Horses in Aughton, Near Ormskirk in the old days....

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FionaM12

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The thread about Derby House set me off reminiscing about my days as a horsey young girl, before I was forced to give up. Circa 1970 - 1977.

All my experience centred round Aughton, a small place which in those days I could have recognised blindfolded, as the very air smelt of stable yards. There were several riding schools, some top class livery stables, competition yards, as well as lots of private yards. Stables everywhere. If a farmer had a stable and a field, he'd do DIY liveries, there was a constant demand for stabling & grazing. Even Red Rum used to graze in a field there I believe, I think he retired there.

I loved it. :)

When I had to give up, I left the area and didn't visit for many, many years. I've been back recently though, and there's still the odd horse, but all the professional yards seem to have gone.

Did anyone else here learn at one of those yards, or keep a horse there?
 
I had lessons at NEC and also kept my own horse there when it became just a livery yard, I also had a few lessons at Fir Tree Stud and my first hat and jods were from Aughton Saddlery. Good hacking round there too.

LJ
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I Lived in that area many, many years ago and, as a 10/11 year old, had lessons with Dorothy Johnson who owned NEC with her husband, Cyril. She was a legend in those days and I was completely overawed!!
 
LJK said:
I had lessons at NEC and also kept my own horse there when it became just a livery yard, I also had a few lessons at Fir Tree Stud and my first hat and jods were from Aughton Saddlery. Good hacking round there too.

LJ
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There was no saddlery there in my day. Fir Tree Stud, was that up near Clieves Hill? The NEC was a very busy riding school in my day. Did Cyril Johnson still own it when your horse was there?

I kept my horse at various places round Aughton over the years. He was a placid soul who didn't seem bothered about moving yards.
 
Doris68 said:
I Lived in that area many, many years ago and, as a 10/11 year old, had lessons with Dorothy Johnson who owned NEC with her husband, Cyril. She was a legend in those days and I was completely overawed!!
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I used to help Dorothy when she put on shows and demonstrations at the old indoor school after Aughton Chase, aroud the mid-70s. She was lovely.
 
I was a livery on nec when liz and fred owned it what fab couple they were and so helpful :)
I had a few lessons of Cyril I think he must have been in his 70 or 80s
 
I'd forgotten about Liz & Fred...American?? My friend had her horse there at livery in the late 70's I think. I recall Steve, who worked there..??!!
 
This brings back memories. I worked for Liz and Fred for a short time in the 80s teaching, working with the YTS's and travelling round the country grooming at shows for them when they had their cobs. I lived in the rotting caravan at the back.:eek:
 
Oh wow, I lived in Aughton until I was about 9 or 10 (while ago now!) fittingly, in a cul de sac called The Paddock... and I had my very first experiences of horses here, I remember Holbourne Livery Stables near to where I lived and every time we went past begging my mum to let me stroke a pony....

I had my first riding lesson at Long Acres riding school, which I think must have been nearby but I don't really remember! This was the nineties though, not the seventies!
 
Long acres is still going! But that's in lydiate rather than aughton. I had a horse up a bickerstaffe good hacking up there I used to always wish I lived up towards aughton end of the city rather than south-there are do many more horsey places up there!
 
Sirreal said:
Oh wow, I lived in Aughton until I was about 9 or 10 (while ago now!) fittingly, in a cul de sac called The Paddock... and I had my very first experiences of horses here, I remember Holbourne Livery Stables near to where I lived and every time we went past begging my mum to let me stroke a pony....

I had my first riding lesson at Long Acres riding school, which I think must have been nearby but I don't really remember! This was the nineties though, not the seventies!
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Long Acres was in Lydiate I think, next to Aughton. I don't know if it's still there.

Edit: Haha. The Naughty Elf posted at the same time to say it is still going!
 
I kept my pony at a yard on Pygons Hill Lane for a while (early 80s), a group of us from the yard used to hire the indoor school at Aughton Chase for lessons and hack across there. There were liveries at Aughton Chase at the time, but now it is a fallen down ruin - such a shame!
I did my first indoor jumping at Fir Tree Stud - yes it is near Clieves Hill, they used to hold outdoor shows there in the summer too.
Does anyone remember the cross country course a Hazel Booth's yard? (not that I ever rode it but everyone who did seemed to think it was fab), I helped out there at some pony club events.
 
Pygons Hill Lane, I think that's where Rose Hill Farm, my friend's yard was.

I bought my horse from Aughton Chase when it changed hands in 1972. I learnt to ride there, was a helper there, worked (paid!) there for a while too.

I went back to Aughton Chase last year, yes it was a very atmospheric ruin, blocked off from the road, but I climbed in and stood there remembering my youth :rolleyes:. All the buildings (including that wonderful, huge indoor school) had "Danger of Death" notices on them. :eek:
 
trottingon said:
Does anyone remember the cross country course a Hazel Booth's yard? (not that I ever rode it but everyone who did seemed to think it was fab), I helped out there at some pony club events.
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I remember it! Up on the hill. Like you, I never rode it though. I used to help with Riding For Disabled lessons on the Booth's land.

