Kingfisher Farm Equestrian

13/07/2024

SLY MINX 68% Novice 28

Minxy is with Oda being prepared to find a new home. She took her to Chard Equestrian to compete for the first time in eight months and achieved 68.12% in her Novice 28 test. Very nicely done for their first competition together.
Minx is such a lovely person to know. She has a lovely temperament and is easy to do with excellent manners. Oda hacks her out alone or in company and she is sensible in big open fields or on the roads. She raced until she was four and is a winner on the flat, thus being eligible for RoR classes. Moves very well and has competed BD up to Elementary level.
Minxy competed BD 2022 - 2023 season and is now being professionally produced to go on.

05/07/2024

BHS CHANGING LIVES THROUGH HORSES

Gill Longhurst is holding a Garden Party on Saturday 3 August, from 10am, at her home, The Old Parsonage, School Lane, Seavington St Michael TA19 0QD, in aid of the BHS Changing Lives Through Horses campaign. There will be lots to entertain you: cake stall, guess the weight of the pony, a quiz, raffle, lots of fun activities and more.

Do put the date in your diary and come to support Gill and the very worthy cause.

I am told that parking on site is limited, but extra parking can be found in the adjacent Water Street and there is a pathway through to School Lane.

06/06/2024

FORMATION RIDING at Kingfisher

Have you ever wanted to try formation riding? Join Senga Riches on 15th June for an hour of pony dancing. Follow this link to book your place:

Equine Affairs presents Kingfisher Farm Equestrian Formation Riding Clinic - Sat, Jun 15, 2024

11/05/2024

BICTON ARENA

Below is the programme for Bicton Arena International Horse Trials from 23 to 26 May 2024. I'm publishing this because the ALL STEPS FORMATION RIDING team are giving demonstrations on Saturday and Sunday 25 and 26 May during the Horse Trials. ALL STEPS FORMATION RIDING have begun some basic, foundation clinics here, at Kingfisher (see post below).

'We [Bicton Arena] are delighted to be hosting an International Horse Trials 23rd - 26th May 2024 with a jam packed schedule for you to enjoy. Fun for all the family with Demonstrations, Bicton College Attractions, Trade Stands, Dog Show and much more.
Tickets can only be purchased in advance so buy your tickets now to join in with the fun!

Thursday 23rd May
CCI4*S: Dressage
CCI3*L & Young Rider: Dressage
CCI2*L: Dressage
Dubarry Burghley Young Event Horse 4 & 5yo Classes

Friday 24th May
CCI4*S: Dressage
CCI3*L & Young Rider: Dressage
CCI2*L: Dressage

Saturday 25th May
CCI4*S: Show Jumping
CCI3*L & Young Rider: Cross Country
CCI2*L: Cross Country
Dog Show & Bicton college activities
Demonstrations including Dartmoor Hawking,
ALL STEPS FORMATION Equitation & Hound Parade

Sunday 25th May
CCI4*S: Cross Country
CCI3*L & Young Rider: Show Jumping
CCI2*L: Show Jumping
Dog Show & Bicton college activities
Demonstrations including Dartmoor Hawking,
ALL STEPS FORMATION Equitation & Hound Parade'

30/04/2024

ALL STEPS FORMATION RIDING

Sarah Hosea and Instructor, Senga, held a formation riding clinic here on Sunday. Unfortunately only two people were able to come (four had booked) but they had a great time! This is a link to a YouTube video which shows what they got up to. It was so much fun. https://youtu.be/kq-aWHvCC24

The next clinic, here, will be on 15 June 2024 so, if you would like to give it a go do get in touch with Sarah. Her email is [email protected] to find out more and to book your place.

09/03/2024

Gracie, who was an apprentice here in 2022/2023, is hoping to find herself a horse on loan. She won't mind me saying that she is, at the moment, only a novice rider but she has nice hands and wants to improve. So, she is hoping to find a horse on loan who would suit her. Please email me if you have any suggestions and I will forward it on to her. My email is [email protected]

05/03/2024

FORMATION RIDING

This Sunday, 10 March, we have something new at Kingfisher. The All Steps Formation Riding club are holding their first clinic here. They are planning only one session this time, so spaces are limited. However, they do have a couple of places available if anybody wants to come along. The clinic is being run by Sarah Hosea and her telephone number is 07773369214 if you want to find out more about it.

27/11/2023

It has been a busy few months and we are all in need of a holiday. We are lucky at Kingfisher in that we have some Winter turnout so, for a while, my gang are taking it easy.

Jodie rides for me on a freelance basis and would love to continue her progress riding horses for other clients. If anyone needs help with exercising or schooling I am happy to give Jodie a reference. She now has a BD record, she is utterly reliable and has never let me down. Videos of her riding some of my horses can be seen on this page. She also has experience in other equestrian fields.

