Pony Express - July 2025

No. 204 - July 2025

Well, hello handsome…

This month we welcomed Rocky, a fun and cheeky 12.3 hh, 8 year-old piebald cob. He’s already making himself at home and turning heads—especially, since he looks so much like Mia from a distance. He lives in stable number 11. We can’t wait for you to meet him!

OUR NEWS

It’s been a busy month of fundraising, and we’re so grateful for all the support—it truly makes a difference. Back at the yard, everything’s been running smoothly, and we’ve had an exciting new arrival…

A huge THANK YOU to our incredible staff, coaches, and volunteers for holding the fort while preparations for the summer party were in full swing. Your dedication means the world to us — and to the horses.

~ Paige

Centre Manager

Bravo Oscar!

Congratulations to Oscar, one of our EAL participants, who completed his Grade 3 Horse Care in June.

Oscar works with Freya, and independently, around the yard, filling hay nets and grooming ponies. We look forward to him achieving his Grade 4 Horse Care certificate in due course.

Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) is ground based. Using the calm and peaceful environment of the stables, we can deliver a skills-based service that focuses on teaching life skills and social skills whilst working with the ponies. Our coaches carefully select a pony for each participant, taking into consideration the personalities of both. This is one of the RDA proficiency tests.

MEET THE BROADLANDS TEAM

~ Sarah Humphreys ~

My first visit to Broadlands was during the 2022 Open Day  where I had the absolute pleasure of meeting Whiskey and Kingsley. I remember watching all the other very clever ponies and their amazing riders and was hatching a plan to get more involved.

Shortly afterwards, I heard that there was an opening for a Saturday afternoon groom and was lucky enough to snag the job!

Since then, I've fallen in love with Broadlands and look forward to my Saturday afternoons more than ever.

I'm so lucky to get to spend a good couple of hours with the gorgeous ponies and feel really privileged to have got to know them along with the staff and trustees.

When I'm not at Broadlands, you'll find me working as a legal PA for a law firm in Reading and when I'm not doing that you'll find me in a field at a festival enjoying live music and comedy!

~ Sarah H.

Special Invitation to View

Duncan Hamilton, ROFGO

Private Car Collection

Founded in 1948, Duncan Hamilton ROFGO is a dealer specialising in Competition and Classic cars. An opportunity is available to visit their private collection of cars in Micheldever on Thursday, 6 November 2025 at 6.00 p.m.

Tickets are priced at £75, which includes drinks and snacks upon arrival and a tour of their showroom, the private Gulf heritage collection of racing cars and other vehicles in the collection.

There are only 20 tickets available, and they are on sale now on our website. Follow the link below…

Book now

Winchester Car Boot Sale

Worthy Lane, Winchester SO23 7AB

Sunday 3rd August

Volunteer, donate or join in!

The car boot sale takes place every week at the Cattle Market in Winchester, with different charities keeping the pitch fee proceeds. Our turn is on Sunday, 3rd August.

The volunteers at the gate will collect £7 per car or £10 per van. More cars/vans mean greater success, so please encourage friends and family to sort out any unwanted goods and join us on the day.

Alternatively, if you have 'good as new' items to donate, please bring them to Broadlands during the week of 28th July. We will store them until the car boot sale weekend. We are taking two cars and will sell the collected items, with all proceeds benefiting Broadlands.  

Bowled Over by AVC

A dedicated team of volunteers supported Broadlands at the Alton Victoria Cricket Day. Some arrived at 7:15 a.m. to set up, while others stayed until 6:00 p.m. to take down – thank you all!

The Butts was filled with visitors, picnics, gazebos, and families. The cricket was thrilling with great commentary. The beer tent sold out, every raffle ticket was sold, and the ice cream van was very busy.

Paige was interviewed for the local radio and Rich did a wonderful speech thanking Alton Victoria Cricket for their support.  We were presented with a 70th Anniversary birthday cake.

Broadlands was chosen as this year's AVC beneficiary, and we hope the funds raised will go towards buying a new pony.

Broadlands 70th Anniversary Celebration Party

Oh, What A Night!

After months of planning, the week of the party arrived with amazingly good weather. Throughout the week, preparations were made at Wivelrod Barns, including setting up marquees, receiving tables, chairs, glasses, crockery and other supplies from vendors. By Friday lunchtime, the garden was ready!

We welcomed 95 guests, who were served drinks and canapes, while being entertained by a magician. Once everyone was seated, Anne, Chair of Trustees, gave a speech to mark the 70th anniversary.

Dinner and dessert followed. Nigel (TheOneManBand) provided music for the evening, and the dance floor remained full throughout the event. Meanwhile, the casino (One4Luck) in the barn was very popular, with many guests participating.

Volunteers from the Medstead Fete managed the bar, and a cocktail trailer was available to keep everyone hydrated on the pleasant evening.

Huge thanks go to Susie and Mark for allowing us to hold the event in their beautiful garden. Thanks are also extended to Paige, Tony, Ray, Emma Trotter, Emma Mallory, Jayne, Simon T, Chris Lewis, and Broadlands Maintenance Team for their contributions.

Additional thanks go to The Jockey Club, Rathbones and Cold Control Services Ltd, who sponsored the event.

And these local businesses also played a huge part in the parties success, so our sincere thanks go to:

• FFF Brewery for providing beer and glasses,

• N W Reads the butchers for donating the pig,

• Newlyns Farm Shop for discounting salads,

• Clementines for the strawberries,

• Grassi & Jones for the canapes,

• Julie for the cheesecakes,

• Naked Grape for their support with wine and glasses,

• Jude for lending casino props.

~ Kim Otteridge

OUR EVENTS

Can you help?

EVENTS: 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.

ADMIN: Holly is looking for some voluntary assistance with general admin in the Broadlands Office! We are looking for some help on an ad-hoc basis to assist Holly with data entry, filing and general administrative duties.

Little experience required but a good sense of humour is a must! Will be paid in tea, cake and laughs!

Please drop Holly and email for further info: office@broadlandsgrouprda.org.uk

THANK YOU!

All’s Well That Ends Well…

Lean on me, when you're not strong, And I'll be your friend, I'll help you carry on.

~ Bill Withers

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Copyright © 2025 Broadlands Equine Therapy & RDA, All rights reserved. Contact listOur mailing address is:

Broadlands Equine Therapy & RDA

Broadlands, Lower Paice Lane

Medstead

Alton, Hampshire GU34 5PX

United Kingdom

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