Well anyone would think she was doing me a big favour, that Phillipa, handing over the reins of the blog to me this month. Like I don’t have anything better to do.

I’ve had quite a successful summer, thank you for asking. I’ve done some dressage (completely nailed it) and won a couple of red rosettes. I heard some people congratulating my rider as if she had something to do with it. I even heard one woman say, ‘some people think the rider just sits there, they don’t appreciate the skill involved.’

I mean, is she for real!! Of course my rider just sits there. I’M the one with the skill! It wasn’t all bad though to be honest because I do enjoy showing the judges my moves, I like to hear the praise and I always – win or lose – get some nice treats afterwards.

I’ve been introduced to a new friend this summer. I share a field with Poppy and she is a breed called a ‘hairy old cob’ apparently. She is nowhere near as pretty as me and when we were first introduced over the fence, she took very little notice of me. I think she must be a bit daft because she wasn’t saying ‘wow, you’re amazing,’ and clearly didn’t appreciate how intelligent, beautiful and talented I am.

But we got to know each other and I decided she was okay so she joined me in my field and we get on fairly well. Not that she has a lot to say, she is nearly always nomming away on whatever she can. Grass, hay, abandoned lead ropes, fence rails…

Still I suppose it’s good to have some new company. They put in a nice new field shelter, mostly for Poppy as of course, I am special and come into the stables at night with the other superior horses.

I am ridden pretty much every day, practicing my very special routine around the arena with my mum. She often gets things wrong, but I am quite understanding and usually put things right for her.

I feel I owe it to her after what happened at my first ever outing. I had finished my routine, mum did her little salute, and I thought I should show how excited I was too.

I thought she did well to hang on, although it was a tiny little buck really and I bet the judges were too busy eating their sandwiches to even notice, but it was my first ever dressage test and the upshot was, we didn’t do too well. Apparently I wasn’t supposed to do that.

But I really got the hang of it after that and was very pleased with myself when I returned to the yard with my first rosette. When I discovered, a couple of weeks later, that me and mum were going to do another one of these dressage thingys, I was so happy that I raced around my field the day before my test and rolled and rolled and rolled in mud! It was great! And I think mum LOVED being able to spend all that time with me, brushing and combing and using lots of stuff, especially on my mane and tail where it was really caked on.

In fact, I know she enjoyed it because she told me how pleased she was. She kept saying things like, ‘Star, you really are something’ and ‘thanks a bunch for doing that Star, I really wanted to be spending hours sorting you out when obviously I don’t have anything else to do.’

Anyway, I’m quite enjoying life generally at the moment. When mum isn’t riding me and being impressed with my bladder capacity when mucking out my stable (She’ll often say, ‘You’re turning peeing into an Olympic sport Star,’ so I guess I’ll be in the next Olympic team!) she takes Poppy out for a ride.

She calls Poppy her ‘Happy Hacker’, and they just amble around the lanes for an hour or so most days. Poppy doesn’t jump (not surprised, she really could do with watching the calories) or do dressage (stiff as a board if you ask me), so they just trot about, then maybe have a quick canter and Poppy gets a bit sweaty and out of puff. But amazingly, mum still pats her and says ‘good girl’, and gives her a carrot! Honestly, anyone would think Poppy is as important as me!

Anyway, I’m going to hoof off now as I’ve just remembered it’s been a while since I’ve trashed a rug and I’m wearing one now which has just come back from being cleaned and repaired.

Take care everyone, and have fun!

The post Guest post from a horse called Star! appeared first on Chapelstone Equestrian Construction.

Equestrian women may be used to, if not proud of, being no-nonsense types.

Often, we are without a trace of make-up, with short nails and hair scraped back, dressed for practicality and not afraid of hard work. (Definitely not afraid of hard work.)

We arrive home with bits of straw in our hair, mud –or worse- on our boots and the occasional bit of horsey slobber on our jumpers where our darlings have decided to give us a kiss.

Which I think makes it all the more enjoyable when we do get the chance to smarten up.

So after a quick poll around my fellow equestriennes, I’ve put together a few accessories which still celebrate our love of the outdoors and all things horse related, but also add a bit of luxury and finesse to our lives.

To begin, I thought we should look at a product that not only looks and feels amazing, but will keep us warm as summer draws to a close.

Cashmere is such a stylish, timeless product and Kitted in Cashmere fits the bill but with a contemporary twist.

