A big pat for Monty

Hello! my name is Monty. My owner, Susan, kindly offered me to The Pegasus Centre on a long term loan. I am happy to be here because I have made many new friends and am ridden by lots of children who benefit from RDA lessons. Susan is able to see the good work that I do when she comes to visit me at the centre.      

On Friday mornings we have three sessions for different school groups and Chief RDA instructor Samantha Orde (we call her Sam) teaches the children. Sam is also the RDA National Chairman so all the ponies try to be on their best behaviour when she is instructing.  

This week I was ridden by a little girl called Amy who comes along with one of the school groups. Amy usually rides Zak because he is a smaller pony, but as he has a sore hoof, I was chosen for Amy to ride instead. When Amy rode for the first time she was very nervous and had two side walkers to help her. After riding for a few school terms, Amy gained confidence and now only needs one side walker.

Last week, when Amy rode Zak, I noticed she was holding on to the front of the saddle to keep herself steady. As I am a much bigger pony I was hoping Amy would not be too frightened to get on me. But once she was mounted and we set off round the school, Amy picked up the reins!

 

Amy was happy to lean in to a bucket and pull out a toy...

 

and place a hoop on a cone.

A happy smile as Amy demonstrates how she can lean forward to go through the arena doors...

and then off we went for a walk outside.

Sam looks to check that the gate is shut behind us as we made our way up the sand track.

The sun started to break through as we headed back to the indoor arena.
I have no idea why I was at the back... Chico and Jen are much slower than me!

Back inside, Amy was still sitting up straight, holding her reins and looking very relaxed. She clearly enjoys riding me!

Jenny, Amy's teacher, and RDA volunteer Anna, explained to Amy that we must wait for Sam to dismount her.
 

 A thumbs up to Sam...

and a nice pat for me! Sam and Jenny agree that Amy has more confidence. 

 

Jenny takes Amy's hand and they join the other children on the school bus.
 I think Amy would like to ride me again next week... but

we all hope that Zak gets well soon! 
      

 

Back to school with Domino

Hello, my name is Domino and I have been at the centre for three years. Before I came to The Pegasus Centre, I was with Etal RDA Group, so consider myself to be a very experienced RDA pony.

If you regularly read this blog then you will know that I went with Gilly and Midnight to the RDA National Championships in July and we all had a very succesful trip. This reminds me that I now have the opportunity to clear up a couple of things that were incorrectly reported by Gilly and Midnight in their posts. They both said that I attempted to bite them in the horsebox on the way home. This is not true, however, I did try and eat hay from their nets but Laura soon put a stop to that!

The other point I would like to make is about the fuss Midnight made over a pink rug that she felt belonged to her. Just to be clear, it is very difficult fastening rug straps with hooves, therefore it was actually Emily who chose to put the rug on me.  So, there are the facts... straight from the horse's mouth!  

Midnight and Domino (wearing the pink rug!)

We provide RDA riding lessons for children from schools in Northumberland and Newcastle during the week. When a new school term starts, teachers will often bring a different group of children who have not been to the centre before. We usually have six children riding in each session.
Ian, aged 7, came for his first lesson at the beginning of September and rode me. He was a bit nervous to start with but soon relaxed and really enjoyed the lesson. If it is a sunny day we will go for a ride around the farm where the centre is based. The children usually ride the pony they are most suited to for the whole term.

This is a picture of Ian riding me. We are on our way for a ride out and I am being lead by Morpeth RDA Group Chairman, Malcolm Haigh. As Chairman, Malcolm has many important duties at the centre, but I think being in charge of a pony and rider is the most important role of all.   

We make our way past the indoor school and stables...

and the teachers will often come and walk with us as we make our way up the track.

We go all the way to the bottom of the field then head back to the indoor school.

Malcolm will point out things of interest to the children as we ride around the farm.

We return to the indoor school for the children to dismount. In just a few weeks Ian has learnt many new skills since he started riding. In the picture above, Ian sits up straight and makes me stop by pulling on the reins. He can also steer me around a course of cones down the centre of the school off the lead.
Ian always has a big smile on his face when he gives me a hug after riding.

Gilly and Midnight say I can be grumpy but hugs from children will always make me happy!