Our new website is just about finished, www.hopefulearl.co.uk and we should be updating it shortly with forthcoming events etc I have tried to instil a more personal touch - all the other riding schools say how good they are but we prefer to emphasise our relaxed, friendly environment, and wonderful countryside for hacking. And without doubt we have the best horses. We also have a page on Facebook - Hopeful Earl. He is pleased to have new friends, and Nicky updates the pictures weekly from our latest adventures. We were at Cranleigh Show last weekend, where my Daughter Alex showed two 5 year old ex-racehorses in the racehorse to riding horse class. She tends to be the only person with the bottle to bring along these young horses who are not long out of racing. We entered State Bank (Banker) in the ridden veteran class. He is 25 now and 11 year old Saffron Cooper did a splendid job as jockey. I bought Banker as a 5 year old with Judith who used to be the landlady of The Sun in Dunsfold- we paid £200 each and I later bought her share. She saw him at the show and was gobsmacked that he was still alive and enthralled that he was so sprightly. Pictures should be on Facebook next week. We had a day ride with 9 horses on it last month, covering over 20 miles, which weren’t entirely without incident. My horse let the side down and wouldn’t go through the fords at Shere, I lost my mobile phone, we stopped for lunch at The William IV Pub at Albury where the landlord greeted us with a shovel and a broom and wouldn’t sell us anything easy to eat whilst holding a horse, so it’s number one in my bad pub guide. I am hoping to have four horses in the parade of ex racehorses at Epsom racecourse on Bank Holiday Monday, it should be circa midday. This is the first time they have organised the event over two days. On the Sunday you can visit the various trainers stables and watch their horses working on the gallops, and on the Monday they have various events followed by a race meeting, first race 2.00pm. For more details go to www.epsomdowns.co.uk or www.ersw.co.uk. My heart is in my mouth a little over this, I hope they behave themselves - I have ridden near the racecourse on a few different horses over the years, and can’t remember them as relaxing!
We have just about cracked the riding on the South Downs, it just gets better each time we go. I will put possible dates on the website, along with those for the New Forest. We had a great beach ride too a couple of weeks ago, though I probably will not be going again until October as the evenings are drawing in quite quickly now. Also should have some dates shortly for cross country schooling. If you fancy either just let me know when you might like to go.
I hope to see some of you soon.
Ian
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