The Oxfordshire based designer, Helen Greene, uses a knitting technique which involves the use of two or more colours. Her range of jumpers, ponchos and scarves make you feel cosy and cossetted just looking at them! Jumpers with heart and poppy patterns will lift a pair of good jeans and the pop of colour adds something unique.

The two tone scarf is in a range of colour combinations, and if you’re like me and have a bit of a fetish for scarves, these are definitely on the list for acquisition.

Jewellery with an equestrian theme is not a new idea. I’ve seen various items for sale but have never been tempted because too often the quality has been lacking.

At last, I have now found County Equestrian Jewellers. These absolutely beautiful pieces are handmade in Worcestershire by designer Chris Stead. Each item is made with sterling silver, 9ct gold, 18ct gold, rose gold and white gold, and the high quality of this jewellery is absolutely clear to see.

Stirrups, horseshoes, bits, horse heads and farrier nails are just some of the items Chris uses as inspiration for her designs. I’m particularly taken with the snaffle bit necklaces and bracelets and may have to leave the page open on my desktop for my other half to see. After all, Christmas is coming…

Other items I think provide the perfect finishing touches to the country look?

Leather of course has to feature. A really well made leather bag is a thing of joy and beauty and will last just about forever. Again, even if you’re just in jeans, trainers and a sweater, a fine piece of leather slung over your shoulder just makes you look and feel better.

Finally – and I don’t care if the sun isn’t shining – a good pair of sunglasses.

Winter days can start off quite dull but the sun may come out later and you need to protect your eyes, just as you do in the middle of summer. Plus, a good pair of sunnies are the finishing touch – just imagine, a pair of ordinary jeans, a cashmere sweater and or scarf, some beautiful silver jewellery, a leather bag and a pair of designer sunglasses on your head.

Not quite so mucky horse girl now, eh?

The post Country and Equestrian wear – what to shop for appeared first on Chapelstone Equestrian Construction.

Keeping dogs in kennels and runs – is it the right thing to do?
It can be an emotive subject among animal lovers.

For many years, I kept my dogs in the house. It wasn’t always practical especially because I had more than one dog, as all that additional love also translates to additional hair, mess and space required.

There were definitely drawbacks for both me and my family, and my dogs.

In the winter, we love nothing more than to take the dogs romping through the mud, swimming in the river and the shore line. We do our best to rinse them off outside and towel them down but they have to come in the house at some point. Their paws sometimes have oil on them from the boats at the riverside and this gets into the carpet. Then there’s the shaking – however clean we think we’ve got them, mud, water, salt and slobber is splattered liberally over the walls. Bless them.

Then of course there’s the smell! We use some great dog shampoos and spend a fortune on air fresheners but that underlying whiff of wet/muddy dog hangs in the air for the rest of the day. Lovely.

Because we have up to three dogs at any one time, when moulting season is upon us, things get out of hand. Most of the rooms in our house are carpeted and we find with some breeds the hair sticks into the fibres like little needles.

One other thing that troubled me slightly was that the moulting NEVER stopped. It may not have been quite as bad in the winter but living in a centrally heated house meant that the dogs were always shedding hair. They were healthy enough but I did feel that this wasn’t natural somehow.

But despite all this, I still said I’d never keep a dog ‘outdoors’. I think at the time, if someone said ‘kennel’, my brain immediately pictured the dog from the Tom & Jerry cartoons, squeezed into a tiny hut and looking miserable. My dogs were very much a part of my family and I knew I wanted them to spend as much time with us as possible and to feel cherished.

Then I got talking to someone who had kept his dogs kennelled for many years.

There were three bouncy, healthy dogs playing in a field with their master, clearly happy and affectionate. I saw the kennels and run he’d had installed for them and it was a bit of an eye opener for me.

Far from my Tom & Jerry nightmare of a kennel, this room was a full sized, solid wooden structure which was actually larger than the space my own dogs slept in each night.

He had put in plenty of insulation, partitioned sleeping areas raised off the floor with ample soft, cosy bedding. A thermostatically controlled greenhouse type heater was on the wall, to take the real chill off during winter nights.

There was a walkway up to a dog flap that led out to a run. This large area was mostly tiled for hygiene purposes but there was also a grassed area for the dogs to relieve themselves on. 6’6” steel gates surrounded the run and a mini ‘climbing frame’ had been put in so that the dogs could sit at different heights and watch what was going on in the garden when they weren’t playing with their toys or snoozing in their kennel. About 80% of the run is covered so that they get protection from sun and rain, or they can move into the uncovered area if they want to stretch out in the sunlight and enjoy the warmth on their bodies. There is a constant supply of water available too.

