Good afternoon from all at the riding school at Lodge Farm Equestrian Centre.

Good afternoon everyone from all the riding school staff and ponies. It is all quiet here today, the morning staff have finished and the afternoon staff are due in shortly. It is both warmer and drier here today so that makes working outside so much easier and the horses prefer the dry. They withstand the cold well, but it is cold and wet weather combined that causes then to lose weight because they use their thermo regulation system to keep warm. Sounds complicated so I’ll leave it there!

Flo and April came down on Monday in order to work yesterday – they do look well, a little hairy but then I’m so pleased that I didn’t clip them otherwise they would not be able to enjoy their freedom in the field where they are today. As we turn a couple back out it gives us chance to have other ones inside. Today Little Coco and Holly came down, again looking extremely well for the time of the year. This lockdown gives us chance to catch up on jobs which we would normally struggle to find time for. We have partially re-arranged the tack room, checked all the riding school tack for stitching, missing keepers and any other minor repairs that may be necessary.

The ponies are all starting to lose their coats, so when we can start riding again be prepared to get covered in white hairs. (or should it be grey to be technically correct?) Out of all the 21 horses and ponies here at the riding school,  13 are either coloured or grey. I think that any future purchases or loans should be ones of a solid colour.  If you were to see Megan at the moment you certainly wouldn’t think that she is 29 years old this year, she looks absolutely amazing and has energy to burn. I could do with some of that!  There is talk that we may be having her daughter coming in the future which  means that we would have another mother/daughter combination in the riding school because we already have Katie and Lucy whose photograph was on my last blog where they are patiently waiting by the gates eagerly awaiting you return.

What other news do I have? Not a lot – we still have no idea when the lockdown restrictions will be eased. All I can say to you all is take car care and stay safe. Best wishes from all the staff and your four legged friends.

April says, “Hello, roll on summer!”

Covid-19 Lockdown 3 here at the riding school at Lodge Farm Equestrian Centre!

Covid-19 Lockdown 3 here at the riding school at Lodge Farm Equestrian Centre! It seems so long since the start of this, but in actual fact it is only two weeks. No lockdowns are easy but this one seems so much harder for us all. The weather doesn’t help – the cold, wet and windy days together with the dark nights make us wonder why we ever chose to either have a hobby or work with horses, but we did. In your absence we are keeping the horses “ticking over,” some are stabled and being worked regularly, others are continuing their education being schooled and some are having well deserved rest. We are all anxiously awaiting the return to some sort of normality and for lessons to be able to restart. When this will be, we have no idea. We are in the hands of our governing bodies, particularly the British Horse Society, Sport England, DEFRA and the Pony Club. All these are reliant on statements issued by the government, so all we can do is wait. In the interim period why don’t you look on either the BHS or Pony Club websites for any on-line worksheets, quizzes or competitions that may be available to download? At the riding school we do have own quiz for January which is to identify photographs of our horses. We thought we had made it too difficult because even some of the staff couldn’t get it right! How wrong we were – we have already had a couple of you who have got the correct answers. Points will be awarded for our annual Competition Points Awards, so make sure that you send your entries to us before the weekend. Please remember that we are only a phone call away if you have anything to ask us. Our main priorities are both your wellbeing and our horses’ welfare. Take care, stay safe everyone and be kind to each other.

Lockdown Begins Again

Good morning  everyone. Another year and another lockdown! I think you all know already what that means ……….. no more lessons or competitions  until further notice. As you can imagine it is totally out of our control and I’m sure you were all expecting it. Tomorrow some of our horses and ponies will be turned out to have a break while others will be coming in to continue their education. There is always so much work to be done when you have animals and this time of the year it is always so much harder because of the weather. We realise how disappointed so many of you will be to miss your lessons – we will also miss you! If you have any questions to ask or need any further information please do not hesitate to contact either the riding school office on 01782 551961, myself on 07496 565521  or Natalie on 07534946602 and we will do our utmost to help you. We realise how much the horses and being with them mean to some of you.

Here are some of the horses enjoying a well deserved  break in the field keep safe everyone