OPEN DAY AND GRAND SCHOOL OPENING

In the New Year we will be organising an Open day and grand outdoor school opening. We will be combining the open day with talks, presentations, demonstrations and trade and equine interest stands. Anyone who wishes to volunteer to help on the day would be well fed and watered. More details to follow.

RUBBER MATTING

Newhall is making a significant investment in some of the leading equine rubber matting. We are starting on the Competition Yard and depending on the results will be aiming to roll the installation throughout Newhall. The mats are totally sealed and professionally installed. They are a comfort mat which is pictured below. They allow a soft forgiving bed which traps warm air and acts like a mattress for the horses. The Mats are produced by Ark Rubbers and Resins who are a locally based company specialising in state of the art rubber matting solutions. We will be one of the pioneering centres for the Comfort Mats so once they are installed speak to Kayte to come and see the results!

WELCOME TO NEW MEMBERS OF NEWHALL TEAM

Claire Boumphrey:

We welcome Claire and her partner Richard. Claire has joined us on the competition Yard as a rider groom. Claire will be helping Kayte and Jon with the competition horses and will help with producing youngsters and competing some of the more experienced horses next season.  She has had experience working with top international event riders such as Lucy Wiegersma and William Fox-Pitt and will be an asset to Newhall team, will also help with the schooling of horses on Competition Livery. Claire had a great season Eventing her top horse Synnerton (aka Ernie) having completed four 3* international events culminating in a 27^th place finish at Blenheim Palace International in September 2009. She has qualified Ernie for Badminton 4* in 2009 so we will be all keeping our fingers crossed that they make the entry for 2009.

Kerry Roberts:

Kerry joined us from the Mare and Foal sanctuary and is studying for a NVQ level 2 in Horse Care Management. She is hoping to improve her riding skills and progress her career with further qualifications through Newhall. She is a very happy fun loving girl who I am sure will brighten up the place through the wet winter days!

NEW OUTDOOR SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION TO START SOON!!!

As many of you will be aware we received planning for a magnificent new outdoor ménage in 2007.

The great news is that work will commence on the 60m x 30m ménage on Wednesday 9^th December. The design and planning has taken a number of months and we have taken great care to make sure the construction and surface chosen are of the very highest standards. We have opted for a competition surface which uses synthetic fibres blended with multi-washed silica sand and rubber crumb. The Sportrack Professional surface has the structure which improves impact absorption and provides a high performance surface suitable for applications and disciplines more demanding underfoot. The high synthetic fibre structures, including the addition of felt geo-textiles help retain moisture within the surface.

The ménage will be contained within a specialist high pressure treated boarding which will stop horses leaning on an outer fence

NEW SURFACE FOR INDOOR SCHOOL

In addition to the exciting developments outside, we have also taken the decision to refurbish the existing indoor school. The current surface is acceptable but we have had a number of concerns with it since it was laid in 2005.

Therefore we have decided to replace the existing surface with a state of the art waxed martin Collins surface. Martin Collins Activ-Track is manufactured using a blend of Equicourt washed and cleaned PVC granules, high grade industrial washed silica sand and our wax coating with the addition of our Clopf fibre. The addition of the fibre will give the surface additional root structure, giving more stability and energy return. Due to the materials being blended through the manufacturing process, it gives a consistent ride.

Our plans will be to reduce the level of the surface and consequently get rid of the step up into the school will be welcomed. All the existing surface and soil will be emptied and the level brought down to the ground level. The entire school will be then power hosed out, repainted and new schooling mirrors installed. The Martin Collins surface will then be installed and the school will be dust free and ready to ride on.