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December 2015 (No 78)
What an Autumn we’ve had! My door has been hooked open most of this term, and I have been able to watch all sorts of comings and goings. Our long serving pony, Holly, has been retired, to live with Sue in Polstead and enjoy eating and sleeping to her heart’s content. Two of our very recent additions to the herd were also moved on because they couldn’t really behave the way we expect RDA ponies to; they were nice looking little black chaps, like me, so I was sad to see them go.
Now we are getting ready for the end of term. Already Margaret has enlisted her cast for the nativity play in Shelley church. Only Squidgy and Camilla ever get to walk there by lantern light with our riders; the rest of us have to make do with a blessing from the Vicar up here at the Centre, but we love seeing the parents and carers being introduced to the whole team. I’ve always wondered why our guests hold plastic cups as they wander round the yard? We shall have a Christmas tree, and tinsel on our stable doors, and pretty lights under the eaves. I’m quite excited just writing about it. So when we close for the school holidays, and some of the herd go off to enjoy themselves with their other families, and some of us stay here and rest, you dear readers have a very happy Christmas, wherever you are.
November 2015 (No 77)
Talking of hair, a most amazing thing happened recently. Heather Barrie, a 13 year old pupil at East Bergholt High School, decided to raise money for us by having a sponsored hair cut! This is what she wrote to our Chairman: “I wanted to raise money for the RDA because you’re local and you’re a small charity I looked on Virgin Money Giving website and found that The Shelley Centre did have a registered charity page with them”. She says the rest was easy…. …….but I bet it took a lot of hard work and courage. Everyone here is very grateful for the money she raised and we always Bless the many kind people who help us to keep going. Our supporters were racing frogs last month, would you believe? I have heard that last year’s running costs were just over £73,000, a hair raising amount I think but you’ll not catch me having a mane and tail cut, not for all the apples in the bucket! (I don’t want to end up looking like Babs, do I?)
October 2015 (No 76)
Difficult to replace but we are now looking for another Thyme. A 14hh ride and drive pony with a good temperament, on permanent loan or to buy. If you know of such a pony we would really like to hear from you. Please contact Lyn, our Stable Manager at The Centre. Our new term is progressing well and we are delighted to see a few new faces in our team of volunteers. September saw a working party of 20 very keen volunteers from B.T. who came to lift ragwort, cut grass, hedges and tidy the garden, as well as some carpentry work. We are very grateful to them all for their enthusiasm and assistance, as well as for their donation of some tools for our future use. We are also grateful to all who took part in the Long Distance Sponsored Ride, to those of our helpers and supporter who spent the day stewarding the route, also to the local landowners who allowed us to cross some of their private property which made the route so enjoyable for the riders. Our next fundraising event is an evening of Frog Racing at Nayland Village Hall on 17th October. Fish n’ Chip supper. For details contact Di on 01473 658552. Sounds like fun so do come and join us.
September 2015 (No 75)
The Maintenance Team have been kept busy during the holidays – as they are in term time too – keeping the fields clean and ragwort free, clearing gutters, cutting grass and hedges, levelling the riding arena, mending and servicing equipment, tidying the garden beds etc. WOULD YOU like to be involved with this most valuable contribution to the running of The Shelley Centre? Although most of the present volunteers are men, women would be equally welcome. A couple of hours, during the week, when you are able, would help to share the jobs with those who are already involved. All tools would be provided and even a cup of tea when you need it! If you would like to help just give us a ring or Email and we can discuss which job would suit you best. We are hugely grateful to the present team of Rob, Colin, David M, David H, Martin, Alan, John, Jim and Graham as well as all those who chip in from time to time. Thank you for all you do. If you have a horse and would like a long distance ride through the beautiful countryside local to Shelley on Sunday 13th September Email maggierayner@hotmail.com and she will book you in. If you prefer an easier ride – what about a FROG RACE NIGHT (I don’t think you have to ride them!) at Nayland Village Hall on Saturday 17th October, 7 for 7.30pm. Bring your own drinks – Fish ‘n Chips supper. For Tickets apply to Diane Godfrey, with a s.a.e., Stable House, Tye Lane, Bramford Tye, Ipswich, IP8 4JZ. Tel: 01473 658552. It promises to be a fun evening so book early. We will have a few new riders starting this month so we hope that they enjoy their time with us and find the benefit that horse riding brings to those with disabilities.
