Hi Avril,

We went out for our first hack on Saturday, a lengthy one at that 2hrs!! I must say whay a fantastic boy he was. These past 2 weeks have been the busiest ever due to harvest, what with Huge combines & many noisy very large tractors with bouncy trailers following behind any other horse would have bolted for sure. Purdy took it all in his stride, he was a little on his toes, which had it been any other horse I would have got off. But Purdy was mesmerized by all that was going on. Then the claxon bell went off in the grain store to tell the workers the grain was dry & it sounded like something from world war 1, Purdy just ignored it!! We had a little shuffle past the huge rolls of wheat in the fields, but after seeing them & then biting one, we werent scared of them either.

What a pleasure it was to ride him again on Sunday. Same confidence, growing in both of us that we quite happily ambled along like old friends. Him & Indie are getting like a house on fire (except meal times, where Purdy is a little Bully) so I just seperate them to avoid the conflict. However, I have started playing with him on the ground & what a quick learner he is. Super quick when the goodie bag makes a show! Look at my fancy trot mummy!!!

I feel my confidence flooding back in droves thanks to your hard work with him. It was commented on that I had a sparkle about myself this weekend & it was all down to having pure fun with my four legged friend.

Thanks Again,

Kim

YOUR APPROACH TO RIDING IS INSPIRATIONAL. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK- YOU ARE TURNING INTO A BIT OF A GURU!

I think that it is about time that riding schools woke up to the fact that there are a lot of us who have come to riding at a later age and who are only able to put aside our fears when we 'click' with a horse AND that we are not prepared to be brutal in our relationships with them.

(Whilst a whip is a useful aid I am not prepared to respond when an instructor tells me to 'keep booting' a horse!)

Nicola

We had a brilliant lesson and Debbie was very impressed with how she is progressing which is great being as most of my schooling is done while hacking.

The Quantocks were beautiful but we've had a very eventful time. Poor Chatty. The traffic on Saturday was appalling, we literally sat on the M25 for four hours. My friend had a tyre blow out on her lorry and then it wouldn't start! I loaded Chatty at 9.45am and we arrived at the event at 8pm!

I was so worried about her but blow me, she walked down the ramp and into the corral as if nothing was wrong. Normally she doesn't eat while travelling but she had gone through two haynets between scheduled stops and traffic jams which was a good thing. I was exhausted. She ate her tea and I presented her to the vet (as the competition was a championship qualifier) and somehow her heart rate was 36 bpm and she was relaxed and supple.

Luckily we weren't starting the POR (orienteering section) until late morning the next day so we could relax a bit after the awful day before. The countryside and the scenery and the hills were awe inspiring. We met loads of sheep, wild ponies which Chatty thought were lovely, particularly as they had a few foals with them, which followed us for a while and had to ride through fields with very inquisitive cows but she was very steady and sensible. We paddled in rivers and at one time I thought she would roll as she was splashing so hard and even walked up river beds. It was a wonderful route.

Jane and I had gone just for fun but halfway round the route we realised that there were a lot of very lost and confused people and it dawned on us we were doing quite well. From then on we really concentrated and were delighted that evening to find we were in first place - by loads. Chatty loves it. She is already beginning to understand what is needed and for the majority of the ride I had my relaxed reins in one hand, my map in the other and was walking, trotting and cantering at will, depending on the ground underfoot, she didn't get strong and came back to me on voice command. Her ears are forward unless listening to me or if she hears someone riding up behind us.

Then, unfortunately, the next morning I was grooming Chatty ready for the next vetting and discovered a lump in her girth area which she was tender on. She was sound at the vetting and her bpm was still only 36 but the vet confirmed that although not a girth gall, she was tender and should not compete further. We had to withdraw and so we travelled home yesterday, although happily it took us the five hours it should take.

The vet advised bathing her girth area with salt water to toughen up her skin a bit and said it is very common with horses that go long distances. She said not to ride her for a week to let it settle and use a sheepskin girth or girth sleeve to protect her so it will be lunging and groundwork for a week.

Happily we have come home with our first red rosette for the orienteering section and have made our mark for future competitions.

Chatty was extremely relaxed this weekend, no calling out at all and no getting clingy to other horses. Everyone loves her and says how pretty she is. She gets lots of attention and cuddles from everyone.

Lisa

My first visit to MSC, apart from being able to meet some of the horses, was a wonderful way of gaining an insight into the training that the horses undergo. Avril took me out for a hack with her on Connelly and me on Puzzle. Even just going down the drive, Avril took Connelly up and down a very steep bank which he undertook very calmly.

