Anyone from county clare out there??

[ruggly]

Hi there!!
I'm a uk ex pat over in county clare....is there anyone here over in the west
Horsey/pony owners.....happy hackers.....although I see myself on a shiny 17:2 doing dressage.....I'm afraid my white jods stay wrapped in tissue in the wardrobe.
I'm more the black dusty jods, and the over long mane and tail type.......Pleeeease let there be like minded older HHs out there

 

[fathorselover]

Not me i live in the uk, however my uncle lives in county clare and we are going to visit him for a week in august! I can't wait i have never been to ireland, i just hope the weather will be ok!

 

[ruggly]

Aah! I'm sure you will have a lovely time.....though I can't guarantee the weather, this is Ireland if you worry about the weather you would never leave the house ;0)
Enjoy yourself and make sure you have a half a Guinness as the black stuff over here is sooooo much better than the English version.....
Happy holidaying

 

[Irish gal]

Hi Ruggly, I'm the next county over, Limerick so not much help to you hacking wise. Where abouts are you? I'm just thinking of what might be on in your area like charity rides etc as a way to meet other horse folk. There's lots of info on the internet/facebook but let me know where you are?

 

[ruggly]

hi irish gal, I'm border clare/galway just outside gort...we're really lucky hacking wise, I live within coillte land, so there's miles of tracks to go at, We do have the odd charity ride locally, it's so nice to find someone from the emerald isle......I really miss the bridle paths of the uk, Ireland doesn't seam to do bridle paths???? what is the hacking like in your area?? What's your horsey sport?? or are you a happy hacker too ;0)

 

[Irish gal]

Hi Ruggly, well you've hit the jackpot there with Coilte land to hack in, that is what passes for bridle paths here I'm afraid. It's such a pity we don't have them like in the UK and as you know even the little country roads are so busy these days, hacking isn't what it was here when I was growing up.

I had a horse on livery for a few years near a big forest park outside Limerick - Curraghchase - and that was wonderful for riding. Although sadly it was illegal and we had to sneak in, pretty ridiculous really when the park was empty so much of the time. I hunted with the Galway Blazers up around you, outside Gort, great stone wall country! The County Clare hunt, does that extend to your area, the hunts are always good for non jumping ride outs at the start of the season. I know there is an equestrian section on boards.ie and maybe some local hackers might be found through that. Isn't it a pity it's not easier to connect to other hackers locally, makes it so much more fun.

I'm more into hacking and breeding these days, not sure my nerve for hunting is what it used to be! But there is one hunt that might interest you as it's drag and all the fences are very do-able and novice sized compared to many hunts. It's the East Clare Farmers, they are pretty relaxed about people joining in at the start of the season who are non members and they do a few ride outs, with no jumping to kick off the season off.

 

[I*HM]

I'm Irish though not your neck of the woods - Offaly is home for me!
There are quite a few facebook groups popping up with some genuinely nice and helpful people that might be worth checking out! Another thought, perhaps you're not looking to compete or anything (though the level 1/2 competitions are usually v laid back and new comer friendly) but from the sounds of it, trec might be a good prt of call for you. Turas Trec are based roughly in your area (I think!) and has some really lovely and helpful members. They also run training days and have some really fabulous routes for their orienteering phase. Might do no harm getting in contact with them. They also do quite a bit around Slieve Aughty, not sure if that's too far from you but beautiful equestrian centre with really nice hacking and xc
Just out of curiosity, did you get a permit from coilte?

