This blog was started to share Prodney’s astute observations about Park Lane life. As our Chief Equine Officer he also graciously welcomed guest blog posts from Natalie and others. We hope you’ll enjoy reading his, and their, insightful articles in the pages below.
To honour Prodney’s memory this page will now include monthly ‘The horse’s mouth’ features by his pony friends at Park Lane.
Prodney’s Blog: Life and love in Petersham
By Prodney
I’ve spent the winter at Manor Farm and am finding it very much to my liking. As yard supervisor I make a point of doing my rounds which helps keep horses and humans on their hooves/toes and the operation running smoothly.
Prodney’s Blog: Sleeping standing up or lying down: pros and cons
By Prodney
You humans are a funny lot. See a horse lying down and you think we’ve fallen over, or are sick. Catch us standing up and snoozing and you marvel that we don’t fall over. Here’s the lowdown on what’s going on.
Carriage driving, the next best thing to riding?
By Natalie O’Rourke
RDA stands for Riding for the Disabled. Stables are always associated with riding. And yet for us, and for many stables, carriage driving is important in its own right. It’s exciting and very skilful. In this month’s article, we explain its significance for Park Lane Stables.
Prodney’s Blog: When is it OK to feed treats to a horse?
By Prodney
I take my responsibilities as Chief Equine Officer seriously, and one of them is to educate humans about horse welfare and behaviour.
The whole herd is obsessed with treats at the moment, as we know there’s a stash of them sent by some very lovely people as Christmas presents. So a few words about horses and food seems timely.
What does this news mean for Park Lane Stables?
By Natalie O’Rourke
This wonderful photograph is of Park Lane in the 1950s, but there have been horses here for a LOT longer than that, at least 200 years in fact. This is a whole new chapter in its history. Our horses will once again be seen on the streets, and at the ‘cuddle door’ on Park Lane itself.
Prodney’s Blog: Natalie’s been secretive, I knew something was up
By Prodney
I loved all the media attention this spring, but secretly I was glad to head off down to our fields for a nice quiet summer.
There’s definitely been something in the air, though...
Prodney’s Blog: Why we’d love you to scratch our withers
By Prodney
How often do you see a horse being thanked by its rider with an enthusiastic pat?
Here’s what we’d actually prefer, and why.
Prodney’s Blog: Why do horses roll?
By Prodney
Humans just love giving us baths, then get frustrated when we go for a good roll just as soon as we can. It’s time I let you all into a secret…
From the front line of an endurance ride in Wales
By Lucy Tomlin
Endurance is a long-distance riding discipline in which riders map-read their way across open countryside at a competitive pace, ensuring the horse’s fitness and condition along the route with vet checks before and after the ride…
Lee’s story perfectly illustrates why we do this job
By Natalie O’Rourke
We first met Lee (not his real name) a few months ago when we took ponies Barney and Polly with us to meet the residents of a local children’s home. Although he was curious he watched from a distance and didn’t talk to us.