Preparation for 2020 begins

Following the end of the 2019 season, the horses have been enjoying their downtime in the field, and their coats and waistlines have grown each week. The horses have holidayed in the idyllic stud fields at Stowell Park, thanks to Lady Vestey, who owns Mosstown Prince. Although it is becoming fashionble to keep horses in work all year round, I think it's so important that they can become proper horses again - they really benefit from a decent break turned out 24/7 in groups. So much of the year involves intensive training that a physical and mental restbite does them the world of good. Given that a horse's eventing career is likely to be ten to fifteen years long, you don't want to rely on an injury setback to be their only excuse for a proper break! 

We still do plenty of roadwork followed by light schooling mixed with hacking and lunging before they resume proper training, and the horses are currently at various stages of this. The first batch to come in are now in full work, they've been benefitting from regular sessions with Laura Tomlinson and we have a trip to Chris Bartle's base in Yorkshire planned for the start of the New Year.

We keep the same sized team of people on the yard all year round, but the quieter months of October and November gives the whole staff opportunities to disappear off on well deserved holidays.