Pony park is "a dream come true" for pony-mad founder
For almost 20 years Sarah Jane Clements has dreamed of opening a pony park – somewhere where retired and rescue ponies can see out their days, and where pony-mad children can come and learn how to take care of their favourite animals.
And now that dream is about to become a reality.
Sarah Jane has just been given the go-ahead by Mendip District Council to open a not-for-profit pony park just outside Cranmore. She is hard at work getting everything ready, and hopes that she will be able to open the stable doors to the public in early June.
"I'm completely overwhelmed," said Sarah Jane. "From childhood dreams of ponies, owning a unicorn and now my dream of sharing that with people who love ponies with a passion as I do – I'm so thrilled I hardly have the words. It's taken me 16 years to save up for this.
"What I am offering the chance for children who are pony mad to come and groom and learn about ponies and how to keep them. It will be non-ridden, but I am hoping to do some in-hand showing in the summer too. There will also be pony-themed arts and crafts."
Sarah Jane has been rescuing ponies for 30 years and feels passionately that the animals should be given a loving, caring home when they retire.
"These animals give the best years of their lives, and they would give their lives doing whatever you ask them to do. I see this as a way of paying them back for their service.
"We shouldn't just get rid of animals when they are no longer of use – I just don't think we should treat animals like that."
She is also keen that her pony park will be accessible to all children. "There are lots of pony-mad children out there, but they can't all necessarily afford to go to a riding school and pay £60 an hour. This will be much more affordable than that. I'm not running it as a business and I'm not looking to make a profit. All I need to do is to cover the costs of the feed etc for the ponies.
"I want all children to be able to come. And I want to make it really magical – I'm even planning a unicorn garden."
Sarah Jane is hoping to recruit a team of volunteers to help prepare the pony park for opening, and to help run the sessions once everything is up and running. Anyone who would like to find out more, or volunteer to help should follow the PONYPARK online! Facebook page.
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