Carriage Driving For Disabled Adults In Dorset

Xmas Carol & Lantern Walk 2009

noreply@blogger.com (joncolvile) — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 21:23:00 +0000

Carols in the stable yard.

After all the unceasing rain of late we were blessed with a heaven sent dry, yes a bit chilly, evening with a clear sky. The turnout of friends and supporters of Holton Lee and the EHDC was beyond all expectation! I failed to get photos of the crib scene and the candle-lit pathway from Faith House down to the stable yard, but they were both very spectacular.

We all assembled outside Faith House where candles in jars and carol sheets were issued, Bridget Green and Theresa Veith, Holton Lee trustee and Director welcomed everyone and we opened the carols with ' O Come All Ye Faithful' and then set off in a long procession down to the studios where another carol was sung before filing into the stable yard where Mary & Joseph could be viewed with baby Jesus in a simple crib scene flanked on one side by Charlie Brown who took a great interst with his head over the stable door. Felix was in the next stable and they both enjoyed the attention they received from so many people.

Accompanied by a volunteer on a keyboard we sang 'Away In A Manger' and 'Silent Night'. Bridget thanked everyone and welcomed everyone to return to Faith House for mulled wine and mince pies. The big raffle was drawn while everyone was able to socialise.

Our thanks go to Angela who gainfully entertained children in the warmth of the farmhouse with some craft making.

All in all a very successful evening; and our thanks go out to all those who helped and turned out to support our efforts to make it the success it was.

EHDC Mission Statement

noreply@blogger.com (joncolvile) — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 20:35:00 +0000

Mission Statement as per the charity commission web site;

TO PROMOTE THE OBJECTS OF THE RIDING FOR THE DISABLED ASSOCIATION INCORPORATING CARRIAGE DRIVING A CHARITY REGISTERED UNDER CHARITY NUMBER 244108 ("THE ASSOCIATION") BY PROVIDING DISABLED PEOPLE WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO RIDE AND/OR CARRIAGE DRIVE TO BENEFIT THEIR HEALTH AND WELL BEING IN THE DORSET AREA.

The East Holton Driving Centre is staffed entirely by volunteers, both disabled and non disabled people.

Our ethos is to accept people as they are;

* To enable and empower people with or without disability.
* We give people a larger say in their own destiny.
* We promote and are trained in Disability Equality and Diversity.
* All staff is CRB checked and are familiar with the EHDC child and Vulnerable Adult Protection policy.
* We have up to eight first aid trained staff, who attend our sessions. All our qualified RDA whips are first aid trained.

Health and Safety and Insurance

* We have full insurance provided by the RDA membership. This also covers employers' insurance, because we take year 10 and 11 school students on work experience, also students from Kingston Mauward, the local agricultural college.
* Risk assessments at EHDC are done prior to every session.
* People with disability attend, along with their carer, and initially work in unison with a mentor a fully trained member of the EHDC staff.
* Stables are run to a routine that is beneficial to horses and staff alike. Disabled people particularly respond well to routine.
* All our fire regulations are met and kept up to date and are regularly check by The Bourne Fire Prevention Company and the check certificates are displayed. We also have a no smoking policy at the stables.
* Using these methods we have satisfied all the requirements on Health and Safety checks thus far.

Training

· During training, we progress at what ever pace is necessary for the individual trainee’s needs.
· Our new volunteers usually begin work with cleaning tasks,e.g. yard, stables, and tack. Unless they have previous equine experience. Even then they are mentored by trained staff until their competence is assured.
· Training is progressive and is taken forward a pace that is comfortable for the trainee.
· We don’t have expectations at EHDC. Many disabled people, particularly the people suffering mental illness have had too many expectations put on them which has inflamed their condition. Expectations only lead to apparent failure and disappointment, which stands in the way of success and confidence when people want to achieve their goals.
· At EHDC we have a disabled person who is qualified to instruct carriage driving, and a disabled person who after the same period of time, can sweep out and manage stable work unsupervised, can, with a mentor, groom a horse, head hold and ride a bicycle to escort a drive.
· People’s ability is that diverse. With patience and persistence, people’s individual goals and ambitions can be and are met.

It is our aim to promote the EHDC at Ashtree Stables a safe haven for disabled people, with no stigma, discrimination or prejudice. We make a concerted effort to take the "dis" out of disability. Raise personal confidence and promote self esteem.

