The Pony Club is a marvellous organisation, giving children the chance to try all sorts of different sports. This Spring, as well as pony racing, Pippa has been able to train for mounted games, enjoy bi-weekly showjumping lessons, team showjumping, dressage (with Clissy Bleekman) and polocrosse - all through our local pony club (Dartmoor). There are mounted rallies after school at this time of year as well as club nights and,for the really sporty there are tetrathlons to test you (running, riding, shooting, swimming) .
It was our first venture into polocrosse and the second rally was held on Saturday which included some match practice. It is a fast and furious mixture of polo and lacrosse on horseback, with a bit of rugby thrown in!
Local pony clubs for East Devon are Axe Vale and East Devon - got to www.pcuk.org and go to branches for contact details.
The point to point season comes to an end at the Torrington Farmers' point to point at Umberleigh on Saturday.
The meeting is a great social occasion with racegoers attending from all over the country. The day concludes with the Devon and Cornwall pony race finals, which should be really great fun, followed by a barbecue and a live band. Lots of people camp there for the night.
Most of the horses who have run pointing this season have been roughed off and are out in the field, while their owners either have a rest or start work on three and four year old horses.
We had a disappointing end to the year as Storm appeared to have lost all his form in the final two outings.
However, we have since found out that he pulled a muscle in his back when we ran at Exeter on ground which I was worried about being too firm. He wasn't ever lame but with hindsight his back did change shape a bit as the season went on and the racing saddle pinched his backbone at Flete, where he ran terribly, and then worse at Bratton, where he did ok but never looked his normal self. He will be sorted out by physio Clare MacDonald and then hopefully a spell at grass will sort him out ready for next September.