FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

The stable accommodation can sleep up to 3 people on a bunk bed that has a double bed on the bottom and single bed on the top.

Your beds are made up with luxury Egyptian cotton bedding, cosy blankets to keep you warm & hand towels. There are electric blankets on the beds for use during the cooler nights. We also provide luxury toiletries and even hot water bottles should you need them!

We provide basics such as saucepans, frying pans, cooking implements, hand soap, washing up liquid, tea towels, salt & pepper, toilet rolls, so all you need to bring is any food you would like to cook and eat. There is a fridge, two hobs for cooking and a microwave. Of course if you’d rather go out to eat, you will find a list of local pubs and restaurants in the Stable Stays information guide.

The stable is surprisingly cosy and for your comfort there are infrared heaters in the wet room and an electric heater in the living area if required. We are open all year round so in the winter months you may like to wear additional layers; horses don’t like to be as warm as humans so their side isn’t heated. Heated blankets are on the bed.

Your Friesian horse or Shetland pony will love spending time with you and they particularly enjoy being groomed and pampered - we supply a luxury grooming kit, head collar and pyjamas for the horse suitable for the conditions. Your stable mate will be more than happy to roam around the small enclosed yard just outside the stable.

Your horse will appreciate carrots, eating apples, bananas, pears and of course polo mints! We provide two buckets of feed and two haynets for you to give them, one at dinner time and one for breakfast. If you are going out for dinner we ask that you feed your companion beforehand and should they finish their haynet and appear hungry during the night, we provide an extra haynet for you to give them.

If we are providing a stable mate for your Stable Stay you don’t have to muck out their side of the stable unless you want to! If you are coming with your own horse then we ask that you muck out before leaving Stable Stays putting any dry bedding up against the back wall. All mucking out tools will be provided.

Black Horses Ltd – The Friesian Experience specialises in the education and welfare of Friesian horses and any animal lover wanting to learn and spend time round them. We offer a range of experiences you can read about on our website including a Meet the Horses tour which takes you around the farm to meet our beautiful black Friesian horses, to see them in their paddocks and stables and you may even get to see some working or being trained in the arena.

Yes you can! We are fortunate to be in a beautiful part of the country with some fabulous hacking opportunities on our doorstep that you may both enjoy exploring during your visit. We provide adlib haylage, deep fresh bed of dust free shavings on a rubber matted floor*, access to an enclosed yard with rubber matting outside the stable and we also provide all the mucking out equipment you will need to save you bringing it with you. *Additional shavings available at £8.50 per bale. In line with our biosecurity procedures your horse will need to have a negative strangles blood test within 10 days of arrival.

• Our full address is: Greenbank Farm, Aynsome Lane, Cartmel, Grange-over- Sands, Cumbria LA11 7ST United Kingdom. We are a 15 minute drive from Junction 36 going North on the M6 motorway. • The nearest airports are: Manchester and Liverpool (approximately 1.5 hours journey by car) • The nearest major train station is: Grange-over-Sands (approximately 12 minutes by car) and we can provide details of local taxi cab firms who can collect and deliver you to the farm.

Yes, you can as long as it is good around horses and stays on a lead.

Greenbank Farm is located at the top of Aynsome Lane in Cartmel, overlooking the Cartmel Valley. We are approximately 1 mile from the village. This is an old Lakeland farm built on rock so the ground conditions can be a little uneven in places. If the weather has been bad we suggest you wear boots or old shoes as it can get a little dirty underfoot.

We suggest you arrive approx 15 minutes before the time of your reservation. If you have travelled a long distance and arrive much earlier you can head to Cartmel village where you will find a selection of places to enjoy a cup of coffee or browse through some of the unique village shops.

If you are symptomatic or living in a household with someone else who has a possible or confirmed COVID-19 infection you should remain at home. On arrival you will be asked to wash your hands and sanitiser will be available for your use. We will have a supply of masks that can be purchased but this is your personal choice whether you wear one. These will not be medical grade masks. Our tack will be sanitised before you use it but we ask you to touch as little as possible throughout your visit. Grooming kits will be minimal - you will be offered a range of brushes that will have been sanitised just for your use.

