Finally found a new horse! And livery yards in Surrey question

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Twiglet

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Some of you may remember my mildly despairing post about looking for a new horse (and my opinion of seller honesty!). Anyway, after much searching, lots of driving and one failed vetting, I found Mr Perfect a couple of weeks ago. He ticked every one of my boxes, even if he only squeaks into the 16.2hh+ bracket. I've never watched my phone as much as while I was waiting for the phonecall about his vetting, but he passed with flying colours, and I was able to pick him up last Friday. At the time I was at riding camp at Plumpton College, so the poor thing got thrown in at the deep end and brought straight to camp. He coped very well and behaved beautifully - I was in love within about 10 seconds of unloading him. We managed three lessons (poles, showjumping and dressage) within the first 18 hours of our relationship :p

He's a 6 yr old 16.2hh ISH x KWPN (Cruising/Lancelot lines), has done the Young Event Horse series in Ireland and 5 yr old and BE100 since coming over at 4.

Plan is to get him out to new dressage trainer this weekend, then sign up for a winter BD membership with some hunter trials and unaffiliated SJ over the winter, and aim for the early BE90's next season. Am so excited about him :)

At camp:


With his old owner:




And in case anyone remembers Buzz, yes this one is the spitting image, and seems to have a similar relaxed view of life :) I'm a sucker for a chestnut with a big white face. His lordship is doing well....worryingly dropped some weight whilst the grass was baked but is piling it back on now that we've had rain, and is generally doing far far better than anyone expected him to.

He is also fab at teaching the boyfriend his horsecare skills :)


On a different note - can anyone recommend any livery yards in the Cobham area? Potentially looking at moving out of London to the 'sticks' (and when I say sticks I mean within striking distance of a Waitrose), and would like to have the horses on the doorstep if at all possible.
 
Ah bless, he does look like Buzz! Lovely to hear, and I wonder whether a trial by fire aka camp is actually a fab way of getting to know a horse. sounds like he's been out and about a bit already so all good experience for him. Hope you have lots of fun.
 
He is the absolute spit of a horse I used to ride - mine was by Lancing so possibly similar lines?

He looks absolutely lovely, I'm sure you'll have loads of fun with him
 
Jo_x said:
He is the absolute spit of a horse I used to ride - mine was by Lancing so possibly similar lines?

He looks absolutely lovely, I'm sure you'll have loads of fun with him
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Lancing or Lansing? I think Lansing is Landgraf lines so different to Lancelot (who's Voltaire)....but there is something very distinctive about big white faces on a chestnut :D

It's quite amusing to see fellow liveries do a double take when they see him in Buzz's box :p
 
Best of luck with him, he really is gorgeous and a real eye catcher!

RE livery yards, Cobham Manor have excellent facilities and I've only ever heard good things about it :)
 
So glad you have found a new friend, its certainly not easy buying horses today. Glad that Buzz is still well and happy. I dont know Cobham in Surrey well but I bought my new horse who incidentially has Cruising in him, from a lady just outside Milford near Guildford. She has a livery yard with loads of off road riding, its about 10 minutes from Milford and called Little Burgate Farm. Its is a very happy yard and very well run but may be this is too far for you, sorry my geography is not very good.
 
Lovely boy and yes, looks so like Buzz who is looking great. Re livery yards - think you are better going t'other side of M25 Ockham way as seen lots of horses in the woods round there (great pub too there known as the Mucky Duck - far better than the Cricketers in Cobham which used to be good). You can still live in Cobham with Waitrose.
 
He's gorgeous, congratulations!! I was going to recommend Sebastian Poiriers yard but seen he is now in Esher, but cannot remember the nane of his old Cobham base but was a nice yard. I used to be at Grove Heath in Ripley, which was lovely and has had a lot of work done since I left, new bigger school and lunge pen. I think it has a Facebook page if not a website. Also in Ripley there is Owlbrook (or similar) and Clock tower livery in Ockham, I haven't been here but it has a nice website and looks lovely. I used to live in Ripley and loved the area. Yes, Mucky Duck/Black Swan was lovely!
 
You won't find a part livery that will let you make the switch between grass and part as it loses them money (fair enough). You could hunt for a yard with all year turn out and see if you can turn out overnight in the summer? If you are going to event, then you need to think about the hacking side. I really rate Bev's yard at owlbrook as everything is kept smart for the liveries and the horses are really really well cared for. She turns out pretty much all year and is the kind of YO who does camp at her yard when they run Ripley bonfire. Security is very hot as well and they have a 60 x 35 floodlight school. The downside is that hacking from there is minimal. If you can get to Wisley then you have huge choices of where to go and places for fast work but you must have a horse who is good to go under the A3.
 
