Muirfield Riding Therapy

21/06/2026

🐎 SUMMER SHOW 🐎

❓ First show, a bit nervous or you are unsure of what you need to to do? Why not start with tack and turnout?

A Tack and Turnout class at a horse show is judged on the overall presentation of the horse, rider, and equipment rather than on riding ability or the horse's performance.

Key points judges typically assess:

🐴 Horse grooming: The horse should be exceptionally clean and well-presented, with a tidy mane, tail, coat, and hooves.

🐎 Tack condition and fit: Saddles, bridles, and other equipment should be clean, well-maintained, correctly fitted, and appropriate for the class.

🏇 Rider turnout: The rider should be neatly dressed in suitable, clean, and correctly fitted attire, including appropriate footwear and safety equipment where required.

❤️ Overall impression: Judges look for attention to detail, correctness, cleanliness, and harmony between horse, rider, and tack.

This year we are offering four tack and turnout classes:

1️⃣ - Hairy ponies (under 14.2hh) including lead rein
2️⃣- Hairy horses (over 14.2hh)

These classes are perfect of heavier breeds of horses and ponies, native breeds (Highlands, Shetlands, Cobs etc. These classes are running before the mountain and moorland section of the show.

3️⃣- Tack and turnout ponies (under 14.2hh) including lead rein
4️⃣- Tack and turnout horses (over 14.2hh)

These classes are designed for plaited horses and ponies or those of a finer breeding. They run before the pony club and riding club section of the show.

You still have time to enter below ⬇️

https://horsemonkey.com/uk/equestrian_event/86566/MUIRFIELD+RIDING+THERAPY++SUMMER+SHOW+2026

20/06/2026

🤩 MRT SUMMER SHOW 🤩

It’s our 18th annual Summer Show for Horses and Ponies, on Sunday 19th July 2926, kindly sponsored by Andrew Black Haulage & Storage Ltd, Drem.

Enter here: https://horsemonkey.com/uk/equestrian_event/86566/MUIRFIELD+RIDING+THERAPY++SUMMER+SHOW+2026

Organised for and on behalf of , raising funds for our life-changing equine assisted therapy service, and held at West Fenton with kind permission of The Morrison Family.

✅ One of East Lothian’s largest Horse Shows, with 49 Classes over 7 Rings, and a Qualifier for the Caledonian Showing Championships 2026.

✅ Beautiful trophies & rosettes awarded for all classes

✅ All day cafe on site

Rings -

🐴Show Jumping

🐴Mountain & Moorland (Championship Sponsor: )

🐴Veteran & Coloured (Championship Sponsor: Drem Timber & Fencing Ltd)

🐴Working Hunter (Championship Sponsor: )

🐴Ridden (Championship Sponsor: )

🐴Handy Pony

🐴Show Classes

🐴Fun Classes

🐴Clear Round


❌ Not a public spectator event
Unfortunately due to space/parking restrictions this is not a public spectator event. Competitor crew and supporters only.

19/06/2026

🤩 FUN FRIDAYS 🤩

With just four Fridays to go until the are competing at the Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) we wanted to see some fun antics that our fans and friends of MRT have got up to with their own ponies!

Please:
✅ post your photo or video in the comments below
✅ put a description of the ponies name, where you were and anything else you would like to share
✅ please SHARE this post with your friends



Here is one to get you started….

Coach Caroline’s cheeky Shetland pony, Peppa, at the Drum RDA show many years ago…. 🤣🤣🙈 (don’t worry, Jo (and Peppa) were fine!)

18/06/2026

Meet Beau and Kye, look twice you are not seeing double!

The twins come to Muirfield Riding Therapy with their school, a communication provision attached to an East Lothian High school. Both boys have been diagnosed with Autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

ASD is a lifelong condition affecting social communication and interaction, and patterns of behaviour. It is a spectrum disorder, meaning it affects people in different ways and to varying degrees.

With Beau and Kye their condition impacts on all aspects of their daily life. Their understanding of how the world around them functions can be challenging. And, of course, their communication difficulties can mean that they struggle to express how they feel.

Management of ASD involves various therapies and support tailored to individual needs. MRT provides one of these therapies, where we hope that the movement of the horse, the relationships with the pony and their teams of volunteers can have a positive impact.

When the boys are here their school teacher says they’re calmer and enjoy their sessions especially riding out when the weather is fine.

18/06/2026

❤️ MEET LUCY ❤️

🐴 As a trainee coach and volunteer at Muirfield Riding Therapy, it has been a privilege to help our participants prepare for the Regional Qualifiers. Seeing their confidence and riding skills grow throughout their training has been incredibly rewarding.

🙈 Being a part of the behind-the-scenes organisation, for the competitions, is always chaos! Lots of purple shampoo, laminating sheets and mane and tail spray is involved in getting our ponies ready to shine! It’s always amazing to see coaches, volunteers and sharers come together to help our riders succeed.

