Understanding Animals Seminar on in Trim
THE Understanding Animals Seminar will take place on Wednesday, June 26th from 9am to 5pm at Knightsbrook Hotel, Trim, Co. Meath.
Living or working with animals, whether dogs, cats, horses or other species can raise challenges in the form of problematic behaviours or simply questions regarding animal wellbeing, normal and abnormal patterns of behaviour, how animals see and interact with humans and many more.
Australian event rider, zoologist and leading expert in the exciting field of equitation science, Dr Andrew McLean, and veterinary surgeon and behaviourist Dr Orla Doherty will delve into the animal mind, drawing on their research and work with horses, elephants, dogs and other species to offer insights into the animal mind, what affects behaviours, why problems develop and how to treat them.
Full day tickets can be bought for €60 from Eventbrite.ie/e/understanding-animals-tickets-62352327490
Spancil Hill
TRADITIONALLY Spancil Hill Fair has never been held on a Sunday. With its usual date of June 23rd falling on a Sunday this year, the Clare’s fair date has been moved to Monday, June 24th.
It will again host well funded showing classes for cobs, coloured horses, Connemara ponies, 128 and 138 ponies plus donkeys.
On the evening of June 23rd, there will be the usual fun events before the fair, including the Donkey Derby and Hay Bale Rolling, taking place in the field behind Duggan’s Pub.
SJI vacancies
AFTER the resignation of SJI chairman Michael Blake last Friday, vice chairperson Eamonn Rice is temporarily in charge of the SJI’s Executive Committee which next meets on Tuesday, June 18th next. Other vacancies that need to be filled is the chair of the Management and Finance committee, occupied by Mary Reape who remains on the committee, and Hugh McCusker’s seat on the veterinary committee.
Crossogue clinics
OLYMPIAN Lucinda Frederick will be holding a variety of cross-country clinics at Crossogue Equestrian from June 22nd to 29th including residential, midday clinics, evening clinics and two-hour clinics. Contact Mark on enquiries@crossogue-equestrian.ie or phone 086 257 3741 for further details. Visit www.crossogue.ie
Christy Jnr sold
BERTRAM Allen’s 10-year-old gelding Christy JNR (Indoctro x Clinton) has been sold to young American show jumper Chandler Meadows. The gelding has been in Allen’s string since 2015 and had many top placings at five-star level, including his latest win in the Hong Kong Speed Challenge.
Bolesworth closed
THE four-star Equerry Bolesworth International Horse Show was forced to close the gates to the public after days of torrential rainfall in the lead up to the event at the Cheshire venue.
The announcement was made on Wednesday on safety grounds. “While we are preserving the site to the best effect for the sport to continue all week on the all-weather surface, the ground is not safe enough to allow public vehicles on and off the event site,” a statement from the show said. Last year’s Bolesworth Showjumping Classic contributed more than £1.7 million to the Cheshire economy, according to a survey by Visit Chester.
Event for breeders
THE next ISH Young Breeder Training session takes place on Tuesday, June 25th with Comdt. Sharon Crean at McKee Barracks from 10.30am -12.30pm.
This is a unique opportunity to visit behind the scenes at the Army Equitation School and gain insight to the training programmes, physical and athletic attributes of the horses and why they were chosen by the Equitation School to invest in as competition horses.
Please book in advance online by June 21st at https://teagasc.clr.events/
Entries closing
THE closing date for entries for the upcoming Three-Year-Old Loose Jumping Event is Thursday, June 20th at 5pm.
The event is being held on Monday, June 24th next at Emerald Equestrian Centre, Co Kildare, in association with Fences France and is sponsored by Heritage Of Tomorrow with a prize fund of €2,500.
There will be prize money for the top six placings, with the winning exhibitor claiming a sizeable prize of €1,000. There will also be an additional prize of €200 for the breeder of the winning entry, to recognise their achievement.
Mounted Unit
THE Dail heard from Justice Minister Charles Flanagan TD that there is currently 14 horses attached to the Garda Mounted Unit, based in Dublin’s Phoenix Park.
Minister Flanagan said: “I am informed that the estimated cost of purchasing 10 additional horses for the Garda Mounted Unit is approximately €60,000. This estimated cost is for the purchase of the horses only and does not include other costs including those which would arise in relation to equipment, training or personnel.”