There is hacking on that side, without going under (or over!) the A3! The downside is that the area is known for lone men wondering around looking for other loan men which didn't always make for the most relaxing hack. They would just pop out of nowhere! There is also a small amount of hacking around Ripley Green and amazing hacks over at Newlands and Blackheath just a short box ride away! I looked at Owlbrook yonks ago and it was lovely, I think Bev had not long been there!?
 
Newlands said:
There is hacking on that side, without going under (or over!) the A3! The downside is that the area is known for lone men wondering around looking for other loan men which didn't always make for the most relaxing hack. They would just pop out of nowhere! There is also a small amount of hacking around Ripley Green and amazing hacks over at Newlands and Blackheath just a short box ride away! I looked at Owlbrook yonks ago and it was lovely, I think Bev had not long been there!?
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There is hacking on the other side and yes, you are right to warn about amourous men in the main Wisley car park! Just stick to the paths and you are fine. On Bevs side you just have the green to go around or a fair bit of roadwork to get out of the village. Think she must have been there for ..4 years plus now? Lovely bunch of liveries there too!
 
Luci07 said:
You won't find a part livery that will let you make the switch between grass and part as it loses them money (fair enough). You could hunt for a yard with all year turn out and see if you can turn out overnight in the summer? If you are going to event, then you need to think about the hacking side. I really rate Bev's yard at owlbrook as everything is kept smart for the liveries and the horses are really really well cared for. She turns out pretty much all year and is the kind of YO who does camp at her yard when they run Ripley bonfire. Security is very hot as well and they have a 60 x 35 floodlight school. The downside is that hacking from there is minimal. If you can get to Wisley then you have huge choices of where to go and places for fast work but you must have a horse who is good to go under the A3.
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I'm looking for one horse on grass livery and the other on part/full livery - so not switching between as such. Buzz can't be stabled and Harley would be the size of a house if he were turned out 24/7 :p Went to view two yards in the same place on Saturday, which offered both grass and part, with great facilities....but right in the shadow of the M25 (as in couldn't hear myself think in the school :( ) I think the other side of the motorway might be preferable, as there's just more space.
 
Twiglet said:
I'm looking for one horse on grass livery and the other on part/full livery - so not switching between as such. Buzz can't be stabled and Harley would be the size of a house if he were turned out 24/7 :p Went to view two yards in the same place on Saturday, which offered both grass and part, with great facilities....but right in the shadow of the M25 (as in couldn't hear myself think in the school :( ) I think the other side of the motorway might be preferable, as there's just more space.
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I know the yard you are talking about, beginning with G? . For grass livery have you tried Thorncroft Stables, Leatherhead? I've heard good things about them but don't know it personally. I have a friend at Badgers Farm Effingham and that's where I would have moved to if I was moving in that direction. I have another friend in Esher at a fab yard, grass livery or stabled but there is no school and only diy so no good for your new one. Would possibly be my first choice for grass livery.
I know of a few yards in Epsom, Headly etc and have looked at a few heading Bookham way. Wix Hill I was also interested in before mine got injured again. My yard has been taken over and will being doing part livery (why I'm giving up my stable there) but I think is full until diy'ers leave, not sure how its going to be run thou.
Heard good things about Chalkpit farm not to be confused with Chalkpit lane stables which I don't know anything about.
I looked loads when I moved over this way but as I was after assisted diy I didn't pay much attention to part livery yards but did look into a few when Q was being tricky to manage as some of them offered individual or paired turnout.
You new boy looks lovely by the way :biggrin3:
 
vam said:
I know the yard you are talking about, beginning with G? . For grass livery have you tried Thorncroft Stables, Leatherhead? I've heard good things about them but don't know it personally. I have a friend at Badgers Farm Effingham and that's where I would have moved to if I was moving in that direction. I have another friend in Esher at a fab yard, grass livery or stabled but there is no school and only diy so no good for your new one. Would possibly be my first choice for grass livery.
I know of a few yards in Epsom, Headly etc and have looked at a few heading Bookham way. Wix Hill I was also interested in before mine got injured again. My yard has been taken over and will being doing part livery (why I'm giving up my stable there) but I think is full until diy'ers leave, not sure how its going to be run thou.
Heard good things about Chalkpit farm not to be confused with Chalkpit lane stables which I don't know anything about.
I looked loads when I moved over this way but as I was after assisted diy I didn't pay much attention to part livery yards but did look into a few when Q was being tricky to manage as some of them offered individual or paired turnout.
You new boy looks lovely by the way :biggrin3:
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I can guess where you are Vam, lovely yard, I'm desperate to get there! I'm currently on assisted diy but am thinking of going to part, so have been looking around. I've been at Thorncroft with my last horse. Lovely place, big herd all together, Andrea's just fab. Just have to be careful in winter if the river bursts its banks, as the fields floods. They do have fields on higher ground though if this happens.

