There’ll be a little bit of the farm in the city these summer holidays when “Ready Set Trot” brings ponies and young horse lovers, aged 5 – 12 years, together in the Park Lands adjacent North Adelaide (Nanto Womma, Park 6) for the first time to learn about horse riding and husbandry.
Aimed towards children who are interested in horses but don’t have one of their own, the program gives them the chance to learn about and have fun with horses in a safe, practical and affordable environment.
Ready Set Trot sessions will be located in a section of the Park Lands that is often underutilised, and give children the opportunity to learn about horses in a picturesque Park Lands setting.
“It’s great to see this space in the Park Lands being used by the children of Adelaide. I’m certain Light and Wakefield would approve!” said Lord Mayor Stephen Yarwood.
“We hope to see more enterprises like this emerge in our community, helping make the city a destination for fun and child friendly activities in the holidays.”
Morning and afternoon sessions, divided by age groupings are on offer and subjects covered will include stable skills, horse awareness and basic physiology, with a maximum of eight students in each group.
One of the people behind this innovative idea, Basia Vucic, believes this provides a variety of fun activities in the great outdoors and may be the start of a life-long passion.
“We are delighted to have the opportunity to bring the rural to the urban and to give children the chance to experience horses where they may not have otherwise been able,” she said.
“Often affordability is an issue when it comes to ponies, parents want to make sure their children understand the commitment pony ownership requires before they purchase. The program is an opportunity for children experience the responsibility that pony care requires.”
This new school holiday program has been developed in association with Equestrian Australia, Pony Club Australia and the Australian Sports Commission and there are plans afoot to continue the program in other school holidays throughout the year.
To find out more about Ready Set Trot or to enrol your child in the next program kicking off on 7th January 2013 go to www.readysettrot.com
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