 

[ruggly]

Hi all,
East clares do hunt round here through the season (Kilanena) but our lot ere the Turkey Trotters, all very nice just with slightly suicidal tendencies, and as I don't do "Really really brave" I tend to just stick to my hacking.
Slieve Aughty isn't too far and the centre there is run by a friend of a friend....In my head I'm Charlotte Du Jardin but in reality I'm more like Thelwell so I tend to stick to my hacking, Trek did seam tempting at entry level, but then rather daunting at timing trot and canter stage....excuses excuses I suppose.
Yes I did get a permit from coillte, it seamed the best option to not have to keep looking over my shoulder all the time as they have been working this area for the last seven years.
Everyone round here says the changes are rather tight within coillte from years ago. sad really considering it's such a great facility. I ride four or five times a week and very rarely see anyone......I suppose that's nice, though sometimes it's nice to have a natter.
this is soooo nice to have horsey/pony peeps to talk to "Hoorah!!!!" ;0)

 

[Irish gal]

Hey Ruggly, hacking is brilliant but you're so right it's nice to have a natter and a partner in crime. Had a great hacking pal for a while and we had fun in Coilte, one of us would dismount, construct great little jumps from fallen firs and have our own little cross country! Pity there are not more ways to connect with local hackers on social media - I imagine there would be plenty of takers.

Yes those Turkey Trotters sound a bit hardcore, I remember a girl out with them died a few years ago - not for the faint hearted. I must say though the East Clare farmers are a tame hunt, most fences around three feet high, with a way round everything. They wouldn't be in the same league at all as other hunts, which makes it nice and predictable when I haven't been feeling so brave.

Had no idea you even needed a Coilte permit, are they expensive? Bloody red tape with everything these days!

 

[ruggly]

Teehee!!!! coillte staff probably spend most their day removing the jumps us hackers put up so nicely.
three foot jumps Mmm! sounds like the puissance to me ;0D
Permits are €100, but I tend to think if you were to use your local cross country course 3 or 4 times a week with your own horse then a week of that would cost you the same....and you could in theory ride coillte 7 days 52 weeks, so it's a no brainer really...and as we more or less pay for the air we breathe, whats another yearly outgoing....
Have to keep my ear to the ground regarding east clare farmers, never know we might meet there sometime ;0)

 

[Equi]

Just got a stallion from clare. Lovely county! There are a fair few riding schools/raceyards that i drove past but can't name them for you

 

[I*HM]

Teehee!!!! coillte staff probably spend most their day removing the jumps us hackers put up so nicely.
three foot jumps Mmm! sounds like the puissance to me ;0D
Permits are €100, but I tend to think if you were to use your local cross country course 3 or 4 times a week with your own horse then a week of that would cost you the same....and you could in theory ride coillte 7 days 52 weeks, so it's a no brainer really...and as we more or less pay for the air we breathe, whats another yearly outgoing....
Have to keep my ear to the ground regarding east clare farmers, never know we might meet there sometime ;0)

When I still had my own horse, I used to hack with a friend in coilte forests (who had a permit, I didn't - naughty!) and then got a bit bold and brave and started hacking sans friend with permit. Got caught one day by a very official looking man with a coilte clipboard and started making up some lame excuse about my lack of a permit - lo and behold, v official coilte man didn't even know I was meant to have one! he had only stopped me to tell me there was heavy machinery being brought in later in the week. Though obviously I don't condone being naughty and sneaking around coilte land

friend used to hunt with the ECF before she came to live over my way, she says they were the best lot she's hunted with as there was always a way around and an easy way home. Though the Turkey Trotters on the other hand- wouldn't go near them - bit to kamikaze for my liking.

And I know I've said it before but trec is for everyone - kick along ponies to big bouncy ex racers in matchy matchy to god knows what else with every sort of rider under the sun to match. Really good fun and can do pairs so can let someone else work out the timings for you they often do do intro days too and are quite happy to show you the ropes - not nearly as complex as it seems as long as you can read a map and have a decent watch

 

[ruggly]

Oh dear,now I have no excuse.....maybe if I said I had no friends at all???? Mmm! maybe not, I shall just have to put my bolts in my knees and be adventurous :0/
Coillte men with clip boards now that's really scary.....our coillte men usually carry cups of tea....and I'm not sure they have legs as I only ever see them sitting in vans.....or is that just round here??