After going up a short bridleway we emerged onto a single-track road where both horses were very co-operative in moving into lay-bys to let cars go past. We came to a partly made-up road with ditches on both sides and Avril took the opportunity to further Connelly's education by gently encouraging him to go over them. I found it hard to believe that he had only seen them for the first time the day before as he calmly cantered over them. Meanwhile Puzzle, although interested, was more than happy to stand and wait patiently.

As we left the drive we had to go over some white plastic tape on the ground and past some cones with flapping, orange tape. Connelly was a little concerned because he thought he might get an electric shock, but Avril allowed him to look at it and then asked him to stand next to the cones, all in a relaxed way so that his slight worry was soon overcome. Puzzle didn't take any notice of either of these monsters!

Our ride continued; through gates, past a pony in a field who came running over to have a look, past sheep and through an open field. In all these situations the horses behaved impeccably. On the last track we went past some cows and Avril made the most of it by asking Connelly to go up to one of the cows standing next to the fence. I can guarantee that Connelly is in no way bothered by cows, at least if touching noses with one is a guarantee! As we turned up the drive back to the yard Avril asked Connelly to stand and wait. He was a little fidgety but Avril just kept gently asking until she got the stillness she wanted and then we walked quietly back to the yard.

I hope to be in touch again soon,

Best wishes, Lesley.

Avril

Well we've done it, our first competition that is. Took Chatty to Petersfield near Portsmouth this weekend. She coralled no problem and really enjoyed herself. We competed as a pair and she acted as nanny to the other horse which was a 4 year old. I didn't attempt the controlled canter and opted to trot but she did a very creditable fast walk.

On the x country/obstacle phase we went under the simulated low branches, jumped a log and a ditch and rode up and down steps. She is going to really love it and is definitely going to enjoy jumping across country. She was very enthusiastic in a very well behaved way. Everyone agreed she is going to make a fantastic trec horse.

Was most chuffed to find we had finished 9th out of 20 pairs competing. We actually came first in the orienteering which shows how obliging Chatty was with standing still when checking the map and going at whatever pace I asked for.

As I said before, we got zero for our slow canter as we trotted. I just wanted to give her the experience of going through the flags and down the narrow strip marked on the ground but we got 14 out of 30 for our fast walk on the way back which is brilliant for a first effort. Quite often riders get zero for this as it is difficult to get the horses to march on without breaking pace.

Lastly we got 48 out of 160 for the PTV/Obstacles. We need to do some work on the S Bend and reinback etc and I did walk, rather than trot or canter these sections, again, to give her confidence. We got 30 time penalties and I missed out a scarey jump as we have only jumped a couple of logs and the water crossing which I had walked through with my wellies on and decided as it was very sucky mud, I didn't want to risk her shoes coming off.

I am so pleased with her. She was such a good girl. By the next competition at the end of May I will have taken her on a sponsored ride with small jumps along the way so she will be more confident in herself.

The attached photos are Chatty in her coral. The last one is after the event, letting her chill. As you can see she looks no worse for wear and very relaxed.

See you have lots of horses in training. Must be great to be able to get on now that the weather is beginning to cheer up.

Regards

Lisa

Ohhhhhhh Avril she is simply wonderful there are no words to express how wonderful she is.

Eds and i went on our first hack out on our own yesterday with her. I have had several hacks out but as lessons and it really is something taking your horse out for the first time. She was magnificent so calm and responsive I could not have wished for anything more.

She already has several experienced riders who have her weekly as they like her SO much they also say what a honest horse she just wants to please.
I have had a couple of lessons in lunging her which was really exciting and she appears to have become very responsive to my voice and I think she knows me which is a marvellous feeling Avril.

I will send some photo's soon she is getting more white spots on her bottom with the sunny weather coming.

Anyway I hope the weather has been good for you guys and that it is all dry up there now!!!!!!

I will keep in touch Avril Love to you both
Mary & Eds xx

Hi Avril,,

Maddie is doing wonderfully, she is just great. We've been hacking out for the past week and she is giving me more and more confidence in her as she takes everything in her stride and is so responsive to voice and aids.

She has been beautifully trained and I'm very grateful to you. She was a little 'spooky' in the first days, when we were handicapped by high winds, but has got better and better as we've gone on.

very best wishes,

wendy

Honor had a baptism of fire on her first morning. An adventurous cow decided to join her and Kai. It ran at the horses, and hurled itself at the fence trying to get back out. I finally diverted it to the garden where it smashed a wooden fence and ploughted up the lawn before leaving. Honor merely gave the cow a withering look which clearly said she was less than impressed!

When we let the her out with Kai on the first morning, they walked round the field for an hour, then they turned to face each other head on. Slowly and deliberately they rubbed foreheads together. Maybe you see this everyday, but I've never seen anything quite like it.

