On a day which, if on special order, could not have been any more perfect than it was - the sun shone brilliantly as Harmony Cottage Farm invited competitors, spectators and people looking for a great day out to their first competition in what is a fully packed season ahead.

From the moment you drive through the gates you see a facility which is full of life - the green everywhere and the beautiful post and rail fencing all create an ambiance which makes you want to drive further in - and that is exactly what so many people did on this beautiful Sunday in May.

Today's event was covered by our intrepid "guest reporter" John O'Connell and he reported that he had a fabulous day!

"The competition was tough with clear rounds few and far between both in the main showjumping arena and on the Derby Course, but that didn't stop everyone having a fabulous day out. The picnic area was full of families enjoying the sunshine and the kids playground meant that the kids had fun and the parents had peace of mind.

Mick and Tony O'Sullivan and Mark Devey were the perfect hosts and made sure everyone was given the tour of the facilities with explanations of all that was available. The Harmony Cottage Farm staff were also on hand to answer any questions and help competitors find their way around the place which was great.

With the clear round jumping every Thursday and Derby jumping once a month this place will definitely add enormously to the experience of riders from the most experienced through to the novice rider, Harmony Cottage Farm will be a fantastic place to get young horses out to see things usually reserved for shows such as the RDS.

The resident parrot was also a highlight of the day entertaining the kids for hours with his huge vocabulary making him quite the conversationalist.

Great day and the three gentlemen who own and operate Harmony Cottage Farm are to be congratulated on running a fabulous day to open their newly built facility."

Editors note: Thanks to John O'Connell for his reporting of the day to us as we were at yet another of the many shows running on the weekend and so unable to attend personally - however we made up for it a couple of days later when we took the trip to Harmony Cottage ourselves and what we found lived up to our expectations after catching up with John on the Sunday evening after the event.

Left: The parrot up close and "chatting with some young friends.

Below: Mick O'Sullivan has his "coach face" on as he gives a lesson in the sunshine!

Left: The water complex is a brilliant design and comes complete with water flowing freely from the
water pump which gave water to the original farm house on the property - there was much discussion when building this complex about whether to repaint the pump but Mick was adamant that he wanted it
left in it's original state and I personally think he made the right decision as it looks fabulous and once all the plantings grow on the bank it will sit perfectly atop the hill as the horses approach. All the Derby fences have "baby horse" options as well as the tougher options for the more experienced horse and you can see in the photo above the ramp in and next to it the jump in - with the water only being inches deep. Below left you see a horse happily traveling through this complex for the first time.
Above right we see a 5 year old horse also happily going through this jump for the first time - the whole course has options for all stages of both horse and rider.
Below left we see the double of ditches which Mick was saying caused relatively few problems in Sunday's competition and again it is designed with baby horse options so is suitable for all levels.

Above right we see another of the Derby Arena fences and also below left and right - and all these fences have been carefully built with safety as one of the main concerns. The "lads" have also incorporated much of Ireland's history into the Derby Arena including some really stunning "bog tree stumps" which are used as features. The original Harmony Cottage, just minutes down the road is now home to Tony O'Sullivan but it was the original home of the two O'Sullivan lads and their parents and siblings so Tony and Mick are very much on 'home turf" in Carbury and their love of the history of their home is obvious as they take you on the guided tour of the place - including the walk to the "bog fields" which was an great experience for the two Aussies who can honestly say they have never before been to a bog field nor have we understood what they were - and it is very beautiful with the natural scrub and the "bog lakes".

Mick was telling us about taking rides out through the bog fields and into the forest which borders their property and how in winter this wouldn't be a great idea, unless you knew the fields well like Mick and Tony obviously do, having played there as small children and now playing there as grown men. In the summer however these fields give riders miles and miles of safe riding country with no worry of cars or trucks to worry a nervous rider - and I hear that their summer pony camps include taking the ponies out for treks and camping over night and then coming home the next day - could anything be more fun for kids!

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