Summerfield Stables

06/09/2024

It’s a common misconception that a horse’s teeth keep growing indefinitely. In reality, horses have evolved to have hypsodont dentition, meaning they have teeth with a large reserve crown that gradually erupts over their lifetime whilst being worn down through grazing.

The teeth erupt and wear down at a rate of approximately 2-4mm per year. This process means that the length of the hypsodont tooth is finite; eventually, the tooth will wear down completely as the horse ages.

If dental overgrowths occur and are not properly managed, they will continue to worsen over time because the teeth will continue erupting. Regular dental check-ups are essential to address these issues and maintain your horse’s oral health.

04/09/2024

All riding lessons are back to their regular times.

26/08/2024

26/08/2024

A huge well done to our star of the week this week, Rhys! We are super proud of you getting into the new Level 2 Equine course at Solihull and also how helpful you’ve been during your volunteering days!

19/08/2024

Our final Pony Camp of the summer is here! Join us from 25-26th August as we camp out at the home yard. This camp is open to all of our riders aged between 6-16. We will be going to Solihull Riding Club on the Monday to partake in some of the classes being held! If you are interested, please book via ecpro.

15/08/2024

Good luck to all receiving their Alevel results today. Well done for all your hard work and we hope that you are happy with your results!

14/08/2024

Solihull Riding Club are still looking for volunteers to help with Sheet collecting and pole picking over the coming weekend
Please contact them if you are able to help out as your help would be very much appreciated. Vouchers will be given to those who help out for either a half or whole day.

🙏🙏 Volunteers needed - Aspen Cooling Ltd Solihull Horse Trials - Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th August 🙏🙏

We’re fast approaching our British Eventing Horse Trials and we’re in need of volunteers to help us!

This year we’ve joined forces with BEDE Events to deliver our BE Horse Trials, so we can benefit from their expertise and support for our team 👏

However, the BE is still very much our event and that’s where our wonderful volunteer network comes in. Volunteers are an absolutely integral part of our event delivery team and we simply can’t run our events without you!

We’re in need of volunteer support in all areas across both days - fence judges, dressage writers, stewards and sheet collectors. You’ll be well looked after as always, with refreshments and Solihull Riding Club vouchers to thank you for your time.

If you can help us, please email Chloe at BEDE on [email protected] as she is helping our team to coordinate our volunteers. Thank you for supporting Solihull ❤️

BEDE Events
British Eventing Official

13/08/2024

Make Them Carry Their Saddle

A father of a darling girl and I were talking last week and he said that he wanted his daughter to ride more and not have to do the work part of the catching, grooming, and saddling. I smiled as I explained.

Riding horses is a combination of strength, timing, and balance. Kids in this country are physically weak (unless they are actively involved with weight training and physical conditioning 4+ times a week.)

When you walk out to the field, you are clearing your stress from being under fluorescent lights all day; feeling the sun soak into your bones. As your body moves on uneven surfaces, it strengthens your legs and core.

When you groom your horse (especially currying), you are toning your arms and stabilizing your core.

When you carry your saddle, your arms, chest, and back are doing isolated strengthening work.

Being near horses, calms and makes you tune into the splendor of these empathetic animals.

When you ride at a posting trot, it’s equivalent to a slow jog calorie burn wise.

After a lesson, the riders are physically tired and mentally quiet and balanced.

Horses feel your heart beat and mirror your emotions back.

Riding large and somewhat unpredictable animals makes you resilient and pushes your expectations.

Working with horses is so much more than learning how to ride.

So parents, make your children carry their saddles. Don’t do the hard parts for them, as long term it actually hurts them. To advance with their riding, they must get stronger. You can help by doing the high parts.

I love having you all at the farm, and am so grateful to get to share these fascinating animals with you.

Hannah Campbell Zapletal

13/08/2024

The Pony Club championships is a great family day out for all horse lovers from Summerfield Stables. Take a picnic and enjoy the fun.

https://pcuk.org/national-championships/?dm_i=7KLU,4723,4857M,HJUD,1

Join us on 14th August at the JCB National Championships for a jam-packed day of excitement!🎉

'Centres Day' at The JCB Pony Club Championships 2024...
All Pony Club Centre Members, Proprietors, and Coaches are welcome.

🗓 Date: 14th August 2024
🌟 Special Guest: Netflix's 'Free Rein' star Joe Ashman
🎉 Celebrate 25 Years of Pony Club Centres Fun!

What's Happening:
👉 Activities, Games & Competitions: Get in on the action in the Fan Zone!
👉 Say hello to the Centres team.
👉 Shopping & Snacks: Check out trade stands and grab a bite to eat.

Special Guests:
✨ Emma Webb and Miles! DoItForBrodie
✨ Joe Ashman: Meet the 'Free Rein' star from 11:30am in the HorseQuest Fan Zone.