One of the most impressive aspects of this set up was the security. There was a lockable door into the kennel itself and two steel barred gates in the run. These were heavy duty and were padlocked. Best of all, the owner had set up security cameras in both the run and the kennel so he could check in using his mobile phone from wherever he was.

This build had been added on to the end of an existing barn and was still close to the house and out of view of the road – nobody passing by would have known there were any dogs there.

I asked the owner how he used the kennels, whether he felt the dogs were on their own for too long and if he had any problems persuading them to go into it. He explained when and why he put the dogs in the kennel;

• To sleep at night
• If he had to go out for a few hours
• If he had visitors who were afraid of dogs
• If visitors had children who may not understand how to treat the dogs with respect
• To finish drying off after getting muddy or wet

He also told me that when one of his dogs had an operation recently, it meant that the poorly dog could sleep in the kitchen in her own, and he knew that she would not end up playing with the other dogs and possibly exhausting herself or even tear her stitches. He added that any of his dogs that didn’t seem quite as well as they might, would stay in the house with him until he was sure they were 100% fit and healthy. He also said that when his dogs reach a certain age, they stay in the house so that they can have a little peace and quiet away from the younger, bouncier dogs.

The rest of the time, the dogs were with him either in the house or in the garden. When he had to go out or at the end of the evening, he told me they were all perfectly happy to go to their kennel.

I had to admit, it sounded pretty good.

That was a year ago now. I still have three dogs but they now live outside in an identical set up. My house no longer smells of dog even though they still spend most of their day with me. I think because they don’t get too warm at night they have healthier skin and the moulting has reduced by about 75%.

I watch them on the cameras when I’m out for a couple of hours. It can actually become a bit compulsive as it’s very funny to watch them interact without a human there!

I have to say it has worked out perfectly. They all seem to love their comfy beds and when I do have to leave the house it’s great to know that they can go outside whenever they like, have a drink, and play together.

The most telling thing for me is their reaction when it’s time for them to be put in their kennel.

They all run in there, tails are wagging and I’ve never had a problem, not even on day one. If I’m pottering in the garden and I’ve left the kennel door open or one of the gates to the run, I’ll sometimes find one or all of the dogs have taken themselves off and are in their kennel, fast asleep. And that’s despite each having a bed still in the main house!

My final concern evaporated when I realised that keeping a dog ‘indoors’ or ‘outdoors’ is really only a concept that we as humans are going to worry about. My dogs – who, by the way are all happier and healthier than ever – don’t differentiate in the same way that we do. As far as they are concerned, their kennel IS part of the house. Their territory. It’s safe, it’s comfortable, mum puts them in and gets them out every day and all is well with their world. And my house is less smelly! It’s win-win all round!

The post Keeping dogs in kennels and runs – is it the right thing to do? appeared first on Chapelstone Equestrian Construction.

The dream of ‘bringing the horses home’ is something we often hear when customers first contact us to discuss their equestrian projects.

One client recently engaged Chapelstone to design and construct her wooden stables and arena because she wanted to have her own and her children’s ponies at home.

They wanted;

• Three stables
• A 20 x 40 sand and fibre arena
• A tack room
• A storage barn
• Tracks and a horse lorry turning area
• A washdown area

Stable & Arena design to suit our customer’s lifestyle

Chapelstone worked closely with the family to lay out a design that matched their ideal and worked on a practical level. We then sent in our groundworks teams to construct the stable bases and begin work on the arena and the tracks and turning area.

Meanwhile, our stable building team were preparing the panels and framework off-site, ready to construct once the groundworks had been completed.

We listened to what the family felt would suit their needs and how this would fit in aesthetically with their property and surroundings. A black finish was chosen for the stables, with a concrete corrugated roof. The grey colour of the roof contrasts beautifully with the finish on the wood. In fact, our customer loves the appearance of her stable yard so much that she has placed a garden furniture set in the far corner from where she can admire her horses, her hanging baskets, and enjoy a post ride tipple!

The finishing touches that make all the difference

We offer our customers a huge variety of optional extras. For this build, the family chose;

A Clear roof sheet in each stable

This allows light in thereby offering a kinder environment for the horse, and of course means that the owner or groom can actually see what they are doing whilst in the stable!

