Freezing temperatures, but equestrian competition is heating up!
Local equine news, reports, results and photos, despite the winter weather
Hello everyone,
I hope that 2025 is going well for you so far… Although the weather is once again rearing its head, with freezing conditions making it more difficult and perhaps more dangerous for those of us with animals to look after… Running with buckets of water when drinkers are frozen or exercising fresh horses on icy surfaces are never ideal scenarios, but all we can hope is that the cold spell will be short-lived and that temperatures will revert to being milder before long.
In the meantime, competition is heating up around the country, with many activities scheduled for the coming weeks and months. There is so much to choose from - to see what’s on and help plan your equine schedule, visit the Horse&Field calendar.
This Horse&Field newsletter brings you the latest equine news, as well as reports, results and pictures from local competitions over the past week or so, including Arena Eventing and Show Jumping with Pony Club qualifiers at Ardnacashel; New Year show jumping and Winter League final at The Meadows; week one of the latest show jumping league at Ecclesville; and the End of Season Derby at Connell Hill.
Ardnacashel welcomes keen competition for Arena Eventing and show jumping
There was a brilliant turnout at Ardnacashel Equestrian, Comber on Sunday, January 5, as they held the first of their Arena Eventing and Show Jumping competitions.
Winter League finale brings excitement to Meadows' new year jumping
A frosty air greeted riders to the first show of 2025 at the Meadows Equestrian Centre, Lurgan, as their unregistered show kicked off the new year on Saturday, January 4.
New Year gets under way at Ecclesville
Ecclesville Centre, Fintona started the first of their Show jumping Leagues for 2025 on Friday and the organisers were delighted to have over 70 entries on such a wintery evening.
Good cheer for Connell Hill’s End of Season Derby
Friday, December 27 saw a good turnout of competitors arrive at Connell Hill Equestrian, Randalstown, for the Derby and Pony Club Barrier Spring Festival Arena Eventing. A challenging course and fabulous range of fences made for an action-packed event under the watchful eye of course designer, Mr William Crean. All classes were timed and well-navigated …
In general equine and local news:
Rescued Shetland pony to become NEF cover star
The National Equine Forum (NEF) organising committee has chosen an irresistible picture of a rescued Shetland pony, ‘Arthur’, as the worthy winner of its recent photography competition. The image, taken by Amy Newton, a volunteer at Munchkins Miniature Shetland Rescue, will feature on the programme cover for the 33rd National Equine Forum, which takes p…
Hillmount expands with £1.5m investment in Carrick
Fourth generation family garden lifestyle business Hillmount is expanding in early 2025, adding a fifth garden centre to its portfolio, with a £1.5m investment and the creation of 10 jobs.
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Further details on the above and more are available by clicking on the stories or visiting Horse&Field and having a scroll through - there are now over 1,000 articles to choose from, with a search facility to find what you wish to read!
The Horse&Field calendar lists local equine activities and is updated on a daily basis. We are trying to make the calendar as comprehensive as possible and it currently lists shows and events right up until the spring, so if you know of any events that aren’t yet listed, please let us know by emailing: horseandfield@gmail.com!
Horse&Field Calendar
Calling all horse enthusiasts! As the seasons change, so does the equestrian calendar, filled with exciting events and competitions that bring the equestrian community together.
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