Meet the Horses
Amora
Status: Riding School/Half Share Loan
Height: 15.3 hh
YOB: 2006
Gender: Mare
Colour: Iron Grey
Breed: PRE – Pure-Bred Graded Spanish Horse (Andalusian)
Height: 15.2 hh
Owner: LHS/Loan Owner: Hayley Horsman – other half-share available
Bred on site from the Spanish parents of Roma and Julepe, Amora has particularly nice conformation and a lovely nature. Graded as a three year old, Amora then bred us one lovely Spanish filly foal by Jocoso before joining our riding school, providing a lovely, quality ladies mount.
Amorio
Status : Working Livery
Height: 16.0hh
YOB: 2006
Gender: Gelding
Colour: Iron Grey
Breed: PRE – Pure Bred Graded Spanish Horse (Andalusian)
Price: £4,500 (can be sold off-site)
Bred at Lavant House Stables from the Spanish parents of Kalia and Julepe, Amorio has always been a wonderful character right from birth. He also has the uncanny knack of being good at whatever he is asked to do, constantly surprising us with the wonderful results.
As a late developer, Amorio grew a full hand in his fifth year, at the same time turning into a seriously handsome horse and proving his youth, which was spent jumping in and out of fields, was not misspent as he quite clearly has his father’s talent for jumping!
Ballyragget
Height: 16.1 hh
YOB: 2004
Gender: Gelding
Colour: Bay
Breed/Type: Irish
Price: £4,750 ono
(Sale or loan is only available if to remain at Lavant House Stables)
Bally was recommended to us and has proven to be the unsual combination of being both safe and sensible enough for a first-time owner/or beginner rider, whilst also having enough about him for the more skilled rider to enjoy.
Handsome with quality and substance, Bally has three correct and active paces suitable to be successful in pure dressage, yet also jumps anything and everything, and has proven himself to also be an able and bold Hunter who becomes better and better at this job every time he goes out.
Not least is his lovely sensitive nature which results in him being a pleasure to handle and ride. 100% sound, hack-out, jump all types of fences, load, clip, handle, etc. and able to carry up to 16+ stone. A very easy, unusual horse who can carry a beginner rider of any weight calmly and safely yet also give highly experienced riders a thrill when he is asked to provide more. These photos do not begin to do him justice!
Bally Cross Country Schooling 2011
Beau
Status: Elite/Working Livery
Height: 16 hh
YOB: 1998
Gender: Gelding
Colour: Black
Breed: Trakehnner x Irish
Owner: Mr Mark Pennycook
One of our Elite Liveries, Beau occasionally joins in a lesson in the arena or a hack when we need to help keep him fit for his owner Mark. Stunning to look at, Beau also has a lovely, equable temperament until it comes to jumping or hacking-out and then he is like a rocket and leaves everyone in his wake!
An extremely popular horse with our more advanced clients as well as our staff, Mark has now started hunting Beau which has been one of Mark’s major ambitions since taking up horse-riding for the first time during 2011.
Bertrum
Status: Riding School/Perfect Partners
Height: 16.3 hh
YOB: 1990
Gender: Gelding
Colour: Bay
Breed: 7/8ths TB
Owner: LHS/Loan Owner: Sarah Boote
Bertrum, officially called “Bertie Killingshurst”, is a horse born in the “purple” with two parents that have exceptional records for producing offspring that compete at the very highest echelons in Eventing.
To give you an idea, his half-brother (from the same sire) Midnight Monarch ridden by Andrew Hoy, won Badminton 2006 whilst his other half-brother from the same dam (much more unusual) Lord Killingshurst ridden by Andrew Nicholson, came second.
Bertrum may have showed all the promise but he never made the grade and his patient owner who had bought him as a two year old permanently loaned Bertrum to us in 2003. Thereafter our Lorna evented him for a few years before realising that Bert only wanted a peaceful life and is happiest when allowed to potter around at Lavant!