➡️ Joe will also judge the 'Hobby Horse Race Across The Sports,' a fun event in collaboration with Agria and LeMieux, from 2-3pm!

➡️ For more information, please contact [email protected] or check out pcuk.org/fan-zone-2024/ 🔗

11/08/2024

Last chance to nominate! Our centre, our instructors, our young people and our horses would love to get your vote!

Thanks to everyone who has submitted their BHS Annual Awards 2024 nominations📝

⏳ Deadline for all nominations is today. It takes just 5 minutes to make someone's year! 👉 https://bit.ly/49wYgXc

06/08/2024

Some lovely photos from our last camp!

06/08/2024

What a star! Such an angel on pony camp. Took it all in her stride from dressage to XC and from showjumping to pony club games. Can't believe how much she has settled and fitted in to the team!

05/08/2024

All activities will only be able to be booked via ec-pro. Here are some instructions on how you can book an activity. Please email Diane on [email protected] if you have any questions about the booking process!

05/08/2024

This is a great opportunity for some of our riders to get involved in. Please use the email in the image to contact if you or your child are interested in being involved. We encourage you to do this as soon as possible as casting will be done by the end of the week!

04/08/2024

This is to clarify that the Pony Days throughout August are open to both our regular riders AND those on the waiting list. Please book via ecpro using the link below: https://summerfieldstables.ecpro.co.uk

03/08/2024

02/08/2024

Our Pat A Pony sessions are back on the 13th and 20th of August! Please use the link below to book through ecpro:
https://summerfieldstables.ecpro.co.uk

02/08/2024

Join us on Mondays and Wednesdays throughout the month of August for fun Pony Days aimed at our non-riders on the waiting list! This is a great chance for those on our waiting list to experience pony care and riding!
You must register on ecpro to book these activities and there are discounts for multiple days booked.

30/07/2024

27/07/2024

It's soon time for our campers to wake up and get ready for some showjumping at Solihull Riding Club

26/07/2024

To all the horses, ponies and donkeys of all shapes and sizes. Thank you so much for everything you have taught us, even when we were rather unwilling to learn it. It is so easy to ride the ponies that we click with rather than those we struggle with and who show up our shortcomings.

For the love of all riding school Ponies and Horses

A small stab in the heart is what you feel when you put up the day’s riding list and you see riders sinking heavily in their shoulders when reading which horse they are assigned for the lesson. A small stab in the heart for that horse that for an hour will carry around a rider who has already decided that he does not like his horse. A small stab in the heart for the horse that did not choose the rider himself but still does his best, lesson after lesson.

Riding is a privilege and something you have chosen to do. If you chose to ride at a riding school, your instructor assumes that you actually want to learn how to ride. The instructor’s highest wish is that you get good at it.

Often there is a plan and a thought as to why you are assigned to that exact horse. Before you mount up next time, ask yourself “what can this horse teach me today?” All horses have something to give, a feeling or a new tool in the box.

The art is actually in being able to get a lazy horse to move forward, to get an uncertain horse to gain confidence, a naughty horse to focus or a tense horse to be released. It takes work. If you think a horse is boring, it’s more likely that you don’t ride the horse as well as you think! It’s not easy to be confronted with your own shortcomings, but it is in that very situation that you get the chance to truly grow as a rider.

The excuse that “it’s not my kind of horse” is actually a really bad excuse. A good rider can ride any kind of horse. A good rider has trained many hours on different types of horses to become a good rider. A good rider can find and manage the gold nuggets in every horse.

If we absolutely want to ride, it is our duty to strive to do it as best as possible, even if it’s only for fun. We owe it to every horse that carries us upon it’s back.

Copied and shared with love for all of our horses, ponies and riders 🐎❤🐎

23/07/2024

Just finished your GCSEs and figuring out your next move? Passionate about horses? 🐴

Dive into our BTEC Level 2 in Equine Studies! This one-year course is your gateway to an exciting career with horses, covering everything from Equine Biology and Tack to Practical Yard Duties. Gain real-world experience at Solihull Riding Club and our Animal Welfare Centre.

Transform your passion into a profession - apply today: https://www.solihull.ac.uk/demographic/16-to-19/category/animal-management-veterinary-nursing/course/btec-level-2-technical-diploma-in-equine-studies/

22/07/2024

Join us at our home yard for a one night pony camp for riders who have not yet camped with us before. Last year we had lots of fun riding, making friendship bracelets, doing archery and dolling up the ponies. We have loads of interesting things coming up this year, so please book via ecpro!

17/07/2024

We would love some volunteers to come over to our Solihull site this Saturday for a big tidy up! This will be in preparation for the next few weeks of our pony camp! If you would like to come and help, please send us over a message ✨

17/07/2024

Please let us know if you have any questions about the above time changes.

16/07/2024

You still have time to book onto our Pony Camps! Our first of the bunch is starting next week and we are very excited! If you have any questions about suitability or payments please message us with your questions.