Blog

by Jenny Richardson BHSAI During the spring and summer months, it is just so lovely to ditch the schooling in favour of lovely ambles in the countryside but if you’re not careful it’s easy to neglect the carefully structured regime of training and discipline that keeps our horses structured and well behaved in their work. Keep it interesting It is very easy in the arena to be too repetitive and we must avoid the possibility of boredom setting in for both horse and rider. Here are a few changeable and interesting routines to keep you both on your toes and enjoy the sessions. Flatwork … [Read more...]

by Jenny Richardson, BHSAI Why are riding holidays often booked in spring? As business manager here at Castle Leslie Estate in Ireland, I think it is because we all experience such a busy, time-pressured period at the start of the year that we feel we are ‘owed’ some riding time to ourselves. Plus, improving our riding skills and also simply relaxing and doing the thing we love most in a relaxing environment is often at the forefront of our minds at this time of year! Obviously I am a fan of equestrian vacations – they offer many benefits, from improving your riding skills and making new … [Read more...]

by Jenny Richardson BHSAI I am Equestrian Centre Business Manager here at Ireland’s Castle Leslie Estate; you can click on our main site www.castleleslie.com to see what we have to offer! I love training, and am thrilled that the competition season in Ireland and elsewhere is firmly underway – we have many visitors to our extensive XC course with hundreds of lovely jumps of all types. I’d like to share some info about a specific type of jumping challenge. If you enjoy cross country schooling or eventing, you will undoubtedly come across ‘skinnies’, or narrow fences such as ‘arrowheads’, … [Read more...]

by Jenny Ricahrdson, BHSAI English magazine Absolute Horse recently ran a lovely feature in their January issue about staying at Castle Leslie Estate in winter, and we thought we’d share it with you! It was written by our business manager, Jenny Richardson. If you are planning a visit to Castle Leslie Estate over the winter months for a riding trip, you can be sure of a lovely treat. Nestled on 1,000 acres of undulating Irish countryside, the venue is dotted with ancient woodlands and glittering lakes. You will ride through rich, eye-popping colours, beautifully-lit panoramas and a multitude … [Read more...]

By Jenny Richardson BHSAI, Castle Leslie Estate’s Business Manager The time has come to book a trip; enhance your riding skills! A beach, a plain, or training base with undulating hills? At Castle Leslie, fun is key, with so much here to do. Walking, angling, outdoor fun and some horse riding too. “I want a break, to canter fast, improve my skills,” she sighed. “A training venue sounds just right – I really want to ride!” We boast a home-from-home resort, if your home’s a great estate. Castle luxury at every turn, and service that’s just great. The lodge, the castle, riding school, an … [Read more...]

By Jenny Richardson BHSAI, Castle Leslie Estate’s Business Manager. If your horse is proving a handful, and creating dangerous situations for you due to spookiness, what can you do? It is impossible to completely ‘bombproof’ a horse as they are flight animals, but by desensitising them to certain situations and objects, you can be prepared to face frightening hazards head-on. Top tips- Start your horse’s training as young as possible. Bear in mind that we simply need the horse to be where we want him, with the required speed and direction, in any given situation. It is a training issue. The … [Read more...]