Markfield Equestrian Centre

28/07/2024

We’re so very sad to have heard the news of the unexpected passing of our friend, Mark Thompson.
Mark was a regular competitor and friendly face at M.E.C., from when we started holding shows over 40 years ago. Mrs Duffield and her family would like to send their sincere condolences and thoughts to Mark’s family and close friends at this time. A talented horseman who will be sadly missed.
Rest in peace Mark 🐎 🌈

02/05/2024

Did you feel that?
That ray of sunshine between the clouds... ☀️
It can only mean 1 thing...

Spring - soon to be SUMMER 🫶

Over the next few months we are likely to see an increase in walkers, horse riders and cyclists. Please continue to share the road safely.

Pass wide and slow. Particularly for horses and their riders. Driving within close proximity can mean that you are not only committing an offence, but could also be putting loved ones lives at risk.

Lets work together to keep everybody safe.

NN43 Valley Beat

🚶 🐎 🚲 🚙

26/02/2024

Interesting article with useful lunging information. Thank you Your Horse Magazine x

Horse lunging exercises will use and develop the right muscles, which will make a difference to the horse's way of going when you ride them

26/02/2024

Please note 📝 The field to the left of MEC entrance, closest to the flying horse roundabout, is no longer rented by MEC and hasn’t been for several months. We’ve had several enquiries about the horses here and they are not ours. Many thanks 🙏

10/02/2024

Nominations are now open for the Equestrian business awards 🙌
There are so many fantastic instructors, farriers, tack shops, riding schools and venues etc in our area who work tirelessly to help us all enjoy our horses and hobby.
Drop a meaningful nomination for FREE to one of your favourites and make their day 🐴 👏 🥂

https://www.equestrianbusinessawards.co.uk/nominate?fbclid=IwAR364vNt6Bf0Jsuq3ZZbu25qJfednApBXt0ZCHyqSBo_VJdhfY3-XAVlEjw_aem_AW6vd5nd4bmcov4E0T-_OB1W5vPbNSly-d_bJDQJGDBmGXD0K4ZK0jrsXiH4DFdawjU

Nominate your chosen equestrian professional, business or charity who has gone above and beyond. Self-nominations are also accepted.

10/02/2024

Lovely, sunny Saturday morning at MEC ☀️
Schoolies out ✅
Liveries out ✅
Yard finished & swept 🧹 ✅
Thanks Claire Littler for doing such a fab job with our retired crew 🐴

06/02/2024

Our beautiful Ronnie, enjoying his retirement 🐴

28/01/2024

Thinking of our schoolies past and present 💚 🐴 💚
Any updates on how they’re getting on in their new homes would be much appreciated x

They are never just RIDING SCHOOL PONIES:

One day you may move onto bigger, fancier horses, but never forget the school horse who made you, as without them, you wouldn’t be able to ride anything at all.

The patient soul that tolerated your bouncing while you figured out how to sit the trot.

The kind mare that didn’t walk off when you fumbled with the bridle and figured out how to pop that bit in her mouth.

The sweet gelding that picked up the correct canter lead even though your body was telling him to do the exact opposite.

The saintly angel that never spooked, which was a dam good thing because your balance was precarious at best.

Too often we forget where we came from. We move on to the next chapter in our lives and say, “Oh my gosh, I’m learning so much! I’m going so far! I could never do this kind of thing on that old school horse!”

But infact you could, you were just not ready to do all these things back then.

But that school horse gave you the confidence to move forward. That school horse took care of you in all respects and allowed you to take the time you needed to find your way. You couldn’t have become the rider you are today without that riding school horse, always remember to love them unconditionally for our riding school horses are what help start your dream, make dreams come true and get you ready for those bigger dreams 🐴

25/01/2024

SOLD

MIELE PROFESSIONAL tumble dryer for sale

Collection only from MEC.
📞 Please call 07977 587632 for more info. 📞
Do NOT ring MEC or Mrs Duffield 🙏