Funding

In 2008 we lost the financial support of the Household Cavalry Association Dorset when they changed their chosen charity to the Household Cavalry Combat Soldiers Injuries Fund, a charity we couldn’t oppose. Our income for the year was £9800 and our expenditure totalled £9600 but still a small profit.

Income

* Income from drives.
* Generous donations.
* Fund raising.

Expenditure

* Forage
* Farrier
* Vet (wormer and medication when needed)
* Maintenance of Harness, Carriages, Fencing, Buildings and yard.
* Membership and Insurance

Definition

We are a Horse and Carriage driving group for disabled people and we do not do any riding.

End of season Group Organisers Report 2009

noreply@blogger.com (joncolvile) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 09:49:00 +0000

We have arrived at the end of another driving season at the East Holton Driving Centre.

2009 has been very successful. We have had some terrific support from all our service users and helpers alike;

* We have done more drives
* We have had good weather conditions so missed less driving time.
* We have much more grazing 120 acres more in fact.
* We have extended our tenancy from 12 monthly to unlimited. Thanks to Sir Tom Lees.
* We have broken down the final barriers between Holton Lee and the EHDC.
* We have given more opportunities to people with disability through mentoring to be more hands on with the horses.
* We have work on going with reducing discrimination and prejudice for disabled people.
* We have eliminated expectations and that has reduced our failure rate.
* We are reasonably happy with things overall financially. We remain solvent anyway.

We strive to let disabled people be more independent and have a much larger say in there own destiny, our friends are disabled not unable.

I wish to thank all involved for their help to make 2009 so successful and will hope to see you at the closed season events over Christmas especially. Please stay in touch and we look forward to your continued support next season. If you are reading this and not a helper already, please feel free to make contact with us and join us, disabled or non disabled we have a place for you. Contact :-Wally on 07790912770.

Wally Pitt

End Of Carriage Driving Season

noreply@blogger.com (joncolvile) — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 15:16:00 +0000

It was time to consider replacing the shoes for another 4 to 6 weeks at considerable cost just when the weather is becoming rather fickle and it was decided that it wasn't worthwhile.
Keith, our farrier, removed all the shoes and trimmed the feet and the horses were turned back out in the field for their winter holiday.

The new season will start with the shoes going back on in January or February 2010, depending on the weather.

We now turn our attention to planning our Christmas Carol and Lantern walk scheduled for Thurs 10th December at 6.30 pm.

Ed Bracher Visit

noreply@blogger.com (joncolvile) — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 11:56:00 +0000

A few weeks ago we were pleased to receive a visit by the Chief Executive of the RDA, Mr. Ed Bracher.
Wally seized on the opportunity to show Ed around the site with Marmite and give Ed a good impression of a normal working day for us. He also had the chance to talk face-to-face about some grievances and pointers to improvements within the RDA over lunch in the Barn where he also met the Director of Holton Lee, Theresa Veith, and Ed Bracher went away with some good idea of the potential that Holton Lee might be able to offer other groups within the RDA.

Nearing The End of Our Driving Season

noreply@blogger.com (joncolvile) — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 16:17:00 +0000

I'll let you put your own captions to Felix's actions!!

How time flies!! Autumn already, shortening days and dropping temperatures signal the approach to winter - perish the thought! Now our thoughts turn to planning Christmas lunches and Christmas Carols not so very far away.

The end of the driving season will be on the 19th October 2009. This is when the farrier attends the horses, because of the cost of the new shoes, with the approach of winter, shorter daylight hours, and the possibility of poor weather.

The committee has decided to have the horses shoes removed and give the horses their winter break. The new season will start as soon as the weather allows in the New Year.

During the break we would invite you to keep up with the news, meet your friends from the EHDC, on Wednesday mornings at 11am at Dylans Restaurant, The Court Yard Craft Centre, Lychett Minster, for a Coffee Morning. Denise and Wally would also like the chance to visit you at your home, if this is what you would like us to do.

On Thursday 10th December at 6.30 pm, in conjunction Holton Lee we are having the usual Carols and Lantern walk, Mulled Wine plus Mince Pies and Holton Lee’s Charity draw, for further information ring Wally on 07790912770.

Without of the financial support of the Household Cavalry Association Dorset (£2,000) during 2009, we have continued to give the service you are used to. Our budget is tight but with your support we have got through the season. I would like to thank the people who donated the money for the drive when they had to cancel at short notice. My thanks go to the people who attended the Margaret Newell Memorial Day in August for raising a total of £607.00 on the day. God bless you all.

