Devoted Northumberland College equine team move on campus to look after horses and ponies

John Tilley, equine resource manager, and groom technician Leanne Rowe have been self-isolating full-time on campus carrying out daily checks, administering medication, changing rugs and cleaning paddocks so the animals are well looked after.

They have been joined at weekends by instructor and yard staff member Amy Pickering who is also working through the week from home to help produce learning resources for the college’s equine students who continue to study remotely.

“We have been living onsite for the past three weeks to ensure the welfare of the horses and ponies,” said John. “We have developed care plans and daily routines, giving them makeovers and keeping on top of any ailments they may have.

“The horses are living out on grass so we have been able to clean all areas of the equine unit including harrowing and rolling their paddocks.”

John and Leanne are also caring for Kirkley Hall Zoo’s Shetland Ponies during the lockdown while their enclosure is being revamped while also carrying out general maintenance.

The college’s Kirkley Hall campus is currently undergoing a major redevelopment which will see the construction of a state-of-the-art equine centre of excellence, including a new indoor arena with viewing gallery and an education hub to develop equine management skills such as farriery, animal dentistry and physiotherapy and improvements to existing facilities.

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