Good afternoon from the riding school.

Good afternoon everyone from all here at Lodge Farm Equestrian Centre. The sun is shining but it is bitterly cold which makes our job harder, at least it isn’t raining! The riding school is still closed but the shop is open for bedding, feed, haylege, supplements, saddlery and a wide selection of gift items. Why not pay us a visit and while you are purchasing that essential bag of feed or bale of shavings browse the shop for that special “something.” It could be a treat for a little one, a gift for a birthday or even for Valentine’s Day. Remember the “love of your life” also loves her horse!

Portland has been busy in the shop rearranging everything – don’t you hate it in the supermarket when they moved everything about! I certainly do, but often it has the desired effect and encourages you to buy more. I don’t need any encouragement! The displays are really impressive – well done Portland. We have some beautiful hand made cushions, thermal socks and hats and a wide selection of both Pony Club and Lodge Farm merchandise. When I went in last week I couldn’t resist the hedgehog cushion and robin mugs, so much that I ordered more.

Each week we have special offers – this week we have Zebra Bedding, buy 5 bales for £22.50 plus a reduction in the price of Dengie Hi Fi. We have a vast range of second hand goods for sale for both horse and rider. We do, however, ask for cash payments for all second hand goods. Usually this section is replenished regularly but due to Covid restrictions we are unable to accept goods at the moment. That doesn’t stop you having a sort out at home and possibly bring them to us at a later date. Remember the item you no longer need may be just what someone else is looking for, so get spring cleaning either your tack room, garage or wherever you store your “horsey” gear –  you  won’t believe what you have acquired over time.

Unfortunately I do not have any news yet on when the riding school may be able to open its doors again – all I can say is that I will keep you posted. Fingers crossed that there may be some announcements next week. Until then please take care, stay safe – not just for yourself but for everyone.

Life at the riding school.

Good afternoon everyone from all the riding school staff at Lodge Farm Equestrian Centre. Have we got any news for you yet? In a word, “No.” I wish I could tell you that we can open for riding lessons again but unfortunately I can’t. All we can do is wait anxiously for an announcement from the government. On Tuesday this week the Prime Minister talked about opening up socially distanced exercise and the need to look after the nation’s mental health which could be the start of some progress. Tim Downes from Ingestre Stables, Pammy Hutton from Talland School of Equitation and James Hick, C.E.O. of the British Horse Society have been lobbying the Government through the pandemic and are working closely with officials to clarify guidance along with providing support and information. It has been fantastic to see how many people come together to create awareness of the issues riding schools are facing. The welfare of the horse is at the heart of everything the British Horse Society delivers.

In the meantime we will continue to look after the riding school horses and ponies during this awful weather – there seems to be no end to the rain. Fortunately all the horses have their New Zealand rugs on which are checked regularly to ensure that they are staying dry, they have a constant supply of haylege as well as being able to nibble on the grass coming through. They are rotated between being stabled and living outside. At the start of this week we had eleven in, they have now been joined by Flo, April and Holly so there are quite a few stables to be mucked out and horses to be groomed tomorrow. Next week it will be George, Ernie and Sunny’s turn. Spending time with them we are able to pick up on their personalities. Delboy and Buttons are so funny. We have nicknamed them the “terrible twins” because they seem to happiest when they are being naughty. They won’t stay in the paddocks, keep coming onto the yard and eating everyone’s feeds, sneak into the feed shed if the door is left open, pull faces at all the others and then when we go to catch them Buttons comes galloping to you while Delboy comes at a snail’s pace (if you are lucky)! I’ll keep you updated with their antics! Stay safe everyone.

The “terrible twins!”

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.