At the AGM on 23rd October Les Evans stepped down as Chairman. He had been in the role since 2005, with a short break of 18 months and we are all very grateful to Les for the years of hard work, committment and for leading the charity with a steady pair of hands! He will continue to be a familiar figure around the stable yard and will remain a Trustee, to ensure a smooth transition as he hands over the Chair to Morag Bennett. THANK YOU Les from everyone involved with FPDRG.
Hi Everyone,
What a fantastic day of celebration we had on Sunday. A huge thank you to everyone who was involved, whether as a volunteer, a rider, a parent, a carer, a person from the stables, a colleague, a friend, an official, a donor and anyone who couldn't be there on the day. The hours flew by with fun and games, pony rides and carriage rides, thing to do and things to see. We were surrounded by people's smiley faces, children's laughter and the enthusiasm of all involved.
It was a special day with special people everywhere.
So, on behalf of all the Trustees, an enormous thank you. Without support from people like you, we would not be able to continue the work that we do.
Kind Regards
Sue
AT FOLLIFOOT PARK RIDING CENTRE Our day of celebration is fast approaching and we hope you’ll be able to join us. There will be games, a range of activities including face painting, pony and carriage rides (some may incur a small charge), and a splendid raffle with prizes kindly donated by local businesses. There will be a food van and ice cream van in attendance and tea and coffee available. We are also holding an Art Competition…draw, paint or scribble your favourite horse or pony. Entries to be in by 12 noon on 13th September please and judging will be done on the day. Thanks to Follifoot Park Riding Centre for hosting the event and we look forward to seeing you there!
We are delighted to be celebrating 25 years as an Independent Charity, we think it's quite an achievement, especially as we are completely run by volunteers! To mark the occasion, and in conjuction with Follifoot Park Riding Centre, we will be inviting all those involved with the charity to a day of fun and activities on 15th September 2019 between 11am - 2.30pm. Food vans will be available along with refreshments, games, competitions and rides (there will be a small charge for some activities). Please look out for your invitation and we look forward to welcoming you along.
Every year our Patron, Michael Abrahams, kindly hosts a picnic as a way of saying thank you to our volunteers and to get all the riders, carers, parents and volunteers together. It's a lovely event and fun for all! This year it will be held at a new venue in Ferrensby and will take place on Monday 19th August. Further details will be issued before the end of term. We look forward to welcoming you there.
This year’s gymkhana will be held on Friday 28th June, so fingers crossed for some glorious weather! We have run this event for many years and it’s always a fun filled day with lots of rosettes to be won. Entry forms are due back by 7th June please. As with everything we do, this is organised and run by our fantastic volunteers, so if any of you would like to help on the day please let us know. Look forward to seeing you there.
Harrogate Borough Council, in conjuction with Lions International have run a local initiative recently to provide a number of life saving defibrillators around the area. We are delighted to have received one of these and it can be found on the wall at Follifoot Park Riding Centre. We hope no one ever has the need to use it but it's there if they do! Our thanks go to all those involved with the project.
After three years of riding every Friday with FPDRG it was Arthur's last session today. It's hard to put into words what this activity has meant to us, when Arthur started he could only lay on the back of a horse on a sheepskin rug, he now pulls himself to standing in the saddle and can instruct his horse to 'walk on'. In the darkest days of our earliest diagnosis getting to go riding was something to look forward to, something in our new routine that wasn't appointments and assessments, and as Arthur grew it was something to be proud of with his peers, he may not have been able to walk or talk but he could ride a horse! Over the years the volunteers have become friends and the other children and parents, part of our additional needs family, we mums support each other and have always been grateful for the chance to share information, experiences, laughs and a fair few tears while our children were off on their horses. Arthur and I will hopefully continue our riding experience and once he is settled in his new school, I'll be back as a side walker. So until then, forever thanks to our Friday heroes!
Thank you to local businessman Richard Hughes for his kind donation of £166. The money was raised through selling his pots of delicious home made jam...we're very grateful to you!
We visited the Coop on Leeds Road and at Pannal last week to say a big 'Thank You' for the funds they have raised for us this year. We were delighted to receive a cheque for £8979.52 and would like to thank all of you who shop there for your generous support...amazing amount!
