Last Sunday saw the presentation of the awards for the 2009 National Shetland Pony Performance Scheme. The scheme was started in 1980 to promote the use of the registered pedigree Shetland pony as a per­formance pony and it recognises the achievements and successes of young riders and their ponies.

Whalsay horse rider Arianne Fraser and Clothie Uriebell recently returned from competing at the London International Horse Show at Olympia.

Horse-lovers throughout the isles are delighted this week that a serious gap has been filled with the opening of a new riding school.

Shetland Indoor Riding Club saw two days of action at the weekend, with a dressage event on Saturday and a style jumping competition the following day.

Arianne Fraser from Whalsay has made it three years in a row by qualifying once again for the finals of the Shetland Pony Grand National at the London International Horse Show at Olympia in December.

Five Shetland jockeys and ponies competed at the recent Aberdeen District Summer Show at Fountain Equestrian Centre in Aberdeen­shire.

After a very successful trip to the Orkney Riding Club Show, the Shetland Riding Club were back at the indoor school in Girlsta on Friday for another summer jumping league night.

Five Shetland girls recently embarked on a 1,300-mile journey of a lifetime to take part in the Shetland Pony Grand National at the Royal Windsor Horse Show.

The show was an opportunity for jockeys Arianne Fraser, 12, and Emily Moss, 12, from Whalsay; Jade Stevenson, 11, from Nesting; Bronagh Goodlad, 11 from Quarff; and Aimee…

Five young Shetland girls returned home recently after competing with their ponies at two events on the Scottish mainland.

They were Arianne, 13, Kira, 12, and Rebecca Fraser, seven, from Whalsay, and Bronagh, 11, and Melody Goodlad, six, from Quarff.

The first event was the Aberdeen District Spring Show at Fountain Equestrian Centre on Sunday…

Dunrossness Riding Club (DRC) and the Shetland Pony Riding & Driving Group (SPRDG) had a successful year in 2008 which was recognised in their annual awards party on Sunday.

Through weekly lessons all the club members’ riding and horse care skills have improved and they have been rewarded with the presentation of certificates. In addition…

A former Lerwick optician is suing his estranged wife and erstwhile business partner for more than £800,000, claiming that her actions after they went their separate ways six years ago effectively left him out of work.

New SIC chief executive Alistair Buchan came face to face with all councillors this week for the first time since taking up the post for what he described as “very positive” initial discussions about how to react to major criticisms in the Accounts Commission’s recent report on the local authority.

Multiple Grammy winner Steve Earle, the outspoken singer-song­writer responsible for a host of classic Americana songs including Copperhead Road, Guitar Town and Galway Girl, will be stopping off in Lerwick next Thursday for a re-arranged show at Clickimin.