We arrived at Middleton Equestrian Centre just over 2 years ago on our daughter’s 5th birthday, as a little surprise for her, not really knowing what reaction we would get from her.

We received a really warm and friendly welcome from everyone at MEC and all we can say she was hooked immediately.

The weekly lessons started and Tailor really enjoyed learning to ride and being around horses, after a while Tailor attended a few ‘own a pony days’ the staff at MEC looked after and cared for all the little ones, Tailor enjoyed learning how to look after the ponies as much as riding them.
 Tailor then joined ‘Pony Club’ attending every Sunday mainly with Will who has been a supportive and patient member of MEC staff, Tailor would often leave laughing but we never find out why (Will would you like to enlighten us). 

Pony Club camp with Will and Kathy has been great they are well organised weeks where Tailor has learnt loads and thoroughly enjoyed herself, the Friday has always been a great day where us parents can attend and enjoy the prize giving.

After this year’s enjoyable ‘Pony Club’ we thought maybe we should look at the next step, and after expressing this to Kerry  the completely  unexpected opportunity came  to buy ‘Meg’ (Kerry we thank you so much), and here is where Tailor’s story starts.

Tailor was, and is still completely surprised she has her own pony, we are complete novices at owning a pony, but the support and kindness we have received from all the staff and other livery owners has been amazing nothing is ever too much trouble (I promise one day we will stop asking questions, maybe!)

Meg, I love you loads, you are a great pony and you really look after me, Love Tailor xxx

Good old Major was one of the first horses bought by Kerry when she took over MEC in 2004 and is a cob cross approximately 13 years old.  He was initially used extensively in the school as a good all rounder. He was also used by Kerry for cross country at Solihull when her horses were not able to go hence his claim to be Apollo’s Sergeant Major! He miraculously arranged his sale to Viv and Steve in 2006 when he became a full livery.  Appearances can be deceptive and although Major pretends to be nothing more than a lazy, happy plod, he is in fact an incredibly complex creature who although remarkably intelligent and talented (his words) chooses not to reveal such abilities unless to his advantage.  His jumping skills are impressive – as are his temper tantrums when he fails to see the point of jumping over things that he could more easily go around, his performance of Spanish steps prior to a triple jump a wonder to behold! Dressage is another of his hidden talents brought only fully to the surface by Lewis but never to be attempted by anyone if Major hasn’t eaten first.    Nothing keeps Major happier than a gentle stroll in the countryside with friends, once and once only around the cross country track at MEC and trips to Solihull where he takes it upon himself to test the physical and mental capabilities of his rider and the patience of their instructor almost to breaking point.  Major can be one of the safest, kindest horses to ride, very forgiving and patient but also remarkably unhelpful should you ever make the mistake of taking him for granted. However, he will always bring you home – albeit at his own pace. Owning him is a privilege that he bestows on us and has given us many hours of heartache as well as delight.  His welfare comes before ours, holidays are arranged around him, our home is given over to storing his possessions and the majority of our income allocated to him – but we wouldn’t change a thing. Because of Major we have made many true friends at MEC who are there, as we are for them, for the good times as well as the bad.  May we all have many more years together.

Jul 2007 -

So with my first pony Shadow doing very well with his new owner, Fudge was next.

Unfortunately he got a bit too strong for me, then came Charlie didn't last long, only 2 days, vet said he had a bad leg. So dad has a little trip to Doncaster to see a dark bay mare called 'Lottie' - (Yuck Name!) He liked her. So on a nice Sunday morning, Dad, Kerry, Sally and myself set off to see her.

Dad told the person selling her that he had brought in the expert (Kerry). After riding and jumping 'lottie' and looking her over, Kerry said 'Yes I like him' we all said 'its a mare, Kerry!' Kerry replied 'Is it?! I don't look at them bits! - AS A JOKE!!!!' Anyway we all agreed, this was the one for me -  "Apollo's Tara Noir" or Tara for short.

She jumps WOW, Cross country WOW, Dressage  - well no-ones perfect! though now under training!!! Watch this space.......

April 2009.

We have owned Warrior for  just over 18 months. We quickly learnt that he has a great love of all things edible, so we can always keep a friend in him with an apple or mint, or … well anything really! On the whole Warrior is a very happy chappy. He is well looked after by everyone and spoiled rotten by us! We like to think he loves us for it though!!

Warrior can be found in the school when he’s well and is a really good boy generally and a dream to ride.  He loves jumping and cantering about and likes to learn new things and do lots of different exercises. He does like to try and guess what you want him to do though!!  He has also been known to go to the odd jumping competition , which he enjoys and has been known to do quite well, especially with slightly bigger jumps.  We are still hoping to enter him into the upcoming dressage competitions, but he always seems to be out of action when they are on!!  I wonder if he’s trying to tell us something??!

Warrior certainly doesn’t like to make life simple, or stress free for us, with his recurring bad backs, or the fear of them?!! Who knows?!  But we love him loads and wouldn’t swap him for the world!  Thank goodness for all the more knowledgeable “horsey” people around to help us, with lunging and riding and offering advice when Warrior will only do sideways and reverse gear!!!  Not to mention the bucks!  Gemma, the new livery manager, has been most patient with our ongoing texts since she started her new appointment and has been great at giving us all the information we need!  Thanks Gemma!

Love Ruth, Sarah and Warrior!

I love being at Middleton and thank everyone for doing such a good job of looking after me, in sickness and in health, and even when I’m a grump!   X

March 2009:

After two years of lesson at MEC, being a nervous returning rider, my first attempt being thirty-odd years earlier (in the days of ‘grip with the knees’), Lisa gave me the opportunity to share Millie with her.  Millie is a star, she built my confidence enough for me to take her to Solihull to jump, where we proudly got a clear round rosette – even though I was told my face was an interesting shade of white and I didn’t sleep for a week!! 

Nearly two years later at the end of 2008, I wanted my own horse.  After the ‘discussion’ (for discussion read pleading) with my long-suffering husband, I spoke to Kerry and the mission began in earnest to find ‘the horse’.  I had a long list of ‘what I want is….’ not an easy task.  Kerry and I scoured adverts, the internet and visited yards, tried some interesting ‘confidence givers’, thought we had found the right one, but it was not to be.  Emails went backwards and forwards with the words “what do you think of this one?”, but by the end of January nothing I fell for, which was one of the main criteria together with ‘must have a nice face’!  Then on the first weekend of February Kerry heard that Flint was for sale, she knew him and the current owners and sent me a note saying she would just like me to try him.  Little did I know she had already told the owners they would sell him as soon as I saw him.  That was it, I rode him in the morning, we raced to the bank before it closed and collected him in the afternoon.

Flint is a dream; he is gentle, has a fantastic attitude and manners, jumps and does flat work, everything I want him to do, preferably in return for his favourite pears!  He is forward, very patient, is teaching me and tries so hard to help me get it right.  He is exactly what I wanted and needed, complete with lovely face and is settling in at the yard so well.  He has become firm friends with Major, who is showing him the ropes in the field, and occasionally the hay!  We are progressing and having a ball doing so.  Once again, thanks Kerry.  Also thank you to Richard (leg on, more forward, and again..) other livery owners, particularly Viv and Steve for freely loaning me most of your equipment – shame your rugs are too big - and all the instructors and staff, your support has been and continues to be invaluable, I couldn’t have done it without you.  A special thank you also to Lisa and Millie for getting me to this point and to Dave for understanding and indulging the constant ‘I need’ and ‘Flint needs’ x