Pony club bounces back with beach rainbow ride
Argyll South Pony Club held its first post lockdown event at Machrihanish earlier this month, in glorious autumn sunshine.
Organised by Mairi Ralston, the rainbow ride on Sunday September 6 not only celebrated a return to equestrian activities for the club but also helped to raise money for the Mairi Semple Cancer Fund and Marie Curie.
The last Argyll South event was held in Tarbert in early March, with the very popular Skipness Daffodil Charity Ride, usually held at Easter, lost to the Covid restrictions at the time.
Revival
August saw some coaching in small groups being allowed but only in open fields. The Rhoin in Kintyre and Upper Largie near Kilmartin provided the two focal points of this particular Argyll equestrian bounce back revival and so it was decided to have them as starting points for two separate charity rides for members and friends both north and south of the club’s catchment area.
Ten riders, ranging in age from four years old to pensioner-plus, assembled at Machrihanish Airbase Community Company car park and rode through the dunes to Machrihanish beach where they thoroughly enjoyed the sand and surf at their own pace, from leisurely stroll to flat out gallop.
Stewards Sheila MacCallum, Julie Sloan and Tracy McArthur made sure the route and trailer parking were safe and Covid secure and when all the riders returned they received a colourful rainbow rosette as a memento of a truly memorable laughter and funfilled day.
Argyll South Pony Club wishes to thank all those who made the great day possible.
The north ride will be next weekend and will be over forestry paths and tracks so the club really is going from surf to turf on its rainbow rides.