Bluebell
Height: 16 hh
YOB: 2005
Gender: Mare
Colour: Skewbald (grey & white)
Breed: Irish Cob
Owner: LHS/Loan Owner: Lizzie Douglas & other half-share loan available
Price: £2,950 (can be sold off-site)
This handsome mare was bought from Goresbridge Sales in Ireland along with Timmy and Kenny, despite the fact we definitely didn’t want a mare! We couldn’t resist her, having such presence and ticking every other box, which was to be a well proportioned weight-carrier (a horse able to carry 16 stone+) with an equable temperament.
(Safely) energetic with every job we ask of her in the arena, where Bluebell really excels is hacking-out and we constantly receive praise on her delightful manner in this area. Due to this skill Bluebell has also been hunted regularly, always receiving much praise for her poise and decorum out in the field. Such a dab-hand is Bluebell becoming on the hunting field, she now has an important role introducing staff and clients alike to this sport – which she loves, does calmly and behaves impeccably. In fact if Bluebell could get herself ready and put herself in the horsebox to go hunting, she would!
A popular horse who continues to win herself many fans – regardless of rider experience or ability.
Just arrived 2010Christmas Eve Meet 2011
Hunting at Coombelands 2011
Bonita
Status: Staff Livery
Height: 15.2 hh
YOB: 2007
Gender: Mare
Colour: Dark grey
Breed: PRE – Pure Bred Graded Spanish Horse (Andalusian)
Owner: LHS/Loan Owner: Alison Coates
From our own Spanish stallion Julepe out of our Spanish mare Saucy, Bonita has never given us a moment’s worry. With her looks, lovely temperament and willingness to please, she is an excellent example of the breed and after having her first filly foal called Fe, by the black Spanish stallion Jocaso she will eventually be introduced to the riding school.
Bonita is beyond a shadow of a doubt our Alison’s favourite and has to be the most pampered, groomed and loved horse at Lavant House Stables – and this is truly saying something when we are all so devoted to caring for our horses here!
Cruz
Status: Spanish Breeding Stock/For Sale/For Loan
Height: 15.1 hh
YOB: 2008
Gender: Gelding
Colour: Dark grey
Breed: PRE – Pure Bred Graded Spanish Horse (Andalusian)
Owner: LHS
Price: £4,000 ono
(Loan is only available if to remain at Lavant House Stables)
Cruz is another produce of our Spanish stallion Julepe and Spanish mare Kalia and is therefore a full-brother to Amorio. Because he has particularly good conformation and three fabulous paces the intention was to keep him entire, but sadly he just didn’t grow enough for our purposes and whilst perfect in many respects he is just too small for our breeding programme. Therefore he was gelded at two years old and will eventually, once old enough, will be introduced to our riding school.
Probably the most straight-forward Andalusian we have bred, Cruz is uncomplicated and easy in every way. Would all horses and ponies be as low-cost, easy and amicable as this one!
Dia
Status: Spanish Breeding Stock
Height: 16 hh+ at maturity
YOB: 2009
Gender: Mare
Colour: (Greying) Dun
Breed: Park-Bred PRE (Andalusian)
Owner: LHS
We managed to have two foals from our palomino Spanish stallion Andy before we lost him and Dia is probably the better example of the two due to her outstanding conformation – the other Andy filly being Diva. Out of Saucy, Dia has a much calmer demeanor than her mother, so quite definitely takes after her Dad. However she is also a lot more demanding than either parent or her sister so we think we have muddled-up the names of Andy’s two offspring!
Dique
Status: Working Livery
Height: 16.2 hh
DOB: 8.4.01
Gender: Gelding
Colour: Grey
Breed: Pure Bred Graded Spanish Horse (Andalusian)
Owners: Ella Guimaraens
Now this is an interesting one. With the official Spanish name of Dique (pronounced DK) he was an expensive import from Spain as an un-backed three year old stallion, purchased with the intention of using him as a breeding stallion with our Spanish stock.
