Kilgraston Equestrian Manager, Alasdair Matheson is very busy, supervising the care of 25 horses and ponies and organising over 50 lessons per week, for 130 plus riders, in addition to running a full calendar of competitions and events.
Kilgraston hosts two riding competitions every year: the Scottish Schools Equestrian Championships and Kilgraston Inter Schools Hunter Trials. People come from all over Scotland so there is quite a bit of pressure to get it right. Of course, it’s hectic during the run up to, and on, the actual days, but it’s all very worthwhile.
Last year Kilgraston became an accredited Riding for the Disabled Association centre and working with the clients is very rewarding. I’m hoping to develop these sessions over the coming years and have more Kilgraston girls become involved with this fantastic charity. I also love witnessing pupils’ progress with their riding and watch their confidence grow, along with them having fun with the horses and ponies: that’s what it’s all about.
The summer months are definitely the highlight of the year for me, for the weather alone. I don’t think my job can be beaten when the sun is shining and the horses and ponies are happy doing their jobs. That said, the school’s fantastic Christmas Concert is always a highlight; it’s lovely to see the girls out of their jodhpurs and not wearing hats!”