If you would like to talk to her please email me on: [email protected] and I can give you her contact details.

I wish Jodie all the luck in the world and the very best for her future.

22/11/2023

Busy Autumn

We have been out and about with the gang, competing BD at our favourite venues. Unfortunately, I seem not to be able to upload any videos to Facebook, now - but I'm working on it!

Last month Demi had her first win at Elementary level, in a strong section at Kingston Maurward and had a good second there on Sunday, also at Elementary level.

Minx is coming along fast. She needs to work more from behind, but is getting there. Every horse needs to be worked at their own rate of physical development and Minx is really maturing. She did her first BD Elementary level test on Sunday and achieved 60% - very pleasing and a great foundation to build on. She is such a lovely horse, willing and with lovely paces. I hope I can find her a home where her talents will be recognised and built upon.

15/08/2023

Demi and Simon went to Bicton Area Festival to compete in BD Elementary Test 53. A great fun day and very educational.

10/08/2023

We set ourselves a bit of a task on Tuesday, and took three horses to Kings Sedgemoor EC, all of them to compete in the two Novice tests, N22 and N39! We wouldn't normally take more than two at a time but Georgie, who had qualified for the Area Festivals earlier in the year, had been off work for several weeks with niggly things, and we thought she wouldn't be ready in time. However, she is going sweetly for Jodie and the experience will be good for her, so we've decided to take her to Moreton EC Area Festival with Minx and Maya. Hence, all three of them needed an outing.

I did apologise to KSEC for causing them a headache with the times, but we were the ones who had to be well organised to get each horse ready in time for each of their tests. Jodie coped so well! She revised the first test, rode it on Georgie, then revised the second test and rode that, then she had a quick change of horse and did the same with Maya, and finally a quick change onto Minxy! Poor Minxy had the least warm-up time of them all, but she coped. I don't mind saying that the groom (me) didn't do a bad job either!

The attached clip is all six tests condensed from about 30 minutes down to about 3 minutes.

22/07/2023

Raphie and Funky went to Half Moon Stud for BD Novice 23 and Novice 37A. Although Raphie had two seconds and Funky two thirds we felt that perhaps they weren't taking it as seriously as they should! In his N37A Raphie expressed himself with too much enthusiasm and Jodie did very well to stay with him and even have him on the correct canter lead.

Sometimes there are misunderstandings and confusion, and each of the horses has their own way of expressing their disapproval: Raphie (as you can see) says 'Get off my case!', Simon has a tantrum, Ava gets cross, Maya says 'There's a blade of grass half a mile away, blowing in the wind, which is distracting me', Funky is just Funky and he has a very low opinion of humans anyway, as has Georgie who is his own sister. and Demi says 'You may not know what you're doing but I do'.

27/06/2023

Demi and Simon went to Bicton last week for Elementary 43 and Elementary 53. They performed nicely in very hot company and Demi managed a third place in E53. It is very interesting to see how far we have come, but also to see how far we have yet to go at this level!

14/06/2023

Demi and Simon went to Half Moon Stud to compete at Elementary level. They both need to 'sit' more and engage their backends at this level but, nonetheless, we were very happy with how they performed. Demi just pipped Simon in E40 and Simon just pipped Demi in E53. Both achieved qualifying scores for the Area Festivals which is our target for this Summer with the gang.

08/06/2023

I am absolutely delighted to record that Gracie Smith, my apprentice from January 2022, passed her Stage 2 Grooms exam with riding. AND she didn't just pass; she achieved a superb 84% in her knowledge based exam. I am so proud of her.

04/06/2023

Jodie has taken everybody round our grass canter track a few times and last time was very interesting. All of the horses were relaxed (even Demi was chilled and didn't try to turn the exercise into a training gallop!) but Minx, whom you would think would be very excited at seeing a grass canter, said she was NOT a racehorse anymore and Jodie found she had to actually push her into trot and canter. Seems as though Minx has decided where her future lies!

27/05/2023

Minxy has started BD Novice now and her 65.81% at Moreton EC was just reward for a very pleasing test. It is amazing that a horse who was sharp enough to win on the flat has taken so readily to the discipline of dressage. She really loves it!

21/05/2023

Simon and Demi went to Moreton Equestrian Centre to do their first BD Elementary level tests. Jodie and I were thrilled with both of them but, as it is a higher standard, we were prepared to be disappointed with the scores. Well, we didn't need to worry. Demi's 65% put her in first place ahead of Simon's 64%. All three people really enjoyed their day (actually make that all four people - I had a lovely day, too!).

16/05/2023

On Sunday we took Raphie and Funky to compete at Kingston Maurward. This is Raphie's second test (he came second in his first test, BD Novice 38) and Jodie says that they are beginning to understand one another. This is the best he's been for her, so far, and they came fourth, with 67%, in a very high standard class.

