Melissa R Oakfields Livery & Dressage

09/05/2023

Melissa Richardson

09/05/2023

Well what a busy couple of bank holiday weekends. I've had two special people in my life turn 40 in April so I've been juggling Mick &..... wait for it ......a social life 😏

So I Mick & I rocked up at Bury Farm BD on April 24th with the hopes of gaining our 2 points to complete his Advance medium regional qualification. Mick was a little excited 🤦‍♀️ & got a bit tense & emotional & the flying changes went to pot again, he was tight, short in the neck, lacking suppleness....so back to the drawing board & back to Bury the following day....Big thanks to Anne for fitting me in an arena hire..... Just chill out Mick!

So after arena hire we went back again on the 30th & 1st, going in a little blind as mum has been busy I've had no eyes on the ground so trying to ride what I feel. Well it all came together. A win overall AM91 on 68+% (that's us qualified), a run through our first PSG since November last year. Day 2 A win overall AM98 & a win in section PSG & 2nd overall. Lots of rusty bits in our PSG so lots to improve on but all the changes came through & were there on time & I counted right on day 2 🤭.

Big thank you has to go to Buckingham Equine Vets who have helped with his ulcers & maintaining his health & fitness.
Also to Chiltern Vale Animal Physiotherapy who keep him fine shape.
Spillers Horse feeds for their support & nutritional expertise.

03/04/2023

PART TIME MORNING WORK AVAILABLE.....Ok my evening hours are sorted but I am still on the search for a lovely person to join my little team on the yard....ideally Mon/Wed & Friday morning's but can be flexible on days. Please only message me if you can do morning's, confident on the ground with horse's of various sizes & ages & most importantly reliable. It's a very friendly yard with lovely liveries. My regular lady has a new job role starting in May within her main career, we are very sad to see her leave, she has been ace.

21/03/2023

We love a before & after. The last of tye clipping was done in beginning of February to set up the coats for summer coats coming through.

21/03/2023

21/03/2023

Sadly due to my lovely Wednesday & Thursday girl Gwen starting a new role within her main profession in April I am now starting to look for someone to join the yard & work a few hours with me.
Ideally someone local enough that if they wish to split the day they can do a couple of hours A.M & P.M as we will soon be turning horse's out. Someone that is confident to be left alone with general yard duties. They need to be thorough & reliable & happy as Gwen always makes us smile & I her trust her with every one of my horse's. There is the possibility of varied work other than just stables but if you just fancy some outdoor hours, active job & be around nice horse's & people, then it's a friendly yard to be on. No juniors I'm afraid as I can't leave them alone. P.M & friends please share 🙏

21/03/2023

It's been a while since I've been regularly active on Facebook. Sometimes work is so full on the updates get sidelined. The end of winter is always a tough one & when u think spring is on its way u get another dose of winter.
February is our month of starting the worming package & annual dentals for all the horse's, expertly done by Buckingham Equine Vets. We also squeezed in a day with Gina from Spillers so we can monitor the weight & diet of each individual horse, for those that have been on the yard for any length of time it's all about maintenance for the newer clients it's all about making sure horse's settle & are healthy in their new surroundings & my pastures remain clean.

I'm now busy with Bandit who is nearly 3 weeks post kissing spine operation, he's now up to his 30 mins of inhand walking twice a day. Bandit has been left in my care to rehab as his owner has relocated to Somerset. It by far is the most boring part of rehab work but also comes with huge responsibility so it's flattering when owners trust you.

11/03/2023

So after being struck down by the flu bug this week I'm finally starting to look less like the walking dead, lost 2 days in bed & 48hrs of high temperature & all whilst March had a blizzard.

So a very quick pony appreciation post.......
.......whilst thinking it was just a heavy cold Mick & I loaded up for our first BD of 2023 on Monday. He's had a few months off from the arena following his ulcer treatment & care from Buckingham Equine Vets. Unsure of the trigger he's on a maintenance calmer now, we all assume as our horse's get older they become more secure & confident, we also assume as they help us so much & they make us better but maybe sometimes they mirror us more than we realise & he's been by side every stride through my battles.

Anyway he was very pleased to be back out & enthusiastic, a few squeals around the arena & despite not feeling my best, being ring rusty & having a brain fart moment, I enjoyed being back. We went for a stress free outing in the advance mediums again, see how he was feeling. He posted a win & 2nd place & has just 2 more points to get from a qualifying test for summer regionals. I'm looking forward to getting out again.

Big Massive THANK YOU to mummy Denise for coming with me & taking on the yard on the worst day of March. Also to Gwen & Lucy for their hard work.
All the team
Lucy at

07/02/2023

Looking forward to get back out on my boy for 2023. It feels like ages....training session booked for Wednesday & he's being very well looked after & monitored by the team at Buckingham Equine Vets & Lucy Bryce Chiltern Vale Animal Physiotherapy.
Thanks Harriet Millar for organising Wednesday.
In the meantime whilst trying to get Mick back to full competition fitness foowing his ulcer treatment as he's a sensitive soul, as Phillip said "he's a mind of a thousand thoughts" 💕
I've been getting myself back to full fitness & mental strength 💪 back running & would like to step this up now running 4.5 miles several times a week & loving it. ❤️

06/02/2023

Just adore this pony & his rider x

06/02/2023

And a week ago we had the lovely Gina from Spillers come to weigh the horse's for the new year & continue with their support & nutritional advice. Pleased to say all the horse's were on top & we look forward to an update again in 6 months time.

06/02/2023

Boys onto new paddocks, worming week for our yard. Thanks to BEV we are very well guided & we always seem to keep a very low egg count for the rest of the year.

06/02/2023

Well what a busy but successful weekend. Saturday was cut a little short, was hoping to take a look at the Stallion event at Addington but sadly didn't make it. However we did cover a little test riding & dress rehearsal with Katy ready for her first (and Pippin's) first ever dressage test. This little chap knew nothing in the school 6 weeks ago but Katy has worked hard, a few lessons & he's a star in the making. Sunday she looked great & Pippen was beautifully turned out, a few final tips & she did herself & us proud, a very well deserved win & I've told her she's got to get registered with BD. Well done Katy 👏🥰🏆

02/02/2023

So throwback Thursday & we are into February. Most of my showing friend's are posting photo's of their beautiful coloured show horse's in response to another post. I'm no longer involved in showing apart from enjoying Judging around the country. I've been always told "no good horse is a bad colour"!!!! So here is a few of my favourites from my show producing days.

30/01/2023

My ladies have been determined to still enjoy their horse's & hacking despite the weather we've had. So proud to see them all so visible to other road users & walkers. Remember if you can't be seen even a walker can't have time to put a dog on the lead & you can't be seen easily should you fall off even if you don't venture out on the roads. 🙏

30/01/2023

Winter sunsets across my fields & stunning silhouettes of the tree's.

29/01/2023

Evening everyone. So we are 48 hours away from February 2023. For some reason I lost my original business page on Facebook.....so I figured 2023 was a good time to refresh. For those I haven't seen regularly 2021/22 has brought many personal "Ups & downs", "Highs & Lows". Sadly more downs & lows than Ups & Highs.

BUT & yes I know sentences are not meant to start with a "BUT"......but I am still here, with the help of some loyal clients, my loving Mum & Dad & the therapy of my gorgeous horse.

For those I've invited to "like & follow" my page & don't know my story, I will have to be disciplined & post regularly so you know where I've been, my truly privileged experiences & my aims & goals.

So please follow me feel free to get in touch. If I can help I will. 💕