A top of the range synthetic surface has been installed at the Chariots of Fire Equestrian Centre near Lockerbie.
The surface, part of a major refurbishment of the indoor school, will not only improve the carriage driving experience at the Centre but also allow more people to use the facilities. Chariots of Fire provides carriage driving and riding lessons and, in partnership with the charity Sports Driving Unlimited, specialises in working with people with disabilities and additional needs, many of whom had been unable to use the indoor school because of the dust kicked up by ponies.
The new surface, called Activ-Track, is a mix of sand, wax and man made fibre. It’s dust free and has transformed both the appearance of the indoor school and the experience of driving carriages within it. “The previous surface was very dark and make the school rather gloomy”, says Chariots of Fire’s Liza Pern.
“It’s now much brighter, it stays cleaner because the dust has gone and the carriages roll across the ground so much easier. We’re enjoying the building much more and you only have to look at the ponies to see how much they love it.” The refurbishment of the indoor school to make it more suitable for people with special needs has been funded by Sports Driving Unlimited, thanks to a 50% grant from Sports Scotland, and support from The Morrison and Hedley Foundations, Annan Rotary Club, Scott Young of Boreland, Grange Quarries and Hire & Supplies Ltd Dumfries. The synthetic surface was supplied by the Berkshire-based Martin Collins Enterprises who can list Zara Phillips, The Royal Horse Artillery and the London International Horse Show among their other clients. A spokesman for the company said they were so impressed by the work being carried out at the Boreland yard, they’d offered to supply the surface at a substantial discount. “Everyone has been so supportive”,
according the Rosemary Flexney of Sports Driving Unlimited, “from the suppliers and funders right down to the volunteers who turned out to help clean and paint the building. It has made a big difference to the building and to the people who will be able to use it for the first time.” To that end, a ‘taster day’ is being arranged for December 30th (12-3pm) when members of the public are invited to try their hand at riding and carriage driving, regardless of age, ability or experience. “I know people are always looking for things to do between Christmas and New Year”
says Liza “so we hope that they’ll come out and visit us, look around the yard, meet the ponies, and have a shot at riding or driving if they’d like to.” The yard is also offering Christmas Gift Vouchers which can be redeemed for driving and riding lessons, or simply a scenic drive out in the countryside. This year Chariots of Fire has been restructured following the death of the yard’s founder Amanda Saville in February. It is now run as a ‘not for profit’ social enterprise, working in partnership with Sports Driving Unlimited.
