A week into the school holidays, with a few horse miles under their belts, we ventured “over the hill” with the kids to our local Pony Club for a week-end of more frivolous and fun horse miles.

With the annual Horse Sports including the wider community, it was great to see all the competitors in full uniform. Green ties and all. Our’s were fresh from the dry cleaners; been there since last year!? This I realised at the last moment and not before a little anxiety..

All of us know how much work goes on behind the scenes to organise these fun week-ends. Nice to see our President relaxed and enjoying himself! I like to think this photo represents all of the smiling faces in this small community. Our club is so ably organised by so many dedicated parents. So many wear so many hats: instructors, stewards, caterers, secretaries, treasurers, and the list goes on. This rural community hums…and the McArthur family say thank-you.

Our littlest rider, aboard Shikira, was tickled pink to win a swag of ribbons. Her preferred placing was 6th, solely because this was rewarded with a pink coloured ribbon.

And she will be back next year after all the encouragement. Her goal, she informed us on the way home, is to be off the lead and trotting like her friends..

Hamish & Holly never stopped smiling. My favourite part of the Under 7 led class was the cheering amongst the ranks for their peers. These little tikes were so encouraging of each other. What great little sports. Mind you, there was a bit of bantering amongst the parents on the halter lead too. 

Lachlan and Moccachino had a great day out, coming home with Age Champion.

He broke his arm last Christmas and has been hesitant to canter all year. After some encouragement from Tess in the past week, and a little competitive spirit on Sunday, he is now a cantering machine.

Andrew and Sasha, were in the Under 11’s. He too, came home satisfied after achieving a goal he had set for himself. A blue ribbon. I heard him telling Grandma, how tight the race was, “I won by 3/100ths of a second!!”

As for little Eliza, we will have to find a 6th saddle and steed for next year! 

In 2012, she was quite content to cheer from the sidelines.

Now to wash 16 pairs of jeans and get those green ties back to the dry cleaners…………

There are 2 comments on this article:

• On 2/10/2012 sharon said:

  I reckon the runners in the led classes need the biggest trophy of all! and I am having trouble enough finding three horses, let alone six…so if you find a spare one, do let me know!

  there were lots of horse sports up here when I was a kid, the september school holidays featured one each weekend (at a different location around the district), the highlight of our year and we trained for weeks beforehand. Sadly the insurance and other red tape made it all too difficult for these small bush clubs and they all folded at around the same time not long after I went to boarding school. They were great days, and I was so thrilled to get “Best Girl” when I was in year two.

• On 2/10/2012 Fiona said:

  A lovely recount Ainsley. Hope we’ll make it again one day soon.