Every Saturday morning our alarm goes off at 7 o'clock, and Mary, Paula and Dorien get up to go to the Madurodam Stable. This stable offers lessons and rides for handicapped children and adults, and only manages to run with help of numerous volunteers. For us this all started by the requirement from school to put in a few hours of community service each term, and driven by their passion for horses, and the closeness of this stable, the girls ended up there soon after we arrived in The Netherlands. The day starts at 8, when the stables are cleaned out and the horses are groomed. Then a few of the experienced riders among the volunteers (and the 3 Lambregts ladies are definitely qualified!) take the horses for a ride in the dunes and, when allowed, on the beach. This way the horses can loose some of their excess energy before their lessons start. At 10 the first riders arrive, which have a widely varying degree of mental and/or physical handicaps. Dependent on their ability the volunteers help them with the horse, guide the horse, or even hold the rider while doing their lesson or ride. Mary, Paula and Dorien have build up good relationships with a number of riders, and for most of them it is clearly the highlight of the week. The work is normally done at 1 pm, when we have lunch at home together.
Piet usually goes for his weekly bike ride during this time, but today that was postponed to the afternoon. He took the opportunity to follow them on their ride and to take some pictures.
Crossing the main road between the stable and the dunes
Riding on the beach, along the waterline
Returning back to the dunes
Leaving the beach
Dorien riding Billy in the dunes
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