New Trainees arrive on the yard

Monday 16th July - First day, new job, well training course actually.
Arrived on time - thoughts rushing through my head. Will I fit in, what are
they like, will I enjoy it, will they like me, who are their customers, what
are the clients like and will they like me.
Tuesday 17th - I ache all over, I have muscles I did’nt know I had. I get
really smelly especially at the end of the day judging by the reactions on
the train going home!!! But - the staff are great, nice and friendly,
trainings 1st class, the horses are ace, facilities excellant, dealt with my
first customers. I’m going to like it here!
Katy Plackett

After four weeks at MPEC I feel that I know my way around and have a wider
knowledge of all the horses personality and of the staff aswell.
The day starts at 8.00am, haynets are put up, horses are turned out and
everybody mucks out, the yard is swept and the morning routine is completed
by 8.45am. We are given allocated horses and they are our responsibilty to
look after throughout the day. From 9 -12 various duties have to be done.
Trainees ride at 9.00 or 10.00am for one hour, opportunities to hack out
throughout the day are also available. As MPEC is a riding school for the
disabled there are constant RDA lessons throughout the day, in which I have
to lead. This gives me a chance to get to know some of the clients and watch
them progress in their riding. I have to get up at 5.30 every morning but
thats ok as MPEC is a great, friendly and exciting palce train.
Caroline Hayes

Geoffrey Burley and Caroline at Cardiff 2001 Special Olympics UK National Summer Games.

They competed in the Special Olympics that attracted over 2000 entrants for all events.

Results:
Geoffrey:
Gold: Handy Pony
Silver: Dressage
4th: Horse Care

Caroline:
Bronze: Horse Care
4th: Handy Pony
4th: Dressage

Andrew Dufton
Competed in the Strongid-l Regional Championships. He came third, just missing qualification for the National Championships ona percentage (West Wiltshire)

He has been invited to the Great Britain International Invitation Own horse Competition at Warwickshire College on the 1st and 2nd September.

Leeds University Horse Riding Club at MPEC
by Trixie Hodges Club Captain 2000 - 2001

At the beginning of the academic year, in September 2000, the University of Leeds Riding Club changed it's training location to Middleton Park Equestrian Centre.
Riding four days a week MPEC offers the club unparalleled facilities coupled with superbly cared for horses and first class instruction.  The quality of the instruction is evident by the continued popularity of our trips to the centre.
For the first time in many years, lessons have continued to be full to capacity well into the exam period.
The university also has a team who compete in the British Universities Sports Association (BUSA) competitions.  Unfortunately, due to the Foot and Mouth crisis,  this year's regional finals were cancelled, but the Club are looking forward to the successes that are possible next year.

Riders of the month

Geoffrey Burley
Geoffrey is a volunteer at MPEC who comes in every day and helps out with the daily running of the centre.
Geoffrey rides “Quigley” once a week in an R.D.A lesson.
He is going to Cardiff on the 24th July - 4th August to compete in the Special Olympics.  Good Luck Geoffrey

Caroline Cannon
Caroline is also a volunteer at the centre who helps out on both yards a couple of days a week.  She rides at the centre in her weekly lesson on “Sam”.  Caroline will be joining Geoffrey in Cardiff at the Special Olympics.

Meet the centre's horses in our photo gallery

Hello to “Layla”
Layla, an Irish thoroughbred, auditioned recently for a new job vacancy and after a one months trial got the job, she is now settled and enjoying her stay with us.

Good bye to “Duke” and “Millie”
Duke was retired from RDA work earlier this month, and is now fulfilling another role in Huddersfield. He's very happy.
Millie has followed in Dukes hooves and retired to a holiday home where she is chilling out gracefully.

Hopes for Andrew and Finley at the Athens 2004 Olympics

Andrew Dufton, one of our employees, is training hard with the ambitious goal of Athens 2004 and the Para-Olympics. Andrew has been riding at the centre for 10 years and has an impressive list of achievements; 6 National Championship appearances and performed dressage to music for HRH the Princess Royal on her recent visit in November. He took part in selection trials on the 7th May for the British Squad, but unfortunately, due to the foot and mouth crisis he could not take “Finley” his preferred horse. However, Finley and Andrew had a recent trip to Talland Equestrian Centre resulting in an exciting invitation to ride for Great Britain in August.

In 1999, Christian James ran 150 miles across the Sahara Desert to raise money for The Riding for the Disabled Association and with the proceeds “Desert Storm”, affectionately know at the centre as “Finley”, was bought. Andrew and Finley have  formed a close bond and are both working hard to represent Britain in the future Para-Olympics.