NEWS UPDATE

CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS 2022

We will be giving lessons up to and including Christmas Eve, Saturday 24th December 2022

We will close for 25th, 26th, 27th December.   We re open for lessons on Wednesday 28th December through to and including Saturday 31st December.

We will be closed as usual for sunday, being the 1st January and also for the bank holiday of Monday 2nd January.    A Pony Day will run on December 29th and a Combined Training Day will run on Friday 30th December.    During our closure days we will not be answering any phone calls or replying to emails, so please accept our apologies for this.

06/12/21:       COVID CASES:      standard cancellation policy stands of 48 hours notice to have lesson credit carried over.   Any one isolating or having tested positive for COVID will not have their credit carried over if cancelling on the day or the day before.   It must be outside our 48 hour policy.   

CHRISTMAS 2021:     We will be closed for Christmas Day, Boxing Day and will re open on the 29th December.  We will be closed on New Years Day.    Although we have horses to attend to every day of the year, please be aware that during these times the phone may not be answered and emails not responded to as quickly.

As of 29th March 2021, we have re -opened after the Covid lockdown.        Business as usual.   If you are a new client enquiries about lessons then please send an email enquiry to enquiriesatnorthbrook@gmail.com     We are extremely busy and booked up but we do run a waiting list.   All Covid precautions and safety are in place to keep Northbrook and safe and happy place for clients and staff and the ponies of course.   

UPDATE ON 02/03/21:     POST LOCKDOWN RE-OPENING DATE IS MONDAY 29TH MARCH 2021

IF YOU RIDE WITH US ON A REGULAR HALF HOUR/HOUR GROUP OR SEMI THEN PLEASE REPLY TO EITHER OUR ANNOUNCEMENT POST ON THE FACEBOOK PAGE OR SEND AN EMAIL THROUGH TO:  enquiriesatnorthbrook@gmail.com.   Please do not message staff members directly, thank you.    We look forward to seeing you all again very soon.

COVID-19 LATEST UPDATE: 2nd January 2021

We are able to stay open under current guidelines.

The only lessons that are cancelled are adult groups.  Adults can only ride in private lessons or as a group in from same household.  All children’s lessons remain unchanged.

Please sanitise your hands and we would appreciate clients wearing gloves to ride.

One person in the booking office only at a time.

Clients are only permitted to go the a stable to collect their horse for their lesson.   Therefore we ask people to stay off yard areas and just standing at front of school area when watching lessons or the view gallery.

CHRISTMAS CLOSURE

We will be closed from 25th to 27th December

Open for 3 days from 28th to 30th December.  Closed from 31st December and we will re open as normal from 2nd January.

We hope all our clients have a lovely Christmas and lets hope for a brighter new year ahead.

COVID-19   LATEST UPDATE:      5th November 2020

As per the government guidelines, we have closed until 2nd December, when the lockdown ends.

All our riders are having their next lesson moved to the first opening week in December, all as per their normal day and normal time slot.   This is being confirmed which each client and their money is being forwarded to that slot.    Any clients not turning up for their lesson in December will loose their credit, as per our normal policy.

Please see our facebook page ‘Northbrook equestrian centre and saddlery’ for daily updates and photos etc that may be posted during this time.

All Covid restrictions, precautions and social distancing will continue in December.

Please all keep safe and well and we look forward to seeing you in December.   

OUR DOG GROOMING BUSINESS ‘Canine Complete Care’ IS SAFE TO REMAIN OPEN DUTING THIS PRESENT LOCKDOWN.    Please see our website for this on www.caninecompletecare.co.uk, also our facebook page ‘Canine Complete Care.   Please send your enquiries to caninecc.offord@gmail.com.  Telephone enquiries to 07305 932690

COVID COMPLIANCE 

To be up to date with Covid-19 precautions and guidelines, in keeping our clients and staff safe we ask you to adhere to the following:

•   Please hand sanitise at sanitiser station on way in.
•   Please wait outside office to be called in for booking (one family at a time)
•   FACE MASKS MUST BE WORN IN THE BOOKING OFFICE
•   Your temperature will be taken (this is not just the rider, but also if parent is attending)
•  Be aware of socially distancing yourself as a spectator. 
•  Please do not wander around the yard, touching horses and doors etc.
•  Parents are required to adjust stirrups for the child if too young to do this themselves.  
•  Parents have to lead their child if still on lead rein, so staff can maintain the level of social distancing required
• The riders are asked to only go to and from the stable, with their allocated horse in .

We are sanitising the tack, the stable doors and bolts and all other handles etc.     We thank all our clients for helping us maintain these measures and once again thank you for your continued support.   Keep safe everyone.

CANCELLATION POLICY + CANCELLATION POLICY DUE TO SELF-ISOLATING

Our standard cancellation policy is 48 hours.  Cancellations on the day for any reason will not be refunded.    Any lessons cancelled 48 hours or longer will get a full credit carried over to your next slot. 

