HOMEStowford Riding Centre have a number of well schooled horses and ponies available for riding lessons and trekking.
Bonnie
17hh, Shire Horse, Mare
I am a 17hh Shire Horse mare, I was born in 1990 and have been used as a brood mare before I came to Stowford. I arrived at Stowford in 2004 and have settled in very well. I am known as the gentle giant and I can take anybody out riding. My best friend is Cairo; you can often see us together grazing in the field. Cairo came to Stowford at the same time as I did so we made friends very quickly. Because I am so big it takes double care from David and Vanessa to look after me, it costs £100 because me feet are big whereas the other ponies are a lot cheaper to have shoes on. Next time you come and see me ask if you can have a look at my feet to see how big they are.
Cairo
15hh, Chestnut Cob, Gelding
I am a 15hh Chestnut Cob gelding. I was born in 200 and arrived at Stowford in 2004 so I haven’t been here for very long, but I have settled in very well. My best friend is Bonnie, we often play in the field together. My favourite thing to eat is carrots because they are a similar colour to me. I like making new friends and a way of me showing you this is if I lick you. If you hold your hand out flat under my mouth you may be lucky that I may give you a lick. Don’t try this on ponies that you don’t know though because there not all as friendly as me.
May
14.3hh, Grey, Mare
I am a grey 14.2hh Arab Cross mare. I’m the grandmother of the horses as I am the oldest. I was born in 1971 and probably the same age as some of the parents. I have been working here at Stowford for the last 13 years and will be going into retirement soon. I only get used for small children now because I am old, but I still enjoy working with my friends. My best friends out of the bunch are Sox and Tango. Sox and I don’t get on very well when we’re working because she’s a bit bossy, so I stay out of her way; but you can always find us in the field together when we’re not working. Dave and Vanessa can trust me 100% not to wander off, which is why you can see me in the sandpit with the others and I won’t be tied up. I’m often allowed to stand in the yard when the others are in their stables, on nice days. I love being rubbed behind the ears, so, if you come and see me you can give me a little tickle; but make sure I’m awake because I am my be napping and I don’t want you to startle me.
Milly
13.1hh, Fell, Mare
I am a 13.1hh Brown Fell pony and was born in 2002. Like Bonnie and Cairo I came to Stowford in 2004 and I have settled in very well. My best friend in the field is Tango and we like to graze side by side. I am a very good little pony and because of my size only get used for children and lead rein rides. I can be quite lazy and you may notice that when I am in the sandpit I am lying down. Like Ziggy, I can be a bit of a fidget in my stable so don’t be offended if I don’t say hello.
Ringo
15.2hh, Dale, Gelding
I am a 15.2hh Black Dales pony and was born in 1981. My breed, like Ziggy, originates from the North of England. I am the escort pony and never take out customers, only Steph and Hailey are allowed to ride me. I get used to lead the ride and show the other ponies where they have to go. My best friend is Sunny who I share a stable with. You can also see us in the field together in the evenings.
Rocky
11.2hh, Shetland Cross, Gelding
I am an 11.2hh Skewbald Cross gelding. I was born in 1986 and I’m the shortest here at Stowford. I have been working here for the last 16 years and really enjoy it. I only get used for paddock rides for small children because I’m so little and if I were to go on the longer rides my legs wouldn’t be able to keep up. My best friend is steel who I spend a lot of time with. You usually find us in the evenings eating hay in the stable grounds. I like to keep her company because she is on a healthy eating plan, plus I’m not allowed to eat too much grass as it makes my feet sore. If you come and see me in my stable take a look at my door because like, Steel’s and Milly’sm my door is shorter than the others. If I were to have a normal size door I wouldn’t be able to see anybody. If you ask Dave or Vanessa I’m sure they would let you into my stable to stroke me because I like being stroke.
Sox
14.1hh, Chestnut Anglo Arab, Mare
I am a 14.2 Chestnut Arab Cross mare and I was born in 1990. I have been working here at Stowford for the last 9 years. My best friend here is May who you can often see me grazing in the field with, however, we don’t get along very much when we’re working, she says I’m bossy, which I am a little. So if you come and see me in my stable make sure Dave or Vanessa are nearby just in case I got out of the wrong side of the bed. I’m a very capable little pony and can take almost anyone out for a ride. I am very responsive and anything that you ask me to do I will do first time. The only thing I don’t like is rain and will turn my bottom to whatever direction the rain is coming from and eat the grass, doing this protects my head against the rain.
Steel
13.1hh, Blue Roan, Mare
I am a 13.2hh Blue Roam, Native Cross mare. I was born here at Stowford in 1994 one week after Ziggy. My mother is Tango who I share a stable with. I maily get used for little children as I am only little myself. I am a good lead rein pony, but can be quite cheeky and try to eat the grass which I’m not allowed. My best friend is Ziggy who you can see me playing with in the field when I’m allowed to go out. I’m a little overweight you see, so Dave and Vanessa are keeping me on a healthy eating plan. This is why you can usually see me in the evenings eating hay, with Rocky, in the stable grounds. If you come up to see me please don’t give me any tit bits. During the daytime I’m stood in my stable, next time you come up to see me have a look at my door and you will notice that it is slightly shorter than the rest, this allows me to be able to put my head over the door and see people.
Sun Dance
15hh, Welsh Cob, Gelding
My full name is Sun Dance, but as a nickname people call me Sunny. I am a 15hh Bay, Welsh Cob, gelding. I was born in 1986 and have been working at Stowford for many years now. I mainly take adults riding because of my size but occasionally I take children. I share a stable with Ringo who is my best friend and you can always find us side by side grazing in the field. I am a very responsive riding pony and will do anything that you ask me. My only bad habit is that I like to try and have a cheeky nibble at the grass when I’m not supposed to. If I do this when your riding me you need to be really firm with my reins , pull my head up and give me a good kick to me no and I should carry on walking with the others.
Tango
13.3hh, Strawberry Roan, Mare
I am a 14.1hh Strawberry Roan, Native Cross mare and I was born in 1986. I have been working at Stowford for the last 14 years and share a stable with my daughter, Steel, who was born here. I mainly get used for children and teenagers because I’m quite small. My name is Tango, after the drink, because of my colour. I’m a good little pony but, like my daughter, I can be quite cheeky and try to nibble the grass when I’m not supposed to. Like Ziggy, in the summer months you can often find my name plaited; this is because it keeps me cooler and it keeps my hair out of my eyes. My best friend is May who comes and stands outside my stable when it’s nice. If you come to see me in my stable look at my door and it’s slightly shorter than the rest, this is so I can see people.
Ziggy
13.3hh, Fell, Mare
I am a Black Fell pony mare. I stand at 14hh. My breed originates from the North of England. I was born here at Stowford in 1994 and my mother was called Marley. My best friend is Steel who was also born here at Stowford one week after I was. You can often find us in the field together, when she’s allowed out; she’s on a diet you see. When I’m working I get used for all sorts of people as I’m quite a stocky little pony. When the weather is warm you will notice that notice that Vanessa has plaited my mane, this helps me to keep cool and also keeps it out of my eyes. I am quite a fidgety little pony when I’m in my stable so don’t be offended if you come and see me and I won’t stand still.
