Have you ever looked round a top riders yard?

Supertrooper

Supertrooper

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Or if you havn't who's yard would you like to nose round?

My dream list would be - pippa funnell, William fox pitt, carl hester, laura bechelsteimer (sp?)
 
I have had some lessons with Joe Whitaker so been round their yard. It has all the mod cons although hidden away in traditional farm type buildings. They have the biggest outdoor arena I have ever seen with a computer which controls the water levels in the surface!! After one lesson Joe even washed my horse down for me and dried her under the heated lamps, she felt very special and keeps asking me when I will be buying her one! lol
 
I went to view TMovistar when he was at Carl hesters yard, OMG!!..... I'm sure they have a box full of brand new unused white boots for anyone who visits the yard to see a horse, no way had those boots ever been washed and come out that white!!!!! And the facilities, wow. btw I wasn't there to look at him to buy!! But to use at stud!!! lol!!!!!!
 
Yes, several, racing, SJ, showing, eventing, reining, polo, in the UK, Europe and North America.

We delivered a horse to a show producer once.
It looked a dump. Then you saw the horses, BNC's, World Champions, they all came out of cattle sheds :D

That's where my favourite quote comes from

"It isn't the wagon the horse comes out of, but the horse that comes out of the wagon"
 
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I've been on a top show producers yard (well known name) and it wasn't flash - just a functional, working yard. I've also worked at show jumpers yards (again, recognisable names) and they were the same. Had all the facilities needed but nothing wow wow wow! I used to ride at the yard of a very rich man (owner of a supermarket - think Sainsburies but not Sainsburies!) - he had it all for show and it was very impressive but apart from me using the facilities, no one else used it and it was all for decoration.
 
ye- i went to a top eventers yard recencetly with a friend to view a horse. the place was a bit of a dump- knee high mud everywhere, facilities were average, she didnt even know how many horses she had. BUT the horses looked happy, and if she can do what she does as well as she does then who cares!! but yes i was a tad surprised at the state of the yard!
 
I go with my trainer who has lessons at Carls. It is a proper WOW yard! I think he did have it built especially to his design and it is just beautiful the facilities are great and it is always imaculate. It also seems to work really well, all the horses always seem chilled and relaxed.
 
I rode at Leslie Burr Howard's yard last year. I rode a retired SJ'er from the hunter barn, which was managed by another individual, but I got to ride in the shared indoor, outdoor, and have a snoop at the gorgeous Grand Prix field. I had the good fortune to see her ride at the Hampton Classic soon after, and she is indeed the queen of speed. Great fun to watch!

http://www.burrassociates.com/4/Facilities.html
 
I went to try a horse at John Whitakers yard many years ago. It wasn't a horse from his yard but a guy down the road who was 'mates' with him and as the weather was bad we went to Johns to use his indoor arena which was sort of within a large barn. It was a long time ago when Tracy Newman was still his groom. I recall jumping the horse with the guy instructing me whilst my mum and sister buggered off with Tracy i think to see all the horses. It was back in the days of Milton, Grannusch etc. They were both there if I recall, i specifically remember being told about Grannusch having to have his feet built up with putty as they were crap. Hmm, the things you remember eh!

Bet the yard's rather different now! It was very chilled out, relaxed and they were all just very laid back.
 
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Ive been to John Whittakers yard, the horse which we bought was liveried there for a short time. Didnt strike me as being particuarly special, may have changed now as that was about 5yrs ago.
 
i've been to an eventers yard who has been round badminton and burghley etc, i was shocked, nothing special at all, poly pads and rugs etc looked like rats had been at them, tiny outdoor arena that was only just big enough to jump a single fence in. very muddy and a mess. BUT all horses seemed extremely happy and settled :)
 
I used to work on a show jumping yard which had great facilities allinside a huge barn so if the weather was awful you didn't have to go outside at all.

I agree Coolmore is amazing and I have also been to Kildangan, which is even more amazing! The foaling unit is like mission control on the Starship Enterprise. It made my sneaking down to the foaling box with a torch look pathetic :D
 
prosefullstop said:
I rode at Leslie Burr Howard's yard last year. I rode a retired SJ'er from the hunter barn, which was managed by another individual, but I got to ride in the shared indoor, outdoor, and have a snoop at the gorgeous Grand Prix field. I had the good fortune to see her ride at the Hampton Classic soon after, and she is indeed the queen of speed. Great fun to watch!

http://www.burrassociates.com/4/Facilities.html
Click to expand...

Dig the address of this place - 50 Poverty Hollow Road - as if.
 
I used to muck out stables for Mark Todd at his New Zealand base, wonderful place but much more down to earth than a lot of European yards, paddocks were fenced like fort knox though, could barely see the horses through them!
 
My friend has worked for a few big eventers and I've seen their yards whilst visiting her. They were just normal yards as far as I could tell. Nothing especially flashy about them!
 
there's not many racing yards i haven't been to from newmarket downwards...always great fun. Also been to a fair few of the eventing ones...funnels included quite a few times. Also, most of the big polo yards in the south as well.


I hate my job:rolleyes:
 
Been to WFP's yard - if you are interested there is club they run, which does a yard visit at the start and end of season, as well as course walks etc
 
I went round WFP's yard a couple of years ago through a mutual friend. It was fantastic, so much thought had gone into it. William was very charming and even tho he was riding came over and had a chat. His top groom Jackie showed us round (me and hubby) and she was lovely and they made us feel totally welcome. Shame I live so far away or I'd of claimed squatters rights.
 
I am going to one tomorrow to try a horse. Very scary!!! I have to ride in front of her - eeek! I'm only looking for something to do lowish level BE with (my first 'proper' horse) and it sounded suitable so my mum said why not go and look.

I'll report back.
 
I went to try a horse at Jeanette Brakewell's yard.

The yard was nice, and had very good facilities but it wasn't totally out of this world or anything.
 
I've looked round George Margason's yard (Racehorse trainer in Newmarket). Yard was immaculate, gorgeous stables, horses all very happy :D It was lovely especially when he showed us Young Mick (his top horse). Lovely man too :D
 
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