🤩 In terms of my role as a Trainee coach, I am supported by coach Caroline on a Friday afternoon, as well as Regional Coach Karen being a part of the Friday Squad! It’s so rewarding working with such great coaches and participants on a Friday, and our team of volunteers supporting us through it all are AMAZING!

🥰 I cannot wait to head down south to Hartpury for the National Championships again! It is the most intense, full on, incredible weekend – the feeling of support for every single participant is so warm. With a variety of carriage driving, dressage, showing and more, there really is something for everyone!

Please help our journey by donating below ⬇️

https://www.justgiving.com/page/caroline-bacigalupo-mrtcomp26?utm_medium=FA&utm_source=CL

Photos: did you know Lucy lead all our tests at SNEC? That was a lot of steps!! 👣

17/06/2026

Quincy just checking on the weather forecast... looks like more grazing with a chance of napping!!

17/06/2026

🪴 The Countryside Challenge 🪴

🤩 This is an activity run by the Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) that allows participants to apply the skills they have learned in their regular riding sessions in a fun, practical course.

🐴 Participants navigate a series of countryside-themed obstacles and tasks, such as opening and closing gates, steering through farmyard areas, and negotiating different challenges that test control, balance, and riding accuracy. The emphasis is on enjoyment while developing riding ability and independence.

🌟 Benefits to Participants: 🌟

💪 Physical benefits
Improves balance, posture, coordination, and core strength through riding activities.
Encourages greater physical activity and fitness.
Helps riders develop better control and body awareness.

🤔 Confidence and independence
Riders are encouraged to make decisions and complete tasks independently.
Successfully negotiating obstacles builds self-confidence and self-esteem.
Participants gain a sense of achievement by progressing through increasingly challenging activities.

👫 Skill development
Enhances steering, accuracy, concentration, and problem-solving skills.
Provides an opportunity to demonstrate and develop riding techniques learned during lessons.
Offers a pathway to regional and national competitions for those who wish to progress.

❤️ Social and emotional benefits
Encourages interaction with volunteers, instructors, and other riders.
Promotes enjoyment, motivation, and a sense of belonging.
Supports mental wellbeing and helps participants feel more connected to others and the natural environment.

The RDA Countryside Challenge is a practical and enjoyable riding competition that develops confidence, independence, balance, coordination, and riding skills, while giving participants the opportunity to experience achievement and have fun in a supportive environment.



Donate to our National Championship team below ⬇️

https://www.justgiving.com/page/caroline-bacigalupo-mrtcomp26?utm_medium=FA&utm_source=CL

16/06/2026

💰 FUNDRAISING UPDATE 💰

A huge thank you to everyone who has donated to the fundraising pot for this years

We have currently raised £459 of our £2000 target with just three weeks to go!

If you are able to spare a couple of pounds to support the team make it to Hartpury, we would be ever so grateful. 🙏

https://www.justgiving.com/page/caroline-bacigalupo-mrtcomp26?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL&utm_campaign=lc_frp_share_transaction_transactional_--_donation_received_--_nth_donation

Your donations go towards:

🚗 travel for the participants and volunteers
🐴 horse hire from the Drum and Saxon Group
🏨 accommodation for our participants and their families
🛌 stabling for the horses
🏵️ entry fees

Help Caroline Bacigalupo raise money to support Muirfield Riding Therapy

15/06/2026

What a Night! We are still spinning from Saturday! Our 5th Annual Big Barn Dance wasn't just a party - it was our biggest, boldest, and most boot-scootin' bash yet!

Here is how we kicked up our heels:

🎻 High-Energy Beats & Line Dancing - Clappy Doo Ceilidh Band packed the floor. They kept the energy roaring. Thanks Graeme, Shauna and Johnny!

🤠Heather Baxter Line Dancing instructor extraordinaire led the crowd. Her Gullane dancers brought style. The dance floor stayed completely full!

🍉 Creative Picnics & Show-Stopping Outfits - Jean Matthews from Port Seton and her crew won Best Picnic with their vibrant TexMex inspired spread, serving cucumber cactus and edible haybales! Honourable mention to Sasha and family with their Mask-A-Pony cheeseboard! Thanks to everyone who baked and created, so many to choose from!

💃Joyce Fowles won Best Dressed. She rocked black-and-white western gear!

🎯 Giant Games - our volunteer Coach Sarah donated giant outdoor games, she runs event creators Maximilian Events, and they were a hit! We had some fun relay races too!

🍦Sweet Victories - Debby won the ultimate prize. She snagged Ice Cream For A Year! Thanks so much to Yolanda at S.Luca Dairy Ice Cream for donating all the goodies🍦

And of course we had to wrap up the legendary night by singing a rowdy, Wild West style Auld Lang Syne!

🥳Together we raised an amazing £1,868🥳

💚 Last but not least a big thank you to Hunter Tait for donating all our bales, to all our volunteer crew, including our car park marshals Jay and Richard, for helping set up, man the bar, and clear up - another honourable mention, this time to Karen and family with Spaniel Henry for their help 💚

2027….
Thanks everyone, hope to see you next June, and bring your friends!! Follow us to be sure you hear the date announcement!