Whats New

Come on Caitlin

BREAKING NEWS - In case you don't know Caitlin is competing at the Special Olympics on the 25/26 July in the Golf Competition.
COME ON CAITLIN you can do it!

Absolutley Fantastic

Congratulations Caitlin on your fantastic achievement.

Silver Medal at the Special Olympics.

Watch out ponies I think she will start up the Thornton Rose Polo Team next.

June & July update 2009

Well the 'summer' is here and the ponies have been very jolly this month. The volunteers and share-the-care riders all chipped in with the maintenance and field checks while Ann was away, which was much appreciated.
If anyone needs any poo for their compost heap, feel to ask for some as there is LOADS.
All the ponies have coped with the heat well and all got extra salt during the 'scorchio' period which seems a distant memory, I swear we've just gone straight to October.
We've got some new volunteers and have said farewell to Cameron and Bettina. They'll both be sorely missed, especially Cameron's bravery in the face of repeat zapping from the electric fence! No really, Ace and all the volunteers will miss you loads Cameron and I think the rest of the blokes will miss you even more as they're even more outnumbered by the ladies now. Come back and visit.
Bettina's farewell was extremely emotional for everyone, especially Ringo and Jade. B's already emailed to let us know she made it back with the HUGE amount of luggage, cards and gifts. She's been back to see her old pony so she's keeping herself busy and Jade is meant to be going to see her in depth of winter (I know, I know - metres of snow - she must be mad). Harriet is working hard to keep Ringo cheerful and he's adapting to his new riding friends.
The younger volunteers will be starting their Volunteering ASDAN training their month which involves a significant commitment and effort on their part and ours. This will last until spring 2010 and will give them entry points for University upon certification which is great. If you're not sure what its about or you've not signed up but want to - contact Fiona.
Further ASDAN info can be found here: http://www.asdan.org.uk/about_asdan.php

Thanks to all the parents who worked hard with their kids on the Beyer pics, I'm assuming we didn't win but never mind they rocked.
My favourites were Katie Morag and Mary - well done Kieran and Ross they're beautiful.

Are you bored, need something do, want to shift those extra pounds so you look luscious in your bikini?
Ask Ann!
Now Ann's back she's got plenty for all the volunteers to do. There are the normal summer cleaning and make the ponies sparkle tasks but there's plenty of other tasks as well, including sorting even more electric fencing and getting lost in the dockens task (just ask Laura).
If anyone wants to get more involved and has a bit of spare time even just an hour a week, we've got lots of things going on which we need a hand on. We'll be seeking help on a number of fronts so watch out for the email as we're looking for your hidden skills.

Bye for now crazy pony girl x

September/October Update 2009

Now the school holidays normal riding sessions are back on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday mornings. Please feel free to come along and help if you're available on those days. You can let Ann, Joyce or Karyn know.

If you're riding and can't make it, the sooner you can let us know the better.

Please remember to wear layered clothing and suitable boots as the weather is changing.
Mayhem in the village - dare you brave the electrics???

The oldies have been wild down at the village field, especially Bobmyster so the electric's have gone back on - be careful.

As experienced volunteers will be aware when you get zapped by an electric fence all sorts of strange noises will come out of your mouth and you may experience difficulty in removing the part of your body that is touching the fence. This is called electrocution and should be avoided at all costs. Ways of avoiding this are - use the gate, don't touch anything that is emitting a blue flash or popping especially after rain or mist, by watching which bits the ponies are staying away from, and my personal favourite (along with the people in the village houses) - commando rolls under the fence. Feel free to ask if you'd like a lesson, dirty clothing advised.

What's new at the yard?

The ponies have told me they are over the moon about the new school, although its a bit dusty, Duncan the farmer says it will settle. (Ace has said he wouldn't mind it staying dusty so he could have a good roll!) Please remember not to walk your pony into the dip at the entrance when you're going round the school as they then need to climb back up out of it on the way round. There are a list of school rules at the entrance, make sure you read them when you get a chance.

Some of the farm machinery has started to move around again so please be super careful when you're walking around.

Ace is back! Our gentle giant is back in restricted work now and looking fabulous. Thanks to Laura and the rest of the Hill 60 Team for making sure he gets his feed with his special supplements in it. Its made all the difference (I should know he almost flattened me with 'love' the last time I was in the field).
Misty and KT Mo are still out of work just now so make sure you say help when you're going past. Misty's now got special shoes to help stabilise her foot and KT- Mo's getting a LOVELY ice cold hose on her leg. Karyn's making KT- Mo a special paddock, we'll see how long she stays in it.(Can she resist the temptation of the grass, lets hope the electricity stays on.)
Bob's found a new lease of life just now from the tasty grass so if you're working with him please make sure he doesn't over exert himself, he may behave like he's 6 but he's really over 20.

