Summerfield Stables - Horses in the community

Today was Palm Sunday so some of us went to help bring Tommy the donkey from Umberslade Children's farm to the Church of the Ascension for their Palm Sunday Parade. Tommy was very good even when he went inside the church however he was not too keen to go back into the trailer to go home and needed a bit of persuasion!

Today was quite a busy day with variable weather so we took the horses for a hack out in the morning. Freddie couldn't come out on the hack as there werent enough leaders but when we got back in the field he did lunge on both reins- after a little persuasion. In the afternoon Alice, Amelia and Jemma went to Solihull Riding Club to volunteer to help with the British eventing. They helped to carry the sheets for the dressage and got to watch the Cross country and the showjumping. In return for helping they were given vouchers that can be used at the club for hiring the school or paying for show entry fees. The afternoon lessons went well with Mia (5 years) riding Bertie on her own for the first time.

Today was sunny in the morning but wet underfoot so the Saturday riding was a hack out.  Everybody did very well and  the ponies were very well behaved. Many thanks to Maria's Dad for the shavings for Merlin's stable (Merlin has a dust allergy). In the afternoon George, Jemma and Jade went to help with the combined training at Solihull Riding Club.The day was quieter than expected but  jobs ranged from collecting dressage score sheets, to keeping the judges warm with blankets, extra coats and cups of tea as their heating was broken. It was an enjoyable afternoon and everyone was rewarded with a £5 voucher that can be used for entering competitions or hiring the school.
Buster was allowed out with his two new friends today. They got on well but as the weather was so wet and they were cantering round a lot, Barry, who owns the land, decided to separate them later to allow them to graze and settle as the heavy horses together were ploughing up the mud. We are hoping for a dryer day to allow them to canter round. They were all pretty happy but probably would have preferred to continue their play.

Today Maisey went on her very first hack out ridden by Jasmine. She was well behaved and seemed happy to have the change from being ridden in the field.  We also took out Bess, Merlin, Belle and Bobby ridden by Jem, Jade, Lauren and Alice. While doing this Ros, Sheree and Nina took a donkey to the Church of the Ascension for their Palm Sunday Parade. Tommy the donkey was well behaved but it rained a lot.