Help Support Littlebourne Farm Equestrian Centre through Lockdown 3.0

We would like to update all our clients, friends and supporters and to keep you involved and updated with our progress whilst we are unable to be open forced to close by the national lockdown and current guidance under this current COVID pandemic as seen on BBC and ITV News the whole equestrian industry is struggling and we all need to work together so we can remain and carry on with our good work supporting our communities and those whom rely on us.

At the moment all is well at Littlebourne with our horses and ponies and all our staff have remained safe and healthy throughout this pandemic which we are praying to come to an end in the very near future.

During the first lockdown last year we received an amazing response from our clients, friends and family via our last appeal and we were very much touched, over whelmed and grateful for all of your support that we received which enabled us to carry on and be operational for the remainder of the year 2020.

Throughout the last lockdown in the summer with the warmer and dry weather on our side we were lucky enough to have our hay fields which ment our horses could be out most of the time during the summer which was a lifesaver to have the extra space during the first lockdown which sadly now means a shortage of Hay / Haylage which we now having to outsourced and buy in from other suppliers.

Now we are deeep into the winter months and With the Rain, Wind, Snow and Mud against us at the moment and with most of our horses having to be stabled overnight which means spending limited time in our fields unlike the Summer. We are now in need of more hay, straw and feed during the colder times of the year which means our running costs rise during the winter months as you all know we have a large number of older horses and ponies here at Littlebourne whom simply wouldn't surrive life in a field and are in need of special care and attention all our horses are still in need of vet and farrier visits to ensure they stay fit and healthy for when we reopen.

LOCKDOWN 3.0 has unfortunately put us a corner with over 85% of our income stopped as we are unable to trade and offer weekly riding lessons to our clients and members of the general public. Whom we are missing you all so much - as so are our Horses and Ponies as they love teaching you how to ride and making you all smile.

Due to more variant strains of this COVID - 19 virus becoming more apparent in the last few weeks and With talks of rumours that this current lockdown 3.0 will not being easing until Mid March to end of April at the eariest although we have our fingers and toes crossed for this to be sooner rather than later.

Our income has decreased by over 85% although our outgoings and running costs remain the same if not higher due to the winter months. We still have the ever rising costs of Staff, Vets, farriers, Hay & Straw, Hard feed, equipment to enable us to operate and to care for our wonderful team of staff, horses and ponies.

We have made savings and cuts where we can and have made use of all the help offered from the government from the staff furlough scheme and grants that have been made available to us. However we still need all of our staff to look after our wonderful horses and facilities so we can be ready to open up again as soon as the government guidelines allows us to and get back to offering you all of our lessons, hacks and clinics once again.

We are now appealing for support from our clients, riders and friends to help support us through this uncertain times. With so many other London riding establishments being force to downsize or even worse closing their doors due to the ever rising costs, here at Littlebourne Farm Equestrian Centre we are doing everything we can so stay afloat and to not follow suit of so many other centres locally.

We would also love to hear from our clients on any ideas that you may have or would like to see from us at Littlebourne Farm Via our social media pages. We have also set up a Crowdfund page to give us a helping hand

* Weekly Blogs from your favourite horses and ponies

* Weekly updates on training of the young horses

* Online sessions via zoom