Twinks

Where did it all begin for me

I arrived at Wildwoods summer 2009. I came over from County Wicklow in Ireland a couple of weeks before. The name on my passport is Twinkle, but they have shortened it to Twinks! Anthea came down to the dealer's yard near Hickstead where I was and tried me and three other horses. I did my best and jumped nicely and Anthea and her mum picked me!
I arrived at Wildwoods the following day. It looks like a nice place. As soon as I arrived the farrier picked up my feet and banged them with a hammer. They said that sometimes the young Irish horses can be dificult to shoe as most of us don't get a lot of handling until we are three or four. Then the dentist put a big drill in my mouth and filed my teeth. It was a bit scary, but he said my teeth were very sharp and could cut the inside of my mouth.

They found a saddle and bridle to fit me and Tess took me out on the downs to escort a lady on a hack. There were some noisy water sprinklers on the racecourse, but I was very brave and didn't run away! In the evening I joined some other horses on a lesson and we went out into a paddock and jumped some fences that looked like the wheels on cars. I haven't jumped anything like that before, but I had a go and jumped off a bank as well!

Meagan, the vet checked me over the following day and I had to trot up and down the drive and she seemed happy with me.

The picture of me is at the Pony Club Show where I jumped around the clear round jumping ring with Tess a few days later. Anthea's mum got the official photographer to take a picture of us!

Below is my debut with Sam at the Ebbisham Farm cross-country in September!

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Wildwoods Horse riding centre and school in surrey specialises in horse riding lessons for all levels of riders and disciplines including cross country, dressage and showjumping. Why not join us at our riding school and centre in surrey to get the very best tuition and develop your horse riding skills quickly and safely.

To make sure that you and your horse receive the best from our riding school, we have attained British Horse Society status. BHS Approved riding schools and BHS Approved livery yards comply with the latest health and safety guidelines.

The BHS Approved Centres are insured against public liability, and the welfare of horses and ponies is their main aim. British Horse Society inspectors conduct unannounced yearly inspections to ensure that standards are kept high at BHS Approved establishments. At present, livery yards do not need to be licensed in the UK. This could mean that even basic standards are not always met. However, this is likely to change in the future. Livery Yard Licensing is currently being considered as part of the new Animal Welfare Bill.

The scheme aims to encourage improved standards and provide some kind of 'regulation' of livery yards. All cat and dog boarding kennels have to be inspected and licensed by law and, although the livery yard scheme is voluntary, it will provide a means for livery yards to prove a certain level of competence and standard of facilities and care, thus helping to improve welfare requirements for horses all over Britain. There are now more than 900 BHS Approved Establishments across the UK, Ireland, Belgium, Hong Kong, Singapore, Spain, Italy, Dubai, Malaysia and the USA. BHS - Working for every Horse & Rider

ABRS Approved Riding Centres: The ABRS has Britain's longest established riding school approval scheme (since 1954). It is the only organisation solely representing professional riding school proprietors and is thus ideally placed to assist and guide young people seeking careers with horses. It has a wide ranging examination and testing system which enables teenagers to build up worthwhile gradings and certificates in preparation for leaving school and taking up full time training.

An 'Approved School' is a riding centre which has been inspected and found to be satisfactory by one of the National Approved Schemes. The Association of British Riding Schools conducts such a scheme, setting a high standard for horse care and requires to be satisfied that the instruction given is well presented and correct in content. The size of the establishment is immaterial, we have both very large and very small fully approved member schools. Some have only very basic facilities, but provided they meet our high standard of care and attention to both horse and rider, we are happy to accept them as members. All riding schools, according to law, must hold a licence to operate their business. The licence is granted by Local Authorities.

Approved establishments serve all sections of the riding public, whether they ride for pleasure or have more serious aspirations such as a career with horses or competitive endeavour. Conferences and information days are conducted throughout the country at which members and the public may attend. The object is to inspire, increase knowledge and keep standards high.

The Association wishes to reassure the riding public that if they select an ABRS Approved School, they should receive sound instruction on suitable horses and ponies using good, safe and well kept saddlery. Obviously the level of instruction may vary between establishments but all standards are available, and information is contained in the membership list in the Handbook.

Once a school is approved, the Association expects the standard to be maintained at all times.