August 2015 (No 74)
We are grateful to the Ipswich Lions Club who kindly presented a new cup for the Senior Turnout class this year. Awards were also given to riders who have made a special achievement in their riding progress through the year. Picture shows Katelynn riding Alfie with Liz, winners of Junior Turnout Class. Full details of the Show results are available on our Web Site under the Shelley News section. We were delighted to show a group of Hadleigh Brownies around the Stables when they came to find out about our work. Having been introduced to all the horses they hope to hold a fund raising event so that they can join our scheme to Sponsor a Pony. Incidentally this makes a very worthwhile birthday or Christmas gift, for a minimum donation of £25 your name will be displayed outside the stable door and you will receive a booklet about your chosen pony. Details are on the Web Site or contact to Di Godfrey at The Centre. A change of routine and different activities are a welcome break for our ponies during the summer holidays to keep them refreshed and fit, ready for our new term which starts on 7th September. For details and entry forms for the Long Distance Ride on 13th September contact maggierayner@hotmail.com
July 2015 (No73)
Great success in the Dressage Anywhere National Competition. In the Walk test Jackie came first, Benjamin fourth, David fifth and Jasmine 6th. In the Walk and Trot test Ruth came first and Sarah third. Very well done to all of them and their horses Rocky, Jet, Parys, and Thyme. All at The Shelley Centre are very proud of you. We have welcomed two new ponies into the herd and hope that they will settle in successfully so Holly is at last able to take her much publicised and well deserved retirement. Our major fund raising event of this year, a James Bond themed Ball at Le Talbooth Dedham, was thoroughly enjoyed by all who attended. We are hugely grateful to everyone who supported this event by sponsoring the costs, donating raffle and auction prizes and buying tickets. Particular thanks to Jan Derbyshire, our Chairman, and to the Fund Raising team who worked extremely hard to make it such an enjoyable and financial success. So they now take a deep breath and look towards the next event, the Long Distance Sponsored Ride on Sunday 13th September. The route is through beautiful bridle paths, lanes and in some places across private land (with the generous permission of the land owners) so do tell your riding friends and if you would like to take part contact Maggie Rayner by Email: maggierayner@hotmail.com Thank you to everyone for your support and interest in the work of The Shelley Centre.
June 2015 (No 72)
In fact May was a busy month for the Fund Raising team selling cakes and plants at the Hadleigh Show, the James Bond themed Ball at Le Talbooth – our major fund raising event of the year - and next the Stratford Hills Horse Trials on 20/21st June. If you are able to volunteer to help with car parking, stewarding or catering on either of these days, with free entry to the Horse Trials, we would love to hear from you. The Riders are now practicing hard for the Dressage and Countryside Challenge events at our in-house Shelley Show on 28th June. This is a very special occasion when the riders are able to show their friends, families and visitors their riding ability in competition with their fellow. The array of highly polished trophies is a great incentive for them to do their very best on the day in their chosen event. Awards will also be presented to riders who have been nominated by their Group Coach in recognition of the special achievement that they have made in their riding progress during the year. If you would like to attend the Show do give us a ring at The Centre so that we can arrange the catering accordingly. Refreshments will be available at 4pm with the Prize Giving.
May 2015 (No 71) The bluebells will be in full flower and scent so why not join us for a “Countryside Walk” in the beautiful Stour Valley, 5 or 10 miles through the footpaths and country lanes, starting (between 10-11am) and finishing at The Shelley Centre on Sunday 3rd May. £10 per adult (children under 16 free) with complementary tea & cakes on your return. You have time to apply for a registration/sponsorship form by contacting robsouthgate58@btintertnet.com or ring The Centre. We often seem to be asking for your support for our fundraising efforts but sadly our expenses never seem to diminish. We have just paid our annual Insurance premium of over £4000 and the cost of hay, feed, Vet, Farrier and general running expenses all add up to around £65,000 a year. We will be at the Hadleigh Show on 16th May selling cakes and plants, so do call in and see us there. We have more congratulations to report this month. Debs Bennett has become a Group Riding Coach and we welcome her into our present team of 12 Coaches who instruct the weekly rides Mondays to Fridays. Seven of our Riders entered the Dressage Anywhere Competition last month and have all qualified to take part in the National Finals, so we will be video recording their Test again this month to submit to the Judges and await the results with great excitement. We also congratulate Eunice and our Carriage Driving team who have ensured that Bob has been suitably trained and experienced to enable him to pass his assessment to join the team as a carriage driving horse. Our summer term is always busy and the warmer weather should allow some of our rides to be out around the fields and beside the river – such a joy for those who are unable to walk on uneven ground to experience the sights and smells of the countryside with the help of four strong legs beneath them. Details of all our activities are available on our Web site. As usual, if you would like to join our team as a volunteer helper, either with the rides or with maintenance jobs, do please get in touch.
