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Sponsored Rider 2008 -Heather StennettThis section is written by Heather Stennett. Every month Heather will be writing a Story, Diary, Success and Top Tip for Bed-Down, which you can read here along with a profile of her career so far and the horses she competes and rides.
Career/Achievements After leaving school at 18 I was thrown in at the deep end running the DIY Livery business here at Cowpasture Farm. Having already been a successful pony rider and made the transition to horses, this was to work in my favour, with my competing & the yard complementing each other. The opportunity to compete and produce horses for some supportive owners led to the competition and schooling side of the yard expanding.
The horses I was producing soon started to have some good results, I was on the gold medal winning England U21 team with Lucky Kilkenny and another horse Idle Genius gave me my first taste of HOYS with 7 th place in the Young Riders final. Since then I have qualified and been placed in major finals including Blue Chip, Scope, Hickstead and HOYS to name but a few. 2005 saw a great relationship with Cavalier Diamond, realising an ambition and jumping in Grand Prix and International Trials on the county circuit, we even encountered the Hickstead derby bank culminating with 12 th place in the British Speed Derby, which all of my friends were able to watch at home on Grandstand!
For the last 3 years, I have been lucky enough to compete on the Portuguese Sunshine Tour where I have gained a wealth of experience, enjoying some great wins and numerous placings.
Daily Routine My daily routine changes enormously, depending on shows. I have an office on the yard with 3 very important boards on the wall for horses, staff and fixtures/treatments. These ensure everyone is aware of what is going on, from working the horses to visits from the vet or farrier. Each horse has a daily & weekly plan whether it is a youngster in for breaking or one of the horses regularly competing. So, keeping these boards updated is essential for the smooth running of the yard.
I normally muck a couple of stables out (some days more, unfortunately!) and then start riding. At the moment, we have a couple of working pupils and I spend time working with them while they ride.
The daily routine for the horses has to be fairly flexible so they can adjust easily when travelling and staying away at shows, however we try to give them all a chance to go in the field and have their own down-time, along with this they have a rest day each week.
I have to keep a close eye on stocks of fodder and bedding, supplying this to most of the yard and as you can imagine, there is a considerable amount required, including Bed Down!
There are 70 acres and 40 stables here at Cowpasture Farm so there is always work to be done on grass management and routine maintenance; luckily I enjoy a little escapism in the tractor…!
Hopes and Horses for 2008 Although having sold Cavalier Diamond last year, I still have a strong team of horses for the coming season and I am looking to add to this. The two main campaigners are Napardie and Dire Strait.
Napardie
Napardie – Suffolk County Show 12yo bay KWPN Gelding by Boy B. Grade A owned by Ann Skeet We have had him for 4 years now. He was 3 rd in the National Grade B Final in 2004. Although he is not a big course jumper, he is an out and out winner and every now and again he jumps in a bigger class and has even been successful at a couple of international shows. At home he is a true gent and is ridden by my partner John's 8 year old daughter. He does his talking in the ring, coming alive when the bell goes, for Pards, the faster the better! Pards is partial to Bed Down Pure shavings! Dire Strait Dire Strait – Suffolk County Show
9yo Danish Bay Gelding by Mosegardens Dilight. Grade B owned by Heather Bought as an unbroken 4yo, he has gone from strength to strength. His first championship win was the Jayrest Suffolk Novice as a 5yo. As a 6yo he was 10 th in the Newcomers Final at HOYS and placed in the Grade C championship at Hickstead. He won two international 7yo classes and was 3 rd in the 7yo Grand Prix on the Atlantic Equestrian Tour. Last year he was 5 th in a small Grand Prix in Vilamoura and placed in the Ladies Final at the Welsh Masters. He has an array of circus tricks and there is nothing Skinny likes more than to have a good roll in his stable full of Bed Down Excel!
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BED-DOWN, Cherry Tree Farm, The Common, Metfield, Harleston,
Norfolk. IP20 0LP |
