Shardeloes Farm Equestrian Centre

29/07/2024

Meet Charlotte! Charlotte has been at Shardeloes Farm Equestrian Centre since 2004. Charlotte is the Yard Manager alongside Kiely, and she is also an instructor!

Charlotte has been riding for 32 years. She always knew she wanted to work with horses, whether that was teaching, being a vet, farrier, or physio! Charlotte’s favourite riding school Pony is Cobweb, “Because he is the smallest, funniest and cheekiest pony”. Her least favourite yard job is de-cobwebbing, she hates spiders! Her favourite job is exercising our lovely Livery horses. Her favourite thing about working at Shardeloes Farm Equestrian Centre is the great Natural Beauty and the phenomenal hacking.

Charlotte is very proud of backing and producing her own horse, William, who she shares her birthday with! It was meant to be. She has owned William since he was a yearling, he is now 23 years old. She backed and brought him on herself to compete in low level showjumping. After discovering that it wasn’t really his thing, she moved on to Dressage which he took to very well. He loves to show off his flashy medium trot steps and his over-exuberant flying changes and very elegant leg yield. Charlotte adapts her riding style to suit every horse she rides.

28/07/2024

Murphy, Smurf, Smurf and Turf, Murph, Smurfy - His name changes daily! It's exhausting having so many nicknames. He was flat out today having a good snooze!

27/07/2024

Are you set for the eventing at Paris 2024? The dressage phase kicks off at 8.30am UK time tomorrow (Saturday 27 July) – here’s what you need to know...

26/07/2024

The Pony Club is for everyone up to the age of 25.

There is plenty of choice for Membership options such as Centre, Centre Plus, Branch and Branch Non-Riding. Branches and centres may have lower age limits, contact them to find out.

Both younger and older Members benefit from Pony Club membership in numerous ways, promoting a well-rounded development that encompasses physical, mental, and social growth.

Here are some key reasons why Pony Club membership is advantageous for all age groups...
👉 Skill Development
👉 Physical Activity
👉 Mental and Emotional Benefits
👉 Social Interaction
👉 Responsibility and Discipline
👉 Educational and Future Career Opportunities
👉 Competitive Opportunities
👉 Life Skills

Start your Pony Club journey today: pcuk.org

23/07/2024

My friend Sage has been in the cobwebs again, lucky she doesn't fear the spiders! You won't catch me getting my pretty paws dirty. I will stick to napping thank you!

23/07/2024

23/07/2024

IT'S OFFICIALLY THE SUMMER HOLIDAYS!!

As you can see, Fergus and Arthur are beyond excited and jumping for joy 🤦‍♀️

22/07/2024

The lovely Gerri has some lesson availability tomorrow between 16:30 and 20:00. Book now on EC Pro!

22/07/2024

Meet Nancy! Nancy has been at Shardeloes Farm Equestrian Centre since 2016. She is our Senior Instructor , teaching all ability levels and our working students from stages 1-4.

Nancy has been riding horses for 65 years and she has always knew she wanted to work with horses, she says that she couldn’t see herself doing anything else. Nancy’s favourite riding school pony is Saffy “because she is just perfect! And she is the perfect lunge pony”. Her favourite yard job is Tack Cleaning, and her least favourite job is bathing the horses! Her favourite thing about working at Shardeloes Farm Equestrian Centre is the incredible scenery and amazing wildlife she gets to see every day.

Nancy is proud of her time spent Open Team Chasing and Hunting. She is also very proud to have been the runner up in the Golden Spur Award for instructors. Nancy has her own horse named Tillie, who she has had for nearly 3 years. She is an 11 year old Welsh section D. Tillie likes to untie herself when Nancy isn’t looking, and in the 3 years Nancy has owned Tillie, she has never seen Tillie untie herself so doesn’t know how she does it!

Nancy is training to be a “Ride with your mind” Coach. She really likes their style of coaching and training. Fun fact - Nancy can ride Side Saddle! You can see in the photo, Nancy during a pairs Dressage competition. Her partner was dressed as Dick Whittington and Nancy was the cat!

21/07/2024

We still have spaces in our Exmoors level Own a Pony day! Get in touch for more information or book on EC Pro!

21/07/2024

Mary heard about our breakfast in bed service and thought she would try her luck! We tried to tell her she ate her breakfast this morning, but she didn't want to listen!

20/07/2024

It's finally time for this month's quiz! Do you know your points of the pony?

Let us know your score in the comments!