Talk grills between the stables.

We like to put talk grills in because we know that horses are usually social animals who enjoy interaction with each other and can be comforted by the sight of one of their own.

Floodlights in yard and arena

We wish those balmy summer evenings where it stays light until 10pm lasted all year. But they don’t. So having good lighting makes perfect sense.

Extra deep chew strips

Just to be on the safe side.  Because you know, horses.

We think the end result is just perfect. But the people whose opinions really count are the customers. They have been using their new buildings and arena for a few weeks now, and this is what they had to say;

“From start to finish Chapelstone were absolutely amazing – receiving the 3D drawings from Sarah (complete with hanging baskets!) gave us a clear idea of what the final layout would look like. No other company was able to provide us with this and being able to visualise the project was hugely important to us.

Having never undertaken anything like this before we decided to go with Chapelstone for the whole project and we were so pleased that we did – although you pay a little more for this it meant the whole thing ran seamlessly. Any minor blips were ironed out on the same day – and the peace of mind was priceless.

Nigel and Adam were an amazing duo – never before have we met people who took so much pride in their work – who knew concrete could be an art – the comments we’ve had on their finishing touches have been endless.

Mark and his crew had the stables up in no time at all and once again the attention to detail was amazing.

Each day I wander down through the ‘tunnel of trees’ with my little girl to our horsey haven and have to pinch myself that it really is ours. Ever since I was a little girl I dreamt of being able to have horses at home and I can never thank Chapelstone enough for turning my dreams into reality. You are all absolute stars! Thank you all so much.”

The post Wooden stables and arena – case study from Suffolk appeared first on Chapelstone Equestrian Construction.

Most of the time, it’s fine.

Being around horses brings a feeling of happiness that is difficult to describe to someone who hasn’t yet made that connection with equines.

Well, happiness about 80% of the time with quite a bit of frustration and exhaustion thrown in. There can also be much rolling of eyes when we add up how much our beloved horse has cost us this month.

Still, it must be worth it overall.

Unless you have a bad experience that completely knocks every bit of confidence, every belief you’ve had that you have this connection with horses, completely out of the ball park.

I’m not talking about a brief spell of doubt; I’m talking about a crippling fear, a change in your thoughts about horses that can have a devastating effect. I’m talking phobias.

This excruciating phobia of horses is called Equinophobia (aka Hippophobia), and you can read about it in the link.

Not just a brief moment of fear.

For people who have been around horses all their lives this condition seems unfathomable. We may have had the odd nip of the arm or a little kick. I don’t know many people who have never experienced the pain of having a half a ton of horse standing on their foot. There are plenty of stories about freak accidents, such as dismounting as the horse is spooked and finding your foot trapped in the stirrup or maybe being too stubborn to let go of the lead rope when the horse makes a bolt for it, with disastrous results.

Hopefully, if these things have happened to you, you have dusted yourself off, maybe turned the air a little blue, and carried on about your business.

People who suffer from Equinophobia may be so extreme in their fear that they cannot even bear to see a picture of a horse, or hear the sound of neighing or the clip-clop of hooves as they trot along the road.

Causes can be varied

For some, the phobia begins in childhood when a horse scares them. In young children, hearing adults speak of a fear of equines may instil in their minds the idea that the animals are always dangerous, out of control, and definitely out to get them.

Or it may be a very real experience with a horse which resulted in the sufferer being either so injured or just so scared that they can no longer contemplate being anywhere near equines without fear and panic gripping them.

It can happen to anyone

If this happens to someone who owns or rides horses, it can be a huge problem. To find out that an aspect of your life that bought joy and happiness in now the cause of anxiety and dread is a truly brutal discovery.

I have watched as a good friend stood outside her horse’s stable for great lengths of time, trying to summon the courage to go closer. There would often be tears as she loved her boy so much yet could not face getting near him. He was probably the most docile, gentle animal you could wish to meet but my friend couldn’t help the way she felt. Thankfully, this was a reasonably short lived spell of Equinophobia. She identified the root the cause of the phobia and spent many months focussed on overcoming her fear. She attended several rider confidence courses and enrolled to study equine behaviour. For her, this worked but it has taken time and she remains healthily cautions around horses.

Can you be cured?

Like other types of phobia, Equinophobia can be cured or at least diminished to a manageable level.

