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AUTUMN 2010 Hi, Team Hurstwood has had a busy summer, and we're using this 'multi purpose' newsletter to let you know what's been going on and what we've planned for the remainder of the year and the beginning of next.
Farm in General Regular visitors may have noticed that Mike has done a lot of ground-scaping during the Summer. There are now more seating areas around the farm, and our drive has been cut back. This is for the benefit of our cottage visitors and our regular riding visitors. Some of you may have seen a picture of our rescue hens shortly after arrival in June – well they have really feathered up now as you can see.
Our Self Catering Cottages We were thrilled to pass our '4 Diamond Rating' with many complementary comments. In the last few months we have introduced a private patio area, rubbish recycling, luxury toiletries, a welcome food pack and Wifi access.
With Autumn coming up it's a 'feast-full' time – we are already cropping the first wild mushrooms, the blackberries are starting to ripen and the colours on our farmland are spectacular in October. Our cottages are cosy and welcoming -take advantage of our keen rates and treat yourself!
For the Christmas break we can offer a really special time – from 18th December each cottage will have a Christmas Tree. Our local pub, The Hurstwood (yes it is within walking distance) is having a Christmas Eve special with live music and carols. We are happy to recommend and arrange Christmas Day lunches at local restaurants. Sharron can also advise you on late night Christmas Shopping! On the Horsey Side Our Livery Yard received a 'surprise' inspection visit from the British Horse Society in July. We pride ourselves on our first class facilities, this together with Rachael's (and I quote) 'high standard of equine management' meant yet again we flew through our BHS Approval with flying colours.
In July and August we hosted four Novice Clear Round Days which were well supported and great fun. We'll be continuing with these but moving to the outdoor arena for the Autumn and Winter months.
We are also planning a Novice One Day Event next Spring. Entries for this will be limited so do get in touch with Sharron via Email if you'd like to know more.
Summer 2010 saw Hurstwood Farm 'Horsey Holidays' take off. Ouse Valley Riding Club 'invaded' us over an August weekend with 14 riders and 12 horses. With two daily lessons, use of the cross country course and optional hacks they had a very full weekend!
This was the first 'big' group we'd hosted and we were thrilled by the way it went. So were they – read the comments on our website!
For the future we are keen to offer long and short breaks for riders with their own horses. Ouse Valley showed us the way with some folk sleeping in tents or lorries and others taking advantage of our lovely cottages. We are now able to offer 'Value' accommodation; you can sleep on a proper bed, have a hot shower and prepare a meal in the fully equipped kitchenette. Ideal for younger people who want to have a midnight feast whilst Mums have an early night!. Please contact Sharron for more information.
For the horses we can offer grass livery (subject to availability) or stabled keep. For young riders without their own pony, Barney our rescue pony is keen to help out. Here he is having a wonderful time with Alice and our own Rachael.
There's more information about Horse Holidays on this website or do call us for an informal chat. We will be happy to show you around and tailor a package for you.
OLDER NEWS SUMMER 2010 Here are the Second Chance Brigade - I'll start off with a not very pretty picture. Our new arrivals at Hurstwood Farm have caused some concern.
Early in June we re-homed 10 ex battery hens. This picture was taken 2 weeks after their arrival, I honestly think a picture of them on arrival would be too upsetting to put on our website. Please rest assured that these girls are looking better with each day.
These hens are 18 months old, and had reached the end of their commercial laying life. If we had not rehomed them, they would have become dog food – such a waste as there is still many years of good laying ahead of them. Before coming to Hurstwood Farm, they had not seen daylight or grass. For the first few days they were too frightened to come out of their house – but with the help of some 'old timers' (hens we rescued last year) they gained confidence and I am certain that 'sunshine vitamins' are helping their feathers grow back. We are getting so much pleasure from watching them enjoy their new stress free lives.
If you would like to know more about giving battery hens a second chance in life please visit;
With the light evenings, our horses are enjoying their hacks on the forest – and it's a fine time to safely introduce our youngsters to sheep and cattle! 'Commoners' who live on the forest have rights to graze their animals around the area known as 'Kingstanding' (the rights are attached to dwellings and not to people). There are about 20 cattle and about 70 sheep out on the forest at the moment and they'll graze there until November. They are used to horse riders and remain quietly nibbling away at the grass as we ride by. It's a really nice sight.
During the month of June we are very 'hay minded' – I get a little stressed if the hay isn't in by the time the Rose Bay Willow Herb is flowering (some may regard this as a weed- but as the old saying goes it's just 'a flower in the wrong place')
Mike is hoping to cut the hay towards the end of June or the beginning of July, we were hoping the grass would get thicker, but with so little rain it hasn't. It's important for us to use our own hay and haylage – we know exactly what's gone into it. We only use 20-10-10 fertiliser and our own rotted down horse manure. We only spot treat weeds so pollution to the fields is kept to a bare minimum. This is so beneficial for the wildlife and the environment.
On the subject of sun and rain – if we have a wet July (perish the thought!) – we will have to carefully monitor our ponies grazing to avoid laminitis. Our ponies claim never to know where their next meal is coming from - so they don't waste a moment of turn out time and gorge constantly, unlike the horses who regard turn out time as 'me time' and doze and watch the world go by.
We've planted some pansies, honeysuckle, clematis and lavender on the new trellis work around the holiday cottages, it makes the courtyard area a little more fragrant and private for our guests.
Now watering the pansies is quite easy – I quite enjoy it – but:
Does my bum look big watering the hanging baskets?
Shows galore to go to – another personal favourite coming up on August Bank Holiday Sunday and Monday 29th and 30th August. Brilliant horse classes, dog agility display, lots of cattle, sheep, pigs, goats and llamas and not a dancing digger in sight!
SPRING 2010 After a long winter we are enjoying the Spring. The farm is looking so green and we have a busy Summer to look forward to. Hopefully you can just see the deer in this photo - at Hurstwood Farm we are pleased to see them most days . The horses are losing their winter coats and the birds are eager to gather the horse hair for nest building – there is quite a variety of colours to choose from, chestnut and grey seem to be a favourite this year! The woodland walk is a fragrant treat at the moment with bluebells - a nice walk before supper.
Talking of birds – our free range hens are laying so well, despite their dreadful past (they are rescued battery hens) they coped with winter very well and are now very perky, searching for worms after the rain. We have made a courtyard around our holiday cottages. The peacocks are nesting in the flower beds - quite a sight. They get on well with the chickens, and ignore the dogs so they are welcome guests. This photo shows Rasputin, our favourite peacock displaying to a lady friend outside the holiday cottages. And she has turned her back on him!
The Show season is upon us and we are looking forward to entering some of our young horses. The Heathfield Show on Saturday 29th May is a real gem – what we call 'an old fashioned show' – plenty of animals to see, a farmers market and lots of crafts.
The South of England Show at Ardingly runs from 10th – 12th June this year – take my tip – don’t take a packed lunch but visit the Women's Institute tent, gorgeous home made savouries and sweets – ready to eat or take away!
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