Do you remember Joan Christian? She had a very classy yard, she was lovely. A very kind person.
 
I stumbled across this thread by accident as I have been visiting the Aughton Chase site over the last few years and few weeks ago to ascertain the state of play in regards to its sale. I indeed was one of those lucky liveries whom stabled my ponies and horse at Aughton Chase. I can say with all honesty that it was amazing, and looking back we were privileged children. 12 Liveries with a huge indoor school both still standing today, I ignored the danger signs to walk in and reminisced. In the summer we had 2 enormous fields to ride in and great hacking around Aughton. I was there from 78 with Cyril Johnston but it was owned by Derek Swift whom had built the restaurant and the bar on site. Cyril left in about 81, and a guy called Chas Hughes from Rose Hill Stud, Pygons Hill lane, came to run the site. He shortly left and the liveries were then left to run it themselves, Brilliant. I see so much dictatorship on yards these days. Anyhow Derek sold AC in 1984 to some Chinese family whom renamed it the Yee Wah and closed the stables. A sad day. Currently AC is up for sale, it has planning permission for several large detached houses set in 5 acres, the whole plot is about 2.5 million and you can purchase extra land!! I am buying my lottery ticket as we speak. I might be 47, but I remember these days like it was yesterday.
 
Lovely to read this all again! Although I grew up in Cheshire we used to go regularly to Dorothy Johnson for lessons in the 1960's. We used to stay b&b in the village, horse left at centre and we would go every day for lessons in what then was one of the few indoor schools.
I learnt so much from Dorothy and Cyril and their team, from stable management to a life long interest in dressage.
 
Fiona,

Myself also, see another of my posts where I explain about Aughton Chase. In addition I rode at NEC (closed) and after Aughton Chase I moved my horse to further down Springfield Road to Rachel Pearson`s place, I think her house was called Aughton Cottage. Is Fir Tree Stud still in operation? I now live in Formby and keep my horse which I bought after a 25 year break, I still miss and love Aughton Chase to this day. Who else do you remember?
 
I grew up and kept my horses on the Wirral. I bought a saddle from Aughton saddlery sometime around 1985, it was an Antill, great saddle that fitted all three of my mares. I've also come across Dorothy Johnson at some point, think I may have had lessons from her, name is familiar but I can't remember where or when it was.
 
Amanda D said:
Sadly Cyril passed away several years ago
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I just stumbled across this site
I was there mid 70's both as a student and briefly as staff
I recall Hillary who would live in the indoor arena who later returned to the Isle of Man
Candy Pie and George were the official equine royalty of the stable
It was an interesting time and such an eclectic bunch of people!
R
 
RobbieB said:
I just stumbled across this site
I was there mid 70's both as a student and briefly as staff
I recall Hillary who would live in the indoor arena who later returned to the Isle of Man
Candy Pie and George were the official equine royalty of the stable
It was an interesting time and such an eclectic bunch of people!
R
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Aaargh - I remember Candy Pie - coloured?? I also remember David and Willow and a flighty grey mare called Jane!! Oh the memories....
 
I was there is the 70s and 80s. Used to have a private lesson at 8am on a Saturday with a girl called fiona from Mather Ave. Remember small white horse called whisky. They were good times. Also remember jumping competitions at the Chase. Bye.
 
Gosh I was a working pupil at Hazel Booths yard Walsh Hall at the bottom of Clieves Hill in my early twenties. I did pony club rallies at Aughton Chase as a kid. I remember Aughton Saddlery.
 
Trained at the NEC in the early '70's and lodged in the village. Remember the ponies being turned out at my lodgings and me and the other girl who lived there catching and riding 1 and leading 2 or 3 down to the yard bareback in the early mornings. Ahhh, those were the days.
 
I think it was Aughton Chase I did some BHS exams at in the early 80s. I remember taking my pony there a time or two and schooling on the cross country jumps.
 
I was at NEC a few times. My coach Jo Mottershead took me for lessons on her youngster Buccaneer.
i later returned as a working student for my AIBHS. Such fun but hard work. We were allotted 3-5 horses to care for: clean stalls, groom till spotless, tack up for lessons and clean tack at night.
i didn’t even know “colonel” Johnson’s name was Cyril till I read this. I just remember him being very strict and demanding perfection in all we did. Eg a ruler the check that the straw at the edges of the stalls was 18” deep. A white glove to check for horse cleanliness ?
I too lodged in the village. We would drop off ponies for their night in the pasture and pick them up on the way back in the morning.
another thing I remember was a young instructor who worked her horse in the arena just using voice commands. The horse was amazing!
Boy is this thread ever bringing back memories!!!
 
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