• If it is interfering with your life and your enjoyment, it could be worth seeking out a hypnotherapist who integrates NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) into their therapy.
• Be prepared for it to take time. Be prepared for it notto work. Hypnotherapy is perfect for many people but it might not be right for you. Don’t despair if this is the case.
• Make sure you have a supportive and understanding partner or friend as you try to work your way through this; someone who knows that your fear is very real and who won’t diminish your feelings in any way.

Finally, if you are suffering from Equinophobia now, remember that you are not alone. Phobias are very real and there are many people who experience them and many people who overcome them.

The post Fear of Horses (Equinophobia) appeared first on Chapelstone Equestrian Construction.

Have you heard that saying, ‘Fail to prepare and prepare to fail’?

We can apply this mode of thought to almost any aspect of life, whether practical, intellectual or emotional.

The saying certainly applies to many facets of horse ownership. Taking your beautifully turned out horse to a show is a real buzz but it’s the hours of (usually extremely unglamorous!) hard work that goes in for weeks and months before which truly pays dividends.

Preparing oneself either for competition or even just when improving your general riding ability is also all about the foundations you lay down.  Your own fitness is as important as the condition of the horse and our own health concerns should never be secondary to our equine’s. Investment in quality clothing – particularly where safety is concerned – should not be overlooked either.

The prep work for you should also encompass your mental attitude. It’s easy to say ‘believe in yourself’, or ‘don’t be scared’ or many other glib phrases. But you need to really FEEL confident, safe and able, too and that takes perseverance. For some, life experience is enough to give you that boost but there are riders that may need to take a confidence course or maybe try a home hypnosis course. By integrating Neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) which retrains the mind, old, negative thoughts are replaced with positive and helpful ones. It may not be riding specific, but having used the Paul McKenna I can make you confident MP3 download, I can say it definitely helps.

Part of feeling confident and believing in yourself also means learning how to deal with disappointment. Naturally, you are not going to want to set off either to your competition or out on a ride with the idea of failure in your head. But having the right attitude towards setbacks is critical.

It happens to us all. It has happened to our idols. They have all fallen off, they’ve all come last and they have come out of the ring red-faced and wondering where it all went wrong. None of us are perfect yet anyone who started riding as a child will probably remember our instructors urging us to get up, dust ourselves down and get right back in the saddle after every fall. And I guess, a broken bone aside, that’s exactly what you all did just as I did. We may have shrugged it off or we may have been analytical and learned from our mistakes.

What I believe is most important when we face a setback is to take charge of the critical internal voice. This is a huge subject and I suggest that you do your own research (again, Paul McKenna’s books, website and audio books are a superb place to start) but it’s worth it. For many people, understanding where this voice comes from and more importantly how we can diminish it and control it is absolutely key to freeing oneself from destructive patterns of thought.

The internal voice embeds itself into your mind and can criticize, mock and belittle you. Its power is that for some it’s more effective in destroying their ambitions than anything said by other people. It’s that unbidden comment you get when something goes wrong.

‘Oh that’s just typical of you,’ it might say. Or ‘don’t know why you’re even bothering trying to do that, you’re useless, you’ll never get it right.’

It’s a dangerous thing.

Using NLP the negative voice can be eradicated and replaced by a much more encouraging and positive one.

So doing the preparation you need to achieve your goals is the 80% of the iceberg that’s below the water line. But it absolutely has to be there.

The post Prepare for success – & how NLP may help you. appeared first on Chapelstone Equestrian Construction.

It may keep you sane, connect you with nature and give you the opportunity for a little bit of ‘me’ time.  Or it could be the one activity that you enjoy with family and friends that doesn’t involve stress and arguments and truly takes you away from the daily grind.

If riding brings something special to your life, then taking a holiday that indulges your passion could be the perfect way to unwind, as well as seeing some amazing scenery and meeting like minded people.

The fantasy holiday ride for many is cantering along a stretch of beach, the taste of salt on the lips as the horse moves freely along the sand.

This was a long held dream for Eve who was celebrating a milestone birthday, and booked a holiday cottage in a pretty village on the Pembrokeshire coast, a popular destination because of its long, wide beaches that never seem to get too busy.

‘I started riding late in life, and although I love every minute spent in the saddle, I am quite nervous,’ she says.  ‘I need to know that I’ll be well looked after by the staff and the horses.’

