10 Things to do before you die
From bareback bronc riding to tracking lions and elephants on horseback in Kenya, Farming Independent brings you the definitive list of equine activities you must do before you kick the bucket
Play polo
Hollywood actors Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman recently played two terminally ill hospital patients who made a list of things they wanted to do before their cancer got the better of them.
Their ambition was to work their way through the list before they 'kicked the bucket' -- hence the film's title, The Bucket List.
After much deliberation, I've come up with 10 things, in no particular order, that I think should make the equestrian version of the bucket list.
1. Badminton Horse Trials
Taking place on May 7-10 next year, Badminton Horse Trials is to eventing what Wimbledon is to tennis; quite simply, the be-all and end-all.
The three-day event is one of only five elite international four-star, CCI**** events as classified by the FEI.
The trials have taken place every year in the park of Badminton House, the seat of the Dukes of Beaufort in Gloucestershire, England, since the event began in 1949.
The cross country day attracts crowds of up to a quarter of a million, which is the largest for any paid-entry sport event in the United Kingdom. Apart from the actual competition itself, there are plenty of things to see, from dressage displays to the Shetland Grand National and the parade of the Duke of Beaufort's hounds (who count Prince Charles and Camilla among their followers). Go to www.badminton-horse.co.uk to walk the virtual cross-country course, watch video clips of this year's event and book tickets for 2009.
2. Ride side saddle
This one is for the ladies only I'm afraid. There are few things as elegant as a well-turned-out hunter ridden side saddle. Everything about riding side saddle screams tradition, from the veiled hat to the immaculate habit.
The Side Saddle Association of Ireland will provide you with a list of qualified side saddle instructors who give lessons around the country.
The association also run training clinics and provide a rental service for saddles and clothing.
For more information, visit www.ssaireland.com or contact Julie Brindley O'Brien on honsec@ssaireland.com or call 087 280 3990.
3. Play polo
The exact origin of polo, the oldest team sport in the world, is unknown, but it was used for training cavalry in armies around the globe. It is believed that it was first played by nomadic warriors more than 2,000 years ago.
The first recorded polo match played in Ireland was in Co Carlow, in 1872.
The All Ireland Polo Club, Phoenix Park, Dublin, was founded in 1873 by Horace Rochfort of Clogrenane, which makes it the oldest polo club in Europe. Today, the nine polo clubs in Ireland are made up of 159 players.
The Waterford Polo Club is hosting a 12-22 goal tournament this weekend on Tom Driver's picturesque grounds at Rockett's Castle, Portlaw, Co Waterford.
See www.polo.ie for some information on polo in Ireland, where and how to start playing and an online polo shop for all your equipment.
4. Drive a horse in harness
Watch and learn the art of driving a horse in harness at any of the Carriage Driving Ireland competitions. The skill required to drive a single, pair or team of horses in a straight line has me in awe of carriage drivers. And that's before they tackle the dressage, cones and cross-country elements of a competition.
Log on to www.carriage-drivingireland.com for more information and dates for upcoming competitions.
5. Go to a rodeo
Not one for the faint hearted, rodeo riding has two divisions; bareback bronc riding, where the rider has only a type of surcingle called a "rigging", and saddle bronc riding, where the rider sits on a special western saddle without a horn.
Contrary to popular opinion, most modern 'broncs' are not, in fact, wild horses, but are more commonly spoiled riding horses or horses bred specifically as bucking stock.
www.prorodeo.com is the official site of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and has information on rodeos held all over the United States.
6. Visit Aintree
Home to the world's greatest steeplechase, the Grand National, Aintree racecourse is a must-see. Some 600 million viewers worldwide tune in to watch the most famous National Hunt race every year and more than €120m is placed in bets in the UK alone.
Take a tour of Aintree from the weighing room, where you can sit in the jockey's weighing-in chair and walk around the dressing room, visit the winner's enclosure, the stable yard and pay your respects to the legend that was Red Rum. His final resting place and life-size statue are located at the finishing post of the course.
Go to www.aintree.co.uk for more information and to book tickets for next year's festival on April 2-4.
7. Experience a fair day
You've already missed Cahirmee, Spancil Hill and Appleby (in the UK), but you can make up for it by planning your trip to the Puck Fair, Killorglin, Co Kerry, on August 10-12.
Failing that, you might make it to Tallow, Co Waterford, on September 3 or the October Fair in Ballinasloe, Co Galway, on October 4-12.
8. Horseback safari
This one would probably be more influenced by the depth of your pocket than simply lofty ambition. But what could be better than combining your hobby with one of the most exciting of holidays?
Imagine tracking down the "big 5" of lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard and rhinoceros on horseback.
www.zarasplanet.ie is an Irish-based horseback tour operator, but there are plenty of UK-based operators such as www.rideworldwide.co.uk and www.inthe-saddle.com .
9. Marvel at the Puissance wall
Don't spare your whoops of encouragement for the courageous horses and riders who turn in to face the daunting red and white of the Puissance wall.
On February 5, 1949, a horse called Huaso set the equestrian high jump record at the show grounds of Vina del Mar in Chile. Under Captain Alberton Larraguibel Morales, Huaso jumped into the history books when he cleared a fence measuring 8ft 1¼in (2.47m) on his third attempt.
The existing record for the modern FEI Puissance event stands a comparatively small 7ft 10in (2.38m) and was set in 1991 by German legend Franke Sloothaak, riding Leonardo.
But there's no denying the incredible bravery that will be exacted out of the Puissance competitors at the RDS on Saturday, August 9.
10. Swim with your horse
For an island people, surprisingly few of us have ridden a horse along the beach and fewer still have gone swimming on horseback. Why does getting soaked while out riding have to be a bad thing?
The swimming of horses as a means of conditioning and rehabilitation has been well established among trainers.
Swimming has been shown to reduce the recovery time of horses after surgery, injury or lameness, while at the same time maintaining or improving their condition. Just make sure to observe all the usual safety and horsemanship rules before dipping a toe in the water!
- Caitriona Murphy