The first time we took them round the village, we met a huge skip lorry, a bus, and many more similar things, none of which caused her any concern. I see Honor as a stoic little being who just cracks on, and keeps her innermost feelings to herself.

Unbelievably the Hunt turned up at the weekend, and Honor just gave them anotherr one of her withering looks. We went a bit further on Sunday, and her trot is a wonderful thing, and Kai had to pick up her feet or risk getting left behind.

I would like to say thank you for having such trust to send us Honor unseen. We will give her the best life we can, and I think if she could talk ( I suspect it's only a matter of time now), she would tell you she is happy. She grows more relaxed by the hour now she's getting into our routine, and in all honesty no one could afford her now.

Kindest Regards,

Marguerite

Not a good riding winter is it ? Honor has blossomed...as her confidence has increased so her need to lead on the road has decreased. This is good ! Ray can't hear a word I say if I lead.

Just being curious, do you know anything about Honor's previous life? I'm convinced Honor & myself were destined to meet....we are totally compatible ! Here's to spring,
Regards, Margeurite

Hi Avril

I haven’t given you an update for ages on Thomas, so here goes!

We absolutely adore him! I cannot wait to go and see him at all times of the day (and it has been known that we do go down sometimes at 10 in the eve to check!).

His character is coming out a lot, he helps with the poo picking by pushing over the wheelbarrow especially when full! He nicks anything he can, keys, mobile phones etc! He’s a bit of flirt with a mare called Luna and prances around the field looking like a stallion!!!!

We think he has grown, infact I must get him measured as he is the same height as the mare who is 15hh. He looks wonderful at the moment, a big fluffball, so will give him a clip soon, just down his underneck area.

The girls have lessons on him everyweek, they are loving riding him on the lunge doing exercises riding without reins and stirrups etc. He is such a good boy, you have trained him so well. Their teacher teaches at Merrist Wood and would love to buy Thomas as he would be perfect for teaching the pupils there, but over our dead bodies!!!! He’s staying put forever!!

He’s scuh a good boy on hacks, is very calm with the girls, but gees up a bit for me! I think I have a hot seat! He doesn’t like bangs and fireworks and shoots off like a rocket but is not silly about them, and calms down quickly! We love him so much and cannot thank you enough for the amount of work and training you put into him. He has been perfect for us, and will continue to be so for a very long time! (although my eldest daughter is nearly taller than me!!!!!)

How are things with you? Have you moved?

Kind regards

Miranda

Dear Avril

I wanted to write to you personally to thank you so much for all the time you spent away from your busy shedule to spend time with my daughter and I.. Unfortunately due to the postal strikes I thought it was safer to email! So apologies.

As you know, I was very worried about finding a pony for my eleven year daughter Lottie as we had had two very unfortunate experiences in buying from the usual route of adverts in magazines..

I have to express my grateful thanks to you in restoring my faith in process.. having met you, Annie and your beautiful horses I have no hesitation being patient and waiting for you to find the right pony for her.. I am no longer going to look elsewhere... What hits you first, straight away is the calm on your yard even though there are quite a few horses in your care.. Every horse was relaxed and content and I have never seen such healthy looking coats..

Your knowledge and commitment to these horses and your training methods is a credit to you and quite clearly works as I saw for myself your new arrivals as well as your horses that were in the middle and at the end of their training.. Bertie whom my daughter rode so you could assess her ability and style was a real gem.. What a horse to not take advantage of a very slight young girl.. as you know she fell in love with him and was quite sad when you very honestly expressed your opinion that although he was a gentleman in all respects he was too big for her to have as her own .. dare I suggest unlike many horse trainers I have come across your honesty in finding the right horse for the right person is quite clearly paramount in your mind and not the sale.. in fact actually it is clear you are only prepared to part with your horses to the right person which is how it should be after all the work and love you have put into them..

Thank you so much again and Lottie and I look forward to coming down again when you feel you have something more suitable for Lottie. It has inspired me to get fit and get my riding boots back on! It was well worth the five hour journey to come to you and I wont begrudge doing the drive many times to see you in future.


Kindest Regards
Emma Tomkinson

I suspect that the key to any successful partnership is mutual respect....it's certainly the cornerstone of my relationship with Kai( Imala). She hasn't put a hoof wrong since she joined our family and I wouldn't trade her for the world to coin a phrase. Kai is like a seaside donkey with my young grandchildren but can move effortlessly up the gears when required...she is a sheer joy to ride. To know that this beautiful creature trusts me is humbling and I am permanently grateful that we stumbled across your web site.

Truly you should feel very proud that you and your horses have had such a postive influence on so many lives,to know that by your efforts you have made a difference.

