2009 started off with volunteer Nicky trying her hand at Trailing on Christmas Eve and Boxing day on the Space Man with Tess on Sky. Christmas Eve was a learning curve for Nicky, getting to grips with the technique on how to control the bounce that Spacey can give if held too tightly. Fueled with a few Small! yet powerful shots of port, it was not long before all fears were way forgotten. Boxing day, although bitterly cold but dry was a great day for both horses and riders.

The arrival of Deep River Bay (Burger) 5y years old, proved exciting, having suffered a tendon injury early on in 2008 it was apparent that he had not had the luxury of full turn out for a year. So for quite a few days he was restricted to the school where we hoped he would be less likely to injure himself. He spent most 4 days leaping about bucking but luckily did no damage to himself. Finally turning him out into the paddock next door to two quieter inmates proved successful and he was turned away for 10 weeks.

Within Days of Burger's arrival, another less exuberant lad who we call Dave arrived. Dave came via a request from field officer Jeff Herrington of World Horse Welfare. Dave was a little under the weather and was suffering from malnutrition and a few other problems.

He immediately struck us as a very kind and gentle boy and so was paired with Corrib Eclipse (Jeffery) and Carrick Troop. Time went very quickly and before we knew it he was picking up nicely, after 10 weeks of repair he started work and proved to be a very sweet ride if a little strong and was soon rehomed.

Devastating us in March was the loss of the most fabulous pony in the world Royal Imp.
Darling Impy who had been in the family for over 13 years and who had helped so many new arrivals settle into a new way of life died at the amazing age of 45.
Only the year previous had he been out hunting again, if only for a short time. And his little jockey Heidi, despite having moved onto Corrib Eclipse, was always pleased to take him around the village when a hyper TB needed a nanny.
For anyone out there with an old well loved pony, who thinks it would be best to find them gone one morning, think again. Despite it being one of the hardest decisions we have ever made it was by far the nicest way for him to go with all his family and friends around him.
But strangely, just weeks before Impy left us, one Sunday morning, taking 3 TB out around the village on exercise, half a mile from the yard we realised that he had walked out the yard and had decided to join us on the hack. Now for years Impy had never left the yard, he would never walk out the main gate, he was our little free range chicken who would guard the place while we were away. Now trotting toward a busy village, with no head collar or spare lead rope with which to catch him, we decided to see what the 45 years had taught him.
He stayed close to the TBs, moved to the left hand side of the road when a car came, stopped and crossed the road safely with the others and enjoyed his little trip out.
This little act of naughtiness will stay with us for ever.