Bridge Farm Riding School

Iddy, Bright Ideas
It sometimes takes me a while to write something after a horse has been put down as it takes a while to sink in. Iddy was put down last week and it seems as if she was the last of the old ‘big lot’ even though she was not the same size, she did the same work.
She came to the yard 22 years ago at the age of 7 or 9, I can’t quite remember, and she was one of the only horses who neighed as the horse box left the yard. She never saw her old owner again. She started as a livery horse and then later she was given to me. I always really liked her and we had some sort of understanding although she never let me give her painkillers as she knew I had floppy arms and she could win.
Over the course of these years I have seen her being ridden and looked after by a multitude of people and I watched as she jumped and schooled and hacked. I knew her time had come as her legs were in pain due to arthritis and general old age stiffness but she still ate hay, feed and demanded to go out, come in for extras and generally looked bright despite her cloudy dead left eye.
She like many of the animals here spoke her mind, she kicked her gate if she had not been taken out by 11am, she would not allow heavy people to mount her (quite right), she took offence if you picked up the lunging stick, and was very quick to turn in and be right near you, she was then very affectionate.
As the years have rolled by and I have lost so many friends the stables has taken on a different feel but still has a special place for all different types of animals that seem to land at Bridge Farm and reside until their demise.
Thank you to everyone who has been here and is still here. I couldn’t do it without you all.
Debbie

We sometimes lose friends and often, others come along to help heal us. unfortunately we lost Poppy this Wednesday, as she has been losing weight and not feeling well at all.
She has had the last 5 years here with her mother Dotty and with the constant care of Janice her owner. Janice was not that horsey but due to her sisters death she felt duty bound to look after her horses. Over the years those horses have taught her a lot and they will leave a huge gap in her life as they were very time consuming but very grateful of her diligent attention.
Loki, Mojo and Midnight said goodbye to a popular girlfriend as she was put down at the age of 30.
Good girl Poppy.

2 weeks ago I acquired an unloved c**t called Rascal who is doing very well and will remain with me until his last day too. We hope the old girls will have taught him this is his safe place now 🫶🏼

Although I no longer have a website page I still have a ridge farm page and so I will continue to fill you in on all the animals that have passed and a brief outline of their lives as every animal like ever person has a story
Smokey-Jo was not a horse but a cat, a very beautiful grey special cat belonging to Mandy who unfortunately died leaving two cats needing a home. No easy task as no one wants a pair of four year old cats. However a home was vetted by Rachael and seemed quite satisfactory.
But having had both cats for a few months they both disappeared and we only got to know about it after an emaciated Smokey turned up at the vets and due to the microchip, Paul was contacted and then Rachael and now me.
Sympathy high, I took him in and began rebuilding the thin frame of Smokey and wondered where Zara was. And amazingly, about a year later a very healthy looking Zara turned up as well. So both cats now with me. But after ten years (and four years with Mandy) Smokey had heart problems and after a very peaceful two hours of stroking in the kitchen and offers of various foods it was the fatal decision that he should be put down. The vet wholeheartedly agreed and I whispered in his ear “good boy Smokey-Jo, to the end”.
A very timid but watchful cat who trusted me and gave me another reason to know that I am very fortunate to have had and known so many varied and special animals. As I write Smokey’s epitaph in the glorious sunshine there is almost no time to grieve as Lottie has disappeared out the gate and won’t return, Hank demands endless ball throwing, Keo is barking beratingly at the geese who want to see me, the goats and sheep have jumped into the tortoise run and the tortoise is cross because he has not gone on a walk and is pacing in his paddock. Reggie and Damson want their feed and bash the door open, so I think I’ll go and feed my fish.
Bye bye Smokey-Jo

Zara has found her new home in Pauline’s Easter box

Chino
Well he won’t be able to bite anyone anymore, he will no longer make a new person fearful, he won’t pick up his back leg when you do his rug, and he won’t give that look over the door. But what Chino has left is a legacy of courage, determination, strength, perseverance and an indomitable will.
He was brought to the yard 20 years ago as a 10 year old. He was going to be an eventer, but leg damage meant he could no longer fulfil his £4000 potential, however he did more than compete, he taught 100s of kids and adults to ride and gave them the best canter and knowledge of how to use your seat.
When he came he was not pleasant and bit my sisters arm like a shark. He went on to attack others and gained rather a reputation.
Only the capable few went near, but having rested, eaten and learned to follow other horses, he became a firm favourite in the field. He was a real gentleman.
When he first started riding school life he just gave walks up the road. Despite a crab like gait and a mechanical lameness he really enjoyed participating. I didn’t think he would be able to do the oval shape in the indoor school but first of all free lunging then on a lunge then joining in the lesson. It was the opinion of many that he would not be able to canter in there, but he did and on the right leg. He helped make so many riders good.
I loved riding him, he was comfortable and I really liked his solid build, good conformation and strong back. I once rode him ba****ck and he took off, bucking or screaming, a desperate “no -no!” and only two weeks ago he cantered to the house of his own accord.
He then became the mount for Kit, and both parties played an important part in each others lives. When Kit had been ill for many months, Chino carried on as horses do. He was hanging his head resting in the sun when Kit came noisily down the drive. C***k immediately picked his head up and knew that his family were back accompanying apples and carrots. Virtually every weekend for ten years.
On Tuesday he did not look bright. He could not walk out of his stable. Alice gave him bute and it took a long time to kick in. He then painfully hobbled about the yard checking the four corners. He stood at the field gate and looked at his friend Friday. He manoeuvred to Midnight’s stable, lay down and amazingly got up again but his leg was huge and filled with fluid and very shakey, but with no obvious abrasion. This my good friend is to be your final hour surrounded by the people who have cared for you and your friends in the field. He looked stunning at the end and was still trying to walk but he would take no food apples or carrots. His leg was so shakey but he had a brave strong heart which was beginning to fail. Better a day early than hours too late. He lay at the entrance to the yard. Pristine till the end, black white and handsome. He always wanted to be in the game of life despite his leg and COPD. Another old mainstay of Bridge Farm gone. Bye bye you amazing old horse.

