An RDA Royal Visit

Ok so it has taken me three days to sufficiently come down from this high-point of the year to be able to write about it (even now I may babble a bit!).
As regular followers, and people who know me, will know, RDA is, and has been a huge part of my life.  I was Stable Manager for Hollesley RDA between 1998 and 2008, and would never have given it up. Sadly life and other ambitious individuals got in the way (another story, but not for this blog).

Anyway, as you all know, I returned to teaching an RDA session in September 2016.  At that time the future of Hollesley RDA was in question as we had to vacate the premises at Sutton Hall, where we had been for around 20 years. An extremely generous person allowed us to rent land in Clopton, near Woodbridge, and frantic building work began on an all new purpose built centre.  As we had moved even further away from Hollesley, we got ourselves a new name...
Woodbridge and District RDA.

The new centre still needs a few finishing touches, but the main school, complete with built in Community Room, Office, Stalls, Kitchen etc is done.  We move lock, stock and barrel next week.

So the management team asked HRH Princess Anne to officially open the new building.  To our delight HRH agreed.  She must like us.....This is the fourth visit to Hollesley (Woodbridge) RDA!!

And so the big day was Tuesday.  There was frantic activity from all quarters!!!  As we haven't quite moved, 5 ponies were taken over for a few days to be in the display.  Suzanne our Operations Manager must have been tearing her hair out working out all the logistics.  Not to mention Clare (our Stable Manager), who lives on site, getting up at 4am one morning to clean the kitchen!!  Viv made sure the ponies were smart and the tack was all matching. Liz worked out a routine for a short display.  I thought I would be the one in the background, making sure horses and riders were ready etc.

WRONG!  On Monday I arrived for the run through.  As we were a leader missing, I stepped in, leading Lottie, who is about 30 and was at RDA all the while I ran the yard.  We also used Maddie, a New Forest pony on loan to us, Dolly the driving pony, and Smartie and Inca, our 2 big black mares, who are the mainstay of the adult riding sessions.

After several practises on Monday, leading the ponies, we agreed we (roughly) knew what we were doing and set about cleaning the tack, while the Driving crew polished harness and cart.  I was then told, I had better stay as leader....
Oh and Liz and I would be introducing the Ponies and Riders to HRH.

Panic stations on my behalf.....I have a thick Suffolk accent....and I was worried I might forget names! Swear! Nudge the Princess! Accidentally knock her over?
Suzanne, who would be sitting with HRH throughout, told me NOT to catch her eye, as we seemed to be having one of those inappropriate giggle fits when we looked at each other.  Not sure how I slept, but I did.

So THE morning dawned....Winter Wonderland....Thick Ice. Managed to get up on time (not my strong point).  We had to park at the other end of the mile long drive to The Bays (our new centres name) and catch a Mini Bus to the yard.  Major activity all round, polishing, plaiting and oiling the ponies.  Meanwhile outside people were scattering salt on the icy yard. There was a minor panic when one of our child riders texted in sick.  Luckily we had another child rider, Hope, who was going to present a posy. What a star, she agreed to ride Maddie, who she had never even sat on before. 

I must apologise here to the helpers (errr and everyone), for being bossy.  I somehow forgot I am not Yard Manager anymore!!!  I found myself yelling "Turn off all mobiles", and "Time to tack up", and "Get the ponies in the arena to warm up".  

In no time at all we heard the Helicopter arriving. As HRH made her way through the Community Area and walked across the Arena, I had a moment of sheer nerves, which completely dissipated as we started our display. We went a bit wrong, but recovered well and no-one noticed.  Sarah Hall,and I who were leading the lead ponies, seemed to have a telepathic connection and managed to right the wrong, with just a few nods and grimaces.

At the end of the display, the Princess came to meet the riders....Deep Breathe as someone took charge of Lottie and I joined Liz and Suzanne for the introductions.  HRH Princess Anne was lovely, and I found myself chatting away. We talked about the cold weather, Ian Stark buying horses from auction, and racehorses refusing to run.

Next up was the Long Service Awards.....At this point Shirley Green still hadn't arrived.  Shirley started Hollesley RDA many moons ago, when she ran Poplar Park at Hollesley.  She then moved to Sutton Hall and was my immediate boss, while I was there.  Shirley was County Instructor.  She was also involved in many BHS activities such as Riding and Road Safety Examiner, and Dressage Judge at big events, where i used to be her writer.  We were all getting concerned.....  Apparently Shirley used the worst taxi firm in Suffolk, and had a very long trip touring the villages of Suffolk, before arriving. 

At this point the Long Service Awards were drawing to a close, and I was back in the pony lines, when word came down that Shirley had arrived.  I didn't think, I just ran to meet her, nearly knocking out a security guard while flinging open the door to the Community room.  I thought to just quietly escort her to her seat in the Arena, but her arrival had been announced and Princess Anne came to meet us, as Shirley was met with a standing ovation!!!!

