e-Newsletter

SUMMER NEWSLETTER

 

The Yard

 

At long last we are able to say ‘THE BUILDING WORK HAS STARTED’ and is progressing well. The footings for the new stable block are in and the bricklayers are on site next week. The work has been delayed for longer than we would have liked but we are all keeping our fingers crossed for completion before Christmas. Those of you who visit us regularly will have observed the diggers and tractors on site and can see the upheaval that it has caused. Our horses really are fantastic! Each time they come in from the fields there is something different going on and they have remained calm throughout it all, with lessons continuing uninterrupted. We extend a huge ‘Thank You’ to our great staff team and our reliable, steady horses and ponies. The donkeys that remain on the yard witness the work daily and are very curious. I think they like all the additional activity.

 

Our team of volunteers is now well established. All members work very hard and get on well with each other, welcoming new volunteers that are joining the group and offering help and support to those less experienced. This is exactly what we had hoped to achieve. We are very proud of them all and wish them GOOD LUCK with their ABRS Helper’s Qualification. We know that we are very lucky to have such a great team and many of our clients comment about their friendliness and their helpful attitude.

 

Our Saturday instructor, Joy, left us a few weeks ago. Although she has given up her group lessons she is still teaching privately, so we wish her well and continue to see her from time to time. We have several new instructors available to us and we will involve them over the summer holidays. At the moment Angela and Laura are teaching on Saturday and   Sam will be taking the Sunday morning groups. Our focus remains on trying to provide a thoroughly enjoyable riding experience for all ages and abilities and to encourage people to trek out in the countryside. Private lessons are always available, throughout the week, for those individuals who want a little extra tuition and for those who want to learn something in more depth. We thank Joy and April (Sundays) for the support they have given to us and we look forward to seeing them again.

 

Many of you will know that Lou, our very valuable staff member, has had a riding accident. It does bring home again the fact that horse riding is a high risk activity, however competent the rider and the horse. She is recovering well and is coming to visit us all on the yard next week.  Lou’s protégé, Vanessa, has taken over Lou’s role and is proving to be a real credit to Lou’s excellent training methods!!  We all wish Lou a speedy recovery and look forward to having her back on the yard. Now for some news about the animals…..

 

 

Horses:

 

Henry is progressing very well. I think that he has grown even more and he now gets on with all of his field companions who have accepted him into the herd. He is excellent out trekking and he is not fazed by anything going on in the park or en route. He seems to have found his legs now and appears to be well balanced and co-ordinated. He is still young, of course, and requires continuous schooling, as do Geronimo, Spirit and King.

 

Despite our best efforts, Charlie has not settled in as well as we would have hoped. He has always been with one owner and life at a riding school and trekking centre is very different for him. We have invited his previous, long term owner to take him back and he will be leaving us this week and returning to where he came from. This is a pity but he will be happy to have his regular ‘mom’ looking after him again.

 

All of the horses and ponies look well and full of grass. It is a pleasure to be able to bath them and groom them knowing that they will not be covered in mud within 5 minutes!

 

Donkeys:

 

The donkeys not out on grass are housed in the corrals and are working each weekend around the country. They will be working very hard throughout the school summer holiday time and are extremely busy with shows, carnivals and fetes as well as their regular parks. Fudge, the donkey that we had to clip as he developed a skin infection, is now out in the corral. He has had to be stabled as he burns very easily in the sun and he just will not stay in the shade. His coat is growing back but it will be autumn before he is fully recovered. Snowflake, the donkey that we thought was pregnant, turns out not to be having a foal. She must have had a phantom pregnancy and she is now back with the herd after having been stabled for 4 weeks!!!!!

 

Some of our younger donkeys are now accompanying the others to the parks to get them used to travelling and to show them what goes on. They are having a slow introduction to work and seem to be enjoying the trips out.

 

School Holidays:

 

As normal, we will be holding various events throughout the summer holiday time. Private lessons, mini-trekking and 2hour treks will take place daily and here are some special dates for you to note:

 

Wednesday 4^th August    ‘Chip Trek’ 10.00 – 2.00

(This is a trek out to a canal side pub for lunch. Children help to tack up their horses and ponies and enjoy a ride out with walkers on foot.)

 

Friday 13^th August ‘Pony Games Day’ 10.00 – 2.00

(Fun and games for the horse and rider in the riding school)

 

Wednesday 25^th August ‘Pony Trekking Day’ 10.00 – 4.00

(Riders who must be able to walk and trot go out around Kingsbury Water Park and then trek on to the pub for lunch before returning to the yard)

 

Spaces on the above days are limited, so please call us to reserve a place. Other activities will be posted on the Events Page as they are arranged

 

Enjoy your holidays and come and join in some of the activities at the yard. See you all soon.

 

HAPPY and SAFE RIDING