Initially created to help educate visitors about the Friesian horse and the importance of understanding and maintaining the very strict studbook (KFPS) they belong to. Today we welcome visitors from across the world and from all walks of life, all wanting to spend time with Friesian horses for different reasons. Whether you are considering buying a Friesian and want to do your research first or simply want to spend time around them, groom them, walk with them, cuddle them, spend time with them in the fields, feel what its like to ride* and /or drive them, try them in the arena, have a blast down the beach or even take them round a small cross country course we would be delighted to welcome you here to spend time with our horses.

Individual - ideal for those who prefer a more 'one to one' experience with the freedom to do and ask what you want when you want and have the day just how you want it. Shared - these are best suited to couples, small groups of friends or riding buddies. From time to time we can put a couple of 'individuals' together on an experience day if they have visited us in the past but we will only do this if we feel both want the same type of experience.

We are extremely fortunate to have local animal photographer Sandy Kitching on our doorstep. Sandy can be booked to come and take professional images of you during your time with our Friesians for either a day or half a day. The majority of the pictures you will see across our store are her creations. You can view a wide selection of her work at https://sandyanimalphotographer.smugmug.com. Ask us to check Sandy's availability when you book, or get in touch with her directly at sandykitching@me.com

Please note we have a strict weight limit of 13 stone. Exceptions may be considered up to 14 stone for very experienced riders. We ask that anyone wishing to ride our Friesians is an experienced and regular rider (or at least physically fit and supple through the hips!) confident riding on the roads (quiet country lanes) at walk and trot and able to manage horses from 15hh upwards. Happy Hackers are welcome however they MUST have a good basic knowledge and understanding of the principles of schooling a horse - and be able to put it into practice! And have ridden a wide variety of horses in different environments. Cantering on the rides is not compulsory and only possible if ground conditions permit. We will tailor the pace of the ride to your requirements and the needs of the horse you are riding. The majority of our rides and experiences are ‘individual’. The Friesian is a genuine and kind natured horse who is generally willing to please. Some people can find them quite ‘bouncy’ compared to other horses simply because they have a lot of movement in their paces. Once mounted you may be asked to ride your horse round the arena before we head out on the roads. Please do not exaggerate your experience as we will not be able to take you out if we feel you would not be able to ride the horse effectively. This would be discussed with you and where possible we will allow you to ride in the arena instead but no refund will be provided. Our horses are used for a range of ‘jobs’ and are not solely used for ‘hacking’. We use a variety of horses for this purpose from experienced all rounders to youngsters (minimum 5yo) who may be a little inexperienced but will have been hacking regularly and assessed to be safe for experienced riders. Our horses require ‘Riders’ as opposed to ‘Passengers’ and you are asked to treat them with respect but also to be firm with them. Friesians are extremely intelligent horses. They will judge you as a rider, just as you will be judging them as a ‘ride’. If they can get away with picking at the grass or hedges in the middle of the ride they will, and by allowing them to do this you are teaching them habits that are not acceptable and this can lead to problems for future riders. Our rides are not regimented! When you ride with us think of it like a hack out with friends where there is no set rule about which horse has to be where during a ride. We do ask that you respect the space of the other horses during the ride and if any of the horses do not get on we will advise you of this before we set off. All our horses have the ability to walk out well on rides although given the opportunity by the rider they will happily go at a snails pace! You will be expected to ride at a good working walk. None of our horses are lazy so if they appear that way when you are riding, rest assured it is because you are not giving them the right instruction! We are happy to advise on riding techniques to help you get the best out of a Friesian. On quiet lanes we can ride two abreast (so much easier to have a chat with someone alongside you than behind you!) but on busier roads we must go single file and keep a horses distance between each rider. Reflective clothing is advisable. If you do not have your own we may have tabards / jackets you can borrow.

Our Friesian Driving experiences are open to people of all abilities and are an ideal opportunity to learn more about the Friesian horse and try your hand at driving. Novice drivers will be shown how to handle the reins before leaving the yard and will be given the chance to drive once we are out round the lanes. Please bring a pair of gloves and practical clothing and footwear. It is etiquette to always wear a hat when driving. Any style of hat is suitable but not compulsory.

