Gilly Fraser

Equestrian shows held at the weekend may turn out to be the last for quite some time, with cancellations now coming in thick and fast due to Coronavirus.

The equestrian community is coming together in a bid to do its bid to help people and animals affected by the devastating fires in Australia with events being planned all over the country to raise funds.

The CFHN pony club branch finished the year off with a fun and very successful Christmas Show at Blackdyke.

Dyffryngwy Sir Picasso was just six months old when he caught Emma Boardman’s eye at the Brightwells Cob Sales at Powys in Wales.

Christmas dreams came true for Cumbrian rider Philippa Coates Wilson when she took the Senior Showing and Dressage In-hand Reserve Championship at Olympia with 18-year-old welsh section B gelding Laithehill Pasha – better known as Buzz.

Santa Claus somehow found time in his extremely busy schedule to pay a visit to Greenlands for their Showing Show - and even to show off his own prowess as a carriage driver.

It’s one of the biggest equestrian happenings of the year, even though no horses are present. Cumbria Horse trials staged their annual awards evening at the North Lakes Hotel in Penrith, with riders gathered in all their glittering finery to be rewarded for their achievements and to applaud the success of others.

Crackenthorpe Waban won many hearts when he safely carried Cumbrian rider Sue Chappelhow-Lacey to church on her wedding day. With Sue’s sister Clare, the 10-year-old gelding has also proved he can win many prizes.

The Winter League unaffiliated horse showjumping season at Blackdyke is underway. There isn’t a league for ponies this year as the centre felt numbers were too low to make it economically viable.

There was heartbreak for young Cumbrian rider Lexi McSherry when she lost her pony Marons Masterpiece after a severe attack of laminitis. The pair had only been competing together for a short while but were already in the ribbons.