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May 2025 Pony Express

No. 202 - May 2025

Kitty, the ‘auteur’ - with Fee, the ‘Boss’

Hello Friends! I’m Kitty. I am one of the smaller, daintier, ponies at Broadlands… the one who is always keen to get things done! I walk quickly, respond to minimum input - and anyone riding me is in for a good time. I thought I would let everyone know what we ponies do once we are off duty and are back in our fields. Although we are all reasonably friendly to each other, we do have special friends, and we have divided ourselves into separate herds in separate fields, so we have our pals around us. My herd is Fee, (the boss), Harry, Mia and me. Then, there is Creagy, William, Toby, Teddy with Holly, who is their boss. And lastly, there is the mini herd of Bracken and Kingsley, who live in their own little world. What do we do when we are off duty? Well, each herd has a boss who takes care of her members of our Horse Nation. She is the “alpha mare”. In my herd, that is Fee - the gentle giant grey mare - and I help, as her second in command, to make things happen. Being a boss mare is a difficult job: she is responsible for everyone’s safety, she lets us know our place in the herd. This means we all know who is the first (and the last) to get the best hay, the best grass, who gets the first treats - or tries out the carrot-tinis at Happy Hour. She makes sure someone is on watch when we sleep and that everyone behaves with respect towards each other. Yes, we can race around, be a bit silly, play games, but nothing nasty… we all have to get along. In the wild, say the New Forest, the herd will get their exercise walking about 15 miles a day. We have a long track around the edge of our field to walk along. The wild alpha mare leads her wild tribe to their special places, to the best grass or where interesting herbs and weeds are available to nibble, the sandy places to roll. She knows the best ponds or streams for a good drink and the comfiest places to sleep, while someone is watching out in case of any danger. Ok I hear you say, that’s a big important job! So, how do you choose who goes in which herd and then who will be boss? The alpha mare usually lets everyone know she is boss, and anyone who wants to disagree must challenge her. The rest of the herd has to agree by submitting to the boss. It’s a hard job, so if someone really wants to do it, then our herd lets her get on with it. So, I hope this helps you understand how our hierarchy works in “The Horse Nation” at Broadlands. Love, Kitty


OUR NEWS

Mending Fences

This week Broadlands hosted a visit from Alton Resurrection Furniture and Alton Lions Club. Both have made significant contributions towards the cost of replacing the old fencing in our paddocks. A big Thank You from everyone at Broadlands to both charities for their support.

Well done, Ed!


Ed Otteridge finished the London Marathon in 4 hours and 35 minutes. He raised funds for Broadlands and is close to his £2,000 target. Please donate to his JustGiving page if you can.

We’re extremely grateful to Ed for taking on this challenge. If you feel you could do something similar, please contact Paige at office@broadlandsgrouprda.org.uk

JustGiving - Ed’s run

Online Auction - Over £7,000 Raised!

A huge thank you to everyone who supported this event. Whether you generously donated an auction lot or participated in the bidding, your contributions were instrumental in making this fundraiser a resounding success.

Quiz Night Answers the Call

Last Friday, we successfully raised over £1,000. The event had a high turnout, and a hot supper was provided to all attendees. The "Short Planks" won this year’s quiz, with only one point separating the top two positions.

We appreciate the support of those who attended; there was a great atmosphere in the hall. Special thanks to the kitchen team Emma T and Emma M, Andrea for organizing the raffle, and Tim for managing the bar. Great teamwork!

Annual General Meeting update

The AGM was held on Saturday 26th April.  The meeting highlighted our achievements over the last year and included plans for both the short and long term future.  The new Constitution was presented and agreed.

Tony Williams was thanked for his hard work over the last two years, as he stood down as Chair of Trustees. Anne Tomlinson was voted in as the new Chair.  

MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR

OF TRUSTEES

I would like to thank Tony for his skilled chairmanship over the last couple of years, leaving us in a strong position from which to build.


I am very glad he is remaining a trustee and we can retain his skills to keep the site well maintained and safe. I’m sure I will also be calling on him from time to time, to help me as the new chair!

