Yorkshire Horse riding

Living in Yorkshire means I am never far away from horses and horse loving people. I had a long break from the horse scene as I never had the time to look after one properly. Come the downturn and a friend asked me if I would pitch in and give him a hand to build up a fledgling stables he was trying to grow.

The stables has a full range of stock from Shetland ponies,Cobs,Pony club ponies and even a few thoroughbred horses. The stables is now open and a slow trickle of customers have started coming. The stables has full size arena with jumps and a composite floor which minimises injury from falls or trips.

The Menage is fully enclosed by railings and dressage mirrors are positioned at various places. Daily trimming is done by a quad bike equipped with an attachment for levelling the arena after each days riding.

The stable backs onto four acres of sloping grassland and is truly an idyllic setting

Ten minutes on the quad bike makes short work of levelling the arena. As well as looking good it leaves a compacted and level surface for novice ponies and horses. The composite material also provides a lot safer environment if you fall off.

The new rockery looks superb and plants and shrubs are being planted ready for the spring when they should all be in bloom.

We found this van on a local farm. It is not roadworthy but the fridges all work and it runs on both mains and it's own generator. The model is a Bedford cf which is pretty well known around here. It really is a great conversation piece around here as most people of my generation will have owned one at some time.

You need a lot for working with horses. Do it right and they will charge machine guns or anything else for that matter

Fourteen years ago we were left with a baby to look after. Here he is now, He has autistic spectrum disorder but no worse for that. Given the choice again I would do the same thing over again. The deal comes with great pluses and only a few minuses. No fear,No pain,No awareness of danger. Apart from that we are best mates and I have never treated him as a kid,if that makes sense. We are best mates.

If I had my time again maybe just maybe. Some times unusual stuff comes around. This really is an age gone by. Bradford still has a large gypsy community. I can only sit and wonder what a fantastic life style it would of been to live like this.