New Year... New Ponies!

Hello from Daisy...

RDA Coach, Sophie Hurrell-Day, on Daisy

and Dominic.

Sophie on Dominic

We are new arrivals at the centre and have settled in very well. We are looking forward to working as RDA ponies and excited to be helping our riders learn new skills.

Before Christmas, there was a fundraising party for our riders. It was very well attended and everyone had a great time...

especially as some very special guests turned up! Thank you to Trustee, Diane Wyatt, for organising the event which raised £277.60.

Over the Christmas period, RDA ponies joined the livery horses for a ride out. Both riders and ponies dressed up for the occasion.

Para Dressage rider, Gayle Bloomfield, got our vote for best dressed Santa...

Gayle 'Santa' Bloomfield on Lucca

  
and Lucca was trying her best to look like a reindeer!

As it has been very cold, Lead Coach, Sam Orde, helps keep both riders and ponies warm by playing games during sessions. A popular game is 'throw the dice'.

Jack and Rhys throw dice

Children take turns at throwing the large soft dice...

 Sam checks the number on the dice

and after they land, Sam counts the spots, then we walk forward that number of steps.
  

Sam asks for the next throw of a dice as George takes the lead

As George is the largest horse, he makes the biggest strides down the arena!

We also bend around cones...

Jasmine steers Chief around cones with help from volunteer Chris

and change direction across the school.

Chairman, Malcolm Haigh, and volunteer Anna help Domino's rider change the rein

Once children have learnt to steer a pony, we take them off the lead rope for bending as it really improves their confidence.

Robbie is steered around cones off the lead rope

In other news, we were delighted to get funding for the purchase of new riding hats. Huge thanks go to the Community Foundation for Northumberland and to Northumbrian Water.

Children, holding our new hats, have their picture taken for a local newspaper article 

 
And finally, we are very sad to say goodbye to Lily. We wish her a very happy retirement in her new home...

and hope that we can teach as many children and adults to ride as she has over the past six years!