 No cash refunds are given.

CANCELLING DUE TO SELF ISOLATING:

Should you need to cancel your riding lesson, due to having to self -isolate, then we will need  at least 24 hours notice for this.   We will hold your credit on our books and when you re-book your next lesson you will only be charged 50% for that lesson.  So to confirm, 50% of the lesson cancelled with be carried over for you. 

Cancelling on the day for this reason will incur no refund – the money will be held to cover the lesson slot.

CANCELLATION OF ACTIVITY DAY BOOKINGS:

As our standard policy, no refunds are given if you cancel on the day or the week before the event.  However, if we can book someone else into your slot, then we will give you a full refund in the form of a credit, to be used against lessons. 

2020 DETAILS

WE ARE PLEASED AND VERY EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THAT OUR DOG GROOMING SALON WILL BE OPENING ON 26TH JUNE.   CANINE COMPLETE CARE HAS ITS OWN NEW PURPOSE BUILT CABIN AND IS STAFFED WITH CARING AND FULLY QUALIFIED GROOMERS.  PLEASE ENQUIRE ABOUT THIS.  YOU CAN READ OUR DESIGNATED PAGE TO THE DOG GROOMING ON THIS WEBSITE.  ALSO SEND AN EMAIL ENQUIRY TO CANINECC.OFFORD@GMAIL.COM.    WE LOOK FORWARD TO SPEAKING TO YOU ABOUT THE  SPECIAL DOGS IN YOUR LIFE

8th June:     It is so lovely to see our clients returning and enjoying riding again on our beautiful horses.  We have missed your presence on the yard and we welcome you back!! 

2nd June:     We can now give lessons for up to groups of 5 people.   We have plenty of control measures and social distancing in place here, to allow our customers to return and feel safe and secure in our environment.

28th May:     We are pleased to announce that we are now able to open again to carry out private lessons to our clients.  Please call us on 01480 812654 or email                                             northbrookec@gmail.com 

5th May:        It is with great sadness that we announce the loss of one of our very dear special school ponies. ‘Rosie’ has passed today.   She had been retired from work for a year or so and had                                   enjoyed this time.  I know lots of children will have many fond memories of our sweet Rosie.  

28th March: DUE TO THE CORONA VIRUS OUTBREAK THE RIDING SCHOOL IS NOW CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.

PONY CLUB CENTRE NEWS:   September 2019:-

Two new dates have just gone out for our Pony Club Training, please see our October Half Term Schedule for further information.

October Half Term Schedule is now available.  (see diary dates page for information).   Also please email northbrookec@gmail.com for an entry form for October half term activities.

SUMMER HOLIDAYS 2018

What a fantastic time we have all been having during this summer holiday.  The weather has been amazing and we have had so many fun activity days running throughout.   We still have a couple to go and you are able to see lots of photos and information about day to day life here on our facebook page (which can be found on the bottom right hand corner of our website home page).  We have also been able to enjoy some hacking and this summer we have been able to hack out some of the younger teenagers which was a great new experience for them.  

We have had to re roof one of the stable blocks recently, along with dealing with a few other issues, which has meant the opening of the Dog Grooming business “Canine Complete Care” has been delayed. 

COMING SOON TO NORTHBROOK – A HIGHLY PROFESSIONAL AND CARING DOG GROOMING FACILITY. “Canine Complete Care” soon to be opening here in a beautifully designed and equipped log cabin. We will be offering all styles of dog grooming and coat care. We will also be offering, physio therapy, puppy socialisation classes and obedience training. We will be looking to hold fun dog shows and will soon have our own Facebook page.

SUMMER RESIDENTIAL CAMPS     Due to popular demand, we are planing to run 2 camps this summer.   There will be a Senior Camp which will run from 6th to the 9th August and a Junior Camp will also run from 12th to 15th August.  We will be planning camp nice and early this year, which means the Entry Forms will be out for the beginning of March.  Once we have entries in, we will issue a Camp Information Sheet.   Please make inquiries for details of residential camp.    

*****   ENTRY FORMS FOR SUMMER CAMPS 2018 ARE NOW AVAILABLE

“Fez”    Lots of our clients, will know our very lovely school pony “Fez”    Unfortunately he has been poorly for  since end of October last year, which has meant he has had to be box rested, which basically means kept in his stable, as part of his recovery.    We have cared for him over the winter and with medication and care, he is now coming sound.  The farrier has now fitted “heart bar” shoes onto his front feet and I am so pleased to report that he is moving really well.   We have now started with his rehabilitation work to be able to bring him back into lessons.  Watch this space!!   (Feb 2018)

“MERRY LEGS”     Please welcome our new member to the Riding School – a sweet natured little pony he is!!  So far he has shone in his ability to impress and give confidence to his little riders.  He is going to be a great team member among the pony boys.    (Jan 2017)