Riders will be required ride with us before their beach ride (without exception) so we can assess their riding level and then match them to the most suitable horse. The beach is a 40 minute drive in the horsebox from the farm. You can meet us there or follow behind in your own car. The horses are generally sensible on the beach but can be more lively in cooler weather and through the winter. We are happy to take nervous riders to the beach but only on an individual experience. We highly recommend booking our photographer, Sandy Kitching for your beach ride. In the event of driving rain and gale force winds we will cancel the trip to the beach and deposits can be transferred to an alternative date. Peak Times: Weekends, Bank Holidays, May, June, July & AugustFull Day experiences are available from 1st March to 31st October

Please wear clothing suitable for riding ie jodhpurs, breeches or stretch jeans. You will need to bring along your own Boots, Riding Hat (All hats and skulls must be fitted with an integral adjustable nylon harness and must conform to a minimum of EN 1384, Gloves, reflective and wet weather clothing. We do have some spare but do not have sizes to fit all. Reflective clothing is advisable.

On arrival please take note of the two fire points located at the top and bottom yards. In the event of a fire please make your way to the Fire Assembly point in the Arena which is located behind the top barn. If you have children traveling with you please ensure you supervise them at all times when they are on the farm as we cannot accept liability for any accidents they may have: We request that you wear protective headgear at all times when handling the horses.

We carry full Public Liability insurance with Carriage House Insurers and South Essex Insurance Brokers however we can accept no liability for personal injury sustained whilst handling or riding the horses. This is done so at your own risk and you are advised to have your own personal accident insurance. You will be required to fill in a rider registration form, your signature on which confirms you have also read these notes.

Bookings can be made up to 12 months in advance for Mondays to Thursdays. Bookings over the weekend (Friday to Sunday) can only be confirmed a maximum of 6 months in advance. We operate all year round subject to weather conditions however we do not offer Full Day Experiences from 1st Nov to 31st March due to the restrictions with light. Peak Times: Weekends, Bank Holidays, May, June, July & August We are open 7 days a week but ask that you make an appointment should you wish to visit so we can make sure someone is around to see you.

Your booking is not guaranteed unless a deposit payment has been received. You will be advised of this at the time of booking. Deposits are non refundable and can only be transferred to an alternative date in exceptional circumstances. The balance payment is due 7 days before your visit Payment can be made via our webstore www.thefriesianexperience.ecwid.com using any major credit card. Alternately we can invoice and payment can be by cheque or bank transfer.

In the event of bad weather we still go ahead with the ‘Experience’ and ask that you bring suitable wet weather clothing (after all, we are in the Lake District!). If however the weather conditions would make the ride dangerous (ie gale force winds, snow, ice etc) then we are happy to rearrange for another day. Cancellations made for any other reason within 48 to 24 hours of your booking will be liable to 50% of the cost. Cancellations within 24 hours incur the full charge.

Cartmel is a very pretty traditional Lakeland village with a choice of accommodation for all tastes and budgets. A full list can be found at www.cartmelvillage.com however you may like to try one of the following: • Greenbank Farm B&B – Stay on the farm with the Friesians in one of our two en-suite double rooms – www.greenbankfarmholidays.co.uk or rent the whole farmhouse that sleeps up to 16 people and includes use of a Hot Tub • Stable Stays @ Greenbank Farm - A unique accommodation where you can stay next to one of our Friesian horses for the night. www.stablestays.co.uk

All Gift Vouchers and purchases from the online store are valid for 12 months. PLEASE do not leave it till the 11th month to get in touch to make your booking particularly if you have a full day voucher which can only be used between March and October! As a charitable organisation please do not put us in a difficult position by asking us to extend the voucher beyond this time unless it is for exceptional circumstances. NB: Vouchers purchased during the Covid-19 lockdown will be valid to December 2021.

If you have Sat Nav simply put in our postcode LA11 7ST and the majority of systems will bring you to our door. To find us from the M6 Motorway exit at Junction 36 and take the A590 signposted for Barrow and follow this road for approximately 9.5 miles. At the top of Lindale Hill take the slip road off the A590 signposted to Cartmel. At the end of the slip road turn left and follow this road to the end. Turn left at the crossroads and continue to the end. Turn left and follow this road for approx 1⁄4 mile until you see a right turn signposted ‘Aynsome Manor Hotel’. Turn down this lane (very narrow) and at the T-junction turn right. This will take you past Aynsome Hotel and as you start to climb the hill you will see a white farmhouse on your right. This is Greenbank Farm.