Eve spent a week riding with Nolton Stables, who organise regular treks to the local beaches of Druidstone,  Newgale and Broad Haven.  There are around 40 reliable cobs available that are perfect for every level of experience, catering for complete beginners through to very confident, regular riders.

‘On arrival at the beach, everyone splits into groups according to their level of experience,’ says Eve.  ‘That’s reassuring, because no one is made to do anything they don’t feel comfortable with, and the real adrenaline junkies aren’t held back!  My favourite horse has to be Arwen, a lovely mare who really knows her job and is steady and comfortable in every pace.’

As well as the beach, you can ride up to the headland and the woods, and if the instructors are happy with your level of competence you may be offered the chance to ride the small cross country course on their private track.

For those not inclined toward riding, there is ‘Zorbing ‘– which involves rolling down hill in an enormous ball, rather like a hamster – and a Segway track.  When you’re not playing horses or hamsters however, there’s plenty locally to entertain you, including villages with great little shops, restaurants and pubs. Further afield is St David’s, the smallest city in the UK with its cathedral and a 14^th century Bishop’s palace.

‘I’d definitely go back to Nolton,’ says Eve.  ‘I’ve had the chance to canter for long stretches, which I rarely get to do at home, and my confidence has really improved.’

If Eve now feels more adventurous in her riding, she may want to take a look at what our own region has to offer.   Just outside the pretty market town of Wickham Market in Suffolk is Valley Farm, an equestrian centre which offers riders the chance to experience much more than just straightforward English riding.

Most of the forty or so horses at the Farm have been trained in a range of disciplines, including western, side saddle, vaulting, and carriage driving.  Each summer, the campsite is full of visitors keen to try new skills and improve their general knowledge of horsemanship.  Set in 80 acres of meadowland, riding out is a pleasure, and lessons can be taken in the indoor schools or in one of the three outdoor manèges.  Also available is the beautiful three bedroom lodge with its interesting views; there are surely worse things in life than waking up to see the UKs only full herd of Camargues tearing around the paddock!

There’s a row of Wendy houses too, each sleeping four children and supervised by an on-site nanny at night, so both the young and the young at heart will feel at home here.  The centre’s cafe has viewing windows overlooking the indoor school but there are also eateries in the village or in nearby Woodbridge.  A little further afield is the spectacular Suffolk coastline with its jewel, Aldeburgh, at its heart.  But it seems there is so much fun to be had on the farm that visitors rarely stray too far.

‘We can tailor activities to suit,’ says instructor Amanda.  ‘We have enough ponies here to ensure that every age and ability of rider will find something just right for them. Of course, you can bring your own pony, but if you want to try something different, ours are highly trained in their specialist skills.’

You can watch peacocks strutting their stuff and the chickens pecking around as they roam.  Say hello to the Farm’s star attractions, Camelot, the camel who thinks he’s a horse, and Coquin Deux, the young Camargue colt, born in 2012.  With games around the campfire and new friends to be made – two legged and four legged – the Valley Farm experience is like being transported into the pages of an Enid Blyton novel.  Lashings of ginger beer should be compulsory.

Some people prefer to stick to traditional riding and want to take their own horse and have the ‘home away from home’ feel.

Up in the furthermost reaches of Cumbria, is Off The Beaten Track Rides, where owner Chris Parsons and her mum Joy will welcome you to their home with great food, chat and lots of laughs.  You’ll be made very comfortable in one of the three twin bedded rooms, while your horses stay out in the pasture in summer or are stabled in the colder months.

Visitors may go out and explore on their own if they wish, but usually they like to be accompanied by Chris.

‘I tend to sit at the back of the ride, and encourage people to take whichever path they choose, within reason,’ says Chris.  ‘Obviously I know the terrain around here very well, so I might point the group in a particular direction.  It depends on what they want to do – if they are keen for a good canter, I know all the tracks that offer the chance of a good blast.  But if they want to amble along, enjoy the scenery and take it easy, that’s fine too.’

Christine Rogers stayed with her horse Tilly, and has booked again for this year.

‘The only thing you share the scenery with is the local wildlife,’ she says.  ‘It’s rare to meet traffic, cyclists or even walkers, which leaves you free to relax and enjoy the hacking.’

Another visitor, Jules Gilchrist-Beckett, took her horse Sam The Man.

‘I never stopped laughing,’ says Jules. ‘And I really enjoyed the chance to ride for five hours at a stretch, including fitting in a mile and a half canter.  It’s one of the best holidays I’ve ever had!’