After the official opening HRH left and I seemed to take charge again (SORRY), yelling for the riders to be dismounted, and the ponies to be untacked before the helicopter took off. We were then able to relax (In fact 12 of us buggered off to Valley Farm Riding Centre in nearby Wickham Market for lunch (They have a brilliant cafe), and meet and mingle with clients and helpers.

SO...What a day.  Many thanks to the helpers, horses, and riders for making this one of the best days of my life.....And sorry for getting all bossy and in charge like!! XX

YES!!! It Snowed!!!

Ok it was for one day only.  And it was only a very light sprinkling. But in this part of the UK we haven't had proper snow for four years (Ok this wasn't proper, but it did lay).  I still have a child-like excitement on seeing a snow covering..... Which lasted about 5 minutes! That was about the time it took to realise the water pipes were frozen solid, as were our fingers after we had loaded the trailer with the first lot of hay!

We were also struggling with heavy wet rugs to be changed, picking out ice balls from the shod ponies feet, while contending with a freezing easterly wind that blew snow horizontally. It wasn't even proper big flakes but that very wet stuff, that can barely be described as snow. More like white rain.

Not to mention frozen droppings!

We moved the fence out to reveal longer grass.  The sensible mares, huddled around the Hay, backs to the wind.  Not Charlie....Being 'well ard', he faced the white-out and ate grass!

Yesterday was better.....Still a pretty covering on the ground, but the wind dropped and the sun came out.  Having 'stabled' the hose-pipes overnight we had water. At only 2c it wasn't tropical but the sun was warming and the photo opportunities were good.

Today.....Temperature rose to 6c overnight.....so we are back to rain and mud!!

There's nothing quite like a bright chestnut, a little snow and sunlight for a photo.

Dora looks like the Virgin Mary in her blue neck cover (HAHA)

Life Without The Tractor and Hay

And now for the weather!!!! Funny how us Brits like to talk about the weather. I guess as we have a temperate climate, we tend to talk about any unusual weather conditions.  Even though its normal to have cold weather in December.....we tend to forget!  Anyway it suddenly got COLD (for us). We even had a few flakes of SNOW!!!!!  On Thursday I had leggings under my jeans and a hat!  We even rugged Charlie, Dora and Lulu. The forecast was 0c, 25mph north winds and rain/snow.  OOOh.  Bit of a shock after a mild November.

Naturally the Tractor broke down!!  Why wouldn't it? BTW its not really a tractor, but a ride on lawn mower....But it does the job of a tractor. Daily it pulls our little muck trailer, and helps us deliver hay. It stopped working on Thursday....My mums 80th Birthday. The day I had to leave on time, as I had booked us Spa treatments and lunch at a posh hotel/golf club. So we used Jos' Subaru....Not a 4WD, but an AWD with a tow-bar. 

Friday came, Tractor still would not start....Weather, Sleet, Cold. I was at RDA. The sun came out so I poo-picked with a wheel-barrow....well 4 wheel-barrows, then set about fixing up a paddock on the Winter grazing (Nearer to tack room and full of grass). Spent at least an hour untangling self tangling fence wire as the sun set and the temperature plummeted. Lost the will to live (and all feeling in my lips and fingers).

Saturday...still no tractor.  Once again I was at the RDA, filling in teaching.  By the time we had finished there I was cold and hungry. Jo had texted me saying horses had Hay and Water, Lu and Charlie had broken into the Minis' field and raped and assaulted Dora. I went straight home thinking 'Tomorrow is another day'.

Sunday saw us full of Scarlett O'Haras' grit and determination.  With Megs help we cleared the backlog of poo with the help of the Subaru. Moved the ponies to the Winter paddock and picked up all the fence posts from the 3-Acre.

Monday....I begged Mark The Mechanic to come and fix the Tractor. Which he did.  Meanwhile we untangled and reeled up all the self-tangling fence wire. Today was all calm.  Tractor working, ponies all on Winter grazing, temperatures back up to 8c, rugs off....Woohoo!!!

At the moment we don't have to give Hay.  Maybe only for this week, as we have lots of old grass and the horses are happy and full. BUT....this will not last. There is no goodness in the grass. Once the temperature drops below 5c it will not grow. Once there has been a frost, the goodness is gone from the grass. We are lucky that our ponies have gone into Winter fat. It won't hurt them to drop a bit of weight.  BUT if the grazing is poor, or the horses are old, or at the right weight, Hay MUST be given.  For a start the horse trickle feeds all the time. They need something decent in their guts at all times.  It keeps them warm, and it keeps the guts moving.  Without Hay a horse will get grumpy, drop weight and possibly get colic. Once an elderly pasture kept horse starts to drop weight in Winter, its a very fast slippery slope. Next thing you know, you will take a rug off and see ribs.  

This time of year it is vital to a) Feed plenty of Hay....There should be some left over, and b) Remove rugs daily for a visual check, and weigh tape once a week.

Happy Winter!! x

Warm ponies with lots of Hay.

The container stops it blowing around in the wind.

A Nice Sunset.