Welcome to Longford Pony Club
The Longford Hunt Branch is a very active limb of the Irish Pony Club. It currently has currently over 40 members. The branch training base is divided between Corbeagh House, Ballinalee and Rincoola, Granard, Co. Longford.
We evolved from the Midland and Western Branch which was based on Roscommon racecourse at a time when Oliver Fleming was DC and Nuala Carberry was secretary. In order to cater for the growing numbers from throughout the County, Longford Hunt Branch was established in 1980. In the early days the club was based in Mosstown, Kenagh, Co. Longford with Sam Murphy as DC, Harold McGahern as Secretary and Margaret McCormack as Treasurer. Indeed this partnership still flourishes today and they are the longest serving officers of any Pony Club in the country. The branch moved to Rincoola, Granard in the early 1990s where we still hold our pony camps and rallies.
For over twenty-five years we organised a very successful and widely supported Hunter Trials at Carrigglas Manor by kind permission of Jeffry and Tessa Lefroy. Following the sale of the estate we began to look for a new venue and in 2008 our Hunter Trials moved to Corbeagh House. Since 2000,this venue has hosted the annual Longford Pony Club One Day Event whcih enjoys critical acclaim.
Several of our past Pony Club members have gone on to greater things in the equestrian world. Commdt. Gerry Flynn is one of Ireland's greatest international riders. He retired from the Army Equitation School last year. His talent was first identified and mentored in his native Lanesborough by the late Tommy Harold who owned the famous Connemara Stallion, Tully Grey, in the 1960s. Gerard's initial international showjumping success was on Rincoola Abu (leased by the AES from our Branch Secretary). They were on six winning Irish nations Cup Teams and won international Grand Prix classes in Helsinki and Tripoli as well as innumerable speed classes. In 2007, he won four CSIO Grand Prix on another Cruising mare, Mo Chroi. Lieut. Michael Kelly, another army rider, has also recently represented his country. Robert Harrison, recently moved up to horses, has represented Ireland on numerous occasions at pony and young rider level.
We have a very active committee in Longford Pony Club and throughout the year a programme of training sessions are provided for all age-groups. Training sessions are designed to develop and improve equestrian skills and prepare competitors to represent the Club.
Over the winter months the following programmes were held:
Over 15s - show-jumping lessons with Simon Trent.
Under 15s - flatwork, grid work and show-jumping lessons with Thomasina O' Reilly.
Under 12s - cross-country and show-jumping lessons with Mo Donnelly. Swimming training provided by Longford Sports and Leisure.
We also run mini camps for our youngest riders, age 6 to 8, during holidays.
We evolved from the Midland and Western Branch which was based on Roscommon racecourse at a time when Oliver Fleming was DC and Nuala Carberry was secretary. In order to cater for the growing numbers from throughout the County, Longford Hunt Branch was established in 1980. In the early days the club was based in Mosstown, Kenagh, Co. Longford with Sam Murphy as DC, Harold McGahern as Secretary and Margaret McCormack as Treasurer. Indeed this partnership still flourishes today and they are the longest serving officers of any Pony Club in the country. The branch moved to Rincoola, Granard in the early 1990s where we still hold our pony camps and rallies.
For over twenty-five years we organised a very successful and widely supported Hunter Trials at Carrigglas Manor by kind permission of Jeffry and Tessa Lefroy. Following the sale of the estate we began to look for a new venue and in 2008 our Hunter Trials moved to Corbeagh House. Since 2000,this venue has hosted the annual Longford Pony Club One Day Event whcih enjoys critical acclaim.
Several of our past Pony Club members have gone on to greater things in the equestrian world. Commdt. Gerry Flynn is one of Ireland's greatest international riders. He retired from the Army Equitation School last year. His talent was first identified and mentored in his native Lanesborough by the late Tommy Harold who owned the famous Connemara Stallion, Tully Grey, in the 1960s. Gerard's initial international showjumping success was on Rincoola Abu (leased by the AES from our Branch Secretary). They were on six winning Irish nations Cup Teams and won international Grand Prix classes in Helsinki and Tripoli as well as innumerable speed classes. In 2007, he won four CSIO Grand Prix on another Cruising mare, Mo Chroi. Lieut. Michael Kelly, another army rider, has also recently represented his country. Robert Harrison, recently moved up to horses, has represented Ireland on numerous occasions at pony and young rider level.
We have a very active committee in Longford Pony Club and throughout the year a programme of training sessions are provided for all age-groups. Training sessions are designed to develop and improve equestrian skills and prepare competitors to represent the Club.
Over the winter months the following programmes were held: