Pony days April 2014

Want to be part of our pony days this year?

They are starting to run already. Here is how they work…

They are split into 2 different parts, an art session and then a  hands on animals session

The art session

The art session is themed but is always open to a child’s individual ideas and needs. They are also aimed to discover and learn about different feelings and this can be done in many forms in a non-intrusive way.

Whilst the hands on animal half of the day is only with our ponies, the art session can be themed for different age groups, different interests that the children have or simply an idea that arises by members of the team that they think would work well with the children.

The children lead the sessions, but we give them our themes and ideas to support them with this.  For example, the theme of the session may be ‘ponies’ , ‘primates’ or ‘cars’. All of these can be put into a form of story telling,  by creating characters out of ponies, monkeys or cars.  Drawings, collages, paintings, musical instruments, can all be created through arts and crafts, and can all contain different feelings and emotions. Life is full of emotions that we can come across on a daily basis, and these can be brought into the characters and ideas that we are making.

The hands on animal session

The second part of the day is the hands on animal session with our ponies at a farm within walking distance from our art venue.  The children will be able to take part in whatever way they choose to do. The activities available to them will include, stroking and patting the ponies, brushing the ponies, leading the ponies, sitting on the ponies and even riding them, all with experienced equine handlers and riders who know our ponies and their personalities very well. The children may even just wish to watch them if they don’t feel confident to do anything else.

Other information

• We have between 1-4 children in one session
• In each session, the children will be of similar ages
• Parents/guardians must be present at each session.
• This is ultimately a free service but donations are welcome on the day to help us fund the art materials we use, and the ponies dinner!
• The sessions are run in the small village of Fernhurst which is near Haselmere, Surrey/Sussex

If you would like your child to participate in one of these sessions then please email us at lisa.davies@yeboyes.org

If you would like to volunteer your ideas then please email lisa.davies@yeboyes.org

Pony days update

The past 3 weeks have seen a number of children from the surrounding areas take part in our pony days which have included trial days and days with children who we offer our support to.

 

Making friends

The days have consisted of pony riding, grooming, tacking up, feeding and taking part in art activities. Children from the surrounding areas were offered a chance to join us in the local village.

Toby is our main pony who takes children for rides and our other ponies are there to be groomed and loved.  After the pony part of the day we made different games and creative activities. These included apple and carrot bobbing, making and playing with hobby horses, creating pony pictures with hand painting, pebble painting and we even made a drama play where ponies made friends and helped eachother to live in the fields.

During the winter months, the art and play activity sessions will take place at the local village hall after the pony sessions at the farm.

NB: Some of our photographs have been edited to protect the child’s identity

Making photo frames

Making photo frames is a great way of getting creative, making something that you can take home with you, and making something that can help you remember special moments in your life by using it to put your favourite photos in when you get home. Children can be encouraged to decorate it how they would like to and do not have to stick to our pony theme. It is great fun and is one of our activities.

Learning to ride

Learning to ride a pony is something that can be very rewarding and therapeutic. You are able to have a walk or trot around sitting on a pony with an experienced pony handler and rider helping you. You can even just sit on one of our ponies if you don’t feel confident to walk around. Learn how you ask a pony to walk, how to ask it to stop, go in a different direction and how to use the saddle and bridle so you and the pony are both safe and comfortable. Learning to ride is only part of it, it’s being able to have a friendship and a mutual respect between you and the pony which is a big part of learning how to ride. It is great fun, very enjoyable and can be very rewarding too.

Below: Toby being ridden

Tacking up

Learn how to tack up the ponies by seeing their different types of saddles and bridles, making them look smart and making sure that the person riding them will be safe. Learn all about headcollars, lead reins, how to tie up the pony to the fence safely and the different stages a pony goes through as it grows up and needs different types and sizes of tack. Keeping the tack clean and in good condition is really important so it’s great to see how we clean it and what with. This is a great learning experience and helps to keep you and the pony safe and happy.

Below: Rolo looks smart in his bridle, ready to go riding.

Feeding the ponies

Ponies need to be cared for, and there are lots of different types of food that they can and cannot eat. You will be able to come and help make up their food, and learn about the different diets that they are on, and what is good and bad for them. They always enjoy their food so will make a happy neigh when they see you carrying their food bowl.  They also need vitamins so you can learn about what sort of vitamins will help them stay healthy

Below : Jessie and Treacle enjoying their dinner