Silk Lines

This web blog looks at what is happening in the dressage world in the West of Ireland

Thursday, January 26, 2006

Map Donegal


Map Donegal
Originally uploaded by maria.silke.
Donegal is the most north westerly county in Ireland. It is rugged and desolate along the coast with rich, fertile land in the middle of the county.

Today is Thursday. Early start for Ed Tech. The time difference between Athenry and Galway still exists!¬!

Wednesday, January 25, 2006

Seaside Fun


Seaside Fun
Originally uploaded by maria.silke.
Swimming in the sea with your pony is the ultimate fun!! Roll on the summer

Pony Diary for this week

Today is Wednesday and the blogging is getting better by the day!!

The ponies are well and happy and enjoying the mild weather. With the all the Winter Leagues underway they need daily exercise but with the pressure of work and study for the girls it is not always easy to give them the time they need.

Tuesday, January 24, 2006

dressage horse


dressage horse
Originally uploaded by maria.silke.

Connemara pony


Connemara pony
Originally uploaded by maria.silke.

Sunrise%20On%20Galway%20Bay


Sunrise%20On%20Galway%20Bay
Originally uploaded by maria.silke.
A wonderful place to walk early in the morning. Inspiring, awesome and never the same. What a wonderful place.

Happy cat


Happy cat
Originally uploaded by maria.silke.
This is a very happy cat!

Monday, January 23, 2006

My experiences in this class have all been great! From the point of view of visiting students in schools I find that many schools do not have much in the line of technology available to our HDE students. While class rooms do have the proverbial blackboard/whiteboard and TVs/videos only some students have access to OHPs not to mind data projectors. While all schools have computer rooms and equipment most are hesitant to allow student teachers access to same.

Life in Galway is wonderful. It is a wonderful city with great facilites for everyone. My own favourite is the sea. Galway Bay is a wonderful place and is only a short drive away from anywhere in the city. The Prom is widely used and a free resource to everyone. Blackrock has a wonderful diving tower but not too long ago this was a 'Men Only' zone and ladies were not allowed to venture into this area. The ladies were permitted to swim further up the beach at the 'Ladies' Beach' so if a group of friends wanted to get together they were not permitted to swim together! And that was not that long ago.

Sunday was a busy day with a Dressage Ireland Training Day in Ballygar Equestrian Centre, Ballygar, Co Galway. The day started at 10.30 am. with registration and coffee. 30 people made the trip and 5 demonstration tests were ridden. Rachel Silke rode Rathleen Spideog for the Primlininary Test and rode very nicely indeed. Lunch was a delicious affair with Sarah English's great soup!! Bernard Finneran kept the kettle boiling and make sure everyone was topped up for the day. The most enjoyable bit of the afternoon for me was the musical ride. A great day was had by all.

Day 2: We continued with our Blogging Sessions today. It was interesting to be able to access the newly created blog and to edit the entries. Something new learned today.

Dressage news: Sunday is the first day of the Western Dressage Winter League. The show will be held in Creagh Equestrian Centre, Ballinasloe starting at 10 o'clock. Rachel is hoping to ride in the Preliminary Test I and Test II.