Monday, 6th October, 2008
Mollie
and Mitzi are retiring. Both are going to live with Ian Binney, farrier. We
shall miss them both very much but we are so happy at Earnsdale that these
lovely ponies are going to retire to a good home.
Change of Instructors
Our Head Girl, Natalie, who had been at Earnsdale since she left school at 16 years old, left us on Saturday, 6th September, after 16 years. Natalie came to Earnsdale as a student and then stayed on as a working pupil, then a trainee riding instructor, then on to Head Girl after Stephanie Prior who left to raise a family. We all wish Natalie well in her new life in a village near Penrith, where she is taking a three year course at University, in Outdoor Pursuits.
Earnsdale is now very pleased to announce that Jenny Crook will take over as Head Girl, from Monday, 6th October. Jenny has been riding since before she could walk and joined the family in the riding school on leaving school at 16 years.
Abbie -
latest photo - October 2005
TOBY
On Sunday, 25th September, 2005, we said a sad farewell to Toby who died at 11 am. Toby had been with us since he was three years old, apart from two years doing Pony Club with another Darwen family, and was 24 years old when he died. Most people will remember Toby as a great favourite in the riding school and a very strong character. He was early on christened "Toby Tank" as he could really tank round the arena when he came to the lead file. However, he was never a naughty pony, just cheeky and forceful. Toby taught so many children how to ride and jump. He was consistent and forward going. In his teens he went to Melanie to help her with her riding, and two years later when she outgrew him, to Heather Rostron who took him to Pony Club and local shows. After that he belonged to Hannah and Edward Willcocks. Toby had been on lighter work over the past twelve months when it became apparent that his body was beginning to age. His mind, however was still strong. He will be very sadly missed. Toby and Bonnie, who died suddenly earlier on this year, were part of our foundation team of ponies at Earnsdale Farm.
New
Additions
Casper, a 13.2 hh chesnut gelding with the sweetest nature for 9 to 12 year
old children.
Tia will be coming back into work by the end of October. She is forward going and a wonderful ride for more experienced adults.
Apache Prince, a 14.3 hh skewbald gelding, is now settled into our routine at Earnsdale and is very popular with all riders under 12 stones.
VIKKI'S LEAVING
Sadly, we said "Good-bye" to Vikki as an Instructor on Friday, 2nd September, although she will be returning to the yard during her vacations from Uni. 25 staff and clients got together for a "Farewell Dinner" at Mangiamo's, Darwen to shower Vikki with cards and gifts. She has been a very populat member of our team.
TIA
Earnsdale Farm is please to announce the birth of a bay filly foal to Tia, on 2nd May, 2005. The foal, as yet un-naamed, by Mooiman, is progressing well and is very independent. Tia is an excellent mother and after the first day, when she did not seem to realise what she had produced, she has been an excellent mother without being possessive. She allows the foal to wander away from her side in the field and explore on her own, keeping just a careful eye on her. Tia and foal are now away for the summer, for Abbie to have more freedom to graze and grow in peace. We visit them every day with feeds in buckets. Abbie is growing well and is now losing all the baby coat showing a lovely dark coat underneath.
Abbie at two weeks
Abbie at 1 week
Abbie at three months on
holiday
BONNIE
It is with great sadness
we have to report the death of our smallest pony, Bonnie, on Friday morning,
29th April, 2005.
Bonnie was 24 years old and had been at Earnsdale Farm for almost 20 years, having been purchased from Mrs Redmayne as a still young pony, after her daughter, Sharon, had outgrown her. Bonnie has always been a great favourite amongst the staff and young children. She has been the mother of two foals. The first one, named Earnsdale Psychedelic, at four years old had a son, named Earnsdale Storm. This pony, Bonnie's grandson, went on to win Show Pony classes all over the country and was a member with Jenny, of the Blackburn and District Pony Club Dressage Team.. The second of Bonnies foals was a colt who himself qualified for national shows and is still winning many competitions with his young rider.
She will
be very sadly missed and impossible to replace.
GOOD NEWS
After the very sad news above, Earnsdale Farm is delighted to announce the birth of a bay filly foal to Tia on Monday, 2nd May.. Both mother and baby are doing well. The foal, not yet named, is hopefully destined to become a dressage horse and is the daughter of the famous KWPN Stallion, Mooiman.
PONY CLUB
The first Newsletter for Pony Club members and anyone else who is interested in reading about this well known youth organisation and it's centre members from Earnsdale Farm, is now available from the Indoor complex. There is a list of Award Badge winners of current members and a Diary of Events for the next six weeks.
The 2nd edition will be printed ready for the late Autumn.