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Post by fallenangel on Dec 27, 2006 18:08:05 GMT 1
I'm so excited!!! I have to apply for the licence and have the horses inspected by the vet to make sure they are fit and healthy, then I just need to pay the insurance and I'm in business! Hoping to be up and running by Easter. My question is - I want to run some "pony days" over the school holidays, but what would these include? So far I have: Riding, obviously! Grooming, theory and practical Mucking out, theory and practical A fun quiz And a tea break!! Any other ideas of what I could include? And what sort of price to charge? I have my prices set for lessons and hacks, it's just for the pony days, which will probably be one session, to include the above, of about four hours. What does everyone think? Many thanks! Will look forward to reading any replies!
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Post by jill on Dec 27, 2006 18:29:41 GMT 1
A good one to keep them quiet is the tack knowledge/cleaning competition and tail bandaging - even leg bandaging ( all pony club camp sessions). Are they going to "own" a pony for the day or half day? Good on ya, I've known loads of owners who have had a few riding lessons and bought a horse, not realising that the riding is only the tip of the iceberg. As for charging, well, I think you take the cost of an hours lesson X 4 for 4 hours - your overheads are much the same.
MTA - forgot to say congratulations, you must be bursting with excitement. Where in N. Wales?
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Post by jen1 on Dec 27, 2006 18:35:03 GMT 1
a;so do something about stable vices and why they happen, and about the best way to keep horses, and some alteranative stuff, barefoot ,nh/ih ect
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Post by julz on Dec 27, 2006 18:43:49 GMT 1
That's brilliant, wish you every success....
But why would your Pony Day only last 4 hours? Why can't it be from 9am to 5pm? when i used to do things like that that my school set up, we used to have to be there at 8am!!! It would include grooming the pony, learning to tack it up, picking feet etc.. having an hour's lesson, putting to bed, then an hours talk ( what it eats and why) basic things like different colours, breeds.... then lunch, then another lesson or trek/hack, put pony to bed or back to feild, then a tack cleaning session....
they used to do a weeks course too...which would include the last day, a dressage test in the morning and gymkhana in afternoon!
don't know about prices....... but around £70 for the day. remember you'll effectively be babysitting too.....
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Post by katefox1812 on Dec 27, 2006 18:47:44 GMT 1
I have no personal experience of this, but I am told that the 'own a pony for a day' thing is very popular (what child doesn't want their own pony?!) - so then could include pretty much everything one would need to know about owning a pony...
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Post by fallenangel on Dec 27, 2006 19:23:22 GMT 1
Brilliant, thanks guys! Julz, Pony Day will only be 4 hours to start because in the mornings I work as a carer for a disabled lady which is a good extra source of income! Means that if the Riding School starts off slow I can still pay the mortgage! Jill, I'm in Llanrhaeadr ym Mochnant, so a bit of a way from you, it's about 10 miles West of Oswestry. Jen1, hopefully we will be very IH minded - all the horses will be treeless and are mostly barefoot/front shoes only, although I'm not sure bitless will be allowed by the insurance company, brilliant idea to explain it all as part of the course though! Kate, I hope you're right and it's popular! Would be so good if I made enough money for the horses to cover their own costs! By the way, your boy is GORGEOUS! Would love one myself but not very sensible at the moment! Thanks everyone, will let you know how it goes once we are up and running!
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Post by jennyb on Dec 27, 2006 20:04:34 GMT 1
The best pony days I have known have included some kind of games/gymkhana/competition. The kids love it, makes them try that extra bit harder with the grooming etc, especially if there's a rosette going for Best Turned Out! You can get rosettes made up ded cheap with the name of your riding school in the middle. Good games include bending, ride and lead, apple bobbing, handy pony, moving things from one barrel to another (don't know the technical name, lol!), etc, etc - let your imagination run wild! Are you going for BHS/ABRS approval? I think ABRS run some sort of pony exam scheme aimed at kids, starting right from mounting and dismounting up to cantering and jumping, along with stable management exams. They get some sort of folder to record their stages, I think. Gets them more involved, might attract more clientele, and makes sure your inevitable army of child helpers are properly trained!
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Post by nervouswreck on Dec 27, 2006 20:11:48 GMT 1
Where my daughter rode in the summer they did some sessions like these but they were for 2 hour sessions and the cost was £18 I think.
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pip
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Post by pip on Dec 27, 2006 21:11:02 GMT 1
There is a very successful riding school locally that does about 3 sessions per evening every weekday (the owners compete at the weekends). One week they do half an hour instruction and half an hour games, the following week it is half an hour jumping.
They do a Fancy Dress competition at Christmas, a musical ride that the children have to design themselves.
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tammy68
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Post by tammy68 on Dec 27, 2006 21:26:14 GMT 1
How about an easter egg or treasure hunt?
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Post by julz on Dec 27, 2006 22:00:02 GMT 1
F/angel...if you only have 4hours in which to do this...perhaps you could have fun days instead of a "Pony Day" like a gymkhana afternoon.... much more fun, and teaches teamwork, and also "how to stay on your horse.." will you have staff? am presuming you will.... or you could alos do half day rides.... which is also good fun...
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Post by fallenangel on Dec 28, 2006 10:15:03 GMT 1
Thanks for all the replies! Julz, I am starting off very small with just 4 horses/ponies, so I won't have any staff yet. Hopefully one day! (I have 6 already and want to be able to keep them even if the riding school doesn't prove viable, I would be a useless dealer!!) However, I will market this a an advantage - smaller groups for lessons and hacks, so more time to spend with each individual. Pip, this is how I hope to do things too - lots of after school lessons in termtime so I can compete at weekends! Jenny - am off to look at the ABRS website now. The pony exam thing sounds brilliant! Thanks everyone!
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Post by nervouswreck on Dec 28, 2006 10:20:06 GMT 1
The place where I take my daughter now run pony club sessions on a Saturday afternoon. I think they get 2 hours and it costs £18. Its aimed at kids who don't have their own horses.
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beckie
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Post by beckie on Dec 28, 2006 17:58:30 GMT 1
there were full days at the riding school i used to go too, aimed at younger children, on a weds in the school holidays. i helped out and got a free ride at the end last summer. So the riding school owners got free mucking out/looking after kids/supervising the ones who tried to put the saddle on backwards etc. and i used to ride this crazy little pony all the time anyway! no one else would ride him. so they had the best deal with me!
i think its a great idea. wish i was near you, i would come and help out, you wouldn't be able to stop me! the pony days at my old riding school were £40/£45 a day from 9-4. if that helps. I think its a really good idea, keep us updated!
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Oranges
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Post by Oranges on Dec 28, 2006 18:08:56 GMT 1
When i was little they did own a pony weeks...where you had same week and i think in the morning there was a lesson and in afternoon a hack. Also We had small competitions...you no name the points of the horse....name poisionous plants...etc...wiht rossetees. Then on last day we had a riding cometition which included pony games ;D
forgot to say, well done and good luck ;D
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