What is Tasty Grass?
This is when the grass is 'flushing' (when the grass has a growth spurt, often accompanied with increased sugar levels in the grass) usually in spring and autumn, but can occur during periods when the temperature is above 6. We need you to be aware of how your pony is when you're working with them.
Signs of excessive eating include
Looking like a barrel or coffee table with legs
No belly rumblings - the more noises that come from your ponies belly, sides and bottom the better.
A glazed look in their eyes - certain ponies may look like this when being groomed, they are falling asleep - more like Laura after half a cheesecake with cream.
Hot feet - if your ponies feet feel hotter than normal.
Faster pulses in their legs - again if the pulse in your ponies legs is faster than normal.
Patchy sweating (not when a volunteers runs during trot).
If you don't know how to find the pulse ask one of the Instructors or volunteers. If your pony has one or more of these signs, especially if their belly is making no noise and they look HUGE please ask for advice. Don't wait until you've put them back in the field ask someone straight away. Its better to ask than leave it - we hate staggering around in the dark at 9 at night without a torch trying to see if they're OK.

Love CrazY Pony GirL

Nov- Dec. Update

Well the days have turned shorter & the nights have turned longer & colder. The ponies started to shiver, but now they are toastie cosy and wrapped up warm in their heavy weight rugs.

We had our Christmas party which was great, the big man in red came with pressies for the riders & lots & lots of chocolate for the volunteers (score). I would suggest you get in there before Laura & Lorraine scoff the lot! It even snowed! In fact it just keeps snowing.

Everyone especially the ponies are mighty fed up with it, not to mention the Hill 60 night team who take their dinner to them.

Due to the cold snap we've had to postpone RDA re-starting as we don't want all you lovely riders getting stuck, Duncan and Hugh have to keep rescuing people whose car's just keep getting stuck.

The oldies have moved up from the village field to the one at the back of the school much to the disappointment of their new cuddly friends in the village field.

Baby & Oz have a nice big stable in the back barn with lots of straw to keep them warm on the cold winter nights. Nerina, Stewart and Kerian bought Oz an amazing heavyweight stable rug which he looks super smart in. Baby got rug envy so she’s got one too – or was that Fiona’s obsession about making them match? Yes they do look super cute but her obsession was thwarted by Fi’s parents buying Baby and Oz unmatching (the horror!) outdoor rugs. If you see Fiona standing staring at them in the field it’s because she’s trying to figure out which one looks the best! Bobby is snuggled in the biggest and best stable in Ann’s block between Megan & Holly and he’s got his bed socks on at night to keep him warm (fleece bandages to the rest of us). Bob sure loves the ladies!!

Bill, Ann, Laettie and the night team make sure the oldies have nice clean straw & plenty of haylage to keep them entertained through the long winter nights. Bob was bored with his food for a bit, he's starting to be a bit of a fuss pot with regards to what he's been fed & is now on the posh stuff. Courtesy of the kind Mighty and Milo (the posh boys).

Katie Morag is back in action, being cheeky as ever. She sure likes to be the boss. So if your pony is being cheeky and you’re not managing as well as Karyn or Mags and your pony is pushing you around you need to become the boss.

To be ‘the boss’ you need to believe in yourself that you are the boss and you can be the confident, happy, safe person that your pony wants to be with. The leader in a herd of horses is always the calm, confident, wise and mentally strong pony. It’s not the tallest, strongest, fastest or youngest. If you don’t believe me just go and watch the ponies in Ann’s field and you will see the older frailer ponies running the herd. When you watch the ponies you will see some of them constantly trying to move up the pecking order. Ponies treat us like horses and will repeatedly try your limits, so you need to constantly work on your relationship and spend as much time standing or grooming your pony to work on your bond. Remember most volunteers only see their pony a couple of hours a week which is tiny bit of their very active social life. Make it worth your while.

If you have nagging doubts about something you’re doing or a situation you’ve got yourself into you need to trust your instincts and go to someone else for help immediately. Your instincts are there to protect you, if you think a pony is about to stand on your foot you’ll probably be right. Everyone needs help at some point so don’t be afraid to ask for advice.

If you always use a loud shouting voice around your pony they will start to ignore you which is really dangerous, as you need that voice for certain very important moments. When you talk to your pony you need to use a calm confident voice and most importantly mean what you are saying to them. Horses and ponies are amazingly good at knowing if you really mean it or if you don’t believe a word of it. If you trust yourself your pony will look to you as a safe person to be with who will keep them safe.

So while the weather is rubbish and we are all sick of the white stuff (no that’s not the milk) or at any other time that RDA is not on come up on your volunteer days and spend some time with the ponies. They love the attention and a bit of pampering and lots of hugs. This will help your relationship and build your confidence more than anything else.


Love CrazY Pony GirL