10/05/2023

There were some lovely tests performed at KSEC on Tuesday and we were pleased with the way that both Maya and Ava went. Ava is beginning to gather herself and Jodie said that she gave the best feel she has so far, for a fourth and a fifth place. However, Maya had second place in her first test and won her Novice 38 silver section. Obviously determined to show off to her sister!

30/04/2023

What a couple of days we have had at Chard. Yesterday, we took Minx, who had qualified for the RoR (Retraining of Racehorses) South-West Regional Championships, and Funky to be her baby-sitter. Funky, astonishingly, behaved impeccably!
Minx competed in the first Prelim class (P2) as a warm up for her championship test, and won it with 66%. Then she went for the championship class and produced a lovely test for 65.77% and fourth place.
We wanted to familiarise her with Chard and our only opportunity was to take her BD the day before. She did only one test, her first Novice (N23) for 62.03% and third place, marginally beaten by a lively Funky who took second place with 62.92%. Minx's temperament has never been in doubt as she seems to have taken to her new career, but we have been careful to bring her on slowly over the past couple of years, to give her time to develop physically for the higher level tests. Now she is ready to compete in Novice classes.

27/04/2023

We took Simon and Demi to Bicton which always has a very high standard and very well supported classes. We were diverted on the way there, which added a half hour to the journey and left Simon with too little warm up time for his first test and only had a 62% which Demi beat with 64%. She was very wired as we expected she would be, having not been out for a few weeks. Did I say I want sparkle? - beware what you wish for! She needs LOTS of parties! However, Simon in his second test settled beautifully and was the overall winner of Novice 38, with 70.48%. A great credit to Jodie.

23/04/2023

We took Georgie and Ava to Kingston Maurward at the weekend, to do BD Novice 23 and Novice 37A. Neither horse had been there before and both seemed a bit overwhelmed! It is a super venue, very well run and friendly, and always well supported. Ava only scored in the low 60's for her two tests, but Georgie was more on it, so Jodie said she was going to get on her case in her second test. SO much better. I would rather see a horse 'sparkle' and perhaps make a mistake or two, than to see a 'safe', dull test. Georgie improved her score by 4%.

08/04/2023

Maya at Moreton EC.
She's becoming quite the little star! At home she is often a naughty little horse, but take her to a party and she is angelic.

07/04/2023

Demi and Jodie at Half Moon Stud.
Demi is rather enthusiastic - which is normal!

01/04/2023

Jodie Bennet is riding for me, now, and we are going BD. It is a big learning curve for us all, but Jodie has fully embraced the opportunity. We are having a lot of fun and have gained some very good scores, mostly in the high 60's. Of course, not everything goes to plan - these are horses, after all, and sometimes they have their own agendas! But, only four weeks in, Jodie is really settling to her new career.

02/03/2023

PART TIME GROOM NEEDED. UPDATE!

Denise Powell, who has her yard here at Kingfisher, is taking on some full liveries and will be using the spare internal boxes, as well as her present set-up. Denise, who is a bare-foot farrier, has a particular interest in rehabilitation of horses. The facilities here, at Kingfisher, are ideal for helping horses to recover or re-train. Owners of the livery horses will also have full use of the facilities.

I need an experienced groom for a couple of hours each morning, six days a week, and Denise will also need extra help soon.

We are a very happy little team of three, Denise, Jodie (who rides my horses) and Denise and we would love to have someone join us. Ideally, you would live here in s/c accommodation, and there is room for your horse if needed.

You would be self-employed but part of our team, which is important to us all. The 'cottage' has two bedrooms, so there is the possibility to share with a friend.

Training and competing your own horse is also part of the deal if wanted.

References will be needed.

Please email me at: [email protected]

30/01/2023

I have five internal loose boxes together with two bed self-contained accommodation available. Ideally, the facilities here are suited to dressage (shared 20m x 60m indoor school and 60m x 20m outdoor school, horse walker, good turnout for most of the year, shared secure tack room, etc.) but would suit any discipline.

Please contact me at [email protected] for more information.

11/12/2022

Simon went with Minxie to MPEC. His two Novice BD tests gave him first place overall and second place. He is still rather too pleased with himself and, although his percentages are an improvement, we know there is better to come when he settles down. I never expected to put the words 'Simon' and 'over enthusiastic' in the same sentence! He's quite an exciting dressage prospect. Thank you Charlie for riding them both so nicely.

09/12/2022

Minxie went to MPEC on Wednesday to do another couple of BD Prelims. She improved her percentages and performance and, although she has a long journey ahead of her, she is happy and willing to take those first steps. Her scores of 65.1% in her first test (third place overall), and 66.5% in her second test (to be placed second overall) are very encouraging. She is a delightful person to know.