Wally Pitt Group Organiser EHDC

Margaret Newell Day 2009

noreply@blogger.com (joncolvile) — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 21:33:00 +0000

Laura displaying one of the calendars that were created by Bonny Cother, using photographs that she took when she visited us earlier in the year. Bonny was over from Florida, visiting her brother John, who is one of our regular helpers. The calendars are selling for £5.00 and are considered a brilliant idea for contributing to our fund raising efforts - thank you Bonny!

Dear All my friends all over the world, 09/08/2009

We held the Margaret Newell Memorial day Sausage Sizzle to day besides which we had;

A raffle.
Tombola,
Cake stall.
Books and calendar stall.
Bric-a-brac puzzles and toy stall.

This event is held to raise funds for the EAST HOLTON DRIVING CENTRE @ Holton Lee. The total raised so far is £607.00.

Denise and I have to attend The Conservative Club in Swanage this evening to receive a cheque for cash they have collected for us totalling £300.00 this is the best earning day for a long while £907 pounds in total.

To see so many of our friends and supporters was wonderful, Sir Tom Lees, came and spent an hour or two with us and was delighted to see the success we have with the group the fact we have disabled people and nondisabled people working with us and it is so difficult to spot one from the other. There is total integration, just how it should be. Critics will say that if this is the case these people should be working and be off benefits. If only they could be they would be so happy. I can only praise the nondisabled who support them as they tire, or have to go and rest. Remember that we have no expectations, therefore everything that is done, no matter how much or how little is a success. They are able to do as much or as little as they are comfortable with, unlike a normal job.

Some of our helpers with disability may not be seen as much of next week after today, but it doesn’t matter. We try to take the dis out of disability, we try to empower and enable disabled people. We try to give them self worth, build self esteem and create self confidence. I spend so much time trying to educate people about disability equality. Get rid of the dreaded stigma that brings discrimination and prejudice. There is no such thing as poor disabled people, rather people with disability. For those who couldn’t attend today but gave books, cakes, preserves prizes for the Tombola and raffle a huge thank you. For the others who helped from early morning to the close an even larger thank you.

A special mention must go to Angela Bolton who arrived back from holiday last night but managed the best Cream Teas ever for us today; Chris Shaw who cycled from Corfe Mullen to help John Newell with the BBQ, Geoff Lonsdale with his arm in a sling but still manned a stall with toys and bric-a-brac and last but not least the Juniors Jenny, Becky, and Bradee. Who did too many tasks to mention?

Thank you all and those I failed to mention.

Wally Pitt Group Organiser, EHDC

MARGARET NEWELL MEMORIAL DAY.

noreply@blogger.com (joncolvile) — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 19:21:00 +0000

10.30am Sunday 9th August 2009.

EAST HOLTON DRIVING CENTRE

@ Holton Lee

This event is a fund raising event, please can you help on the day, or by providing anything listed below !

We urgently require the following,

Cakes small and large, for the cake stall.
Preserves.
Squash and Fizzy drinks.
Books, for the book stall.....Gill Symes.
Prizes suitable for the raffle and tombola.......Alex, Ju and Julie.
Wally, Denise, and Jonnie will provide the Meat and Rolls for the BBQ...Chris Shaw, John Newell.
Angela will do Cream teas and hot drinks.
Face painting.... Helen (James Burns House).

Thank you all for your help in anticipation,

The committee EHDC.

Woodland Encounter

noreply@blogger.com (joncolvile) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 20:01:00 +0000

It may be a squirrel, it may be deer, or in this case, it is a small mob of free-roaming New Forest ponies (supplied by a local grazier) running loose on the heathland, that we encounter on some of our drives with disabled people, much to their delight! Ours too I might add. We are so grateful to Holton Lee for the privilege of being able to drive all over this lovely estate.

A Generous Donation

noreply@blogger.com (joncolvile) — Wed, 06 May 2009 21:26:00 +0000

Simon Shave seen here presenting Wally Pitt with a very generous donation.

Simon had been saving up to go on holiday to America, but when he learnt that he could not go he decided to donate his holiday savings to three deserving charities, and the East Holton Driving Centre was one of them. Simon is supported by Dorset Scope in Poole and a number of their members enjoy regular carriage driving in the peaceful countryside of Holton Lee. Dorset Scope is a charity supporting children and adults with Cerebral Palsy and associated disabilities working in the county of Dorset.