Dimensions: 56(h) x 36 (w) x 37 (d)
3 phase electric with external air intake.
Several settings, heat controls, timer etc.
In good working order.
Fits several rugs at once. Multiple numnahs, boots, dog beds etc
£4 🥕 🥕

21/12/2023

We’ve nearly made it! 🥂

Congratulations to all the horse owners out there who have been slogging their way through the cold, wet and dark to care for their horses – you've made it through to the shortest day! 🎉🎉🎉

17/12/2023

Thinking of our lovely ex-schoolies and their owners as they get ready for their first Christmas’ in their new homes 🏡 🐴 🎄

19/11/2023

SOLD… again ✅

Readvertised due to time waster 🙄

12/11/2023

Another Sunday and another goodbye as we wave an official goodbye to PAUL 💙

After over 25 years of early mornings, late evenings, wet days, cold days and the occasional heatwave Paul will be hanging up his MEC boots. As many of you will know, Paul started working at MEC on the stable yard and over the years has driven machinery, carted bales, supported our course builders on our BS Shows, run and lead camps, pony care days and competitions AND perhaps most memorably of all, taught so many of our clients to ride.

We know we’ll be seeing you still but please consider this a BIG THANK YOU from all of us for everything and good luck for your new ventures! 🍀
Cheers to you Paul 🍻

03/11/2023

👋 🐴

02/11/2023

🙄 readvertised due to time waster 🙄

👋 Horse walker FOR SALE 👋

2nd hand Monarch horse walker.
Approx 13 years old.
5 horse partitions with rubber guards
1 entry/exit gate
Electric control box
Optional electrified pushers
Variable speed control
2 directional
Easy to operate

Offers over £45🥕 🥕 .

Collection only from Markfield Equestrian Centre, Le67.

Please FB message if interested for contact details and more info.

DO NOT CALL M.E.C. 😊 thanks 🙏

30/10/2023

Stay safe everyone 💛 with the nights now drawing in so quickly it’s important to be mindful of the changing sunset times. No hack is worth having an accident for 🐴
There’s great advice on the BHS and Horse & Hound websites as well the link below.

https://www.viovet.co.uk/blog/p234-Autumn/winter-hacking---be-visible,-not-vulnerable.

A guide to staying safe when hacking this autumn & winter, from trusted UK retailer, VioVet.

28/10/2023

One for our new liveries, old liveries and anyone who’s ever loved a horse 🐴

THE DREAM THAT MANY WILL NOT UNDERSTAND:
My horse is my personal dream.
One day when I am very old and when I can not walk anymore, it will be in my heart as a trophy of my memories.
I met people who taught me something and have the same spirit and I met others that I'm glad I forgot.
I got wet,
I felt cold,
And I felt warm,
I was afraid,
I fell,
And I stood up,
I even hurt myself, I have been broken,
But also, I laughed out loud inside .
I spoke a thousand times with myself.
I sang and shouted with joy like a madman,
And yes ... sometimes I cried.
I have seen wonderful places and lived unforgettable experiences.
I often made unplanned jumps that even Oliver Skeete would be proud of; other times I made jumps full of terror.
I stopped a thousand times to see a landscape.
I spoke with perfect strangers, and I forgot people I see every day.
I went out with my demons inside and returned home with a feeling of absolute peace in my heart.
I always thought how dangerous it is, knowing that the meaning of courage is to advance even feeling fear.
Every time I go up to my horse I think about how wonderful she is.
I stopped talking about it to those who do not understand, and I learned to communicate with other riders.
I have met some amazing people I now call friends because of my horse.
I spent money that I did not have, giving up many things, but all these things are not worth even one special moment with my horse.
He is not a means of transport or a piece of iron with wheels, it is the lost part of my soul and my spirit.
And when someone says to me: "You have to sell the horse and you have to be a more sensible", ... I do not answer. I just swing my head and smile,
A horse..... only the person who loves them understands it.
May God bless my friends and all their horses...
And the adventure continues. .

Photo - Titan ( admins horse )

25/10/2023

SOLD
🪑 FOR SALE 🪑

1 tier viewing gallery. 62, plastic, automatic fold seats. Well used but nothing wrong with them.
Collection only.

