F.A.O maddielove. Re: a really old post about Hayfield, Aberdeen

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endymion

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Just noticed this really old post by someone called Maddielove who posted about a possible closure of hayfield.

I used to ride there as a kid, would be GUTTED if they closed, but they are still going (one year after the post!). I was up riding there about a year ago (in one of Ian Duncan's lessons - he's a fantastic instructor) in doubles and it was a mess. Also heard about the strangles but didn't know thats what got the Shetlands. How sad :-(

I know they had problems when the ARC left for Oldfold but never knew things were that bad.

Any updates please let me know, I used to love that place. I couldn't believe it when I went there after a 10 year abscence and saw Pom still alive and well, I mean how old is she now??!

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Hi,
I'm in Aberdeen too.Ian teaches my daughter has done since she was 8 she's now nearly 16 we think he's really great but know a few people that don't get on with him, think because a spades a spade with him and he will tell you if he thinks you are doing it wrong.Taught my daughter heaps and will say she's a dam good jockey mainly down to his influence.
Yep Oldfold have got the uni riding and the RDA there now.Hayfield is still giving lessons as far as I know tho just maybe not on the same scale.
Poor Poms been there forever hasn't she !Must be in her 20's now.
Yes they had strangles a yr or two ago.There is only one yard in this area that has ever admitted having it and acted responsibly (closed all shows etc)that was Loanhead,all the rest you tend to find out through the jungle drums.
It would be sad to see it go tho. Its a yard that been here forever.
 
I hadn't ridden in about 3 years and went into one of his lessons, ended up doing a fair bit of XC on something with a really dodgy canter (Madonna?). He was excellent, just says it like it is. Had a showjuming lesson with him once where he made me jump the course on foot, lol!

Loanhead, that brings back memories! I mey Harvey Smith at a show there when I was about 11 (I'm 25).

My mate used to teach with AFC at Oldfold but has since left. I don't think things are going that brilliantly.

Would be a real shame if Hayfield closed, it has such great potential to be a top yard, you just don't get the hacking and XC facillities at any other Aberdeen school.
 
My mum called up when i heard all the stuff about closing...
apparently it's set to close in about 10 years or so...which is such a shame.

They have totally changed the yard lately..i was across practsisng for a dressage competition with some people and woah...it seems so different.

i miss the days of learning to ride at hayfield...i loved freebee..how badly i'd have loced to own him..
 
I don't really know much of the horses there now. I've been away from Aberdeen for a long time.

I was there back in the days when John and Sue were happily married and Pom was young. When I go into the gallery at the big school I know loads of people in the pics (oh God that makes me feel ancient!).

I was sad to hear that it lost some quality instructors like Jackie Taig. I've ridden at Oldfold over last summer holidays and wasn't very impressed. The school is small and it's difficult to go out - the Old Railway line is always full of dog walkers.

Hayfield has always had it's problems, so fingers crossed it'll hang on. Maybe just needs better management?
 
Ah whose your mate?prob know her.We were liveried there for a long time before it closed.Know that most of staff that moved with S have now gone there own way (for one reason or another
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Schools very dark isn't it.It used to be the whole length of building but very narrow.
 
It's closed? I heard it was gonna close, even went so far as to start getting ready to sell horses, but then stayed open (although Bess was sold), or something like that.

S used to teach me when I was a kid and she was just a student ay hayfield. She's done not bad for herself.

K8. She used to live next door to my mum in Aberdeen. I'm pretty sure she's left, it's mainly through the grapevine stuff I get.

I used to ride in one of Tina's lessons but have heard she has since left too. Although maybe she still has her horse there (?).

I think my main problem with Oldfold was lack of outdoor space. It was frustrating being in the school over summer, much prefer dodging golf balls round the tracks at Hayfield, hehe.
 
No sorry posted that wrong meant closed from person before S took actual lease over.They are at least there for 10 yrs I heard then presume it'll be huge expensive houses!
Is that american Kate?
Tina (mad as a hatter) is now working at one of those spectacle place (spec savers or the like)Shes moved her horses tho.
Oh they have a new lovely outdoor school that they sometimes use for lessons in summer now.Heard it cost thousands and thousands!
Yea S has built a nice little empire lol
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But she has tarted up the place well.Amazing what a lick of paint and some maintance will do.
 
Yup, American Kate.

I heard something about someone or other trying to buy the land for development. They v lucky to hold on to that.


Ooh, a new outdoor school, will have to check it out this summer. Do you know, the last time I was at Oldfold Mushroom had just had her foal.

Did you know Sam (ginger hair)? Think she came with AFC. She's gone now too!

Can't believe Tina's working in an opticians, does she not teach at all now? That would a pity.

Where do you livery now then?
 
Oh that is a while ago,They called it Magic lol!!
The land is owner by a 'consortium' of something or other.Once lease is up yea definitely will go to developers.grrrr!!
Yes remember Sam (I think) terrible with names better with faces.
Pauls still there he actually teaches now.
We are just down the road a bit at Milltimber Farm.Not the same facilities but grass is better and is a nice yard.Suppose can't have everything.
 
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