SAMBER is incredibly lucky to have moved to Higher Park Farm, where LGB Equestrian is allowing us the use of a wide range of horses and ponies each week, meaning that we’ve been able to help a larger number of children than ever before. Here are some of our regulars:
Romeo
Romeo is our new tall, dark and handsome heart-throb of the Samber team at around 15hh. He’s a great weight-carrier and if he feels anyone become unbalanced will just stop and let them re-adjust.
Leah
Leah is a wonderful mare, a cream skewbald cob, she’s a great weight-carrier and is unfazed by loud noises making her perfect for RDA. She’s suprisingly narrow over the withers for a taller horse so we often use a sheepskin saddle with her for our riders with CP which really helps open their joints, using the warmth and natural rhythm of a walking pony.
Star
Star is 14.1hh and being slightly older than some at 20+ years she’s seen and done it all. She’s one of those horses that seems to prefer people to other horses, so loves being fussed by our RDA children.
Monkey
Monkey is a fantastic weight-carrying mare. When previously on enforced box-rest due to injury, her owners cleverly used the time to gently expose her to a variety of potentially ‘spooky’ materials. She is now so laid back and doesn’t bat her eyelid at any of our strange equipment, making her an ideal RDA pony.
Without our ponies, we just couldn’t function as an RDA Group. They (like us!) are getting older and so it’s even more important to look after them and keep them as fit, healthy and supple as we can. After all, some of our riders can intially be very unbalanced which could cause discomfort to the pony’s back and joints, so in order to best look after the riders, we need to look after these incredibly important ponies too! All our ponies received a session in 2024, so again in 2025, all our remaining stalwarts received a lovely physiotherapy and massage session from Maddie Hewitt Veterinary Physiotherapy. Using her new Hofmag machine, a Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy Unit (PEMFT), this stimulates the cell membranes encouraging them to stretch and relax with each pulse leading to increased function and accelerated healing at a cellular level. Maddie has written up some notes on each pony so we can be mindful of how we work with them and look to have further treatment if required.
During Covid, several ponies that we previously used for RDA, moved to different yards. Indy and Soldier in particular were great RDA ponies – we thank their owners for their generosity in letting us borrow them whilst they were at HPF and wish them a wonderful life in their new home. Sadly, our Samber gem, Dotty, passed away from pneumonia in November 2020. She will always be remembered fondly for her lovely long stride, gentle nature and innate ability to recognise the level and ability of her rider, plodding slowly for those who needed to find their confidence, whilst breaking into a cheeky trot for those she knew were balanced enough! RIP Dotty, forever in our hearts x
In November 2024, we learnt that Marmite, our oldest pony at 40 years, suddenly became ill and died, surrounded by peace and love. Unfazed by unbalanced or loud riders, he was completely unflappable and totally reliable. He was so happy as an RDA pony. He will be sadly missed by all who knew him – he gave so many little riders so much confidence – but he’ll always be remembered by our volunteers for barging through stable doors, cheeky and spritely to the end and cantering off in search of fresh grass! May there be fields galore for you now, RIP Marmite x