Pampered Pony: Pony Care & Horse Riding

We will give our safety talk, how to be around animals. We will then meet the ponies, after this the group is split in to 2. The first group is fitted with a riding hat and high vis (if road work is to take place) then mount the ponies and set off for a lead rein ride. One leader per child. Meanwhile the second group brush, groom & decorate other ponies, whilst learning basic horse care. After this, they will be taught poo picking, mucking out stables, refilling hay nets and water troughs then the 2 groups swap over. Once both groups have completed the above, we stop for a snack break, then we set up a feeding station, whereby the children make a meal for the ponies, whilst doing this we discuss nutrition and its importance to both animals and humans, after feeding the ponies their well earned meal, we then have fun with on/off pony games in the paddock. We also host a quiz based on all the facts they have learned throughout the day. Finally we then share a meal together and then its home time.

During the day all children get involved with:
- Basic horse care, such as poo picking, mucking out stables, filling hay nets and water troughs, learn horse tack and what it is used for.
- Brush, groom & decorate the ponies with bows, clips etc
- Have a lead rein ride on the ponies.
- Make the ponies meal, chatting about nutrition and its importance.
- Make a pony from air dry clay to take home

Then its time for the fun on/off pony games in the paddock:
- A hosted quiz for the children, based on all the facts we've learned that day
- Share a meal together - during Easter & Summer we offer a nutritional packed lunch, freshly prepared at our local farm shop

We suggest warm/waterproof clothing, and enclosed shoes are mandatory. If the weather is particularly cold we suggest woolly hats and gloves, however if it is hot, we suggest a sun hat and sun cream. Please do not wear 'best' clothing, as the children will get dirty whilst with us.