Pony club plans for central Bristol

A NEW urban horse and pony club in Bristol is being planned for young riders who keep their horses in Knowle West, Hartcliffe and Withywood.

Those behind the scheme want to set up the club at The Park community centre, which is based at the former Merrywood School in Knowle West.

It is hoped it will include an outdoor arena and some stabling, with the aim ultimately to open a riding school.

Most riders would be able to hack to the site in Daventry Road from various pieces of grazing land in the area where their ponies and horses are kept.

The club would also be a venue for youngsters to learn more about caring for their ponies.

Development worker Tracey Pool came up with the idea because of the high number of people – especially children and teenagers – in that part of Bristol who are involved with horses.

She said: "Horses and ponies are part of the culture around here and have been for a very long time. We might be in the middle of Bristol but there is a lot of grazing along this urban border and a lot of horses are ridden and driven.

"But they don't have transport to go to shows, so if there was somewhere within hacking distance, it would provide them with facilities on the doorstep.

"Families of the young people would also be able to come along and get involved in events and the club would be open to anyone interested in becoming a member.

"If it's beneficial for us to get involved with the pony club movement, then we'll also do that."

Tracey has her own long association with the Knowle West area and remembers hacking all the way to Winford as a youngster to get her pony to the farrier and to other parts of Bristol to take part in shows. She said: "Through my church work, I believe we have a responsibility to the community, and because horses are so important in this area, the club is something I'm very keen to see take off."

Tracey has also been working with the RSPCA to help riders in the locality learn more about the care of horses after the charity funded some equine care courses at HorseWorld in Whitchurch for youngsters.

The pony club idea has been welcomed by riders. Former jockey Will Haggett – he rode for trainer Jeremy Tree and broke-in double champion hurdler Sea Pigeon – keeps eight-year-olds Spirit and Buster at a council-owned site in Novers Hill, where he rides with his 15-year-old daughter, Samantha. Samantha, who attends Brislington College, said: "I used to do some competitions and I jump Spirit a bit. I'm lucky because I've got Dad to help me, but it will be good to have a club."

Her father said: "There is a need for the kids to learn about horses. Sometimes they go and buy them and have to start learning from scratch without anyone to give them advice. Having a club locally that they can go to is a great idea."

Simon Bale, the regeneration officer for the Churches Council for Industry and Social Responsibility, works on a variety of schemes for communities throughout the Bristol diocese and will help Tracey look at funding options to develop the club.