Wednesday 22 September 2010

Blacksmith just been to trim ponies feet

Why does it have to rain just at the point you need to be outside?
Blacksmith arrived at the same time as the rain.
Anyway all the ponies have had their feet trimmed which will do them for another 4 months or so.
If you don't keep on top of it, their hooves grow unevenly which can cause strain on various parts of the leg/foot causing lameness.
At least they don't have shoes on (as they're not ridden much on the road)-then they'd have to be shod approx every 8 weeks plus shoeing is over 3x the cost of a trim.
It all gets rather expensive!

Nigel Botterill's Entrepreneur of the Month

Monday was a great day as I received my Entrepreneur of the month award from Mr Nigel Botterill himself, infront of well over 50 other entrepreneurs.
It was lovely that so many people recognised either me or Cheshire Pony Parties from having read about it in Nigel Botterill's Entrepreneurs Circle monthly newsletter. I felt really important.
As well as receiving a certificate, I received a bottle of Botty's Bubbly and had some professional photos taken for me to use in the business. They'll be on the website as soon as I have them-they have a fresh feel to them-I was really pleased with them.
Once I have the photos I'll use them in some PR too-got to take advantage-not every day I win anything!

Tuesday 7 September 2010

Latest equine addition moves beautifully

Well, my new mare, Kandi has arrived safely-she's very fine for a warmblood,l which is great as I'm what you might call small!
She travelled really well after a bit of kicking at first.
We've seen her REALLY move now she's in with new friends-I'm not sure I'm going to be able to ride such a big moving horse! She'll have to spend a life producing beautiful babies if I can't ride her-I'll give it a go tho'.
Unfortunately one of her shoes needs some attention so once that's sorted we can think about bringing her back into work-can't wait-she has a lovely nature-kind and seems pretty sensible, if a little babyish, though she's not been worked for about 6 months and she's only 6 AND a warmblood-notoriously slow to develop- so we;ll take it steady.
Very exciting-watch this space.

Friday 3 September 2010

New warmblood brood mare purchased

Whilst searching for another tiny pony to join the party herd here, I fell upon a beautiful 6 year old mare who wasn't too far away.
She is very well bred, was imported as a 4 year old from Germany and appears to be very sweet natured.
She's not been in work for some months as her previous owner was working away, so I'm hoping to bring her back into work-I'm really hoping that she'll ride and move nicely and that I can do a couple of dressage competitions with her-we'll see! Her real job will be to produce gorgeous foals as at 25, my 'old' mare is a bit too old to produce another foal, which is a real shame as her 4 year old son moves beautifully and can jump too.
I'm off on Sunday to collect Kandi and I'll do some lungeing with her first before getting someone far braver than me to have the first ride!
I'm really quite excited-it's been 19 years since I last bought a horse for me.
Watch this space for our progress.

Thursday 2 September 2010

Cheshire Pony Party wins Entrepreneur of the Month

I'm delighted that Cheshire Pony Parties has won Entreprenuer of the Month from serial entrepreneur Nigel Botterill's Entrepreneurs' Circle.
Nigel has built 5 multi-million pound businesses in the last 5 years and is now allocating 25% of his time helping other business owners to grow their businesses, via the Entrepreneurs' Circle.
It's by implementing just a handful of the recommendations from the Entrepreneurs' Circle that I've been able to dramatically increase the income for Cheshire Pony Parties. There are many more recommendations that I've picked up from the monthly circular and information in the members' area, which are in planning stage, but should also help drive up income.
So I'll enjoy with pride my winner's bottle of Botty's bubbly and continue to develop Cheshire Pony Parties.