“NEW MUCK HEAP”   As most clients will realise, we are always working on improvements to our facilities  at Northbrook.    We are now really please to have built the new muck heap area.  This has a lovely concrete base and is contained within a three sided sturdy wall.   Well done David, for this amazing work.  (Nov 2017)

“TOKKA”    We had to say a very sad goodbye to our big boy Tokka, due to health implications, basically from old age.  His arthritic condition and balance issues had become too much for him and even though he was retired from being ridden, it was too much to ask him to get through the winter ahead.   He had the whole of spring time and summer off, just being turned out and coming in for some pamper time.    This is always a very hard decision to make, as we love all our horses, but it was the right decision to let him go.   RIP dear Tokka, we will always remember you.  (Oct 17)

Our new toilet and shower with disabled facilities is almost finished.  My husband David and Mark Bass, a client and friend have been working away at it.  Its going to look fabulous when its done.   Its something we are very proud to have achieved, improving our facilities for our clients.   Thank you to Wood Green RDA and Huntingdon RDA group for their very kind donations towards this new build.

Summer holidays are now starting, so if you haven’t already done so, try and get signed up for some of our activity days so that you can join in with the fun!!  There is lots going on, with something to suit everyone.

There are a couple of new ponies here now, Daisy and Lady.  They seem very sweet and we are getting them into riding school lessons now, so we hope that you enjoy riding them.

Sadly we said goodby to “William” at the beginning of June, as he has gone home to his owner, who has returned from university.  We wish “William” all the best and I know that the staff and the clients will miss that wonderful horse.

FIND US ON FACEBOOK AT Northbrook equestrian centre and saddlery

News Updates

Please see our diary dates page for whats on over the Easter Holidays this year.  February half term is now fully booked for the activity days.

Work on improving our centre in an ongoing thing here.  We are at the moment working on the new toilet facilities which will have a full disabled toilet area.  Also a shower and changing cubicle will be included in these.

Christmas Vouchers are available. Make great Christmas presents for family and friends – can be used for lessons and against activity days.

“HACKING SUNDAYS”  have now started for the summer.  Usually at least 2 Sundays per month.  Bookings being taken.   See Diary Page

We are also a “Special Needs Equine Therapy Centre” and also have 3 registered RDA Groups based here.  If you need any more information on this kind of work and therapy that we carry out, then please inquire to Andrea (proprietor).  We deal with both children and adults within this field.

Training mirrors now being fitted into the indoor arena!!   What a wonderful addition to Northbrook

NOW AN APPROVED ABRS RIDING CENTRE

Check out our diary date page for our “Ladies Day” on 28th September and our “1 Day Camp” on Sunday 5th October.

National Diploma in “Horse Care” and “Horse Care and Riding” starting September 2014.  Pre Enrollment day on 13th August.  Please apply for information pack

Northbrook goes into partnership this year with Wood Green Riding for the Disabled Group.   We are now proud to have 3 registered charity groups based at Northbrook, offering riding for the disabled for the local special needs schools.

BHS HORSE OWNERS COURSE  Level 1 starting on Tuesday 7th January.   4 consecutive weeks (Tuesdays) from 6.30 to 8.30 plus final examination week.  £99 per person.   Please contact Andrea on 01480 812654 or via our email northbrookec@gmail.com or via the facebook page “northbrook equestrian centre & saddlery”.  Also register your interest for further levels.

THE NEW OUTDOOR IS ARENA IS BUILT – NOW JUST NEED SOME GOOD RAIN ON IT, TO BED DOWN THE SAND

OUR SHOWS ARE NOW UP AND RUNNING – PLEASE GO TO “DIARY DATES” PAGE TO DOWNLOAD OUR SCHEDULES

All our unmounted training and stable management/horse care will be done under our official Pony Club Centre.   Please ask Andrea for information and membership forms.  It is only £24 per year (payable to Pony Club head office) to join and has lots of benefits.  All training is structured as we work to badges and certificates in line with the standards of the Pony Club of Great Britain.  Please check the Pony Club official website.  Your child will receive a “welcome pack” from Head Office which has a special rosette for each child.  We have a new heated Club Room for our members, enabling us to teach with visual aids etc and to have lots of fun with our younger members.  Drinks and biscuits are included in our rallies and there are mostly at an affordable price of £5 per session.  (See our Diary Dates page for times and dates).      Look out for our “party” coming up in May!    Pony Club sweatshirts and merchandise are available.   Children are welcome to try our sessions before taking up membership.

NORTHBROOK SADDLERY – Just to say we are pleased with the opening of the shop at Northbrook.  Although we keep a minimal stock level at the moment, we are hoping to extend the ranges this year, especially with the flow of horse owners that will be coming in for competitions.  I am hoping to expand my range of riding hats and body protectors, along with some equestrian clothing.   The “Tuck Shop” section in the shop has been a great success and its lovely to be able to provide our customers with what they need on the chocolate front!!

Andrea