2007 Driving Season Over

On Monday 12th Nov. our farrier, Keith, came to remove the horses' shoes. At this stage of the season we cannot justify the expense of replacing them for a short time. As it happens Keith backed our decision to close the season by telling us that their feet really needed the rest to give a chance for the horn to spread a bit and grow down as there was very little room to get nails into fresh horn.

By the weekend the weather that has been so kind for so long, decided it was time for a change and to make up for a shortage of rainfall. Suddenly the thick woolly coats full of natural grease were put to the test! A close check of all the horses in the constant deluge on Sunday morning found all the horses to be lovely and warm around the brisket between their front legs and at the base of their ears....more than can be said for Wally and Denise who were covering the weekend duties and chilled to the bone!!

Now we start to look at all the maintenance jobs that need to be done around the carriages and harnesses in readiness for the next season.
On Monday the four wheels were removed from the waggonette and parcelled up to be sent away to Bennington Carriages to have the rubber rims renewed.

At this time of the year we are allowed to graze the horses on the Holton Lee camping field. Electric fencing was erected on Wednesday and four happy horses were very pleased to move in for a change of ground. Little Mead was getting very tired and very muddy. The camping field is ideal at this time of year as it is perfectly sheltered by woods from the prevailing SW and northerly weather and they can get right into the shelter of a strip of the woodland if they choose.

Our Link With Holton Lee

"What we do is more important than what we believe" says Brigid Bowen - Holton Lee's new Spirituality Manager.

Holton Lee is a place of refuge and discovery - a place to bring together the physical, spiritual and emotional aspects of our lives. It is a safe place where we can be ourselves completely, not being judged or judging others.

Holton Lee is about doing rather than just believing. We are only as spiritual as our actions and the way we behave to the people we meet each day. At Holton Lee we try to encourage and support that action - so guests, staff, volunteers and visitors can experience a sense of open-hearted connection.

Sixty years ago, Lady Madeline Lees (Tom Lees mother) said that her wish was that the Lees Estate be used for the glory of God, that must have contributed to Tom and his wife Faith's decision to found the Post Green community. They wanted to create a City of Refuge where everyone was welcome, and so they opened their hearts and houses to those that needed it. Post Green was an ecumenical Christian community and it gathered people from many different denominations. It was the Post Green community who had the vision to found Holton Lee, and it was the community who nurtured its early years.

So this is a charity which has grown from Christian roots. But we are absolutely committed to welcoming people from all faiths and none. An active spirituality is the recognition that each person is a gem of great value - you don't need a set of beliefs - just a loving heart and a respect for the ways in which we are all different. Ours is a theology of friendship and kindness, and we remember Faith Lees words when she told us that 'Creative love is where there is no gap between what we profess about toying and the reality of what we live out". (Lees 1987).

Yes, it is a challenge sometimes, but it is vital that we try to tread mindfully on the earth and into each other's worlds. Holton Lee's mission is to remove the barriers that disable people in a society not set up for everyone's needs. We try to make the environment accessible, and to enable people to discover the beautiful 350 acres that surround us. Many people come closest to spiritual presence while out and about in Nature, and what better way to do that than in one of Ashtree Stables' carriages...?

End of Driving Season

It's been a while since I posted here.
I confess that I have been spending quite a bit of time recently with my feet up!!
On 17th October I received my new knee joint in Bournemouth Hospital, and now it is just a matter of time and the right exercises for the swelling to subside so that I can get back to helping out down at the stables.

Meanwhile, here is Wally's end of season report:

At the start of the season it was intended that our season this year would be extended until the end of November, depending on the weather. However in recent days I have noticed that both the horses and the helpers are getting tired. The change GMT from BST has made a difference to our daylight period.

If you are a helper who attends once a week and we really appreciate the time you spend with us, the Mums who take children to school and then dedicate time for us, some until it is time to collect them. This is terrific! The two helpers who travel from Portland and Eastleigh what can you say? The man who takes time out from his garden or allotment, you are the salt of the earth and your busy lives make you tired. Thanks to you all.

The band of people though, I call the dawn to duskers who help, feed, maintain the pasture and keep our animals in the condition they are in, These people do the early and late work, and escort or drive in between on most days, including weekends, bank holidays. It would be nice if another team or two could be found to relieve them Saturday afternoon and Sunday so that they get a break. We have one team who have offered to do the first Sunday every month. Thanks to them! This work in all weathers takes its toll, the Dawn to Duskers don’t complain but the fatigue of the season is beginning to show. A special thank you to the dawn to duskers and their reliefs.

I feel that now at end of October that it is time to lessen the work load by asking the groups not to come for driving any more until next season, and their place on our calendar will be kept for them, and say that on nice days get in contact come and have coffee with us. Individual drives will continue a little longer but not past the end of November when the horses will be roughed off, turned out for eight weeks. After the break until they are fit. I ask that no ridden school work is done and weight limits are very strictly adhered to.

For the group members this is the time to maintain harness, carriages and equipment also start training days for the helpers and potential A/B whips. For people who don’t know us, life goes on every day of the year. The program for Christmas Day is to do the horses (breakfast mixed with Guinness, or other brands of Stout are available) clean the paddock, fill the hay nets, then Dinner at the Court Yard Centre Lytchett Minster then back to check and feed the horses at tea time. We wish you all a very Merry Christmas.

From the committee of East Holton Driving Centre at Holton Lee