I've looked at Chalkpit Farm, got a friend there too. Exceptional care but only half day turnout. I loved Preston Farm. My only issue was the hacking. My horse is a nightmare on the roads and there's some roadwork to get to decent hacking. Arbrook Farm in Esher for grass livery. He does bring them in overnight in winter to a covered barn though.
 
vam said:
I know the yard you are talking about, beginning with G? . For grass livery have you tried Thorncroft Stables, Leatherhead? I've heard good things about them but don't know it personally. I have a friend at Badgers Farm Effingham and that's where I would have moved to if I was moving in that direction. I have another friend in Esher at a fab yard, grass livery or stabled but there is no school and only diy so no good for your new one. Would possibly be my first choice for grass livery.
I know of a few yards in Epsom, Headly etc and have looked at a few heading Bookham way. Wix Hill I was also interested in before mine got injured again. My yard has been taken over and will being doing part livery (why I'm giving up my stable there) but I think is full until diy'ers leave, not sure how its going to be run thou.
Heard good things about Chalkpit farm not to be confused with Chalkpit lane stables which I don't know anything about.
I looked loads when I moved over this way but as I was after assisted diy I didn't pay much attention to part livery yards but did look into a few when Q was being tricky to manage as some of them offered individual or paired turnout.
You new boy looks lovely by the way :biggrin3:
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Thank you :) A friend is at Chalkpit Farm and loves it.
I'm already in Epsom, so looking for something much closer. Am also looking at Badger's as I have a friend there (might be the same one? Likes going sideways?!) who really rates it.
 
Amy_08 said:
I can guess where you are Vam, lovely yard, I'm desperate to get there! I'm currently on assisted diy but am thinking of going to part, so have been looking around. I've been at Thorncroft with my last horse. Lovely place, big herd all together, Andrea's just fab. Just have to be careful in winter if the river bursts its banks, as the fields floods. They do have fields on higher ground though if this happens.

I've looked at Chalkpit Farm, got a friend there too. Exceptional care but only half day turnout. I loved Preston Farm. My only issue was the hacking. My horse is a nightmare on the roads and there's some roadwork to get to decent hacking. Arbrook Farm in Esher for grass livery. He does bring them in overnight in winter to a covered barn though.
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One of the houses we're looking at would be right next to Arbrook Farm, and having barn in the winter would be the dream!
 
Twiglet said:
One of the houses we're looking at would be right next to Arbrook Farm, and having barn in the winter would be the dream!
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My friend loves it there but I think has them stabled over night. Apparently they all wonder into the barn of there own accord at night in the winter, it sounded lovely and I would have considered it if it was nearer to work and had a school.
I looked at Preston as well but wasn't sure of the hacking unfortunately, not that road work bothers me but I felt it wasn't ideal.
I can't think of any others off the top of my head out that way. Definitely worth a look round some of them.
I don't think its the same person at Badgers, black gelding? She came from my current yard but loves it there.
 
Wow he looks lovely. Hope you have mega fun with him

I've just put a deposit down on a just backed mare
fingers crossed she passes vet on monday
 
Amy_08 said:
I can guess where you are Vam, lovely yard, I'm desperate to get there! I'm currently on assisted diy but am thinking of going to part, so have been looking around. I've been at Thorncroft with my last horse. Lovely place, big herd all together, Andrea's just fab. Just have to be careful in winter if the river bursts its banks, as the fields floods. They do have fields on higher ground though if this happens.

I've looked at Chalkpit Farm, got a friend there too. Exceptional care but only half day turnout. I loved Preston Farm. My only issue was the hacking. My horse is a nightmare on the roads and there's some roadwork to get to decent hacking. Arbrook Farm in Esher for grass livery. He does bring them in overnight in winter to a covered barn though.
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Everyone, please please don't visit Arbrook Farm, I have very good reasons to say this, but that's all i will say publicly here
 
Anything I've heard about it from people that have been there is positive 🤷‍♂️

If you want people to believe you, as a new user on a public forum, when you give a warning about somewhere, you need to be more specific than "I have good reasons to say this".

I mean, I could say "Everyone, please please don't believe king11, I have very good reasons to say this, but that's all i will say publicly here". Would that be fair though?
 
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