Rosemary Riley, chair of the Calvert Stables committee, is keeping Reminder readers up-to-date with life at the Calvert Trust Riding Stables at Old Windebrowe on the outskirts of Keswick.
The stables offer people with disabilities horse experience activities such as natural horsemanship, stable management, understanding horse behaviour and working horses, as well as horse riding and carriage driving.
April update
Rosemary writes: “To all our friends and supporters, we hope you are keeping well, and staying safe at home during the coronavirus lockdown.
“Closing the Calvert Stables during the Covid-19 crisis has been incredibly difficult for our staff and volunteers but especially hard for our riders who by now will be really missing their riding and all the benefits this brings – exercise, mobility, core strength, socialising, learning, co-ordination, mental stimulation and calming effect.
“Contact with horses brings so much to humans, but especially to those who can’t easily communicate. Many of our riders won’t understand why they can’t come horse riding; this is particularly hard on them and their carers at this difficult time.
“Kind people have been asking after the Calvert Trust horses and ponies, rest assured, they are having a spring break and enjoying some time off in the fields, but they do still require care and attention. With no income coming in, the trust is having to find money to pay for their day-to-day up keep, to ensure they are kept in the best of health, so when we are given the go ahead, we can reopen and get up and running again as quickly as possible.
“Follow our horses on our Facebook page ‘Calvert Stables’ and share posts so that people can see what we do.
“Please also share our fundraising appeal https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/BeccaGraham3 – we need to raise £1,000 towards our grazing and daily upkeep costs of the horses over the next couple of months to keep them feeling their best!
“From all the team at Calvert Stables, thanks to all our supporters and riders, we miss you all and I know you are missing the horses terribly. Please look after yourselves, stay at home and keep safe.”