April 2015 (No 70) Congratulations to Shannon Smith for achieving her RDA Bronze Certificate for Horse Care. With the help of her favourite horse Jet she was able to show Sue Diggins, the Regional Examiner, all she has learnt about the care and welfare of the horse, the tack, stable and feeds. Together with research that she did at home she produced a comprehensive folder of information to support her practical knowledge. Well done Shannon. Shannon has been riding for several years now but each term we welcome new faces both riders and helpers, and it is a joy to see how much they enjoy coming and the benefit they derive from being part of the The Centre life. Sarah has rejoined the team of helpers after a six month break and would like to share some of her thoughts. “Even though I’ve again joined the Centre in the coldest time of the year, it’s great fun and very rewarding. Having previously enjoyed helping on Wednesdays the only difference I have noticed is that I think on Mondays we get more than our share of grooming to do, as some of the ponies seem to build up an extra layer of mud over the weekend! Getting to know the different characters of all the ponies is still part of the fun and with every rider you can see how using the horse as their physiotherapist helps them to relax. This week I had the joy of seeing a young disabled girl have her first ride on a real pony – it was wonderful to see how brave she was getting on the horse – and to see the trust she put in the helpers who reassured her that she could indeed ride a real horse. Once the lesson started I soon forgot that she was a new rider, as she joined in all the exercises with the other more experienced riders, and when she dismounted I saw a lovely big smile on her face and her wonder at what she had just achieved. As a regular pony leader I’m continually trying to improve my horsemanship, but my personal blind spot seems to be tying up. So much to the amusement of my husband, I’ve been secretly practising at home with my dressing gown cords. At the half term training session one of the reasons given for enjoying being a Riding for the Disabled volunteer was getting your “horse fix”. As someone who lives in the middle of a town with a small garden with high walls, I think time spent outdoors at Shelley also gives me my essential fix of the beautiful Suffolk sky – sometimes with the added bonus of catching sight of the buzzards soaring high up over our heads. When I met a volunteer from one of the other RDA centres she asked where I helped and when I replied Shelley she said “Oh lucky you – that’s the best one” – I know I’m biased, but I think she might be right.” Sarah Rixon. We are looking forward to the start of our summer term on 13th April – hopefully with less mud for Sarah to brush off. If you would like to join us please get in touch. Don’t forget the Countryside Walk on 3rd May – start and finish at The Center. Details from robsouthgate58@btinternet.com
March 2015 (No 69)
February 2015 (No 68) February – fill the dyke. Let’s hope that there is not too much rain to inhibit our riding lessons this month. There will however be a couple of indoor events to keep our brains occupied. The first, during the half term holiday, is a Volunteer Management Workshop for all Group Members who would like to be informed and enthused by a specialist from our RDA ‘parent body’. All our helpers have the opportunity to increase their knowledge and expertise by attending either In-House or County Training Days during each year, which are generally found to be most beneficial. The second is the ever popular Quiz Night at Polstead Village Hall on 28th February. They say that fish is good for the brain so a Fish & Chip supper is included in the evening. If you would like to come, give us a ring. Whilst on the subject of fund raising, if you are making marmalade at this time of year and are able to put a couple of jars aside for us to sell on our stall at the Hadleigh Show in May, we would be most grateful.
January 2015 (No 67) We thought you would like to read this comment from the parents of Harry who started riding at Shelley recently. “Harry who is 4 has global developmental delay, which affects everything from walking to talking. Harry started at the Shelley RDA Centre in April 2014 riding a beautiful Shetland pony called Camilla. Each session entails a variety of exercises designed to work on individual areas affecting physical and cognitive development and since joining the Centre Harry has improved in all areas from sitting up nice and straight to achieving improved strength around his core. Harry has now started a dual placement at a local mainstream primary school along with Thomas Wolsey School and is fully supported and encouraged to keep up with his riding as it fits nicely within the wider curriculum. He thoroughly enjoys each session, from combing Camilla’s hair and giving her a gentle pat to befriending all the lovely volunteers who work so tirelessly and professionally at the Shelley Centre. We look forward to a long and rewarding time ahead.” Good wishes to all our readers for a very Happy and Healthy New Year from us all at The Shelley Centre for Therapeutic Riding.
