Disability Equality Training

Today five members of our group accepted an invitation from Holton Lee to attend their annual staff training day at the conference facility in Faith House.

The morning agenda covered the basic background on issues of disability equality brilliantly conducted by the director of Holton Lee, Tony Heaton.

In the afternoon we spent an hour learning valuable information about basic deaf awareness from a gifted and entertaining speaker in Paul Kirby.

Because the driving and riding centre shares the ethos of Holton Lee of "...empowering and resourcing people, particularly carers and disabled people, through creativity, environmental awareness, personal growth and spirituality" it is important that we all learn as much as we can about the disability equality issues. The course certainly opened my eyes a lot.

The course today was considered by all of us to have been excellent value, and our thanks go to the director of Holton Lee for inviting us.

January Sunshine

Denise and Wally returning with Maggie from their drive.

The January sunshine and a promise of dry cold weather is just what is needed to lift everyone's spirits. Maggie was very happy to be brought in today for a little run out in her new harness, and Denise, Wally and myself were more than keen to oblige. This week should enable the horses to start getting some more regular excercise to build them up for the new season, and for us novices to hone our skills in the driving seat.

At my age, I find this a most exhilarating experience, learning a new skill out in this wonderful enviroment at Holton Lee. I know that Nigel (in his wheelchair at the lunch last week) can hardly wait to start driving Marmite again!

The riding group had their first gentle session on Friday. The dressage arena is still very wet and boggy in places, but hopefully this will improve with the forecast drier spell of cold weather.

New Year Lunch Party

An excellent lunch was enjoyed by helpers of the East Holton Driving Centre at St. Peter's Finger pub in Lytchett Minster on Wednesday this week.

Earlier in the week we had cause to celebrate two popular Big 'O' birthdays - on Sunday Denise turned 50, on Monday Wally turned 70, and to follow that on Tuesday, Martin also came in to work on his birthday with us.

Sunday and Monday the sun shone for both the big 'O' birthdays, so on Monday we were able to take advantage and managed to get Felix and Charlie Brown harnessed up and out for two drives each, giving us novices a chance to take the reins at last. Lunch time saw a succession of visitors from Holton Lee calling in to wish Wally well and share his birthday cake! A lovely day all round.

The rest of the week looks pretty dismal weatherwise, which is disappointing, so we just have to try to exercise a little patience! - not easy, but we must be due for a change soon.:-)

Driving Out.

The weather was kind to us today. After the early routine we were able to try the new harnesses on the horses. First out was Charlie Brown, but the new harness was not a good fit, so we tried it on Maggie who suited it better. Then we tried Felix's harness on Charlie Brown and found that to be a much better fit, so Felix came out to try on the the new 2nd hand harness and found that to be excellent. They all look very smart in their new outfits.

We just had time to put Maggie and Charlie Brown to the carts and take them for a short drive before the rain came in for the afternoon. Both horses were spirited and keen to get into work again and a good time was had by all!

New Harness

Where do these straps go??

Two lots of harness have to be replaced this year, and due to the generous support from the Household Cavalry Association the group is able to afford to buy two sets this year. One is an excellent set of lovely second hand harness that will be for Charlie Brown, and a brand new set for Maggie.

The Household Cavalry Association has been tremendously supportive over the years and I know of two great assets that the group can thank them for - the chalet that is our HQ and one of the field shelters for the horses. The chalet replaced a caravan on site that was inanaccessible to people in wheelchairs. The chalet we now have means that our friends in wheelchairs can come inside and sit round a table for a friendly cuppa and a chat.

New Harness

Soaking rain again today brings us in to the chalet and gives us a chance to assemble a new set of harness for Charlie Brown. This is an excellent chance for us novices to learn how to put a harness together from scratch. Not all harnesses are alike, so there was a bit of head-scratching for a while over two straps that were left over from the bridle! Wally makes the final adjustments. Perhaps the weather will improve tomorrow and give us a chance to try it out for size on Charlie Brown. The weather forecast for the week looks pretty grim with more wind and rain sweeping in off the Atlantic.

Start of New Season

Keith and Wally chat while the forge heats up.
Shaping the first shoes for Maggie.

Maggie gets her first fitting.

Now it's Marmite's turn.

The arrival of Keith, the farrier heralds the approach to the new season when the horses have their new shoes fitted after their two months holiday.

Wally and Denise and their helpers will now start getting them fit by walking them out with the carts each day, building them up to be fit enough for several drives each day when our disabled drivers start coming in March.

Myself and three others now have a period of concentrated training before we are examined by an RDA Examiner for suitability to accompany disabled drivers in the driving seat......an exciting time for us all.

The riding group, that share the horses, are also looking forward to starting their riding sessions on Fridays. The horses get plenty of variety and love life at the Ash Tree Stables, as all of us that help do.

Happy New Year 2007

A Happy New Year to one and all!!

The January sunshine today was so welcome after the last few days of rain.

We brought the horses up to the stables for their breakfast (a celebratory can of Guinness for each included!). The horses had a definite spring in their step and took some holding as we walked them up from the field -they obviously look forward to some work after their long holiday!

After the routine 'pooh pick' from the field and a cup o' tea for us, the horses were brought into the yard in twos for a good brush to get rid of gorse from manes & tails and dried mud elsewhere. A thorough check confirmed that they are in excellent condition and ready to have their shoes put on tomorrow so that they can start gentle work with the carts.

Wally sees to getting adjustments just right on Maggie's lovely 'new' harness which looks a fine fit.