Not foal-ing around – Solihull care home resident rekindles passion for horses

A resident at a care home in Solihull was delighted when her wish to rekindle her love for horses was made a reality.

When the team at Care UK’s Blossomfield Grange, on Worcester Way, learned that 90-year-old Marjorie Makepeace was an avid horse rider in her youth and was keen to see the beautiful creatures up close again, they were determined to make her dream come true. 

Marjorie loved horses from a young age, and her uncle had horses on his farm in Lichfield. She worked at a local stable in Solihull where she lived in exchange for lessons. But at the age of 14, Marjorie’s mother sadly passed away and she was no longer able to work at the stable and had to support her family. She was only able to ride on rare occasions from then on but was still riding occasionally until the age of 60. 

To help Marjorie fulfil her wish, the team organised a visit to Cottage Farm Stables, in Solihull. She was able to feed the horses apples and carrots. One horse in particular, Darcy, took an instant shine to Marjorie, and she was able to watch some horse riding lessons too.

Marjorie said: “I had the best time at the stables, and I can’t thank everyone enough for arranging the trip. So many happy memories came flooding back to me, it was lovely.” 

The visit was part of the home’s Wishing Tree initiative, which encourages residents to put their wishes forward, allowing them to reconnect with a past hobby or try something new – from flying a plane to ice skating, no wish is too big or small. 

Jo Hopkins, Director of Community at Blossomfield Grange, said: “Marjorie often talks about her love of hoses and her memories of riding when she was younger, so we were thrilled to reconnect her with her passion. 

“Our wishing tree initiative is a great way for residents to share their dreams and interests and it's so rewarding to be able to make these a reality. Marjorie had a wonderful time meeting Darcy and the other horses – she hasn’t stopped smiling since and is already talking about going back. 

“I’d like to extend a big thank you to the team at Cottage Farm Stables for a fantastic day and for helping to make Christine’s wish come true!”

Blossomfield Grange incorporates space for hobby and leisure activities. The home has been configured into a series of neighbourhoods to help facilitate the creation of close-knit communities and encourage social interaction among the residents.