Marguerite

I am well aware of the demands on your time but just to say, however, that I think you are absolutely marvellous and I just wish that all those selling horses were as conscientious and caring as you are. I look at your website for the sheer pleasure of seeing a job well done and horses who, thanks to your scrupulous preparation, are unlikely to find themselves on the scrapheap or "sold from the field" in years to come.

Yours sincerely, Dawn Perkins

Hi Avril

I am also very pleased that JJ and I found each other. He is very well and settled in like he had always been with me. I am having lots of fun with him, we are hacking out three or four times a week and I have a weekly lesson. Poor JJ I also ride him every weekday before work, so through the summer he has been working twice a day sometimes. I do always make sure he has a least one day a week where he is not working. We are getting out and about in the horse box and enjoying some lovely rides followed by a picnic. A perfect way to spend a day.

We are also doing some low level competing in walk trot dressage competitions. JJ is a bit worried about the white boards at the moment so we will just keeping going with no expectations until he settles down and excepts them.

Thank you for JJ he is my perfect horse and I can’t quite believe we are doing so much together.

Regards

Liz Slocombe

Firstly, please let me thank you for allowing me to purchase Royce three weeks ago.

He is the most loving horse I have ever met, he is so calm and respectful around my children ( my toddler insists on walking under neath him), around our dogs and other ponies. He adores my husband whom was terrified of horses but now thinks he is the horse whisperer.

Riding him is the the most joyous experience, he is mellow and so well behaved. His manners and schooling are impeccable. I can on my voice alone command him through his paces and I trust him completely.

My husband says that had he know having a horse would make me this happy he would have bought me one years ago. Your self and your team do a wonderful job and I am reaping the benefits. Do you train children as well? if so can I sign my three up please.

Thanks again for Royce he is the most beautiful horse in nature I have ever met. I am so full of happiness when I ride him its great, I forgot horses like him existed. I have never met a horse that will just have a cuddle for as long as he does

Best wishes Joanna and Royce

We adore Thomas! He is absolutely wonderful! He looks so well and has a nice rounded bottom now, and shines so beautifully! He is so kind and gentle with the girls, out hacking he is so safe and can cope with my weight!!!!

We are out on him everyday, be it a 10 min bomb around the paddock or a 1.5 hour hack. The girls are now safely cantering around the fields with big smiles on their face. He has such a lovely light mouth so they ride him very quietly which is lovely to see, no arms or legs flapping!

He is quite a character and nicks my keys all the time and takes off with them! He is lovely in the field and plays follow-my-leader and knocks out of the contents of the wheelbarrow when poo –picking! He’s everything you said he was and more, and we love him.

I hope all your plans go well, and look forward to hearing that you have settled into your new centre, which we will definitely come and see! Hope it is not too stressful for you. Will send you some pictures! Miranda

Nancy is a star and a real sweetie. I have been hacking on my own and with company. I have also had lessons with Petros in the school. He has been riding her as well. He calls her a Rolls Royce of a horse!

Hope your plans are going well for the Centre,

Best Wishes,

Angela

You'll laugh, Shane my partner is very taken with Phoebe, and wanted to catch her for me. He came walking down the field looking very pleased with himself. I said well done but I'm sure she'd be much more comfortable if both her ears were the same side of the top of her headcollar!

I think we're both going to get along fine. I'll keep in touch and let you know how we are getting along. Just had to let you know, I've had a look at utube and I think I'm going to have the best horse in the world.

In addition, what a lovely lot of horses you have, I don't think anyone should look any further than you to get that special horse.
Deena

Hello Avril,

I see you and Annie are busy with a string of beautiful- looking and sounding horses - just marvellous and just what most people need of course. I hope you advertise up here - you really should - there's such a need for women like myself.

Dorothy

Hi Avril
Just to let you know Kate and Suki are still doing very well, Suki is now jumping small jumps well and is trying a few larger jumps now. You have gone along way to restoring Kate's confidence. She said that she has never felt so happy on a horse. She is very relaxed and happy out on hacks, and is a pleasure to own. She is a favourite in the neighbourhood, and likes to watch the goings on around her paddock. She is living with Martha's pony Roxy but is absolutely fine leaving her, even with Roxy calling after her.
Best wishes
Jo

Really enjoying having Lilly here with us. She’s a very nice girl, very good manners, kind disposition and a very nice ride too. Lily is looking very well and has settled in beautifully. Everyone loves her and she is such a kind, gentle soul. We are going to start schooling lessons together next week – watch this space!!!

Lily sends her love and I must tell you that one of my greyhounds has fallen in love with her, to the point, that she has to come out with me when I do anything with her. I’ve now trained her to walk alongside when we go out for a hack and she is in heaven!!

Kind regards

Linda.