Following on from the success of the dressage sponsorship last year, we are delighted to announce that we have stepped it up this year to become the title sponsors of the Ashbrook Derby Day at Killoserry Lodge Stud on May 1^st.

It is set to be an exciting day for competitors and spectators alike with competitors entering at the level that is most suited to their capabilities, from Primary to Advanced Open. However, it is the taking part and having fun that counts and with game faces set, we have even better prizes to give away than last year!

Taking part in this fab competition could not be easier and you could win yourself some of our fantastic gear. Call Lisa McLaughlin on 0876087873, Helen Clarke 0863656548 or email: ashbrookridingclub@gmail.com for more information or download full details of the Ashbrook derby day 2011 here.

Last week, we were at Clare Equestrian Centre. I brought Serpent of Lux and Carco Mo Chara (Parco) and my neighbour Garoid brought his horse as well. It was a great day, Tom Holden set up the courses and they were brilliant!

I was jumping Luxie for the 1.20’s and decided to change her bit to a D ring with copper rollers, a bit that she had jumped in as a six year old. She went really well and I found that the bit really made a big difference so I was glad that I changed it. We were 14^th to jump in the Grand Prix and although she jumped really well we had a slight miscommunication coming away from the combination and I lost the contact. Luxie saw the next fence too late and stopped! Apart from this, I was really happy with the round

It was Parco’s first day out so he was jumping the 1.10, he had a lovely clear round which I was really pleased with. My friend Garoid also had a clear and ended up finishing in second place. I was interviewed for irishsport.tv so I got to practice my interview skills again, which was fun. Unfortunately I didn’t get to chat for long because I had to run and warm up for the Grand Prix- what a day!

We are delighted to announce our continued sponsorship of the IPC Hunter Trial Championships, which are taking place at the end of this month.

Having been the proud sponsor for the last three years, we hope to make this year an even bigger success and without a doubt, even more exciting than before. This year the Hunter Trials will take place on April 30^th in Ballycahane, Crecora, Co. Limerick, so make sure that you have your entries in before the closing date of April 21^st.

A fantastic range of prizes will be given away to the winners of each category that will no doubt raise the stakes even higher this year. The popular Charles Owen Teams of Three will likely be the most competitive category on the day with The Mackey Ireland Senior Pairs and The Carr & Day & Martin Junior Pairs also providing great competition. With not long to go now until the big day, we hope that you guys are as excited as they are!

A video of last year’s event can be seen at www.irishponyclub.ie/hunter_trials.html

Stonehavens Another Prince was placed 5^th in Monart in Open 1 Star class in March 2011 his first run out showed that all the hard work with the dressage is now paying off. As always he was his usual self going clear cross country and doing a lovely clear round in show jumping. His next day out is Ballinaclough in the 2 Star class as a warm up for the CIC in Ballindenisk. Thankfully he is qualified for Tattersalls so he won’t need many runs. He has been doing extra fitness work which he never minds as galloping is his favorite speed!!! We have been competing in 1.20m show jumping in Ballinamona training shows so fingers crossed that he stays sound and fit in the next couple of weeks….

The Bates and Wintec brands are two of the world’s leading brands of saddles. While Bates Saddles are renowned worldwide for their superb design and the extraordinary attention to detail that is seen in each and every saddle that carries the Bates badge of honour, the world’s no.1 synthetic saddle – Wintec, offers great design at an exceptional price. Understanding that a new saddle is a major investment, as distributor of the Bates and Wintec range of saddles in Ireland, we are delighted to introduce a test ride service for Bates and Wintec saddles, so you can be confident that you choose the best model to suit you and your horse.

Available through your local saddler, this service allows you to take any of the saddles available in the Mackey Ireland Bates and Wintec saddle library on trial for a few days, so you can really get a feel for the saddle and be 100% confident that it’s the one for you. With such a wide range of models and styles to choose from, just one trial ride may not be enough and this service will allow you to make your decision with complete confidence.

Chosen by many of the world’s top riders, Bates saddles are unique in that the focus has been shifted to the horse to achieve the best fit and level of comfort, for the highest performance possible for both horse and rider. The company is driven by providing practical and innovative solutions to longstanding drawbacks in saddle design and the launch of the EASY-CHANGE Gullet System in 1996 marked a huge leap forward in saddle design and is now available across the range of Bates and Wintec saddles. This system allows the rider to easily custom fit their saddle to their horse’s changing shape, which rarely stays constant with the changing seasons. The latest revolutionary innovation by Bates and also introduced into the Wintec range – the CAIR Panel System – has won acclaim from renowned riders, vets, remedial therapists and saddlers from around the world. The CAIR Panel System replaces the traditional fillings in your saddle panel with air. The concept of air as the ultimate in cushioning for the horse is simple: being a fluid medium, air will constantly adapt to the horse’s working muscles. This means that your weight will be distributed evenly across the entire length of the panel, virtually eliminating pressure points. This extraordinary comfort results in freer movement, better carriage and a happier horse and for such a simple concept, the dramatic difference the CAIR Panel System makes to a horse’s comfort and performance is profound.

The following models are available to test ride from Mackey Ireland through your local retailer:
The Bates All Purpose saddle, the Bates Momentum eventing saddle, the Next Generation Bates Elevation Jumping saddle, the Bates Isabell dressage saddle, the Wintec 500 All Purpose saddle and the Wintec 500 Close Contact, so if you are looking for a new saddle to partner you and your horses for many, many years to come, look no further than Bates or Wintec. Available to test ride at a saddler near you.

For more information on Bates or Wintec saddles see www.batesaustralia.com.au or www.wintec.net.au. For more information on the Mackey Ireland Bates and Wintec trial service, call 045 404620 or email sales@mackeyequestrian.com