As well as the quiet roads and forest pathways there is a shallow river which horses love to stop and paddle in, cool down and have a drink.  Treasure hunts in the woods are a regular feature, as are the popular fancy dress rides to the local pub.

Chris also says that there are plenty of places for the non riders to venture out to as well.  Hadrian’s Wall, the Lake District and the Cumbrian coast are all within easy driving distance.

There are so many types of riding holiday in the UK that it should be reasonably easy to find something to suit almost anyone with just a little research.

So throw off the shackles of everyday life and feel your cares drift away.  Revel in that unique bond between human and equine.  Put it on your ‘must do’ list today.

www.noltonstables.com
www.valleyfarmonline.co.uk
www.offthebeatentrackrides.co.uk

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It’s January and that means many of us, for varied reasons, will want to increase fitness.

The indulgences of Christmas are now showing on our waistlines, making us question why we really had to eat quite so much. We may have made New Year resolutions because we want to lose weight and increase fitness. It might be to generally feel a little better or maybe because you have a holiday in the sun coming up or a ski trip which requires you to be in better shape.

For many equestrians it will be so that we can ride better, and get the best out of our horses.

Whatever your discipline, there are certain things that you need to focus on, including improving your own flexibility, your strength and stamina and of course your balance.  Even if you are generally in great shape, many riding coaches will tell you that there is’ fit’, and then there is ‘riding fit’.

There are numerous resources available on line that suggest different types of exercise and lifestyle changes which can bring about the changes that are necessary.  I’m not about to tell you what you should and shouldn’t do – I am hardly an expert on the subject – but I do want to remind you that there WILL be plenty of other self-proclaimed ‘experts’ happily giving advice which may in some cases be ineffective or could even be damaging.

I would however recommend that you find yourself a real expert.

There are qualified people who have an intricate understanding of human and horse biomechanics and have worked in the industry for years. They have far more to offer than the generalist advice which populates the web.

I attended a two hour workshop a few years ago with Jon Pitts, a high performance coach with a pretty impressive pedigree. He’s worked with some of the world’s top athletes including Olympian equestrians from Britain and Australia.

Jon is an engaging speaker – one of those people whose natural enthusiasm is infectious. Mostly, I remember it becoming clear from the outset that he had the ability to communicate with the audience and express himself in a way we all understood even though it was a hugely complex subject which he has studied for years to gain knowledge of.

Serious stuff, but we had fun too. A room full of riders of completely different ages and abilities trying to balance on exercise balls in various ways produced plenty of laughs. We also spent some time open mouthed in disbelief as Jon stood perfectly still and upright on an exercise ball while he spoke to us. What kind of balance does the man have to do that? Most of us couldn’t SIT on a ball for more than a few minutes before toppling over!

So if you are serious about working on your body so that you get the very best out of it and can ride in harmony with your horse, it’s definitely worth finding someone who knows the subject inside out.

My google search to find a governing body for biomechanic coaches in the UK was unsuccessful, but please let us know if you are aware of such an organisation.

Meanwhile, if you’d like to discover more about Jon Pitts or participate in one of his programs, please check out the website, Fit to Ride

The post Are you fit to ride? appeared first on Chapelstone Equestrian Construction.

One year ends and a new one begins. It’s a time for both reflection of the achievements and successes of the past twelve months, as well as a chance to evaluate the things that need attention, the areas of life that may need a fresh start in some way.

This applies to our work, personal life and our hobbies and sports. For the equestrian, it’s often a time when we set new challenges. Horse people tend to be energetic, goal orientated folk with a streak of competitiveness running through them, even if this means simply pushing themselves to improve their own personal best.

Understanding our horses and their behavior, and working toward getting the very best out of them is key. I think this applies to most of us, from the natural horsemanship devotee to those with a more traditional or classical approach. Many of the experienced horse people I have spoken to are highly tuned to their animals and intuitively know when something is wrong. They have learnt not to ignore this gut instinct and have told me how this has sometimes highlighted health issues, or made them re consider their riding style.

It’s also useful to use this sense of a new beginning to think about why we do what we do. Sometimes, it’s easy to get swept up in what those around us are doing and we can find that their goals become ours without us really questioning if it’s really what we want. We all grow and develop and I believe this doesn’t stop whatever your age. So it’s also worth considering if you are doing what you’re doing because it’s what you’ve always done!

