NRC 9 day "Equine Extravaganza" – Sat Aug 31st to Sun Sept 8th inclusive.

Talk about setting ourselves some work to do !! OK where do we start? We have rented the big house next to the stables, Biallid Farmhouse (www.biallid.com) for the duration so we have a focal point and for somewhere for people to stay – please book early to avoid disappointment. (Estimated cost from £100.00 for 7 nights bed only) We will also have stables, paddocks, grazing and a lorry, trailer and camping/caravan field too. We will have a housekeeper in Biallid to look after everybody and to cook meals as well as prepare packed lunches and sumptuous banquets. This will be a pay on use service.

The first weekend will be the "Big Brother House" for Highland Horse people as well as a Carriage Driving Fun Day on the Sat and some sort of a Mini Driving Event on the Sun, all run in conjunction with the Highland Carriage Drivers Group. For non-drivers we will also have some rides and games or TREC stuff to keep them amused. For Mon to Fri we will have the 5 day Charity Ride for Cairngorms RDA, this year's theme is "A Munro a Day", so its mountain climbing on horseback. You are welcome to bring your own horses or to use ours and the rides/treks will stop at a different place each night leaving the ponies, with the Riders returning to the Big Brother House each night.

Also on Mon to Fri Ruaridh will run a free 5 day Working Pony Workshop for anybody interested in doing any sort of work with their ponies from dragging timber to wedding work as well as deer ponies. Again you are welcome bring your own horses or ponies and learn how to safely start them off.

On the last weekend there will be a "Working Pony Open Day" on Sat run in conjunction with the BHS and others and with lots of experienced people there to share experience, demonstrate skills and give talks. The last Sunday is a Victorian Celebration Day in Kingussie to commemorate the coming of the railway 150 years ago. Queen Victoria will be there with John Brown and a Highland Pony as well as a Countess in a Carriage and many other horsey turnouts. Anybody attending the week long working pony workshop is welcome to be involved to make it a very special day with as many horses and ponies on duty as possible.

Could you be a carter or maybe a crofter on the day? During the 9 days we hope to have great evenings with sit down meals, BBQ's and even the odd Ceilidh ! It will be a very special week indeed amongst likeminded horsey folk. We can't wait!