Best of luck to all my clients this weekend, there's so much going on and it's great to see you all enjoying your horses out competing. #allrounders #ithastobefun

Well done to resident rider Kate Kennedy and Cityscape on her very busy but great weekend. Been placed 4th in combined training in Boswell on Saturday and then today been placed 4th in elementary class in JAG equestrain with qualifying score of 68%. #veryproudcoach #havingfun

It was a long weekend which was go, go, go but was so much fun! Sonya, Laragh and Paddy started the weekend at Ballyellen, Gorey where Dane Rawlins was in for coaching. Excited, tacked and ready to go was 8 year old Laragh and her super mount Mr Money Bags who is also 8 years old!! This pair enjoyed every minute of their lesson and took full advantage of Dane with Laragh wanting as much of his teaching as she good get! Next up was Sonya and the very well known Jump Jet. Sonya gained some very useful training methods from Dane. Then it was time to head to Spruce Lodge where Mrs Keogh kindly offered the Somerton Stud horses (and ponies) and humans a place to stay overnight. The sun greeted everyone on Sunday morning and it looked like that weather was going to last the whole day! First out for Somerton's was youngster Bright Cloud who did a lovely, calm test which resulted in a first placed 66%. Then it was the Jump Jets turn and other than a few silly moments he finished on a summer finals qualifying score of 64.48% in their outdoor test! Last of the Somerton Stud's riders was Laragh and her super pony Mr Money Bags in the Junior Trailblazers in the indoor arena! The indoor at Spruce Lodge has some strategically placed mirrors on the wall and Mr Moneybags really did not like to see his image - although he obviously did not like the mirrors, Laragh rode him through it just perfectly and finished with a 3rd placing of 66.45%! Job well done to both Sonya and Laragh. Thanks to Eastern Region for the running of this super dressage show and a very appreciative thanks to Mrs. Keogh for the overnight stay for horses and humans....😊 #irishhorsesandponies #dressageireland

Timeline Photos

We hope everyone has a lovely weekend!

A huge Well Done to student Hugo and I Google It today after placing 2nd at their 3rd ever junior 1star in Tyrella. Lovely courses and ground. 🐴 #irishhorses #proudcoach.

Photos from Somerton Stud's post

Photos from Somerton Stud's post

Photos from Somerton Stud's post

Dressage Ireland's Winter Championships were held at Cavan Equestrian Centre bathed in sunshine which made for an enjoyable weekend catching up with and meeting new friends from all over Ireland. Somerton Stud had four horses qualify with Sonya having two, Kate Kennedy with one and Laragh Byrne qualifying one! Saturday saw Bright Cloud come out looking good until his rider had a few Sat Nav errors which were costly. The horse came out looking great in Sunday and rode a calm but powerful test and they were rewarded with a great score which saw them finish in 6th position with 69%. Next for Sonya was The Jump Jet in the Prix St. George. After The Jump Jet spooked and covering the judges and their table with arena sand. Sonya sat calmly and quietly and quickly regained The Jump Jet's confidence and other than some expensive mistakes he performed a powerful, extremely calm and happy test. Kate and Cityscape not long in elementary pulled off some scores of 62% even with some unwanted flying changes. Warming up in the arena, amongst the huge horses early in Sunday morning was 8 year old Laragh Byrne and Mr Moneybags and this combination held it all together. Laragh was riding in the Under 16 Trailblazer's class - a class that she was the youngest in and it was a highly competitive class! After a lovely warmup Laragh and Mr Moneybags entered the ring and stole the show riding her test perfectly and without being called and achieved 64%, after qualifying to be at these Championships, having only had the pony since December. Laragh was delightfully excited when Grandpa Paddy surprised her by being there to watch her ride. Grandmam was also there along with pals Lucy and her mum, Jan who were all part of Laragh's Fan Club - rider and friend Kate was also on hand to watch and in fact the arena had plenty of people watching!! Thank you to everyone 😍 #proudcoach #proudmam #dressageireland #irishhorses #irishponies

Leinster Dressage

Photos from Somerton Stud's post

After a busy weekend for Somerton Stud's youngest rider, Laragh Byrne was a happy but tired young lady! First up we had dressage at Boswell - Laragh had both her ponies there and she rode a super test on Mr Money Bags! This very handsome bay pony is a very confident youngster in the arena but even he felt the eeriness of being in the arena on his own with no horse/pony next to him..... Laragh rode him beautiful, keeping his focus and finished in third place with get another qualifying score of 66.96%. Coppenagh Bullet, cheeky grey did not face so well! Half way through her test after sitting several bucks and his general unwillingness to work calmly Laragh decided that it was best to call it a day on him - she clocked up a "retirement" score but showed everyone just what a great little rider age has become!! At 8 years of age she shows an enormous maturity today...... On Sunday it was time to go jumping for Laragh and her two ponies - so we headed off to Emerald !! First up was Mr Moneybags and things didn't go all that brilliantly in the warm up arena!! Unfortunately Mr Moneybags showed his amazing hearing when he suddenly spooked and unseated his young rider!! It turned out it was the nesting pigeons flailing their wings against the metal roof!! Laragh jumped up and was back in the saddle continuing with her warm up routine! Laragh then jumped a super, clear cross pole round on Coppenagh Bullet showing an amazing development of of her "jumping eye" and the grey man showed just how confident he is when it involves poles - there was no messing today! And their reward was second place for their effort! Then it came to the 40cm round and again it was Coppenagh Bullet who was the hero of the day jumping clean taking 2nd place honors with a time not quite close enough to the optimum time for a first placing - it is beginning to become obvious that the bay pony is a little legend in the dressage arena and Coppenagh Bullet is a little power house in the jumping arenas!! What is even more obvious though is that Laragh is quite comfortable in both Dressage and Showjumping - and is also a dab hand at convincing her Pa (grandfather Paddy) to roll out the big lorry to transport her ponies in style 😉!

Photos from Somerton Stud's post

Somerton Stud had a busy but fabulous fun weekend.... We began with dressage at Redhills for the Leinster Dressage show. Young one, Laragh took both Mr Money Bags and Coppenagh Bullet to take on the very competitive Junior Trailblazers class. She was delighted to place 3rd and 4th in the class and, most importantly for Laragh, she qualified for the National Winter finals. Thanks to Jenny Heffernan and all her team at Redhills for a lovely show! From Redhills it was straight to Emerald for Moresport Showjumping League. Laragh's confidence grows weekly and again this weekend she went double clear in crosspoles and a clear round in the 50cm and one round with 8faults. The motto for thus weekend was "It's got to be fun and you have to come out with a smile for it to be definitely worth while"! Huge well done to clients who also competed in Jag Dressage today with some scores over 70% - you know who you all are.👍 #proudcoach #sidflynngarlicseaweed #fedontopspec #proudparents #irishponies

Photos from Somerton Stud's post

Lovely morning in Emerald with Moore SportHorses hosting showjumping show. Laragh and both ponies pulling off some lovely clear rounds gaining confidence every putting. Getting some support from her auntie Niamh!