Equine Hairdressing Clinic!

noreply@blogger.com (joncolvile) — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 12:42:00 +0000

Signs of spring!! Our girls give all the horses' manes, tails and feathers a jolly good shampoo on a sunny Saturday morning. The warmer weather has all the horses shedding their winter coats in handfuls every day.

Remembering Paul Stevens

noreply@blogger.com (joncolvile) — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 20:49:00 +0000

Paul receiving his prize from Sir Tom Lees in August 2008.

Paul completes a faultless round the cones driving Marmite at the first Margaret Newell Memorial Day in Aug 2008.

On Friday 3rd April we joined friends and family to say "Good-bye" to Paul at Poole Crematorium and to celebrate his very full life. Paul was much loved by everyone and brought so much joy to all who knew him.

At East Holton Driving Centre he will always be remembered for his skilful driving of Marmite, and although he could say "trot on" he always preferred "prrod on" and Marmite responded!

He was always so cheerful and bright, taking control of his escorts once he was in the driving seat and had hold of the reins, and very focussed on his driving. He would give Marmite detailed instructions for the entire route he had chosen, but keep the escorts guessing until he directed at each turn!!

Paul will be sorely missed.

Point-To-Point Fund Raising Event at Badbury Rings

noreply@blogger.com (joncolvile) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 20:20:00 +0000

John and I loaded the waggonette into Judy's horse box at 8 o'clock with a little help from Angela & Jenny who had kindly offered to feed and see to the horses for us, so we were in good time to unload in front of the RDA tent and park the lorry back in the lorry park. The wind was cold at times, but when the sun shone there was some warmth; all in all it turned out to be grand day out for an awful lot of people.

By 10.00 am the public were arriving and though the interest in our display was slow, it soon built up and the Tombola was drawing people in in droves. We were very well positioned alongside the collecting paddock so the huge crowds streamed past us to see the horses and back to the bookies and racing for each of the six races! The racing was very good with firm going.

With fourteen RDA groups in Dorset the tent was well staffed and we felt the day was very worthwhile. It was good to meet Ed Bracher (RDA Chief Executive) and Mrs Jane Holderness-Roddam (Chairman) who had come down to support the event.

Then The Snow!

noreply@blogger.com (joncolvile) — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 22:20:00 +0000

Then the snow and big freeze came as forecast. Horses completely comfortable with it all. The snow settled on their backs is a good indicator of the insulating property of their winter coats and they were all warm at the base of their ears and between the forelegs, even Charlie Brown, the old man of the bunch. Extra hay was made available.

This was followed by rain and the field was flooded in the lower parts. However, with the recent change to a few dry days the ground is drying out nicely, and perhaps now we can look forward to the business of starting to work them. Judging by some of their antics they will enjoy a bit of work now.

Countryside Alliance Point-to-Point

noreply@blogger.com (joncolvile) — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 13:53:00 +0000

On Sunday 22nd February Badbury Rings is the venue for The Jackson-Stops & Staff Countryside Alliance Point-To-Point meeting and the Dorset branch of the RDA will be there to raise awareness and money.

This year the Dorset Branch of Riding For The Disabled celebrates 40 years. There are at present 14 groups in Dorset and each of these groups has its own individual charity status, running under the national association's umbrella. Each group has it's own trustees and a wonderful band of enthusiastic , well trained volunteer helpers. East Holton Driving Centre is the only carriage driving group in Dorset.

We shall be in attendance all day with one of our carriages adapted for wheelchair users and would love to meet and talk to anyone, particularly anyone considering healthy outdoor voluntary work!!

False Start!

noreply@blogger.com (joncolvile) — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 14:28:00 +0000

Red Sky In The Morning!

Two weeks on since the shoes went on for the new season, and we still have found it too wet to start exercising the horses!
Perhaps this new spell of cold dry winds from the east will dry the ground out enough for us to make a start in February. However, the farming forecast is for possibility of snow and a very cold week, so we shall just have to see.

Shoeing For The 2009 Season

noreply@blogger.com (joncolvile) — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 20:06:00 +0000

Shoes are fitted for the new season.

Monday 12th January 2009. Keith, our farrier prepares Charlie Brown's hooves for shoeing. Charlies woolly winter coat is ample protection for the winter weather. This photo was from last year which belies the cruel persistent rain that plagued Keith all morning this year!!

