at castle leslie estate Upcoming Events What’s New Top tips for seeing a stride when jumping horse drawn carriage rides We were so delighted to have triumphed at the recent Irish jenny richardson bhsai offers horse’s canter stride at will. For cross country riding, Sport Horse Industry Awards 2018 which took place at the her top tips. it is best to practise a collected, medium and extended A horse drawn carriage ride is a wonderful way to K Club in Straffan, Co. Kildare by taking home the Irish canter either on a cross country course or in similar experience the beauty of Castle Leslie Estate. Judging the right stride to a fence is a fundamental Sport Horse - Best Domestic Equine Enterprise Award. surroundings with plenty of room. Instil the slower paces Journey back in time on an enchanting carriage ride building block to successful showjumping and cross The awards recognize and celebrate the most original and first, and the quicker ones will follow naturally. If your through the tree-lined avenues and bridleways, sit back and country riding. If I am asked by a pupil what ‘seeing a innovative individuals, companies and organisations that horse is more excitable in open spaces, to help maintain be charmed by what awaits you on your personal tour of the stride’ means, I would say it is being aware of at least have continually demonstrated excellence on a national and your control, you should come back down a gear to trot, most beautifully areas of the Estate. Our Stately horse and the last three canter strides before the obstacle you are global scale. Attended by hundreds of Irish Sport industry or walk if necessary and/or make a circle, reducing it in experienced driver make this jaunt a perfect way to enhance jumping, therefore knowing exactly where your take off professionals, winners received a unique Irish designed size until you are again in charge of the situation. a visit to the Estate. Carriage rides may be booked through point will be. It is the rider’s job to present the horse presentation piece in recognition of their contribution. reception or directly with Tina in the Equestrian Centre. correctly to any fence, and it is the horse’s job to jump One of the best exercises to help you to achieve the right Subject to availability and advance booking is essential. We have purchased one new horse called Beau. He is a cleanly and safely. It is essential to understand the take off point every time is to place three canter poles stunning 14.2hh dun gelding. Beau excels at jumping and has differences between the three different types of take off before a small fence set at the perfect striding distance Price: €90 per Carriage Ride settled in very well so far to Castle Leslie Equestrian Centre. point: for your horse. Help on the ground is necessary to adjust The carriage seats 4 adults, or 2 adults and up to 2 children Beau is a schoolmaster and will be a good all-rounder. these poles, which must first be practised without a fence, and has a 1 hour duration Too long – This means that you have taken off too far to check that the distances are ideal. Start with about Enhance your experience with: Bottle of Bubbly @ €40.00; We have been very lucky to get a horse on loan called away, or too early. Your horse may struggle to make a three metres between each pole and adjust to suit. This Delicious Homemade Lemonade and Biscuits @ €5.00 per Traveller. Traveller has hunted for several years with the Co. good shape, could lose balance, and may not clear the will give you three even strides and an exact take off point. person; Flask of Hot Chocolate and Homemade Shortbread Meath hunt and came to Castle Leslie Equestrian Centre in fence. It is often caused by a too fast approach, and Repetition will teach you and your horse together what is @ €5.00 per person April. He loves cross country and already has a fan club at an over-long canter stride. It can be uncontrolled and required, and instil the exercise as second nature. When you Call 04788535 or email [email protected] the Equestrian Centre. dangerous. feel you have mastered this task, remove the pole furthest Enniskillen College came to visit with 12 of the National Too deep – This means that your horse is placed too close away from the jump, then the middle one and finally the own a pony week Diploma equine students. The college students got the to the fence and, again, will struggle to jump it easily. one just before the fence. This can be practised in an arena opportunity to ride a 2 hour cross country which they This is often caused by going too slowly with a lack of using show-jumps, in a field or on a course, before any of Get the opportunity to ‘Own a Pony for a Week’. all loved and are already planning their next visit to the impulsion on the approach to the fence. The canter stride the single cross country obstacles on level ground. Children will get the opportunity to muck out, groom, tack Equestrian centre!! may be too short and weak, and could cause the horse to out and ride. Once you can see a stride and are aware of ‘long’, ‘deep’ back off in front of the fence or refuse. We also had the pleasure of welcoming Cumann Capaill na and ‘perfect’ approach, and can aid the horse in all three Mon 9th July – Fri 13th July (Beginner children) Rosann Riding Club from Donegal. They spent three nights situations, you will start to get the feel of the ability to Spaces still available. Ideal take off point – This must be mastered with at the equestrian centre with their own horses and got the reach the perfect take off point almost every time. Use From 10am – 3pm schooling and repetition – it is often created by a medium opportunity to go hacking, do cross country and had a few your knowledge of strides to help you in a cross country Price: €225 per child canter before the fence. An extended canter between fences lessons along the way. It was a terrific weekend and they are course; for example, you would not want to take off ‘long’ *Must bring their own lunch is encouraged, but you must have the control to adjust excited to return for another visit soon. They visited Castle at a drop fence – ‘perfect’ or ‘deep’ being ideal for this Call Tina on 04788535 or email [email protected] your horse’s paces before the fence, in order to create the Leslie Estate on our ‘Hotel for Horses’ package which is ideal type of jump. ‘Perfect’ or ‘long’ is better over an ordinary to make a booking perfect take off point. for groups as you can bring your own horse! Guests can fence on level ground, especially if you are against the choose to stay at The Lodge or Old Stable Mews. Prices start To consistently be able to achieve the correct take off clock. You and your horse need to be controlled, flexible show jumping from €150pps and include overnight accommodation, a full point, it is vital you are able to shorten and lengthen your and versatile around all courses. Irish breakfast with full overnight Livery for your horse and 22nd June 2018 will start with cross poles working up to enjoy a complimentary 60 minute ride on the estate as 1 metre class. part of any organized group ride. All welcome and horse hire is available. Price: €12 per entry equestrian at castle leslie estate Meet the Horses 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.