Day 1, Tuesday 4th May 2010 |
| Posted by School Website Administrator (siteadmin) on Jun 08 2010 at 8:56 AM |
It was a wonderfully sunny morning when we arrived at Hyde Farm for the beginning of three days of riding (and other!) activities organised for us by the Corse Lawn Riding for the Disabled Association.
First of all, each child was introduced to their mount for the day - most of whom they already knew from their weekly riding sessions. Tom was a little anxious about his pony, Finbar, as this was the first time they had met, but he still accompanied him into the stable area for grooming and tacking up and started to get to know him from afar.
James hoof cleaning Finlay currying her pony
Ethan combing China's mane Louise tacking up
When the ponies were ready, it was time to lead them out into the yard, use the mounting block to get astride and then make last minute adjustments before riding out:
Louise sitting pretty! Thomas bravely mounted and having his stirrups adjusted
China's girth being tightened! Finlay and James riding out 
A pause for photos, watched by some sheep, and then off again through beautiful countryside to Mrs Jolly's house for some refreshments:
James found dismounting was tricky, but his good humour never wavered!
Tom was thirsty! Ethan enjoys a biscuit and Finlay joins Tom in taking a look around.
After a bit more socialising, it's time to remount - with a change of pony for Tom! Ethan was happy to ride Finbar, reuniting Tom with China.
After thanking Mrs Jolly for her kind hospitality we headed back to Hyde Farm where we helped untack the ponies before taking our picnic lunch to the little park nearby.
The day's activities were not yet over though - next up was a visit to Eastnor Pottery and a chance to make and glaze a coil pot with Sarah Monk. The pottery itself was a fascinating place, with all sorts of clay creatures inhabiting the garden - including a Dalek - and more strange beings on the shelves inside!
The planned activity was to make a decorative pot - and we were shown how to do this quickly with the aid of a flowerpot mould and everyone got down to work:
James decided on an individual approach, having been inspired by what he had seen in the garden!
The other children were equally creative with using the tools to good effect, marking and applying decoration to their pots and then glazing them:
All in all it was a wonderful first day!