WEBLINKS
| |
•
The Â鶹ԼÅÄ is not responsible for the content of external websites.
|
 |  | When a friend recommended to Janet Martinez that she buy a derelict riding centre in Warwick, she had to admit she didn’t know where Warwick was. ‘I thought it was somewhere up north’ she admits.
Janet had given up her flying career as a BA stewardess when she started a family, and was living in Berkshire pursuing her passion of working with horses. She needed a ‘project’ while her husband, Juan, was away as an airline pilot.
ÌýHave horses, will travel
| | Ìý |
| Ìý |  | Janet goes cross country
|
So she bought the run-down Warwick base, and moved up with her small daughter and 3 horses.
For months they lived in rented accommodation while the house was made habitable, and Janet slowly got the stables and facilities sorted out. It was hard work.
ÌýHorse rides at 50p per go
| | Ìý |
Finally, she was ready. She put an advert in the local paper offering horse rides for 50p a go. She was inundated.
"I just couldn’t believe it when all these people suddenly turned up. I just wasn’t expecting it and had to get my act together pretty quickly", she said.
| Ìý |  | One mile gallop is open in all weathers
|
That was thirty years ago. Today, the Warwick International School for Riding has 40 horses and is a horse riders’ heaven, with people coming from all over the world to ride, jump, hack, cross-country and generally have a good time.
There are about sixty acres of open ground and beautiful Warwickshire woodland to ride in.
There’s a special all year round sand ménage and jumping arena, a cross country course of up to 35 jumps and a one mile all-weather sand gallop.
ÌýRiding for the able bodied and disabled
| | Ìý |
Janet offers an amazing range of options for both novice and experienced riders, able bodied and the disabled.
Above the stables she’s provided basic accommodation for people who want to stay for riding holidays. If you love horses you just wouldn’t want to go home…
| Ìý |  | Students come from all over the world
|
Overseas students can come for a riding holiday and get English tuition at the same time in the small classroom Janet provides.
She speaks Spanish, Italian and German, but hires qualified tutors for language lessons.
It’s an incredible achievement for a single parent. You’d think a large and permanent team were needed to keep the place running, but not so.
ÌýLooking after 40 horses
| | Ìý |
Janet lost her husband 12 years ago and is helped in the running of the centre by her daughter, Seychelle, and her son Karl.
Both children are talented riders, and when Karl is ‘resting’ from acting jobs, he’s busy working on a new jousting business or pursuing his love of polo.
| Ìý |  | Janet's horse, Remo, was ridden by Hyancinth Bucket on Â鶹ԼÅÄ TV - poor Remo!
|
Janet hires in help during busy times, but during the quieter periods she’s got the routine sorted, and can look after 40 horses and the grounds and accommodations pretty much single handedly.
The winter months can be hard, when bookings are quiet, and the costs rise.
Horses need extra feed and extra care – like having blankets put on – times 40 of course. But the rewards are fantastic.
Ìý"I love getting up really early on a summer’s morning, when you can hear nothing but the birds singing, and then going out to greet the horses.
Their ears prick up when they see me and they come running. They all have a personality, and they all have a ‘friend’ who they tend to stick to – like buddies."
"I’m so lucky", says Janet. "I get paid for doing a job I love, I don’t have to travel to work, I just fall out of bed and I’m there!".
If you love horses and live in Warwickshire, we'd love to hear from you. E-mail us coventry@bbc.co.uk
|
