What an incredible half-term it has been! It was wonderful to see the yard buzzing with activity after a period of cancellations due to poor entries and bad weather. We had over 180 entries for our Show Jump competition where our young riders bravely battled it out in the indoor school, starting with poles on the ground and moving on to jump courses featuring a variety of doglegs.

Watching the Bicton Qualifier 2025 was a heartwarming experience for me, especially seeing the little ones—some as young as four—navigating Sarah Whittington’s 40cm, 50cm, and 60cm courses on their cheeky ponies. For many, it was their very first event, and their enthusiasm was truly infectious!

On Thursday, we celebrated with a Halloween Fun Day packed with activities for our Centre members. The day included practical pony care, preparing for the show jumping, and a range of Halloween-themed games. For those who don’t have their own ponies, we organized an in-house competition to give our weekly riders a taste of competition abd they embraced the challenge, with fantastic support from coach Lisa Bonfield.

We also conducted a Ride Safety Badge on Friday, where coaches Sam Lewis and Lisa Bonfield tested the kids’ knowledge of the Highway Code and emphasized the importance of safety while hacking out.

Additionally, our ponies enjoyed a full pampering session, making sure they felt just as special as our young riders.

Thank you to everyone who participated and made this half-term a memorable one!

We can’t wait for the next adventures ahead!