Firstly,
the team
at
Pinetrees
would like
to wish
you all a
very
happy,
healthy
and
prosperous
2011.
We are
not
beginning
with a
very good
economic
climate so
you will
be pleased
to know
that, for
at least a
few
months, we
will not be
increasing
our
prices.
However,
we are
waiting
for
confirmation
as to
whether we
have to
change our
VAT rate
from 6% to
23%. Ugh!
BAD NEWS AND GOOD
NEWS
Starting
with the Bad News,
which is
also
rather
´sad`
news,
after
eight
years
at
Pinetrees Nic has
decided to
go back
home to
Romania.
He has
become
such an
integral
part of
the
Pinetrees
team that
we will
all miss
him very
much, but
realise
that the
day has
come for
him to
spend more
time with
his
parents,
family and
friends
and I am
sure you
will all
join us in
wishing
him all
the best
for the
future.
The Good News is that
we have
two new
people on
trial for
his
replacement
and we
will let
you have
more news
of these
people in
our next
newsletter.
Also we
have some
great
students
from
Germany
and
Holland
with who
we are
sure will
prove to
be a great
asset to
helping
you enjoy
riding at
Pinetrees.
Laura will
be here
until the
end of
April and
Isa until
June.
Groenhorst
College in
Holland
has sent
us Lisanne
and Wendi,
two
cheerful
girls, for
5 weeks
work
experience.
Many
of you
will
remember
Alex from
last
summer.
She came
to help
out over
our busy
Christmas
period and
will be
back again
this
summer.
Lisanne,
Laura, Isa
and Wendi
...
ourcareer
student
We do
take
career
students
over 16
years old
for a
minimum of
one month.
We have
had
students
from many
European
countries
including
Holland,
Germany,
France and
England.
In
November
2011
Pinetrees
will be
starting a
long term
students
programme
to train
with
therapeutic
riding
and/ or
equestrian
tourism
until the
Easter
period.
Applicants
should
think of
applying
now as
there will
only be 4
places!
Just email
Bev with
your
details
and we
will get
back to
you.
New Ride
Out
We have
more Good News on Ride
Outs as we
have found
a new
access
route down
near the
Ancão
peninsular
going
around by
the salt
marshes
and across
a new area
where
there are
lots of
broken
shells and
pieces of
antique
pottery to
be found
in the
sandy
soil. You
will also
experience
lovely
views of
the tidal
lagoons as
you ride.
PONY CLUB
During
this last
winter we
have tried
a new time
for PONY CLUB which as
worked
extremely
well,
giving us
more time
in the
light and
enabling
us to work
around any
bad
weather.
So we
intend to
continue
this
timing
during
2011
Easter
period
Pony Club
will now
start at
10am and
go through
to 3pm –
you must
bring a
picnic
lunchas
you will
be hungry
by
lunchtime!
This
means that
parents
can enjoy
a quiet
morning
and
leisurely
lunch
before
children
and chaos
come back
into their
lives and
children
can spend
time with
horses and
friends in
a
supervised
environment.
HALF TERM
AND EASTER
PROGRAMMES
You will
now be
able to
find both
our
outline
programmes
for the
February/March
Half Term
and our
Easter
programme
on our
website at
www.pinetreesridingcentre.com
As you
will see,
we have
lots of
activities
planned
for your
time in
the
Algarve
including
our Half
Term
Gymkhana
on 6
March,
ABRS
Training
Sessions,
our Easter
Party on
Easter
Sunday, 24
April ... so do
book soon
to ensure
you don´t
miss out.
NEWS ON
PINETREES
HORSES
Falcão,
Alinta and
Charlie
are
muscling
up well
with
regular
training
and their
condition
has
improved
enormously
over the
last few
months.
Alinta
enjoying a
day off in
her stable
Falcão off on a hack with Laura
As we are
sure you
are aware,
it takes a
lot of
feed to
maintain
these
horses in
a good
condition
so your
support,
through
riding
here, is
very much
appreciated.
Not only
is this a
financial
challenge
for us,
especially
in this
financial
climate,
but also a
physical
effort as
the more
effort you
put into a
horse, the
better the
result you
get.
Therefore,
all
voluntary
help is
welcome
...if any
of you
have time
to come
and help
with our
horses for
even an
hour to
two just
let us
know ...
Another
area in
which you
could help
is with
new riders
... they
need
skilled
leaders to
help them
in the
beginning
to help
with their
balance
and
confidence
when
riding.
This will
help you
to get to
know our
horses
better,
learn a
little
more about
riding
from the
ground and
help
someone
else to
improve
their
riding.
Again, if
this
appeals to
you,
please
just give
us a call
or send an
email and
come and
join our
team of
voluntary
helpers.
Minimum
age 12
years. We
are
organising
Pinetrees
Helpers
courses
... look
at our
Easter
programme
for dates
and times.
The
syllabus
will soon
be on the
web site.
That´s
all for
now ...
but we
hope that
this has
whet your
appetite
and that
we will
see you
soon at
Pinetrees.
Please do
call or
email us
if you
need any
further
information.
Bev and
the team
at
Pinetrees