20/07/2024

We have some lesson spaces with the fantastic Gerri!
Tuesday 23rd, 16:30-20:00
Wednesday 24th, 10:30-11:30
Thursday 25th, 16:00-20:00

Book on EC Pro!

20/07/2024

Follow the Shardeloes Farm Equestrian Centre channel on WhatsApp for updates, Pony Pictures and more!

19/07/2024

We still have one space left on our Dartmoor Level Own a Pony Day Next wednesday!

Get in touch for more information, book on EC Pro!

19/07/2024

Champ soaking up the sunshine!

16/07/2024

Sometimes I like to take a step back, appreciate my surroundings, soak in the sun... and Meow as loud as possible at anyone that comes into my eyeline, because how DARE they walk past me and not give me treats.

15/07/2024

Meet Sophie! Sophie has been working at Shardeloes Farm Equestrian Centre since 2021 as a Groom across all of our yards. Sophie has been riding horses for 10 years, and has always known she wanted to work with horses.

Sophie’s favourite riding school pony is Saffy, “because she can do tricks like hi-five”. Her favourite thing about working at Shardeloes Farm Equestrian Centre is hacking the horses and ponies around the estate and seeing the beautiful views. Her favourite yard job is making beds in the stables, she loves making big neat beds for the horses, and her least favourite job is making haynets!

Sophie has her own horse named Chucky, she got him in February 2024. He can do tricks such as hi-five and spin! Her favourite element of riding is hacking and Cross Country. Sophie is particularly proud of achieving her complete BHS stage 2, and she is working towards her BHS stage 2 ride out so she can become a Hack Es**rt with us.

14/07/2024

Snoopy was caught dreaming earlier. Look at his ears! What do you think he was dreaming about? The current theory on the yard is he was dreaming of going to his first Taylor Swift concert 😂

13/07/2024

Cobweb is ready for festival season!

13/07/2024

Pippin and Cocoa are the best at posing!

12/07/2024

Encourage people to talk to each other, communicate their needs and intentions, and make new friends - New Conversations Day 2024 💬🫂

Here's what Riders Minds have to say about "Courageous Conversations"...

"Whether we recognise we’re struggling, or recognise someone else may be struggling, having a conversation might seem daunting, in any environment."💭
"When it comes to riding and horse matters, riders will often talk to other riders, trainers, coaches, vets, and so on.
Yet, what about mental health matters?
Riders might struggle with, say, competition anxiety, feeling low after unexpected poor results, performance expectations, lost confidence after a fall or in general."
"Other matters, riding or equestrian related or not, can affect well-being and be difficult conversations to have too. However, left unaddressed, our mental health could deteriorate."

"Rather than struggling, suffering in silence, getting stressed or risking others misunderstanding you from, say, behavioural changes, it makes sense to have ‘that’ conversation. The same applies if you see someone else struggling too. There’s no right or wrong way to have a courageous conversation, but read on for Riders Minds top tips" - https://ridersminds.org/my-mental-health/courageous-conversations/

Joining a Pony Club Centre or Branch can be an exciting and enriching experience, especially when it comes to making new friends. Here's how becoming a Pony Club member can provide many opportunities for members to create friendships.

👉 Shared interests - the love of ponies/horses, providing a solid foundation for friendships.
👉 The potential for regular riding lessons/ridden and non-ridden rallies/training, competitions, and social events which offer plenty of opportunities to bond over shared experiences.
👉 Many pony club activities, such as team competitions and group lessons, require cooperation and communication, fostering teamwork and camaraderie.
👉 Members support each other in learning new riding techniques, horse care skills, and achieving personal goals.
👉 Celebrating each other’s successes, big or small, fosters a positive and encouraging atmosphere.

In summary, Pony Club provides a nurturing environment for making friends through shared interests, group activities, skill development, and a strong sense of community.
👉 Start your journey today, find your local Branch or Centre: https://pcuk.org/find-a-pony-club/ 🔗

11/07/2024

Working Livery Spaces at Shardeloes Farm Equestrian Centre 🐴

When you lead a busy life, it can be hard to find the time to keep your horse fit and working. We can help! We are pleased to offer Working Livery packages, tailored to suit your horse's needs. Keep your horse at a 5* establishment with incredible facilities, from £72 a week. We are looking for horses that would be suitable for use within our riding school and student lessons, ranging between 13hh to 18hh with an age range of 5 to 16 years old. No bucking, napping or rearing. We don’t mind a little forward going for our more experienced riders but also looking for the quiet types too that can jump a small fence. The workload will include a mixture of jumping, schooling, hacking, lunging and long reining by both our clients, students and senior staff.

