I almost feel like I need to explain this pun, it’s so bad, but I’ll leave you to work it out!

It was our first visit of the year to one of our favourite places as we met up with Sarah at Stepney Bank Stables. It was lovely to welcome Ana and Beth back for their second tasks after joining us for the first time on Saturday. Aimee, Charlotte, Dan and I made up a nice group of six GoodGymers.

Sarah had three tasks for us so we split into three pairs. Ana and Beth began with sorting riding hats - the safety standards for the hats have changed so some of the hats had to be removed to ensure that the young riders remain safe.

Aimee and Charlotte got cracking with our now regular task of cleaning tack - a satisfying job that needs endlessly repeating so our small input makes a difference.

Dan and I took on a new task for us, cleaning the grooming brushes. We started by combing the hair out of the brushes then washing them in herbal shampoo. Perhaps the most challenging task of the evening was working out how to get hot water out of the tap in the yard! Clue - it’s something to do with a gas lever!

Beth and Ana were super speedy at sorting the hats so they split up to help with the other tasks. Just short of an hour left us all smelling of horses but with a safe set of riding hats and lots of clean tack and grooming brushes!

If you’re keen for more GoodGym there’s a South Shields parkrun volunteer get together on Saturday and a Quayside litter pick next Monday evening meeting at Stepney Bank Stables - check out the website and we’ll see you there!