2003
We has another brilliant day for our Open Day, despite torrential rain the day before.
Once again, we linked our date with Rainbow School to minimise the disruption to the local residents, whose support we very much appreciate..
Every session tried to man a stall for the event – Tuesday Evening were heroes with Treasure Island, Book Stall, Plant Stall, Bric-a-Brac and Name the Bunny, all run by them.
As always, the first stall to be cleared was the home-made cake stall! A perennial favourite.
Pony rides are almost too popular, as they are unusual to find at other events now, due to the soaring costs of insurance, so we had a great demand for rides. Eventually, we had to call a halt, as both our ponies and riders had enough. Many thanks to those who stayed to finish the rides after the show had closed.
Next time we have an Open Day we will need to advertise ‘the first 60/80 people to book, only’, to try to avoid disappointment.
Very many thanks to everyone who took part, or visited Open Day at the Centre.
2001
Someone must have been in favour up above on Open Day. Despite a week of horrid downpours, which flooded one of our stables, the sun came out and shone brilliantly for the two hours of our Open Day.
We had lots of visitors. Some were residents from the new estate which has grown up around the Centre. Our ponies and riders are taken out to ride through the estate on fine days and this gave residents the opportunity to see the Centre and meet it’s ponies. More importantly, for some of the younger residents, to ride the ponies they watch go by.
Families of our disabled riders came to see the Centre and brothers and sisters also got the rare chance to ride some of the ponies. We do understand how frustrating it can be to watch and not get a chance to ride.
Alistair Burt, our local Member of Parliament and former Minister for the Disabled very kindly came along to join us and had time to be photographed with 2001 Chairman, Erika Burnett and Jason. (Jason is the tall good looking one with long ears).
Others were friends and relatives of helpers and instructors, or came from the nearby village of Bromham
We had Stalls selling all sorts of interesting things. The home made cake stall was one of the first to be cleared and the plant stall was the most successful. Lucky Dips, Face Painting and Mystery Tombolas all added to the fun.
Those ponies who were not outside giving rides were receiving visitors in the stable block. Depending on which pony was viewed, they were either being welcoming and friendly, making faces, or just ignoring the fuss!
Our thanks go to everyone who helped or visited and, of course, to the ponies who took turns to give pony rides on our sensory ride.