Having spent the week with the naughty ponies getting through the electric fence it was decided we needed a battery that they would respect keep then in the right field. The higher voltage is totally safe but a bit unpleasant like a static shock but it is necessary that horses respect the fence to keep them safe as the horses are kept in separate fields so the bigger ones do not harm the smaller ones. To buy the necessary equipment we went for a drive to Countrywide, without a map and not really knowing where we were going we were lucky to find it. When we did arrive after only a slight wrong turn we managed to find what we wanted. Hopefully in the next few weeks the horses will be better behaved and respect the fence.

Clothes are a little too big me thinks!

Jasmines new pet?

Having discussed things that we would like to change with the older riders one of the things that came up first was wanting a big tidy up. First to go was the scrap metal that we had been unable to move off the field since the building work was done last year because of the mud and then the unexpected snow. As it had dried up this week we managed to get a van on the field to get rid of the metal.

All volunteers down that day got involved in moving the tidy up. Unfortunately the van could not get access to the metal which had been stored safely out of the way. Everyone gave a hand in moving it... there were some unusual finds bikes, shopping trolleys etc most of which had entered the field by coming down the stream and being deposited in the field when the stream flooded.

We filled the van in no time and were very pleased to have a tidier field!

As the horses were having their evening feeds we had some visitors to the field who were very keen to see the horses having seen us often by viewing our website. Most of all they would like to see themselves on the website with the horses...

This half term as the field was dry and there were plenty of helpers on hand we went to get a top up of hay that will hopefully see us through to the spring.

Kezzia and Sophie are unloading the last few bales. There were forty bales in total on this load but we can fit seventy on the trailer!!

The bales had to be taken by wheelbarrow to the barn as because of the mud we were unable to drive the trailer right up to the barn door. This makes the job much more difficult.

All finished... can we have a ride?

Saturday morning, the snow had finally cleared up and we were able to go on a hack!! The ponies were very happy to be out and the riders were happy as it was the first day of half term.

As the riders and young volunteers are encouraged to provide a lot of input into the decision making process at the stables we decided they should also be involved in the building work. Part of this building work includes what surface is to be laid when we build our manege. As Alice and Jasmine had the day off school they came with Justine and George to look at the sample surfaces. Equestrian direct was the company that will be supplying the surface so we went on a visit to their yard to see the different surfaces in action. Despite being recommended to have flexiride as an all in one surface Jasmine and Alice both felt it was too deep and so could be damaging to the horses tendons. However with a sand base it was a much better surface and was preferable to rubber which can be very hard to fall on. Their observations were confirmed by our vet who said exactly the same things as they did so we have now been put on the waiting list for the surface.

A flexi ride and sand surface- hopefully like the one we will be having soon!

Later that day there was also a meeting for adult volunteers who would like to help with paperwork. Heidi, Justine, Lisa, Katie and George attended. It was a fun meeting where lots was discussed and an extra ordinary meeting of the committee was planned so that proposed funding bids could be discussed. The whole meeting turned into a social event and was a late finish... not the best thing when followed by an early start on saturday morning!

Due to the snow we were unable to ride on Saturday so we had a best turned out show day instead. The standard was very high as for many people it was the first time they had done a best turned out show. This may become a regular event with the horses particularly during the holidays as it is useful practice for getting horses prepared for local shows. Many thanks for everyone who got involved with the day, everyone put in a huge amount of effort into making the day a huge success. The rosettes had to be specially ordered so they and the certificates will be handed out next week.

Getting prepared. The ponies had their manes tails and legs washed in warm water and dried off quickly with towels.

The little ponies were very patient but many had to wear rugs while waiting as it was a cold day.

There was some help with the plaiting but everyone was encouraged to have a go. Justine was particularly helpful in plaiting tails!

Indy won first prize overall as she had a good overall turnout with the bridle having been cleaned, legs being washed and mane and tail cleaned and plaited. It was also taken into account that Indy's legs had been coverd in stable stains as she is currently on box rest and also Tom had been working on his own and had not had practice preparing a horse for a show before. Tom also won best individual effort.

Belle won second prize overall with Alice Teah and Jade getting her ready. Her mane had been plaited by Alice and Teah with no outside help and her tail had been very difficult to plait as she is a sweet itch sufferer in the summer so her tail had not fully grown back. All three of her helpers had worked hard getting her coat clean as she has very poor skin so suffers from dandruff. Bell won the best improved overall as she had looked quite poor to start with but looked great afterwards!

Tara was third overall with Jasmine and Penny. Tara also won the prize for the best plaited mane and tail as both her tail and mane had been well washed and plaited with a feather in her tail which the judges felt matched Tara's personality well.

Coco came fourth overall with Shona and Ellie. He also won the best legs as a lot of work went in to getting his legs clean as they were covered in stable stains and mud. His mane was very difficult to plait but a good effort was made with very little help.

Maisey came fifth overall with Maria and Tarin and was the most improved little pony. She had been very dirty and so had been difficult to clean up. Her tail was particularly good as it had been filthy but was cleaned up nicely. her mane also had been nicely plaited.

Toby came sixth with Kezzia and Leanne. He looked great and also had the best coat overall (despite the bites from playing with Ted). His legs were clean with his socks coming out as particularly white and his mane and tail had been well finished with two pink bows. Heidi had her first go at plaiting a mane which looked great! He had been very patient to be washed and plaited which was good as patience is not Toby's best quality!

Minnie with Katy and Amelia won the special prize for the best legs for the small pony as his had been washed particularly well and had no shampoo left in. His coat also looked great as he had used lots of coat conditioner.

Freddy with Sophie and Amelia got a special prize for the best mane and tail for a little pony. he looked lovely and his legs were also very clean.

Bess with Shona and Ellie won the Special prize for best tack as she was one of the few who remembered to clean her bridle. Bess looked stunning but ran out of time as Shona and Elly had two horses to do.

Bobby with Kezzia and Leanne had a special prize for the cleanest head. Unfortunately Bobby only joined in at the last minute as he was feeling left out so he did not have the same amount of washing as the others but he still looked good.

With more snow fall in the night we had yet another snow day at the field with school canceled for many. After doing the work there was still lots of time left over to play in the snow!

The snow man was trying to give his friends the could shoulder!

Teah, her skinny snow man friend and his really fat rabbit.

I love you...  but why are you so cold with me?

Many hands make light work.... This is why the snowman is so good at multi tasking. If only he could muck out, do the haynets, fill the waters.....

Sledging also had to be done!

Today several schools were closed meaning there were a few extra helpers in the morning to help with the horses

Justines snow angel! (or is she?)

Alice as a snow angel

Today the snow was really bad and so the horses were not too impressed. Eventually the Horses at the home field were let out as they were sick of being in as because of poor weather they had hardly any turnout last week. The ponies tried to have a race round but found the snow very slippery so soon settled down to eat their hay out in the field.

Ted rolling in the snow

On saturday morning Rosa joined in with the saturday morning for the first time. She was led out with the ride between Belle and Ted and immediately fitted in so was very happy. She was not bothered by any of the traffic.

To celebrate George' 21st we had a bonfire on Saturday afternoon. It was a big bonfire and we toasted marshmellows and ate lots of junk food including cake. It was a cold night but next to the bonfire it was really warm and so we stayed till quite late. At the end of the evening the old sofa from the tackroom went on the bonfire, it burned really quickly and everyone had to jump back quickly to avoid getting roasted!

On the naughty bench!

All of us

Big smiles

Close up

The end of the Sofa!!!!!