Synchronised driving and competition fun

Last time I blogged I wrote about the Horse Experience Weekend that we had just finished; I thought this time I would tell you a bit more about it.

On the Sunday morning all our visitors had a carriage driving session, both Duchess and Hendrix were in action pulling their carriages.  This meant they could have some competition fun in the arena taking visitors around a course of cones, there was even a stop-watch involved!

Don’t tell Hendrix I told you but Duchess beat him in every trial!! Also they had a go at synchronised driving! It looked quite tricky to me but Duchess and Hendrix both had a fun time.

Synchronised Driving

After lunch it was time for the Horse Weekend Challenge.

Competing in the challenge

Our visitors had to ride or drive around a course of obstacles in the arena, while they all watched each other and cheered each other on. At the end the staff and guests enjoyed a well deserved cup of tea while the stables staff handed out certificates and rosettes to our guests. We equines were happily munching hay by this time. A good weekend was had by all!

It's Rosette time!

Smiles and fun for the Horse Weekend

Hi folks, it’s your mini-Shetland mighty atom reporting again!

It's starting to feel like summer is finally over, but I must say that we horses and ponies here have really enjoyed all the lovely weather we have had this year. I'm sure all our visitors have loved being here in Devon in the sunshine.

Although it has been a bit cooler this weekend we've still had some good sunshine, which is great because we have had some guest here having lots of fun on our Horse Weekend. 

Grooming

The guests all get involved in looking after us and learn how to feed us, groom us and muck out our stables, they also learn about how to clean our tack and harness. The guests this weekend had a go at working out how a harness fits and works – to help them do this they tried Hendrix’s harness on themselves!!

Trying Hendrix's Harness!

Sometimes the guests get to do agility with yours truly as well as trying riding and carriage driving. This weekend Bryony got to ride Henry, She practised her trotting and steering around obstacles in the arena. 

Bryony riding Hendrix

Our other visitors Sarah, Natalie and Karen, went in the carriage with Hendrix.  They drove in the arena and Hendrix showed how great he is at going through cones. When all the horses had done their work Bryony helped to feed us all our lunchtime hay.

In the arena with Hendrix

After lunch Bryony went for a ride outside on Teddy.  Sarah, Natalie and Karen went out driving in the carriage with Duchess. They drove down the track where lots of leaves are starting to fall off the trees. (Teddy says that’s because it is autumn now).

a beautiful Autumn drive

Everyone was worn out at the end of the day. When our guest had finished for the day all us horses and ponies went out for some lovely grass – our favourite thing to do! 

Rubber Mats

we've just had a delivery of new rubber mats, they're for Rooster's stable as his are looking a bit worn out.

Having rubber mats on the floor means that our stables are nice and soft to stand in; we still get bedding on top of the mats too.

It's much better and more comfortable to stand on the rubber mats rather than the concrete floor, It also means the floor is warmer which is good in the winter. 

Rooster enjoying his new floor

I'll let you know what Rooster thinks of his new 'des res' next time; I wonder who got the job of taking the old mats out and putting new ones in? They look pretty heavy to me!

Meeting Lucinda Green

The other night some of the people from the stables went on an outing, a famous rider came to open a new Event Centre at Mullacott Stables, which is not very far from here. The new centre is a venue for shows and competitions for people to take their horses to. 

Nicky went along with Amy who is a regular and longstanding volunteer here, and with one of our regular riders, Jack.  They met Lucinda Green MBE who was there to cut the ribbon and unveil a plaque.

Meeting Lucinda Green

I asked Teddy about Lucinda Green and he said she is very famous as an eventing rider. She has also written some books about her horses and her career. 

Nicky said she was lovely and Jack and Amy had a great time, Jack even got a signed book. I thought all this sounded brilliant but they could have asked me to do the official opening as I am something of a local celebrity! 

Teddy says I'm nowhere near as famous as Lucinda Green; maybe not, but I'm working on it!

Duchess on the pull...

Duchess and Hendrix have been very busy pulling their carriages lately, we have had lots of lovely guests who have enjoyed going in the outdoor arena and out and about around the are. As you know Hendrix was recently given a new harness set, which is lovely.

Duchess has also had something new, she had a new set of shafts for the four wheeler carriage which are the perfect length for her to make her job of pulling the carriage as easy as it can be.  She loves pulling the carriage and she is very strong with great muscles!

Duchess looking great in the carriage

I'm Pretty as a Picture!

Hi everyone, the mighty atom is here with the Stables Report for you all!  I know you like to keep up with what is happening here in the Calvert Trust Exmoor Stables.

We've been very busy in the past few weeks meeting lots of lovely groups. I have been doing my bit, showing people what I can do and what fabulous creatures us horses and ponies are! I've also been out on several walks with guests and have noticed there are loads of blackberries growing round here.  I did taste a few but I definitely prefer grass!

Last week I had a very special visitor. You may remember I told you all a while ago that an artist was coming to paint my portrait.  Well, two pictures have now been done and the lovely ladies who painted them came to see me. 

Me with my pictures!

They brought the portraits of me with them, I took a look at them and thought it was just like looking in the mirror in the arena! Now I'm not being big headed, but I do think I look very cute in these paintings! 

New Kit for one Lucky Pony!

A couple of weeks ago a lovely lady called Sarah rang up to say she would like to donate some equipment to the stables. As you can imagine this was very exciting for everyone here, we were all wondering what it would be and which horse or pony would get to wear it!

Well, Sarah arrived with a very smart driving harness set; Hendrix and Duchess are our two driving horses here at the stables so they were both looking over their stable doors with interest. Lucky Hendrix now has a lovely leather harness to wear. He says he is very happy about it and seems to be showing off rather a lot; but then he is a rather a show off anyway!

On a Monday morning all the tack is always shiny and clean too so I think whoever works Sunday must spend quite a lot of the day with a bucket of water and some saddle soap!  We each have our own tack and equipment so there is quite a lot of tack to clean.

Just some of our tack; there's a lot to clean!

The stitching also all has to be checked to make sure the tack and harness is safe to use. I'm very glad I'm the pony who gets looked after and not the person who has to do all the cleaning up! 

My lovely tack looking all clean and shiny