✨Included:
Bedding (straw, shavings optional)
Feed (TopSpec)
Hay and Haylage
Tack Cleaning
Year-round turnout in small or large herds
Organising routine management
Clipping and Trimming
Additional Schooling by our students

✨Owner Benefits:
Access to 550 acres of off-road hacking
24hr CCTV, security gates, alarmed tack rooms and staff living on-site
Access to our large cross country course
Heated log cabin with refreshments, toilets and showers
On-Site BHS trained grooms
Competitions
Monthly Clinics with BHS fellow Carole Broad
Qualified instructors on-site to teach daily
3 arenas (2 outdoor, 1 indoor)
Equine therapy centre on-site
Large car park

We offer up to 12 hours maximum a week of working livery, including student training. We tailor each package to you and your horse's needs. For more information or enquiries, please message us, or email [email protected]. You can also call 01494 433 333 or Whatsapp 07787 020 202.

11/07/2024

We have some lesson spaces with Gerri tomorrow afternoon between 6pm and 7pm. Book on EC Pro

11/07/2024

Another birthday! Arthur is 18 today! Happy birthday to our gentle giant, he lapped up the photos and love of course.

11/07/2024

Please read this important message in full!

At Shardeloes Farm Equestrian Centre, the health and safety of our horses and riders are our top priorities. To ensure the wellbeing of our horses we implement strict biosecurity measures and kindly ask for your cooperation.

If you have contact with horses outside of Shardeloes Farm—whether you ride elsewhere, share or own a horse at another location, or visit and interact with other horses or stable yards—you must adhere to the following guidelines:

Change Your Clothing: Do not visit us in the same clothing you wore when interacting with other horses. All clothing must be washed before coming to our facility, including gloves.

Sanitise Boots and Helmet: Ensure that your boots and helmet are thoroughly sanitised to prevent the transfer of any potential pathogens.

Bring a Change of Clothes: If you come to us straight after visiting other horses, please bring a change of clothes to wear upon arrival at our centre.

These measures are crucial for preventing the spread of equine diseases and infections, and for keeping our horses safe and protected. Your cooperation in adhering to these guidelines is essential in maintaining a safe and healthy environment for all.
If you have any questions or require further information regarding these biosecurity measures, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Thank you for your attention to this important matter and for your continued support in keeping our horses safe!

10/07/2024

Happy 9th Birthday to Hector, who pulled out his best poses for his birthday photos! After realising he can't eat his birthday banner, he was rather displeased and settled for some hay instead 😂

09/07/2024

Wow! A lot of our summer holiday activities are fully booked! Don't worry, there are waiting lists in place. Call reception or drop us a message to be added to the waiting list for any of our activities. 🌞

We still have one or two spaces in the following activities, book quickly before they fill up! 🐴
24/07 - Own a Pony Day, Dartmoor Level
25/07 - Pony Club D testing
31/07 - Own a Pony Day, Exmoor Level

01/08 - Pony Club D Testing
01/08 - Pony Club D+ Testing
13/08 - Shetlands Holiday Activities
20/08 - Pony Club Poisonous Plants badge
22/08 - Pony Club E Testing
27/08 - Pony Club Mounted Games Rally
29/08 - Pony Club Tack Cleaning badge
30/08 - Pamper a Pony Morning

03/09 - Pamper a Pony Morning

Please get in touch if you have any questions!

09/07/2024

Similar to most cats, I refuse to drink from the multiple water bowls that the humans have put out for me. Instead, I prefer the horse's water.

08/07/2024

Meet Tracy! Tracy has been at Shardeloes Farm Equestrian Centre since 2008, she is our Reception Manager!

Tracy has been riding horses since she was 7 years old. Tracy didn’t plan on working amongst horses, but landed a job in reception when she had her children’s ponies on livery here. Her favourite riding school pony is Cobweb. Tracy picked him up from the Cotswolds when he first came to us, and she loves how cheeky (and gorgeous!) he is.

Tracy’s favourite thing about working at Shardeloes is the view from her office! What beats looking up from your desk to see beautiful views, horses and ponies! Her favourite and least favourite job are one in the same, opening up the diary. She loves to see everyone booking in their lessons.

Tracy is particularly proud of her time as a Pony Club mum for her two daughters. She has two ponies, Troy and Ginger, who she has owned for 18 years. Troy and Ginger were her children’s first ever ponies that they could never bare to part with - They are far too much a part of the family to let them go. “Troy is definitely a little old man with his pipe and slippers, and goes mad if you change the slightest thing! Ginger expects your undivided attention whenever you are around the yard and she lives for treats!”.