The early years are vital and provide an essential platform for the future. We believe in well mannered horses whatever their age. The foals are all handled from birth and are taught to lead. They are checked by our highly experienced and regarded farrier within their first few weeks and are monitored regularly. Each horse is assessed and trimmed every five weeks to ensure the best foundation for growth.

All our horses are vaccinated, wormed and have their teeth regularly inspected.

We provide the best possible environment for our horses to live and grow up in. We manage our fields to the highest standards to ensure they are clean and provide quality grazing. Fields are well fenced to minimise the potential for injury.

As well as learning from us, the youngsters learn from each other. They live in age groups and grow, play and learn together. They are all friendly and curious. We gradually introduce work to the horses as they grow so it becomes a natural extension. At the same time we want the horses to enjoy their early years.

At the age of two, the horses come in to stables for two weeks of primary school! They learn about living in a stable and having more daily handling. They get used to being groomed and wearing a bridle. They are taught to lead in-hand and respond to basic commands. They are introduced to the lunge arena and to wearing a rug. It is all kept very simple at this stage but provides a sound platform for the next stage of work as a three year old.

At the age of three, work is introduced whilst they are still living out. Work is started slowly and they start to get introduced to a wider environment and new experiences. We have a structured training programme so we can ensure all the horses follow the same path and we can monitor their progress. The ridden work becomes a natural extension of their learning. The horses are not pushed and training progresses at the rate appropriate for each individual. The three year olds then get a break later in the summer and are then brought back in later in the Autumn to get down to more serious work.

When the horses turn four, they start to have more regular training. Our emphasis is on establishing the correct way of going. We want our horses to have the best chance for a long and successful career. Our training is based on the German principles of the scales of training.

The four year olds are also taken out hacking regularly, both in company and alone. We take them to their first competitions when they are ready so we can assess their progress and ensure they are sufficiently established before offering them for sale.

We also use the various young horse championship qualifiers as an opportunity to give the horses more experience and to enable them to demonstrate their potential. We consider these classes valuable to promote the horses but we do not specifically produce the horses for them. They are not the ultimate goal only the beginning of what we hope is a long and successful career.

Training of the young horses in work is directed by Paul Friday. Paul is a highly regarded rider and trainer of young horses with many years experience. Paul trains with Carl Hester.