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This page is for news and information
from the members of the student/trainee yard . The team felt they would like to
contribute to the web site, so they will be writing articles, stories and
sharing their working lives and experiences with you. The yard members include
Assistant Manager Adele, Sarah, Katy, Andrew and Kate. The students who are
training at the centre also wanted to contribute to the
site. |
Hello, We are the new employed staff of MPEC, Melanie,
Lindsey and Lisa. We work 8 while 5 Monday to Friday.
Our job includes the
general care of the horse. This consists of mucking out, strapping, tack
cleaning and assisting with the RDA. so far we are enjoying working here and
our knowledge has improved a great deal - here are individual
stories |
Hello, my name is Lisa and I am currently doing a
"Flagship" training course. I've had an interest in horses since I was 8 and
always knew this was the career I wanted to have. I found about the course
through my careers teacher at school, who advised me to write to the centre. I
followed on from there. I have had my own pony on loan for two years, this has
helped me understand horses a lot and I am gradually improving. I thoroughly
enjoy my work at the centre and even though the day has a structured time
table, every day is different but lots of fun - Lisa
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Hi, my name is Lindsey and I'm a
trainee here for the next 3 years. I was 9 when I got a 14.2hh bay mare called
Katie. I had her for 6 years and I could do anything with her. I eventually
grew out of her. When it came to selling Katie, MPEC had a 16.2hh chestnut
gelding called Hamish so I did a swap with them. Hamish is going well I have
been out showing and to cross country. I get the best of both horses as I see
Katie here at the centre and Hamish at home. I have been here for 3 months and
I have to school Corrie, he is a cheeky chap with all the kiddies who ride him
but they love him - Lindsey
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Hi, I'm one of the new trainees, which started this year. I'm
on a 3 year training program. I first became interested in horses when I was 5
years old (young isn't it!) I got my first pony at 9 years old and was thrilled
about it (who wouldn't?) She was a little grey, around 14hh, a bit
temperamental. My biggest experience of owning that pony was being thrown off,
regularly!!! In the end I became too tall to ride her,
I first found out
about MPEC when I became a volunteer on weekend. I had just turned 15, and
really wanted to get back into horses and working with them. I rode weekends,
Saturdays, for about half a year until I got offered a job, due to all the
staff putting in a good word (ha ha), What can I say, I'm good! (only
joking)
Once I became employed I mainly worked on the student yard, and I
became really attached to Frankie. If I had any spare time, I'd go and cuddle
him, I was always getting told off for snogging him. I will look forward to
working here for the next few years, if not for me, then for the horses -
Melanie
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Hi, we are the new NVQ 2's, back again for another year.
This is going to be a harder year but I'm sure we'll all stick at it. At least
it's not as nerve racking as before as we already know the in's and out's of
the place. We've only been back a day and already learning new things.
Last
year was NVQ 1 year, most people assumed that level 1 was easy and anyone could
do it, but our riding improved so much that even my family (who know nothing
about riding) said I looked better.
In one year we learnt how to improve our
care and safety skills and also made loads of new friends.
We are all
looking forward to this year as we will be learning a lot of new things such as
clipping, lunging, jumping courses and getting more in depth with our riding.
We can't wait!!
TTFM - Tony, Becky and Faye |
GOOD-BYE TO HAMISH
A few weeks after starting at MPEC, a
horse called Hamish arrived. I recognised this horse from the yard where I was
based at college. I never had the chance to ride Hamish there, but the day
after he arrived at MPEC I had him to ride in my lesson. I admit I was worried
about this as it was a jumping lesson, but no need as he breezed it. He
excelled himself at jumping and absolutely loved it, although he thought the
fences where a tad on the small side.
Everyone agreed he would make a great
event horse. He would fly around a course of fences with ease, but
unfortunately, in his flat work he liked to fly around the arena at a hundred
miles per hour as well. It was decided that this job wasn't right for him and
was given a chance with a young girl who loves him to bits.
We all said
"bye" as he was loaded on to his box. We have recently been told that Hamish
has really settled down in his new home and likes the one to one pampering he
gets with his new friend
Kelly West, our assistant manager, was not to be
seen on the yard for a few minutes after Hamish left - she bravely confessed
she was in the loo sobbing her eyes out! -
Carmen |
NEW
ARRIVAL
We have a new arrival on the
Yard "Katie" (and I don't mean me). Gems playmate from Julia's has come
to join us, talk about putting the clock back. Katy on Katie, gets a bit
confusing, who's riding who you may well ask?. She's a pretty little thing,
cute and well behaved, easy going and good natured - (is this Katie or Katy)
told you it gets confusing. Seriously though its a pleasure to be re-united, I
think she remembers me. I hope she will like it here in her new home! - Katy
Plackett |
Photo coming
soon |
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Photo coming
soon |
From an Instructors point of
view
I am a part time instructor who has been involved with Middleton Park
Equestrian Centre for a number of years. I would like to tell you about one of
my work mates!!
