Main Celebration at Newtonmore Sat 22nd September

Cavalcade Parade, VIP Visit, Conference & Ceilidh at The Balavil Hotel

This year 2012 is the 60th Anniversay of Pony Trekking and our family were the pioneers and have been offering pony trekking and riding holidays since 1952 from Newtonmore and from the 1960's at our Riding Centre in Aviemore, where pony trekking was still always the main activity. We will have a big celebration at Newtonmore to commemorate this Pony Trekking Milestone in September 2012. So if you are in the Aviemore, Badenoch and Starthspey Area and want to come pony trekking or horse riding or want a riding lesson please come and see us and we will glady show you round our small Highland Pony and Pony Trekking Heritage Centre too. Old and New friends are always welcome so just drop in.

Click here for the "Pony Trekking 60th Anniversary" Facebook Page

In 1952 the Ormiston Family at the Balavil Arms Hotel in Newtonmore, headed by Ewan Ormiston, are credited with being the pioneers of the outdoor sport of Pony Trekking which was the start of fun recreational riding holidays as we know them today. Ewan's son Cameron was there at the beginning and he ran the trekking business till 1992 when his some Ruaridh took over. It is still possible today to go Pony Trekking at the family's Newtonmore Riding Centre and to still experience the same people and ponies that made it happen back in 1952. Not much has changed except now we have to wear hard hats !

Tthe main celebration will be held in Newtonmore at the Balavil Hotel over a long weekend with some exciting "Retro" Rides planned for the week before the weekend starting on Monday 17th September. Everybody with an interest in Pony Trekking or Recreational Riding is welcome to come to ride or to just be part of the celebrations. It is hoped Cameron Ormiston at 83 years old will lead a parade through the village along the Main Street like he did in 1973 for the 21st Anniversary. All other Centres are welcome to come too and we would especially like to hear from old Pony Trekking Instructors and Instructresses. During this celebration year it is hoped that other rides will feature elsewhere with a small event planned for Blair Atholl during Horse Trails Week too with the TRSS. We will also secretly hoping that there will be a Royal appearance too, the Royal Family and especially Princess Anne have been very supportive of Pony Trekking over the years.

Have a look at some of our old Heritage Photographs with this link

 The Planned Programme of Events below - All Rides can be done as Charity Fund Raisers

A picture from the 21st Anniversary in Newtonmore in 1973- who can you recognise?

 

We still have these triangular 21st Anniversary banners that you can see in the cart that Ian Galbraith is driving.