W3J6PM Linton, Kelso, Scottish Borders, UK. 10th July 2019. The Duke of Buccleuch Pony Club hold their annual week long camp near Kelso in the Borders. The c
With children about to head back at school after the summer, some horsey parents may be experiencing a cold, sinking feeling in the pit of their stomachs, while others may be looking forward to the change. Here’s a few reasons why….
1. It’s up to you to exercise their pony
Once you’ve done the school run, you’ll be donning your hat and boots to hack out McFluffy three times a week before you know it. And it’s probably a good idea to invest in some waterproof trousers. You know what the British weather’s like…
2. And deal with the muck too
You might have had a breather over the summer from the endless mucking out, but the start of a new term means it’s time to get stuck back in. Whether mucking out stables or poo-picking the field (or both), these mundane tasks can be good thinking time – anyone else have their best ideas while pushing a wheelbarrow around, or is that just me?
3. There aren’t enough hours in the day
If you have a family, job and horses, then you are bound to be an expert in time management – what do people say? When you need something done quickly, ask a busy person to do it. Yep, that’s because we know how to pack many, many more jobs into 24hrs than the average human can manage. Just don’t get in our way!
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4. The school run and the horse run clash
This one is tricky. Which comes first? Getting your offspring clothed, fed and dropped off at school, or feeding and turning out their horse? If you’ve managed to locate your home, stables and school in such a way that you can make a quick detour to feed and turnout their horse on the way to or from school, then we salute you!
5. The lorry just sits there, looking forlorn
It was fun, whizzing around going to clinics and shows over the holidays. But now it’s unlikely the lorry will get an outing until half term – and . it’ll probably refuse to start the next time you want to go somewhere.
6. You’ve got a whole lot of stuff to clean…
There was nothing better than watching your child fly around Pony Club camp with a grin across their face — and then trying to fit in as many outings as possible before school beckoned. Less fun is the pile of filthy kit you’ve been left to clean, but at least there is some peace and quiet as you get stuck in.
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Carol is an experienced journalist and editor, who is also a passionate amateur rider and dedicated horse owner, having ridden since childhood. She has a particular interest in the emotional well-being and ethical training of horses, alongside veterinary matters, having garnered extensive first-hand experience of numerous equine health conditions through more than 30 years of horse ownership.