When I am given my many animals you never know how they will affect you or turn out. When I first got Ally she was so nervous about her head that she was impossible to bridle or headcollar, she would not go into the stable and ran backwards and forwards at the far end of the yard.
She was a thoroughbred and I knew she would settle eventually. She was so gentle yet so fearful of her ears as she had been ear twitched in her early racing days. She had an amazing pegidree yet still ended up at Bridge Farm.
As her settling in got going and with great care from everybody, we gradually managed to tack her up and I had the pleasure of riding her. She had the softest mouth of any horse I have ever ridden and had the most amazing forward going walk leaving everybody else way behind. My first ride into the village met with an interesting scenario as she reversed down the road away from some railings on the green, obviously reminding her of not so happy racing days.
we have had a very gentle friendship for her years here and after an illness scare last year she really kept good spirits but aged a little in the eyes and body and then alas her legs. her three week retirement was filled with treats, endless food and hay, a lavish bed and action all around. Grass at the layby as she could no longer cope with the mud. She was gentle with everybody but I felt she did really like me and my last Saturday having her head between my knees and stroking her ears was a lovely lovely moment as she had lost her ear fear. She had a premeditated death as I knew it was the right time but her lovely eyes, alert ears and gentle whinney made it very hard.
She had a good feed of grass, carrots, bread, nuts, and walked out into the yard and done. A life extinguished and a lovely lovely horse whom I wish I had had her when I was younger as it was we both got and felt a bit older together but once again I say thank you for the experience and the memories.
Ally, my beautiful thoroughbred.

Debbie would like to wish you all a Happy New Year and looks forward to seeing you from Thursday onwards.

Sorry Sunny I hadn’t forgotten you, but my mum had a saying ‘nothing is so bad it can’t get worse’ and this past week had been quite that.
As many of you are aware Sunny had to be put down as he lay down in the field just looking old and tired. We managed to get him up and put him in his stable where he did a typical Sunny, he ate a bit of food and hay etc and we thought he would live to fight another day. However, later that evening he looked uncomfortable and was very obviously not going to get better at 31.
He looked shiny - a bit tucked up and had lost a bit of weight but both the vet and the knacker man said how good he looked for his age. Alice groomed him continuously which he loved and he literally dropped peacefully to the ground.
His last weekend he still gave a ride and was as alert and as ready for action as usual, he kicked the door for his 12:30 ride and kicked again at feed time because it was late.
Like me he had no patience, wouldn’t stand waiting around and his mindset alwyas told him to take lead even at his age but he had begun to find that a bit hard lately. He was always brave and we go past anything and I often relied on him to get us past frightening obstacles.
This Sunny free weekend seeemed odd. No banging, no little brown head looking over the door.
He thought he had arrived as he made it to the main yard and he loved the Alice attention.
O. M. G, another one gone, the tapestry of Bridge Farm changing as we face new challenges. Thanks for your character and the memories that you gave so many and me, as you often bit our knees and kicked out shins.
Bye bye Sunny

Please do post some nice photos in the comments

Debbie and her beloved fish. If you know, you know. Never have I seen fish love a human so much.

I gave out hay on Sunday morning and as I looked into Boots’ stable I saw one dead pony - who had died overnight of probably a heart attack. Only on Saturday we had all remarked on how good she looked, her weight, her shine and obviously her feet. I had acquired all four traveller ponies a year and two weeks ago and now dear little Boots has gone.
She had about 20 years of us not knowing any history about her but in the short time we had her here she was so bright, sweet, and happy to have feed and hay and a stable. She loved her walks, her eating out routine with either Denise or Martha. Alan did an amazing job on her feet and I patted her dear little head.
How very sad to be with us for such a short space of time but life is given and can be taken at such short notice. It has been so nice to see these ponies who came to our gate grow and develop and share their good natures with us. Keo (the big dog) was so happy to see the arrival of these traveller ponies and he too was sad to see her laying there. He lay beside her after he had tried to get her up. A sad Sunday.
Good bye dear little Boots.

Amy Jones Designer Florist our good friend up the road is running a competition this week to win a lovely bouquet. If you would like to enter please please like, and share her post and follow her page.

Evening hay ❤️