Well, it’s been a while since the last update and there’s been a lot going on! Firstly, we had Phoebe Buckley back up for a clinic from 20th – 22nd of March and once again it was a huge success. Phoebe also did a Lecture Demo on the Friday night using a few talented local riders and their horses as guinea pigs and this was both a sell out and a fantastic evening! There were over 50 lessons delivered over the three days, and everyone was delighted with Phoebe’s professionalism, attitude and training techniques.

Here is a short ‘highlights’ video:

One of the big stars of the clinic was little Diesel, our 4yo ‘Sports Cob’ – he was dragged out of the field the week before having been turned away since September and my pal Hannah Gray (who is also our vet!) has been riding him while her wee horse is having a break. He jumped everything asked of him and more! Here’s a little video of him playing about over the last few weeks (he’s for sale!):

Some very exciting news next; our supplement supplier, Hack Up Ltd, which is run by my old friend Alex Gingell have announced us as sponsored riders! We have been using Hack Up’s supplements since the company has launched and are very vocal supporters of them – delighted that this has been recognised and we are very excited to be working more closely with them going forward! Here is a quick look at the lovely branded clothing which just arrived:

Please have a look at our profile page on the Hack Up website by clicking HERE.  Feel free to have a browse, register, request a bespoke formulation or just chat to Alex on their ‘Live Chat’ function – these supplements REALLY work!

Young Lewis and Izzy became quite famous when Horse and Hound picked up his ‘viral video’ and it was liked over 13,000 times!!!  It’s properly viral now!  Link to the post here:

We are now looking forward to the next Phoebe clinic on the 24th and 25th of April, just before Burgie BE Event.  Poor Phoebe has been roped into riding a couple of ours at the event so really looking forward to that weekend!

Until the next update…thanks!

A really good blog post on why you should buy your kids (it says daughter but ponies are just as good for boys) a horse.

We had a weekend of playing with the ponies at home.  As you might be aware, we bought a new coloured pony to add to the collection last week – that’s number four!  We certainly don’t go out looking for them but they seem to find us!  Saturday was Findlay’s birthday, and it was also the first time he’d had a chance to sit on Lara.  Lara is an older pony and these old servants seem to get written off by the majority of horsey people.  She’s 19yo, she’s done EVERYTHING from hunting, tetrathlon, Pony Club Championships, British Schools Champs at Hickstead etc, etc.  This is experience that money cannot buy!  She’s healthy and sound and still loves her job and has a lot to offer.  This is Findlay’s first wee course of jumps on her:

I have an iPhone 6.  It’s a great phone but one of the best features is the slo-mo function – it captures video in 240 fps (frames per second) so it can be slowed right down without losing any quality.  It’s quite addictive!  Here are Dakota and Lara showing off its capabilities!

Comment, as always, are welcome below!

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Here’s another wee video for your enjoyment.  This was taken last year when Lewis was 7.  I had been putting him through a grid a few times and he asked for the oxer to be put up.  I knew Izzy would look after him.  This video went viral with over 1000 shares and we had comments from America, Australia, Russia, Poland etc.  Most comments were positive but you got the odd numptie moaning about wee Lewie’s lack of ‘two point and release’ – stupid Americans!!!

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Enjoy!

Back in the day, we used to do some silly things with our ponies as kids.  I mean really, really silly.  Galloping around the forest bareback (in a headcollar), jumping all sorts daft things (like wire), and so on.  I posted the video below a while ago to mixed reviews – many people were saying how it reminded them of their childhood antics whilst one or two were horrified that I could be so irresponsible to be taking such a risk  – comments such as “OMG, how would you feel if you got kicked in the head and that child had no father!!!”.  Really?  So, harmless fun or a Health and Safety nightmare?  Tell me your thoughts in the comments below (and don’t forget to sign up for updates in that box on the right!)…

What a weekend!  44 lessons delivered, 21 hours taught, 24 people for dinner on Saturday evening, 5 bottles of Veuve Cliquot consumed and only 4 people hit the deck!

The feedback from the clinic held on the 14th – 15th of February has been overwhelmingly positive!  Phoebe has a knack of ‘getting’ horses and riders very quickly and instinctively knowing how to get the best out of them.  Every lesson I watched was delivered with enthusiasm, fun and professionalism, interspersed with some of Phoebe’s classic anecdotes.  Phoebe taught flatwork until 4pm on Saturday then it was jumping all the way.

On Saturday evening we headed off to the Bieldside Inn where we had a bite to eat and a few bottles of nice champage whilst Phoebe did an excellent Q&A session – some brilliant questions and some even better answers!

Here are a few happy customers!

Phoebe has very kindly agreed to fly back up on the 20th of March to deliver a lecture demonstration on the Friday night followed by SJ training on Saturday and some simulated XC training on Sunday, again at Tillyoch.  We can’t wait!

This coming weekend sees us running a clinic with Phoebe Buckley at Tillyoch over two days.  The response has been phenomenal and both days are (more than) sold out!  Phoebe will be teaching for well over 20 hours over the two days.  I did warn her when I booked her that I’d make her earn her fee!

Those of you that aren’t familiar with Phoebe can have a quick look on her blog here, but suffice to say that she’s been round Badminton and Burghley 11 times (9 of them on the 14.2hh grey legend Little Tiger), won the CCI*** at Bramham and a Young Rider european gold!  She’s also quite well know for her ‘straight shooting’ on social media – you can follow her on Twitter here and Facebook here.

Phoebe will be coaching from 8am until approximately 7:30pm both days and spectators are welcome at no charge.  Flatwork on Saturday until 4pm then jumping thereafter and jumping all day Sunday.