YellowField Stables

07/01/2025

Surprise snow storm = snow day!

Thanks to YellowField Stables for putting me up for the night ❄️☃️

Reliving my Canadian childhood with some snowman building!

18/12/2024

2 more 3yr olds having their first ride out… super well behaved boys

10/12/2024

As Cassie and Rocket graduate their 3yr old class and go home for a well earned break the next batch have their first outings.

3yr old Connie, Reggie, enjoying his first trip out and on the gallops…. behaving like a pro.
3yr old Aria enjoying her first time in the arena and showing lots of potential.
And Ember who is with us for some schooling loving being part of the team strutting her stuff.

16/11/2024

Made it until mid November before the young boys have needed their rugs! Enjoying their extra time living out…

13/11/2024

Super confident and happy 3yr old mare By King Of Mourne, out of Obos Quality mare. This mare is so much fun to work with, she finds everything easy and loves any opportunity to have a show off. First time in an arena today and first time over a pole. So exciting to see what she can do next

13/11/2024

The absolutely stunning 3yr old gelding by Lithium VS. First time in arena. A talented and beautiful horse who is a pleasure to work with. Very excited to watch his future career.

06/11/2024

So lucky to live and work somewhere with roads quiet enough to train the young horses on….

25/10/2024

Something that we at yellowfields stables completely agree with. Great read for anyone who has a young horse that’s ready for breaking 👏🏻👏🏻

Slow and steady is not only for the horses mental health but also for their ability in the future.

*** WHY HORSES SHOULD NOT BE JUMPING UNDER SADDLE WITHIN WEEKS OF BEING BACKED ***

I’m always shocked and saddened when I see posts and adverts stating how a horse has been backed for several weeks and is now already jumping under saddle. I’m sorry, but that’s nothing to be proud of. I’m very sure there will be many that disagree, but you are setting a young horse up to fail.

If we give our competition horses a couple of months off, we spend weeks, maybe months, carefully bringing them back slowly to build up muscle. Yet a 4 year old with bone and muscle that is completely unconditioned to carrying the weight of a saddle on their back, let alone a 10 stone (and the rest) rider, is cantering and jumping within 4 weeks of having weight on their backs for the very first time?

Young horses should be taken extremely slowly after backing, as it takes months for them to develop the correct muscles to carry the weight of a rider. In my opinion, it is acceptable to back a horse at 4 years old (PLEASE don’t start posting that damn chart of growth plate fusions, or I’ll just delete and block!), PROVIDED the horse is given time to develop the correct muscles to carry themselves and a rider. I absolutely wouldn’t touch a 4 year old that had been backed for 4 weeks and was already jumping under saddle. Sure, they are likely sound and would pass a vetting, but it’s setting them up for orthopaedic issues in the future. Treat an unbacked horse’s fitness and muscle/bone strength as you would treat a horse that’s just had a 2 month holiday, at least.

Slow and steady wins the longevity race.

EDIT: I’m not saying that 4 year olds shouldn’t be jumping, but that they should have been under saddle, developing correct muscle and fitness, for many months before they are asked to leave the floor with a rider on board.

EDIT 2: This is not a post to say 4yr olds shouldn’t be out doing little jumping rounds! I have nothing against the 4yo classes, except the fact I believe they shouldn’t start until at least mid way through the year. I believe this would ease the pressure on young horses to be jumping courses far too soon after backing.

09/10/2024

Another one of our graduates who is looking forward to a break. 4yr old Genie (Connie X) enjoying her first trip away from home. She’s just a beautiful little horse with so much heart… improving everyday and getting more confident with every new experience.

25/09/2024

A young breaker and a wet day !! Maybe I should consider changing into my sticky bum jodhpurs before riding this dragon 🤔 🐉 🤣🔊🌧️ (play with volume)

24/09/2024

3 year old Aria getting so confident and happy doing her job. She will soon be heading home for a well deserved break. ❤️💪🏻🐎🤩

Orla Robinson

24/09/2024

Sunshine ☀️ rainfall 🌧️ horses 🐎 rainbows 🌈

22/09/2024

Great show for a great cause. Please come and show your support. And as always well done Lyndon McKee Photography for organising it 💪🏻👌🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Massive thanks to Yellowfield Stables for their continued support with our Charity Show at Connell Hill
Aileen Feeney and Tricia Feeney Hughes are a phenomenal support to my photography and to our Charity Shows every year. Thank you girls, you bring joy and laughter to my day every time I see you both.

Check out Yellowfield Stables on Facebook ....

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100034428106538