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supporting charity without charge . |
We have welcomed two new members to the herd, and I’ve been watching them learn the ropes. Alfie is a ‘flea bitten’ grey Connemara fellow who is shaping up well. April is a bay New Forest pony, the perfect size for our 9-12 year old riders. Typical girl, she really likes her leaders to chat her up in the arena. I think Alfie fancies her: he is always looking her way. Both these ponies are hoping to be sponsored, like their stable mates are, so if a kind reader would like to support them in their new work please talk to their Auntie Di on 01473 658 552 to discuss a sponsorship contribution. (Makes a nice Christmas present hint hint.)
At half term we had to say goodbye to a very special volunteer, Hazel Ormsby. Well she was special to me because she helped my riders in my room every Friday, standing up on the plinth there beside me. With her encouragement some of my riders achieved enough core strength to graduate onto live ponies, so that now I only see them on really wet days. (I can’t mind about that, it’s partly what I’m here for.) Hazel drove here from Bury St Edmunds every Friday and helped with grooming, side walking, teaching and leading. She has helped at RDA centres for thirty years or so, and The Shelley Centre was fortunate to have enjoyed her expertise for the last four of those. Now she feels the drive over here in the winter is just too much (for an octogenarian!) See her leading Camilla in the photo, with a very happy Alexander getting his physiotherapy on Camilla’s comfy padded back.
Ebony
We may have survived the ghosts and ghoullies of Halloween, but I have been watching the ponies and horses spooking at one particular corner of the arena! You would think they should all be used to branches waving and pheasants chattering by now, but there are some (I won’t mention names) who still feel anxious about this corner, and pass their fears onto their friends in the herd. I have a little friend in my ‘room’ too, she is called Babs but neither of us is at all silly about spooks. So long as we are serviced regularly and there are no power cuts we are the steadiest of mounts. Babs has been here much longer than me and she has a very loyal bunch of riders. Poor old girl, she is no looker, like I am. I have a fine figure and gorgeous tack, and you should just see my mane and tail! They are black like me, made of real horse hair.
that relies on donations and volunteers, and you help loads of people with disabilities through riding. I love riding and compete on my own pony Lolly, and the problem with having very long hair is that I have to wear a hair net when I am doing showing classes. So I decided to have it cut.
For the last three years whilst on loan to The Shelley Centre Thyme has proved himself to be a very versatile and willing pony, much loved by those special riders at Shelley for whom he provided valuable therapy and also became a great friend. He took readily to the new skill of carriage driving which he greatly enjoyed, and with his owner Lucy he has kept himself extremely fit doing Pony Club events, show jumping, cross country and endurance riding, as well as his ‘day job’ with the disabled children and adults at Shelley. So we will miss him as he has now moved on to a new home, but thank him and his owners for his time with us at Shelley and hope he enjoys the next stage in his life.
Our Autumn term starts on September 7th and we look forward to seeing all our friends again. The ponies have enjoyed a change of scene and different activities over the holidays, so will be refreshed and ready to provide the therapy which is of such benefit to all their riders.
A very happy day was enjoyed by everyone who came to the Shelley Show at the end of June. 26 riders competed in the Dressage and Countryside Challenge Classes and were able to show their expertise to families and friends. They, and the horses and ponies, looked very smart and the smiles on the faces of both riders and spectators when the rosettes and trophies were presented made it a hugely rewarding experience for all the Shelley helpers.
July already – how time flies when you are having fun – our busy Summer Term is almost at an end and holidays approach, but as I write this we still have several special events in June to look forward to, particularly our Shelley Show and the AGM at The Centre on July 7th. If you would like to come to the AGM please let us know so that we provide enough food for the BBQ which follows.
Sunshine and Showers – May seemed to have started with more of the latter, certainly the Countryside Walk had a very wet beginning. However this did not daunt the intrepid 38 enthusiasts who were rewarded by a delightful route, not to mention tea and cakes at the finish. Very grateful thanks to you all, and your sponsors, for helping to raise around £1000 for The Shelley Centre.
Another promising rider, introduced by Anne her Instructor. 