Winter

What has Anthea been up to

I've just returned from another fabulous trip to the Okavango Delta with Okavango Horses Safaris. The game is condensing as the water levels drop and we came across a herd of buffalo 500 - 6-00 strong! Breeding herds of elephant walk leisurely by as we let the horses graze and a pride of fourteen lion trotted away from us with three cubs and a large blond maned male at the back!

An elephanrt visited our tent at Kwapu camp and spent a good part of the afternoon munching outside. Spectacular lightning displays heralded the arrival of the rain on our last day.

Yard news

There has been a lot happening in the past few weeks.

Philippa has gone to work and ride at a competition yard, having been recommended by Aart Noordijk to Kim the owner. It is a great opportunity for her in her gap year and we encouraged her to take it and are pleased that she has been “talent spotted”. Her parents met here at Wildwoods over 20 years ago and she has ridden with us since a small child. She has completed her BHS Assistant Instructors exam this summer.

Jenny Lacey has gone to university in Devon and Rhianna has taken a job managing a small livery yard at Headley. 

Dean passed the Stage 4 care and the riding on the flat, but even though he completed the jumping (they will not let you continue if you are not up to standard)  he will need to resit. Tess passed the Stage 3 care and flatwork but, like Dean she completed the riding, but failed the cross-country. Only a few got through to the jumping section in the Stage 3 and only Dean and one other in his exam.

Sarah Brear has passed her Preliminary teaching exam and has been doing some freelance teaching for us. She is better, but not yet able to commit to full time work.

Some more staff

I put an advert in Horse & Hound before I left for Africa and have had a good response. Phil Jones (ex king’s Troop) will be starting full-time this week, and Angharad Lewis and Stefanie Gooderham have accepted the job offer and will start soon.

I have interviewed a few more wanting part time work to plug the gaps when we are busiest so you will see some new faces on the yard!

Horses

Most of the horses are now back in work. It is great to have Forrester and Riley back on the team. Forrester has found a new niche as a western horse! It is amazing how quickly some of them take to it and they really seem to enjoy it!

Quite a few had treatment from Jenny our equine physio including Benton, Forrester and Rocco, who were sedated by the vet and given a good overhaul!

Star is walking out having had an injection into her tendon and Sue Bain comes in most days to ride her down the road and back. Thanks Sue! Scout needs a bit longer, so we will leave him till the New Year and reassess him then. Samson is still lame and I feared that he would have to be put down, but when Steve looked at him last week he was better than when he saw him in September. He will not return to riding school work, but I have a possible home lined up for him with a friend who has land and wants a horse for light hacking. We will keep our fingers crossed!

Mr. Tom, a 15hand piebald cob, has joined the team and is proving to be a steady hack. He came from my friend Tristan who called me to say that he had him for sale. Splash and Poppet came from him. I think he will eventually fill the void that Amigo left. He is still a little nervous, but is settling well. Margaret has taken him on as her project.

Amigo is happy and well. I went to see him at Banstead the other day where he is grazing with a few other horses and a flock of sheep. He looks completely different with feathers. A beard and a long mane!

I have had to apply for an operator’s licence to drive my HGV horsebox and have been grounded whilst the application is considered. The council are not happy for me to drive such a big vehicle down the narrow lane and say that there is no room to turn it in the yard. I have had an HGV horsebox since 1986 - a smaller one is pretty much the same width, but I cannot go out until the matter is resolved. They may grant the licence with conditions. I will keep you posted.It would be good to be able to go to Woolgars Farm cross-country and hacking at Frensham Ponds.

All the best. Happy riding!

Anthea