We now hope and pray that the wet weather doesn't hang around too long and hamper our efforts to start getting the horses fit again!

January Freeze!

noreply@blogger.com (joncolvile) — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 19:40:00 +0000

Call this cold?

The cold snap is infinitely preferable to rain! All the horses are looking extremely healthy and we are looking forward to the shoes going on and a chance to start working them next week.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

noreply@blogger.com (joncolvile) — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 17:09:00 +0000

Our horses had their breakfast feed mixed with Guinness on both Christmas Day and New Year's Day as a special treat from the people who appreciate their service throughout the year.

The horses, the members and trustees of the East Holton Driving Centre join in wishing everyone a very happy, healthy and prosperous New Year.

Happy driving in 2009.

EHDC Christmas Lunch

noreply@blogger.com (joncolvile) — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 16:39:00 +0000

On Wednesday 17th December Carol and her team at Dylans Restaurant in the Courtyard Centre in Lytchett Minster certainly did us proud this year with a first class Christmas lunch for 24 supporters and users of the EHDC.

We all enjoyed a wonderful atmosphere of bonhomie and Christmas spirit with enthusiastic anticipation of another year of driving at Holton Lee.

Lantern Walk With Carols.

noreply@blogger.com (joncolvile) — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 15:36:00 +0000

On 11th December we were blessed with a lovely dry, if somewhat chilly evening for our annual Holton Lee / EHDC lantern walk with Christmas carols. Organising an outdoor event at this time of year it pays to not consider the weather, just pray it will be okay on the day!!

It was lovely to see such a wonderful turnout of supporters of Holton Lee and the driving group. We were lucky to obtain the services of Colin on his keyboard for musical accompaniment and he did an excellent job moving his keyboard three times on our walk down to the stables and back!

Starting at Faith House we sang two carols after an introductory prayer and welcome messages by Bridget Green and Holton Lee's new director, Theresa Veith, with Wally Pitt on behalf of the East Holton Driving Centre. We followed the winding pathway, lit most effectively by candles in jars on either side, down to stop outside the art studios for another carol before proceeding to our humble stable yard where it seemed hard not to think what Christmas is all about - a celebration of the birth of Jesus, born in a humble stable more than 2000 years ago.

Here we gathered round patio heaters for a bit of warmth loaned by A1 Hire in front of a simple crib scene for a few more carols before returning to Faith House for a last rousing "We Wish You A Merry Christmas".

Children were entertained to a little treasure hunt and various activities back in the warmth of Faith House by Angela and her family.

Warm mulled wine and mince pies generously donated by Sainsburys' Pitwines store were enjoyed by all as we gathered in Faith House to socialise and collect raffle prizes drawn by Theresa. Among the prizes was a luxury organic hamper generously donated by Goldys Farm Shop at Lytchett Minster, a family carriage drive, a bottle of wine from Majestic wines in Poole.

A fine Christmas tree outside the Farmhouse was generously donated by the Cooper family at Mannington Heath Farm was decorated with handsome blue tree lights donated by B & Q at Fleetsbridge.

Our thanks go out to all those who helped with this lovely event in our calender.

Year End Report

noreply@blogger.com (joncolvile) — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 21:20:00 +0000

It has been a positive year, over all.

With the departure of The Miss Bush Memorial Group we are driving five days a week and still have a waiting list of service users.

We are elated that the Riding for the Disabled Association have been flexible enough to change rules, and move goal posts which allows people with disabilities to hold RDA whip (new name for the old Able Bodied Whip) positions. Thus getting rid of Discrimination and Prejudice.

Holton Lee our hosts in March introduced a Forum titled “Open Space”, opening the door for all aspects of Holton Lee and service users like us put items forward for discussion. This has produced a much closer relationship with them. We are now planning joint ventures like the Carol and Lantern walk held in early December and a proposed Joint Open day in June, not a horse show(!!) for instance.

Margaret and John Newell gave so much time and so much effort into the shows at Holton Lee. They took it from a handful of horses to seven rings, plus vintage cars, and a dog show. John Newell is still one of our trustees and extremely active.

Our energies are now directed at the group, and maximising our service.
As well as our regular users we also are committed to drive people on respite care at Holton Lee, the Green Island Trust, plus schools and disability organisations spread right across the south of England. Time to thank our volunteers for making all this possible . What wonderful people they are.

