Show success

Our young (and adult) riders travelled all the way to Antequera this weekend to ride at a super showjumping competition. It was very popular with a huge amount of entries in each class and we finished with show success!

Everyone came away with happy memories, some superb riding results (rosettes) including Jazmin (aged 13) with Rosie, who took 2 seconds in both the 80 cm and 1 metre rounds.

Your smiles, enthusiasm, efforts, endless practicing and joy of riding shone through. It’s not about the results in the end it’s about the experience and the enjoyment. We are immensely proud of all our riders for giving it a go and having goals (and courage).

WELL DONE.

 

Estepona wildfires

You may have heard in the media about the devastating Estepona wildfires that have been raging in the area behind Estepona and into the mountains along the coast.

We want you to know the horses and people are safe and the fires, thankfully with the help of the rain, are not out but are stabilised.

The fires have burned whole sections of our beautiful riding countryside, affecting the flora and fauna. The wildlife has been heavily affected and local groups and vets are dealing with the aftermath.

We owe a huge debt of gratitude to all the firefighters, management and pilots who worked tirelessly in tremendous heat and arduous terrain to control this unprecedented fire. Our condolences to the firefighter from Almeria who sadly lost his life whilst helping in this endeavour.

What has happened to the mountains?

The goats and farm at the top of the ride were saved. There are swathes of burned areas and then swathes of green untouched by the fire. There are brown areas where the heat scorched the leaves. Some of this will flourish again relatively quickly. IN the spring after the rains the wildflowers and grasses should come back. For some of the tree areas that were burned for long periods the regeneration will take maybe 5-10 years.

The lower levels of the ride are unaffected. A lot of the mountain vistas also show areas unaffected.

The local council and environmental agencies are working on plans as we speak to reclaim this important area of natural beauty.

We have been cleared to ride carefully in the area.

It’s still magnificently beautiful and in places you would not even know that the Estepona wildfires were here. Turn around and you can see some of the damage. But the rides are still wonderful and the area will recover.

 

Meet Sibel

What a difference a few weeks at the Ranch makes. We would like you to meet Sibel.

Sibel is a beautiful Arabian from the endurance team sponsor’s Yegauda Sultan. She was a little tubby and out of shape when she arrived (but stunning – see this photo we have of her as a 1 year old filly).

Caroline was been tasked with training her for her first endurance race later in September.

Her daughter Jazmin and regular rider Lola have been doing the training rides at all times of the morning and evening… and what a difference two weeks makes.

Here she is before during and after her bootcamp. Ready to head to the RAID and compete. She is a lovely sweet character, enthusiastic to run as most Arabs are and especially ones from Yegauda Sultan. Watch this space and see how Sibel’s story unfolds as her career starts.

Pop star?

So who is this handsome boy with his wannabe backing singers. Do we have a pop star or a pop band in the making?