Irish Pony Club conference proves inspirational

MADAM,

What an inspiring and informative day we had yesterday (October 25th) at the Pony Club Instructors and Examiners Conference in the Bloomfield Hotel, Mullingar.

We were highly entertained by Heike Holstein’s presentation of her progress from lead rein to Olympics and by Cathal Daniel’s story of his progress from Pony Club to his dreams of Rio.

Then we somehow managed not to feel silly jumping up and down on the spot to create energy in the room for Jim Hickey, high performance coach - how he achieved that I do not know but I do know that I wanted to be 16 again and have him at my back inspiring me!

After a very good lunch, we headed to Mullingar EC where John Ledingham worked two groups of three young riders and made such progress in just an hour by making the most subtle changes that we all left with lots of food for thought and a renewed passion for coaching.

All this pulled together by the inimitable Tony Ennis and Barbra Micks.

Thank you and long live the Pony Club.

Yours etc,

Carole Douglas

Arodstown

Summerhill

Co Meath

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MADAM,

Through the medium of your newspaper, I wish to acknowledge and thank the training committee of the Irish Pony Club for organising a very informative and enjoyable instructors’ training day in Mullingar last Sunday.

Over 100 instructors attended this event and listened to three key speakers in the morning session in Bloomfield House Hotel.

Dressage rider and former Olympian Heike Holstein and young event rider Cathal Daniels both charted their rise through the pony club and the role it played in their careers to date.

The final speaker in this session was performance coach Jim Hickey. Jim certainly provided each of us with plenty of food for thought and knowledge that we can carry with us in the future.

Proceedings then moved to Mullingar Equestrian Centre where John Ledingham conducted a two hour masterclass involving six pony club riders. John as always provided great engagement with his audience and imparted some of his vast experience on to us as well.

To Tony Ennis and the Irish Pony Club who organised this enjoyable day, we say Thanks.

Yours etc,

Dermot Brislane

Nenagh

Co Tipperary