It is with sadness that we have lost the financial support of the Household Cavalry Association Dorset for the year 2009. When we heard that they had been approached to support the Household Cavalry Combat Injuries Fund, a new charity to support injured soldiers, we withdrew our application to allow it to go through unopposed. So, much fund raising needed.

All this and I still managed to travel as carer for Martin Hiscocks on a trip to Wyoming and drive a three different pairs of horses and a covered wagon down the Trails in the Teton Forest with a wagon train and Wagons West, the J box dot ranch. The Madsel family allowed us to work with the wranglers and I learned so much about their methods of keeping horses. After that Denise and I managed to get away for a break. I am so lucky to live life to the full like I do. I have too many people to thank for that here, but the people know who they are and they have been thanked by me personally any way.

We still are looking for the right minded people to join our friendly team. Right minded is anyone who thinks they will get something from it for themselves, not just doing their bit for charity.

Posted by: Wally Pitt Group Organiser EHDC

A Poorly Charlie Brown

noreply@blogger.com (joncolvile) — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 19:35:00 +0000

Charlie Brown certainly knows how to choose his moments. On Monday 3rd November at 6.30 am John dropped Wally & Denise off at Bournemouth airport for a well earned two week holiday in Tunisia.

At 7.30 John and I took the breakfast feed up to the horses in the camping field to find Charlie Brown rooted to the spot on the far side of the field. He just did not want to move, and had no interest in food. It took us nearly half an hour to coax him into walking very gently down to the stable to await a visit from the vet.

10.00 am Mel arrived from the Damory Equine practice in Blandford. She gave him a very thorough examination but could find no reason for his high temperature, so the diagnosis was an all too common PUO ( Pyrexia of Unknown Origin)!
A course of antibiotics was prescribed for 5 days and an anti-imflammatory given in the vein.

2.15 pm I returned to find Charlie munching hay and a different horse. The temperature returned to normal in the next few days and he never looked back. He returned to his mates by the weekend and was welcomed back into the fold with great enthusiasm.

Today Charlie is a picture of health judging by his enthusiastic 'Airs Above The Ground' antics before breakfast that belie his true age!!

2008 Season Draws To A Close

noreply@blogger.com (joncolvile) — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 18:55:00 +0000

Felix limbering up!

As the season draws to a close we start looking ahead. The horses shoes will be coming off on Monday 13th when driving will cease and the horses start a well deserved holiday.

Extracts from the EHDC Trustee Meeting on 1st October 2008:

To start with, Wally received an invitation from the Household Cavalry Association to re-submit our application for charity funds at the HCA AGM in October, but when he discovered that there would also be another submission from the Household Cavalry Operational Casualty Fund it was unanimously agreed by all trustees that we should withdraw our application in favour of the Casualty Fund. The East Holton Driving Centre has been receiving very generous support from the HCA for many years for which we are most grateful, so we wll be looking around for other funding sources.

September has seen quite a healthy income due mainly to donations.

Coffee Mornings.
It was decided that coffee mornings would feature regularly on Wednesdays at 11.00am during the closed season. These sessions are open to members, all disabled drivers and their carers, volunteers and prospective volunteers at The Courtyard Centre in Lytchett Minster. It will provide a good opportunity for everyone to keep in touch during the winter and for prospective volunteers to check us out!

Christmas Lunch
To be held on Wednesday 17th December at 12.30 at the Courtyard Centre.

Carols and Lantern Walk
Holton Lee was delighted with the success of this event last year and have proposed date of 11th December at 6.30pm.

September Notes

noreply@blogger.com (joncolvile) — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 16:58:00 +0000

Being an outdoor activity, the weather plays an important part in our ability to deliver a reliable service for our disabled drivers. August has been one of the wettest for years and September seems to be following the same pattern, so it's no surprise that we have disappointed volunteer helpers and disabled drivers too.

With less work and the September flush of rapidly growing grass, the horses are full of high spirits more familiar with springtime!

The farrier is due on 13th October and it has been decided that, with the cost of shoeing, it is not worth new shoes for a dodgy few weeks so they will come off for the horses' winter break. The shoes will go on again in the New Year when we start getting them fit again for the new season. This will be a time when we can train Judy up to the standard to become a qualified whip. The exam is quite intensive and can take up to four hours of theory and practical test.

Over the winter we hope to keep in touch with all our volunteers and disabled drivers with coffee morning get-togethers or suchlike.