To all parents

There are a very few vacancies available on the August Courses. These Progressive Courses, from Level 1 – 6 are run only during August of each year.

The children come along to Earnsdale every day from Monday to Friday and learn whilst having a wonderful time with the same pony each day.

On Level 1 – which starts this Monday, 2nd August, the children learn how to bring their pony in from the field, feed it, groom it and make sure that clean water is prepared and placed in the stable. They then learn how to look after a pony and about the names for all the Points of the Horse and parts of the saddle and bridle. They have to understand about all the colours and markings of the ponies and why they are fed in the way they are.

They will come to understand why some ponies are shod and others not and how often the farrier will be required;

During this week, the children who have not learned to canter, will be able to move onto this pace at it’s most basic level.

Each day, the children will take home with them at 12.30 pm, a homework sheet for them to fill in during the afternoon. This is so that we can make sure that they have understood the morning session.

On Friday, the children will stay for the full day and will have a British Horse Society Riding and Theory exam in the morning. In the afternoon, after their packed lunch, there will be a “Show”. This is usually the excitement of the week. Parents, grandparents and siblings are invited to come along and watch and encourage.

The children will compete against each other in three classes and 1st – 4th winning places will gain a rosette. Overall, there is a small trophy for the best all rounder during the week’s course.

The children will be tired at the end of this week. The whole week is full of activity and learning.

They love having a pony for a week and their progress at the end of the week can be seen on Friday afternoon. The week will end by a prize giving ceremony after a mounted games session.

At Level 2 the children will be cantering happily and will establish this pace at a deeper level. They will learn and understand how to muck out a stable and about different types of bedding materials. They will also learn a deeper knowledge of the grooming box.

It is possible to join Level 2, not having taken Level 1, if the riding is sufficiently established. However, those joining at this level will be required to understand all theory for Level 1 as well as learning Level 2.

At level 3, the children will be jumping small fences and will progress onto a course of jumps over the week. Their understanding of theory will be deeper and they will learn the rules of feeding and watering.

We regret that because of the intense nature of these courses, it is not possible to hold them at any other time of the year. Courses for 2011 will not take place until August of that year.

The cost of the full week is £150.