Life at MRT – autumn update
We hope you are all well and making the most of the sunshine. We enjoy the change of seasons to autumn at West Fenton, the colours, the harvest, and of course the stubble fields! Read on to find out about life at MRT, our participants, ponies, fundraisers and a story about our name.
It is great to see us very slowly returning to a new sense of normal at MRT, and we’ve welcomed many more participants back riding with us. There are still those waiting to come back – we are trying hard to get as many participants as we can back onto or visiting their ponies.
To help with this, we added a whole new Summer Term, we have also launched a new session using our mechanical horse, Oreo, and we have a new equine therapy session called Quiet Corner.
New Ponies
Thanks to a very generous donation from Baillie Gifford & Co, we have been able to purchase two new ponies. Cinders is doing really well with her initial training. She’s very affectionate and loves being around people. She will gradually be introduced to sessions and am sure she will become a firm favourite of our riders.
Events
Indoor Market
Our indoor market will take place on 10th October. Plenty room to browse our 50 stalls in our spacious, ventilated Arena. A great mix of local, independent talent. It looks set to be our best market yet so bring your family and friends along!
Our Winter Series Showjumping Championships is back, with for a 14th year, with 4 events over the next few months. This fundraiser invites equestrians, of all ages, especially novice riders or horses/ponies. The first one is on 3rd October. Come along to watch our local riders take on the jumps (and for some lovely home baking or bacon rolls! ). Enter here.
Order your Christmas Cards
We are delighted to present our new Christmas Cards. Two beautiful bespoke designs, created exclusively for us by award-winning Edinburgh illustrator Amy Nash with all proceeds to MRT. Email Debs with your pre-order – let us know by 30th September.
Packs of 8 cards (4 of each design), size A6, for £5.95. Message inside reads, ‘Merry Christmas and best wishes for the New Year’.
Christmas Coffee Morning & Craft Sale
Save the date – Saturday 27th November, 09.30 – 11.30am. We’re back in Gullane Village Hall! Our wonderful volunteers are hard at work in the coming months creating now legendary, beautifully decorated Christmas Cakes to order, and for sale at our Christmas Coffee Morning. Beautiful Christmas crafts & gifts, Christmas Hamper Raffle, Live music – guitar and mandolin.
Coming up…
Charity Golf Day – Renaissance 2022
We are delighted to announce the new date for our Charity Golf Day, at the prestigious Renaissance Golf Club, host of the Scottish Open, as 19th May 2022.
We invite you to join us on the fabulous 18-hole links course at The Renaissance Club, Cowden Hill Drive, North Berwick, EH39 5HS: Invitation and Booking Form
And finally, what’s in a name?
When volunteer Rosemary started at MRT we were still called Muirfield Riding For the Disabled Group.
Click here to find out about Rosemary’s volunteer story and our name change.
Introducing our new Quiet Corner
Quiet Corner will give Participants the opportunity to spend time just being with the pony in a relaxed way, interacting on a one-to-one basis. Developed by Jenny and Sharron, two of our experienced Coaches, our Quiet Corner is a new initiative currently being piloted as an alternative option, part of our equine therapy service.
We’re delighted to be back hosting our 3rd Indoor Market here in our Arena at West Fenton, EH39 5AL, and invite you to come and browse our 50 stalls of crafters, producers, upcycle & car boot-ers! A great mix of local, independent talent.
Our Autumn Rally Trail is back!
Looking for something to do during October and the mid term break? Our Autumn Rally Trail is back! Jump in your car and take part, anytime between 1st – 31st October 2021! A fun drive, at your own leisure, through beautiful East Lothian countryside, with lots of clues to spot on the way and picnic viewpoints. All correct entries will be added into our prize draw.
This is our 3rd Rally Trail, with 97 teams taking on the challenge last time. For this event, our route starts and ends in the historic village of Ormiston, and you take part at your own leisure anytime up to Sunday 31st October.
Allow around 2.5 hours to complete the 26 mile route, depending on your picnic stop and clue spotting skills! Take part at your own leisure, it’s not a race so take your time to enjoy the route as it winds its way around the beautiful East Lothian, in all its autumnal colours.
Prize Draw
This event is part of our alternative and COVID safe ways to fundraise and raise awareness of our work during the continuing pandemic. But perhaps most importantly, it’s about having a bit of fun together during this tough time.
When volunteer Rosemary joined the charity, we were still named the Muirfield Riding for the Disabled Group (Muirfield RDA). Read on to find out about Rosemary’s volunteer story and our name change.
ROSEMARY
Would you like to volunteer with us?
Read our information and registration process here
Our long running Winter Series is back for its 14th year, open to ALL AGES. Benefit from an all-round professional Show Jumping experience, but in a relaxed, friendly, encouraging atmosphere. There are 4 events this time, you can join in all 4 events in the Series or just on dates which suit you!
3 October, 7 November, 5 December 2021, and the Final on 6 March 2022
Welcome to our Winter Series Show Jumping Championships 2021/22! NEW Online entry via HorseMonkey (with entries on the day depending on availability). Pre-entry of competitors will allow us to provide more accurate class timings throughout the day. All proceeds support Muirfield Riding Therapy, a member group of RDA UK, providing pioneering, life-changing equine therapy.
CLICK TO ENTER HERE via horsemoneky.com then log in or create an account
Note, We will open online entry for the next event in the Series after each previous event.
Each event is part of the points system for the overall Winter Series and all points earned will count towards your final total. Our 4-event Show Jumping Championships is aimed at riders, horses and ponies of ALL AGES and experience.
New to riding?
Getting back into riding?
Want to introduce your equine, or yourself, to Show jumping?
Nervous rider, or equine?
Looking to build up experience over the winter months?
Don’t have full Showing rider kit to wear?
Benefit from:
Experienced Judges
Advice from our Judge and Team on the day
A supportive approach to you and your equine’s performance
40 m x 20m Indoor Arena
Arena surface particularly suitable for jumping
10 Classes to choose from lead rein to Open
Adult Rider-Only Class (21 years+) always included
Entry via Horse Monkey or On-the-day (subject to availability)
Low cost entry fees
Beautiful rosettes for all Classes
Outdoor Arena/Clear Round practice
Spectators’ Viewing Gallery o All day cafe – bacon rolls, soup, our legendary home baking!
FREE Parking
Three Trophies are awarded at the Series Final in March:
Wobblies Trophy
Presented to the rider/pony/horse combination which has accrued the most points from selected classes
The Fiona Mossan Trophy
Presented to the rider/pony/horse combination which has accrued the most points from selected classes
The Niven Family Trophy
Presented to the most improved rider of the Series.
Queries? Please get in touch