No, he isn't of the human variety. He's about 12.2hh, black,
with a white star. His name is Gem. He is slightly longer in the tooth than
most of the other horses but it's Gem by name and Gem by nature.
He is an
excellent riding school pony and although he hasn't been at Middleton Park all
that long, he's already a favorite with the
children.
Gem is a comfortable and safe ride. Having a horse
you can trust is important. He is patient and versatile, works equally as good
on and off the leading rein. He is extra special and has a 5 star rating as he
listens to my voice commands. So, when you have a child that is ready to canter
for the first time, you can just say "canter" and he does!! giving the child a
pleasurable first experience which boosts their confidence immediately. That is
only one example of his kind and generous nature, there are plenty more, but I
would just like to finish by saying, It's great to work with a little pony that
has a big heart. |
Winter now settled, the deep freeze nearly over and the cold
wet weather now coming forth. I didn't think it would ever get warm again, but
it has, The minuses where with us, with the water buckets freezing over and all
the horses cold, (never mind our toes) we still had to carry on our daily
routines. Eight layers, three pairs of socks and full chaps didn't keep us
warm, but nothing stopped us.
Now it's just wet and windy, but if you love
horses and want a career with them then you have to survive. If it's either
freezing cold or blazing hot, spirits are still high and the laughter continues
at MPEC.
The horses spirits are high too after their Christmas break of box
rest , carrots and extra apples, they are all still excited, even little "Alf"
who has been lame for 4 weeks, still gives the odd squeal. Through rain or
shine the team will be there. Horses are hard consistent work, but it's worth
it! - Caroline Hayes |
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How time flies - it is over four months since our group
first arrived at Middleton Park Equestrian Centre, all with different levels of
horse care skills, knowledge and riding abilities; wondering how we would fit
in and be accepted at the centre. This term we have covered many topics from
mucking out, feeding, tack cleaning etc. We have spent a lot of time
concentrating on improving our riding positions, discovering the boundless joys
of the accurate 20 meter circle and aiming for the illusive independent seat
and hands -infinitely more illusive to some of us than others!
Masochists or
not - we have all thrilled to hours of riding without stirrups following
Cathy's "No pain, no gain" theories. |
The riding element has had its moments - most notably
when we were riding in the outdoor arena and for some unknown reason a workman
decided to perform a tap dance on top of the adjoining main building roof. The
lesson immediately turned into a WILD WEST SHOW complete with bucking broncos
and a charge of the Light Brigade - Great Fun!
We have been taught how to
lead RDA lessons correctly and it has been lovely to see the enjoyment and
satisfaction gained by the riders in these lessons.
Everybody on our course has thoroughly enjoyed
working with and getting to know the individual characters of all the horses.
The likes of "Abby" ensuring that we are always alert! -
Tony |
Hi
My name is Kirsty, I started at MPEC about 1 year ago. I
am a level 2 NVQ student. I work Monday to Friday, 8.00am to 5.00pm. As part of
my course I have to learn to teach clients. At the beginning I only taught
children, but, as I have progressed in my teaching I am now teaching older
clients, this means I have to prepare more complicated lessons such as
jumping.
As part of my teaching I have to prepare lesson plans. I then show
the plans to Kelly to make sure I have taken every consideration into account,
if the plan is good I can then teach it in the arena. I was really nervous when
I first started to teach lessons, but the more I teach the easier it gets. It
also helps me with my own riding. This is a sample of one of my lesson
plans.
Kirsty
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I am a trainee at the centre taking my NVQ level 2, I
started this course in August last year.
Each morning we ride for an hours
lesson, we have 2 instructors Sarah and Bev, they are teaching us at the moment
jumping and flat work. These lessons are fun as even the quietest horse in the
whole place can manage to do the rodeo act and not stop for me. This horse is
unbelievable to see, you cannot get it to move usually, even Sarah was shocked
she thinks I have an electric bottom and I do agree.
Each week we have several stable management lectures
where we have been learning things like how to trim and plait as part of our
course
As a trainee I am on the yard
most of the day working as well as learning, we do varied jobs which include
strapping, tack cleaning and all other yard jobs.
We also lead for the RDA lessons, this was a new experience for me. I
have found this really interesting as each individuals are different in their
characters and you learn how to adapt to them all. -
Carmen |
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