JustKickOn
Well-Known Member
Over the years, the riding school I go to has improved a lot.
11 years ago you were greeted with a hello on arrival. Now you can't walk across the yard without one of the dogs running and greeting you and having a convosation with a member of staff, or even two!!
The bigger arena started out being a sandy bog in winter and an arena of dust in the summer. Now it is bigger than it was, has fencing round it when before there were banks and then a hedge. And it was re-lined, the drainage re-done and a new wood chip surface put down!
About 8 years ago, the second sand school was built, when winter came it got boggy like the other one did. About 4 years ago, it was mixed with rubber but it was still boggy during the wet months. Now it has had a new layer of rubber put on, and it has a complete covering, not mixed with the sand!!
When I first arrived, the poles were just left in the middle of the school, most of the paint was chipped off of them and the jump wings were looking old, battered and weather beaten. Now, the jump wings mentioned above are a lovely creamy white, they no longer wobble and the jump cups are safer than they were before. Jump wings now... Most of the poles have been painted in white and a colour, some have been left rustic. Over the years the stables have purchased a pair of these , 6 sets of these , and about 20 of these . The stables also have some planks with the name of the stables on, and also some planks with sharks teeth and spots on! (All plastic)
The yard is still as it was, it really needs doing but there isnt a time when it can be done, a lot of the stables are on the yard, and the other stables lead off from it so it just isnt practical for it to be resurfaced. All of the stables now have rubber matting in instead of concrete floor, or earth flooring. The tack room has been redone and all the saddle and bridle hooks have the horses name on them. What used to be the livery section (Theres now only one livery) is now where riders can put their hats if theyre up there all day, but most choose not to because there are rats in there
. The feed room now has secure bins which are escaped-pony-proof
All in all the riding school has improved vastly over the past 11 years, many ponies have come and gone, some have passed away, and others have been schooled and sold on.
These are just some of the reasons why I love the riding school.
Sorry for a rather long and pointless post, just thought Id share the happiness of M.F.S. with you all!
Lizzie x
11 years ago you were greeted with a hello on arrival. Now you can't walk across the yard without one of the dogs running and greeting you and having a convosation with a member of staff, or even two!!
The bigger arena started out being a sandy bog in winter and an arena of dust in the summer. Now it is bigger than it was, has fencing round it when before there were banks and then a hedge. And it was re-lined, the drainage re-done and a new wood chip surface put down!
About 8 years ago, the second sand school was built, when winter came it got boggy like the other one did. About 4 years ago, it was mixed with rubber but it was still boggy during the wet months. Now it has had a new layer of rubber put on, and it has a complete covering, not mixed with the sand!!
When I first arrived, the poles were just left in the middle of the school, most of the paint was chipped off of them and the jump wings were looking old, battered and weather beaten. Now, the jump wings mentioned above are a lovely creamy white, they no longer wobble and the jump cups are safer than they were before. Jump wings now... Most of the poles have been painted in white and a colour, some have been left rustic. Over the years the stables have purchased a pair of these , 6 sets of these , and about 20 of these . The stables also have some planks with the name of the stables on, and also some planks with sharks teeth and spots on! (All plastic)
The yard is still as it was, it really needs doing but there isnt a time when it can be done, a lot of the stables are on the yard, and the other stables lead off from it so it just isnt practical for it to be resurfaced. All of the stables now have rubber matting in instead of concrete floor, or earth flooring. The tack room has been redone and all the saddle and bridle hooks have the horses name on them. What used to be the livery section (Theres now only one livery) is now where riders can put their hats if theyre up there all day, but most choose not to because there are rats in there
All in all the riding school has improved vastly over the past 11 years, many ponies have come and gone, some have passed away, and others have been schooled and sold on.
These are just some of the reasons why I love the riding school.
Sorry for a rather long and pointless post, just thought Id share the happiness of M.F.S. with you all!
Lizzie x