Our homeschool's Junior & Middle-School students made a trip to Balik Pulau this year as part of our year-end-activity. Ms. Louise, one of our supervisors who loves horses and has had her fair share of riding ieuring her university-time in New Zealand has visited the stables before and was more than happy to share the experience with the students !
It was a clear and warm day. Fantastic weather for a trip to the stables! The bus ride took 40 minutes. Lots of chatter and laughter all the way to our destination. Little did they know they won't have any energy left for the return trip ! Greeting us at Countryside Stables Penang were the owners themselves, Mr. Wan and Madam Dorris. They are warm and lovely people who are always happy to share their love and knowledge of equines. The kids were given a short briefing on "horse-manners" and a case of imported hay to feed the horses. Many of our students had never seen a horse outside of a screen, and some of them took awhile to gather the courage to walk up to these magnificent beasts.
High Quality Imported Hay !
A lucky pony getting fed and pet at the same time !
Nervous. Feeding 1 strand at a time .... you can do it Calvin !
Strategizing which horse to feed first !
Fascinated...Nervous.... Lets go Esther !
All tangled up !
Oh look ! A Pony !
What a beautiful girl !
Ms Hoe Ling taking time to bond with this one!
Nom-Nom-Nom-Nom !
After the students were done feeding the horses and had their fill of horse-petting, it was time for horse rides ! There was a selection of helmets with a variety of colors and sizes for the students. Mr. Wan had the students put on a hair-net for hygienic purposes. The students then lined up as they mounted the horses one at a time. Their rides were not done after, either ! Onto the carriage-ride !
Pick your helmets !
Lining up for their turn at riding a horse !
Mr. Wan, making sure shes all set !
Kate is enjoying the ride ! She couldn't stop smiling !
Janine, looking like a natural !
Yuu Lii was all smiles too !
Daniel, confident as ever !
One handed ?! Nick is enjoying his ride.
This Pony has a special place in the kitchen !
Carriage ride time !
Its obviously lots of fun !
Wooooo, feel the breeze !
Calvin making himself at home
After all the rides, Madam Dorris gave the kids a quick introduction on a horse's diet, what they ate and how much and also some basic grooming and brushing of a horse. After 2 hours of fun and learning, we made our way back to the bus and headed back to school. Energy spent, adrenaline back down, the kids were much quieter on the way home, some snoring the entire trip back !
Madam Dorris teaching the kids about a basic horse diet
Buying some drinks. It was a hot day !
This is the way we scrub a horse
scrub a horse, scrub a horse ;)
It was indeed a very eye-opening, educational and of course, fun experience for the students !
Many thanks to Mr. Wan and Madam Dorris of Countryside Stables Penang for their warm hospitality !