Judith Whitely joined our staff team at the beginning of October and has had a busy month organising and getting to know her helpers, both two and four footed. A week after she started we held a joint training day for staff and volunteers, called “Free to Trust” which was very helpful as it gave her an additional insight into some of the ways we try to function here at CFL.

Kelly and Joe are working with Judith on a daily basis looking after Henry, Holly and Vanity and as the number of horses increase we plan to gradually bring in other people to work on this project.

The horses are now being trained and worked every day by Judith and her team. It has been very encouraging to see Henry being “ long reined “ from the ground in preparation for pulling a carriage or cart. Eventually we hope that Henry will be our means of transport for delivering our produce around Cookridge!

There was a lot to do before the visit from the Countess of Wessex. The horses were shampooed and polished and the stables well scrubbed. Colin our farrier was shoeing Henry during the visit and while watching this we were able to talk to the Countess about some of our plans for the future.

Judith and Joseph introducing Henry, our Shire horse, to Her Royal Highness, The Countess of Wessex

We are also expecting the arrival of another Dales mare, Lady, from the same breeder as Holly, who is already used as a ride and drive pony. We would very much like to breed foals from the Shire mare and the Dales ponies.

Judith’s Norwegian pony Klaus has already arrived, he is very placid and relaxed about life, and has quickly become a favourite for cuddles.

My office has doubled up as a rather crowded tack room for the past year, but after some roof repairs we are hoping to transform one of the wood store rooms into a tidy, well designed harness and stable equipment room, which will also mean the project has a much needed base to work from.

Debbie