I also want to thank the other trustees for all their hard work and for entrusting me with the chair for the next 12 months. The full board of trustees is a strong and collaborative team.  Each brings a different specialism/interest, which gives us a breadth of experience and knowledge.


Many will know I have been volunteering for years on a Saturday. About 3 years ago, I became a trustee and the treasurer. I am looking forward to my year as chair.


The two key areas we are looking to strengthen over the next 12 months are our management of data and how we look after our volunteers. If you would be interested in helping with either of these areas, we would be very glad to hear from you. You don’t necessarily have to be a trustee to help us.


We also have much to celebrate over the next 12 months. It's our 70th year and we have lots of fund-raising activities and a big party, with the hope of raising an additional £30,000 to build our herd and to bring in and train younger ponies. All the information is on our website, where you can also buy tickets for all the events.


Thank you for all your support. We could not do this without you.


~ Anne Tomlinson

Chair of the Broadlands Trustees

MEET THE BROADLANDS TEAM

~ SARAH R ~

My first visit to Broadlands was in the Summer of 2022. I had been volunteering with Solent RDA near Portsmouth, and sadly, it had disbanded following the Covid pandemic. I wanted to continue my journey within the RDA and Broadlands fitted perfectly.


Outside of RDA I’m a freelance registered coach with the British Horse Society. Horses have been a huge part of my life since the age of 7, and over the years I have been a keen competitor in various disciplines.


I qualified as a BHS Coach during my teens and have worked in equestrian centres from Somerset to Darlington in the North East. It was here I took some time out from horses and worked for the Dogs Trust charity, where I had initially been a volunteer.


Here at Broadlands you will usually find me coaching on a Thursday and Saturday alongside our other coaches. I find it very rewarding seeing the participants enjoy their sessions, whether that’s sitting on a pony for the first time, or mastering the rising trot. To see them smile when they have achieved something, no matter how small, is very special indeed.


In my spare time I like to hack out on my horse Elmo and I also enjoy running. I’m currently training for the Portsmouth Great South Run in October.

Alton Victorian Cricket Day

Sunday 22nd June - Volunteers needed!


We are excited to be the beneficiary of the Alton Victorian Cricket Day this year. They aim to help us fund a new pony and train it to RDA standards.

In return, we are supporting their Committee by:

  • Providing a stand with information about Broadlands.

  • Setting up a children's drinks stand.

  • Running a 'name the pony' competition, with the winning name used for the new pony.

  • Helping run the bar.


We hope our friends and volunteers will assist. If you’re interested in serving drinks or managing stands, please participate in our straw poll for volunteers.


If you are not a current volunteer, but would be happy to help please contact Paige at office@broadlandsgrouprda.org.uk.

Can you help?


We have a host of off-site events coming up over the summer where we will be asking for volunteers to come along and help. Little Kingsley often comes to these events, which are a wonderful opportunity to make people aware of Broadlands and the work we do.


If you are able to come long and help for a short time at any of the events please do sign up. If you missed the email with the links to Strawpoll to sign up for specific events, just contact the Broadlands Office.

OUR EVENTS

Tea at Three

Friday 23rd May

3.00 pm – 5.30 pm


Following the success of our Tea at Three event last Autumn, we are hosting another in May. This event allows volunteers, friends, family, and the local community to meet our ponies and enjoy their home environment.

Activities for children include a hobby horse obstacle course.

Refreshments, with plenty of cake, will be available for a small fee.


Broadlands Summer Party

Sat 20th June


Tickets for the Summer Party celebrating 70 years of Broadlands are now available. The event will take place at Wivelrod Barns, using both a marquee and the barn.

Your ticket includes:

  • Arrival drink and canapés

  • Magician performance before dinner

  • Two course dinner

  • Music and dancing

  • Fun casino with fake notes


Drinks will be sold from two bars:

  • Bar serving draft beer and lager, wine, cider etc

  • Cocktail trailer

No raffle or auction; fundraising is included in the £60 ticket price, with exception of the drinks bars.

We hope to see you there!

 

All’s Well That Ends Well…

They are not brethren, they are not underlings: they are other nations, caught with ourselves in the net of life and time, fellow prisoners of the splendour and travail of the earth.

Henry Beston

 

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