On Saturday 26th May, fourteen ladies of the Side Saddle Association of Ireland, including Chairperson Georgina Galvin and ride organiser Ciara Ryan, set off on what proved to be a tremendous day full of enjoyment. Blessed with the weather, perhaps a bit too well blessed, it was blazing hot quite a difficult feat to ride in heavy hunting costume.

All riders and their entourage met at the magnificent Mount Juliet Estate, Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny.  Mount Juliet Equestrian Centre provided six absolutely smashing hire horses with impeccable manners, and so well schooled, they were just amazing. Great thanks must go to them. The assistance received from everyone at Mount Juliet showed no bounds, they were so helpful and professional in every way.

The riders included five complete beginners with an average of two lessons each and one who had never previously sat on a side saddle and still managed before the day was out, to jump a complete round of cross country fences.

Absolutely unbelievably to witness everyone attempting jumping parts of the wonderful solid cross country course!  With a 62 year age gap between them, so it just goes to show one is never too old or too young to ride when paired with a good horse!

The weather was fabulous, indeed one of the warmest days in Ireland this year, the back drop of Mount Juliet added greatly to the total enjoyment of the entire day. The former home of the McCalmont family, whose beloved Kilkenny Foxhounds are still kennelled on the grounds of the Estate .The ladies were dressed in immaculate extremely warm hunting costume!! Horses turned out to perfection.

While they all rode most elegantly for three hours by the banks of the River Nore, through meandering woodland trails and a stud farm, before tackling the cross country course. Led by the more experienced riders whereas the other ladies to their surprise were delighted to find that jumping aside in good company is actually quite easy on a well trained, obedient horse!

The Side Saddle Association of Ireland would like to say a huge THANK YOU  Ciara Ryan for taking on the task of organising the ride.

To Jenny Reid, (manager of the Mount Juliet equestrian centre) and her staff Tara Monahan and Elaine Roche for preparing such fabulous horses and for ensuring the day ran smoothly. .