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 ‘From the horse’s mouth’ features by his pony friends at Park Lane.
“People say magic isn’t real, but it’s real at Park Lane.”
By Natalie O’Rourke and Hannah Collard-Gray
We’d like to introduce you to Hannah. You might recognise her as a regular smiling face in our posts, as she’s been part of the Park Lane team for over a decade. But she’s shy, and often happy to be in the background.
Prodney’s blog: Well, I must say, all these new faces around is good news
By Prodney
I remember the early days in Teddington just after Natalie had started Park Lane Stables when it sometimes felt as if it was the two of us against the world. Now the Stables is so much bigger and thank goodness that the regular human team is getting some extra help.
Prodney’s blog: Can you mind the shop?’, they said
By Prodney
My role at Park Lane Stables is what you’d call ‘front of house’ if we were a restaurant – I meet and greet, and oversee the smooth running of the yard in a supervisory role. But this last few weeks it’s been all hooves on deck…
Prodney’s blog: We all matter. (Especially me.)
By Prodney
There’s definitely been something in the air since Natalie got back from the RDA Coaching Conference she attended with Park Lane coaches Jo, Peter and Toni.
A very personal story of how horses have helped my struggles with mental health
By Naomi Ghafoor
“I began riding at the age of four and loved it from day one.” As Naomi explains, horses are where her story starts and continues…
Prodney’s blog: Well, it could have happened like this: Bella Notte
By Prodney
I like to keep my past shrouded in mystery, as befits my aristocratic heritage, so I will let you decide how much of Bella Notte is fact and how much fiction. I’m not telling.
Prodney’s blog: really, we’re not so hard to understand
By Prodney
We horses may not be big talkers, but tune in a little to our body language and you’ll understand us just fine. Take kicking our stalls, and pawing the ground.
Prodney’s Blog: Two of our favourite things: summer fields and scratches
By Prodney
The Stables is closed for August, but does that leave us kicking our hooves? Well, yes literally, but it doesn’t mean we’re not occupied. Read what life’s like in the field, and watch a video of new pony Charlie enjoying a perfect scratch!
It’s time I said thank you to Reggie
By Natalie O’Rourke
This pony is just something else. The trust he puts in me is unbelievable. And the moustache is admired by all he meets. (Well, I can’t write about Reggie and not mention it, can I?)
Prodney’s Blog: David and Spotty go racing
By Prodney
Well, well, well, David IS a dark horse. Turns out he’s dreamed of riding in a race since he was 12, though in more recent decades he’d assumed he’d never do it.