Are you riding because you simply love horses and wish to learn about their natures and be a ‘happy hacker’, spending time in the saddle appreciating the countryside and the social aspect of a group ride? Are you riding competitively because you enjoy the sporting side of equestrianism? If so, are you sure you are concentrating on the right discipline? You may have been successful in dressage for the last few years, but are you getting the biggest thrill when taking your horse over a few jumps in the paddock? Are you the type of person that wants to focus on one particular aspect and hone and perfect your skills – or would you rather try everything, from eventing to hunting to vaulting and Western trail riding?

Of course, if you are considering a change to your life with horses, you will have to take into account what your horses can do, what they may be capable of and how they would deal with a new challenge themselves. Whatever their age, some will relish the idea of something new and others will become stressed by any change to their routine. Only you know your horses well enough to decide which category they fall into. If you have a horse that you don’t think will be able to cope with what you have planned, it can be time to make some tough choices.

If you are in a position to retain the horse, or horses, you already have and acquire another that will suit your new challenges, that choice is clearly much easier. If however this is not feasible, then the difficulty is in making the decision either to curtail the plans you have or to sell your existing horse on, to a new owner who will be working with him in a way that he will be comfortable, therefore giving you the opportunity to find a new ride that will be able to work with you and grow into a partnership that is more suited to your new ambitions.

Whatever you choose to do, whether trying something new or continuing exactly with what you have been doing previously, we would love to hear your stories of the achievements and milestones of you and your horses of 2016.

The post New year, new equestrian challenges appeared first on Chapelstone Equestrian Construction.

Stables, an arena, a horsewalker, washdown area, tack room, rug room, tractor and hay store.

Does this sound like your ideal set up?

Chapelstone Equestrian recently completed a large installation that comprised all of the above elements, plus a few more.

We thought we’d share with you some images and comments about the finished results. We can’t help but feel proud of what has been created, and we know that our customers are extremely happy with the finished build too.

Chapelstone cleared and prepared the site, with our in house groundworks team ensuring that all works were to a very high standard. This made the site ready for the various buildings, tracks and parking areas and the arena to be installed. Chapelstone designed the facility according to our clients’ wishes, so that we all knew that we were going to be creating exactly what was wanted.

Six stables in total were required, with two being on a corner. As with all our stables, colour coded guttering was used to make the build more aesthetically pleasing, and for longevity all stables and the tack room were treated outside and in with wood preservative. High quality ironmongery was used throughout.

In addition, the customer requested that we use a clear roof sheet in each stable (two in the larger stables) to allow the light to flood in. Rear top stable doors were also installed in each, allowing for extra air flow, a little more light and of course more interest for the horses whilst they are stabled.

The tack room is security mesh lined, providing peace of mind for our customer. This room is also lined and insulated.

Chapelstone also installed a utility room, with loo and hand basin. We laid the base for a horsewalker and supplied and installed the walker for them.

We always recommend future proofing your equestrian facilities and in this instance our client told us that they were considering at some later date the idea of adding a solarium to the washdown area we were constructing for them. Because of this, we made sure the roof purlins were uprated in order to stand any additional weight.

Outside the equestrian buildings, we provided an extended overhang and gallows brackets. This provided the perfect finishing touch.

We were asked to build a 30m x 45m arena using laser technology and installed a Chapel-Fibre surface. The customer also chose to add our Chapelstone Arena King to his order, to ensure his riding surface is kept in the best condition possible.

Tracks, driveways and a parking area were also added, as well as the hay barn.

We always strive to make every project one that our teams can be proud of. But of course the most important thing by far is what the customer thinks. We asked him the question, and this is what he told us.

“Chaplestone were fantastic from the first enquiry through to final hand over of the completed project. Their advice was brilliant during the design phase and their standard of construction was first class. Their site team were craftsmen who obviously were proud of their work. I had high expectations but the final product exceeded everything. The quality is in the detail. I would recommend them without hesitation.”

We wanted to share this with you as it’s exactly what we specialise in – designing and building the ideal equestrian facilities for our clients. Being able to keep horses at home and having everything you require to make them happy, comfortable and safe is the ultimate goal for many equestrians.

It’s a privilege for us at Chapelstone to be a part of that dream.

If you’d like to discuss your perfect equestrian facilities – from a field shelter to a full, dream set up like this one, contact us today.

The post Would you like the perfect equestrian facilities? appeared first on Chapelstone Equestrian Construction.