£1200 ono
Please pm fb page for contact details 📞

23/10/2023

SOLD

Open to offers
2 trailers that have been used for storing and transporting wings and fillers. Need some tlc.
Collection only.
Please pm for contact details 📞

22/10/2023

As things wind down for the riding school, we have had a busy week of seeing several horses leave for pastures new. Some staying at MEC on livery and others moving further a field 😉

However, today is special for another reason as we say a very fond farewell and good luck to our wonderful Bethanney Batho ! Beth has been a familiar, friendly face at MEC for several years and has been working with us full time for the last 2 years. Thank you for all your hard work Beth and we wish you all the best in whatever the future holds for you 🐎 x

08/10/2023

📣 RIDING LESSON ANNOUNCEMENT 📣

As of Saturday 14th October, we will be offering PRIVATE and SEMI-PRIVATE lessons only.

Due to unforeseen circumstances and the fact that many of our horses have now found fabulous next homes, we simply aren’t able to facilitate any more group lessons.
Group lessons Monday- Friday THIS COMING WEEK will run as normal.
If you wish to book a private or semi private lesson (30 mins) please call 📞 01530 242373 ex 1.

Many thanks for your kind wishes over the last few weeks and your continued support and understanding . 🐴

03/10/2023

As this will be MEC’s last year as a riding school, we would really like to create a souvenir charity calendar (2024).
As it stands, we’d like to include photographs of the horses, ponies and premises from over the years and donate the proceeds to an Equine Charity (tbc).
If this is something you would genuinely be interested in please 👍 this post. If you’d be interested in buying more than 1 calendar, please ❤️ this post. Research so far has indicated, the calendar will be approx £12 for you to purchase.
Please note … this is the start of a plan and we’re just looking to see if it would be viable at this stage.

20/09/2023

EVERYTHING SOLD !
Sorry to people I didn’t get back to! The phone didn’t stop 📞

20/09/2023

# EVERYTHING SOLD #

FOR SALE

24 pairs of white, wooden wing stands.
Have been stored under cover.
£40 per pair

Variety of solid, wooden poles.
12ft / 3.6 meters
£10 each

Variety of painted, wooden fillers.
£20 per pair

Payment by cash on arranged collection. 💵 📞

Please message this page for contact number to arrange purchase and collection.

18/09/2023

🐴 Riding School Closure notice 🐴

‘Markfield Equestrian Centre’ has been running as a riding school in different capacities for over 40 years. With a variety of arenas, changing staff and instructors, and with, perhaps most memorably, a varied and valued selection of horses. M.E.C. has constantly transformed whilst keeping its main aim central; sharing a love of all aspects of equestrianism and teaching children, adults, beginners, and more experienced clients to ride. However, on Sunday 3rd December 2023 the RIDING SCHOOL will be closing.* The final day of lessons will be on Saturday 2nd December.**

This is not a decision that has been made lightly but one that has been carefully considered and discussed for several months. Mrs Duffield and the entire MEC family would like to thank each and every client for their support over the decades. From our standard private and group lessons to supporting work experience students and N.V.Q.s , from Pony Care activities to camps, and from Pony Club badges to B.H.S. Challenge Awards, M.E.C. has done it all and couldn’t have without such committed and loyal staff and clients.

We look forward to seeing you over the next few months to reminisce while we continue with lessons as normal until our closing date.

Many thanks once again; it’s been one hell of a ride ! 🐎


*The LIVERY YARD will continue to function in a slightly altered capacity (more details to follow). The M.E.C. premises is NOT being sold.

**Please DO NOT CALL to enquire about buying the horses or ponies (more details to follow). Thank you.

26/08/2023

What a morning!
Thank you to Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service Coalville Station for helping us this morning after a tractor caught fire in the hay barn 😰 thankfully only machinery was damaged!
Big thank you to all our wonderful staff who followed our fire protocols to the letter, making sure all horses and ponies were safe.
Great job guys! 🐎