Unfortunately as a stallion he proved to be lethal on the ground regardless of whether this was with other horses or people. Within a month of arrival he escaped from his field and broke Julepe’s jaw and that was by far the final straw – Dique was as a consequence promptly sent to the vets for a gender change operation!
He is typical of the Spanish horse in that he loves to be doing something and ideally all of the time. Consequently he has been competed seriously in dressage, show jumping and One Day Events, as well as successfully hunted for several seasons. In 2011 he was lucky to find Ella Guimaraens as his owner – much deserved for this wonderful horse who does it all and is always willing to please.
Diva
Status: Spanish Breeding Stock
Height: 16 hh+ at maturity
YOB: 2009
Gender: Mare
Colour: (Greying) Dun
Breed: Park-Bred PRE (Andalusian)
Owner: LHS
We managed to have two foals from our stunning palomino Spanish stallion Andy before we lost him and Diva has thankfully inherited his amazing temperament, plus some of his highly unusual coat colour genes to pass on to her own offspring. Out of Kalia, Diva has always played second-fiddle to her sister, the more bossy and glamorous Dia, but undoubtedly has the better movement of the two so is definitely going to come into her own as an adult.
Edita
Status: Spanish Breeding Stock
Height: 16 hh+ at maturity
YOB: 2010
Gender: Mare
Colour: (Greying) Black
Breed: PRE – Pure Bred Spanish Horse (Andalusian)
Owner: LHS
Edita is our first offspring of the “bred in the purple” black Andalusian stallion Jocoso who is owned by one of the top Spanish horse breeders in this country. Out of our homebred Spanish mare Amora, Edita is beautifully classic in type as a foal and terefore we have high hopes for her as an adult – she just oozes quality and has a temperament to die for. So pleased are we with this foal that we have put further Spanish mares to the stallion Jocoso.
Euro
Status: Spanish Breeding Stock
Height: 16.2 hh+ at maturity
YOB: 2010
Gender: Gelding
Colour: Dark Grey
Breed: Andalusian x Irish Draught
Owner: LHS
By the Irish Draught stallion Milligan, and the last foal we were to have out of wonderful Spanish Broodmare Kalia, Euro was our first experiment with cross-breeding, which in this instance was to cross our two favourite breeds of horse – the Andalusian with the Irish Draught. Born a grown-up, Euro is one of those horses who is almost impossible to ignore, having the contradictory characteristics of almost uncanny calm and maturity against wanting to be cuddled and petted. Euro is also huge so it is going to be really interesting to see what he looks like when finally grows up.
Fe
Status: Spanish Breeding Stock
Height: 16 hh+ at maturity
YOB: 2011
Gender: Filly
Colour: Black
Breed: PRE – Pure Bred Spanish Horse (Andalusian)
Owner: LHS
Finally after years of trying we have bred a solid coloured Spanish Horse. Fe is out of Bonita and by the top class Spanish breeding stallion in GB, Jocoso. Whilst Jocoso is black we have had a predominence of grey genes in our Spanish breeding stock at Lavant (and as is typical in Spain), but thankfully our past breeding stallion Julepe also happens to possess the black gene which he luckily passed on down through his daughter Bonita (out of Saucy), finally to Fe.
A lovely, classic, quality foal Fe cannot help but please the educated horseman’s eye whenever you look at her – and this has nothing to do with her actual coat colour! A very exciting breeding development for us at Lavant.
Fraser
Status: Riding School/For Sale/For Loan
Height: 15.2 hh
YOB: 2001
Gender: Gelding
Colour: Skewbald (dark brown, black and white)
Breed: Irish Middleweight
Owner: LHS/Abigail Yetton (second half share available)
Price: £4,250
(Loan is only available if to remain at Lavant House Stables)
The wonderful Fraser has progressed many riders since during the years he has been with us. Skilled on the flat and over fences, he is fundamentally a sensitive horse which has proven a huge hit for most that have had the pleasure of riding him.
Fraser has also been out and seen much of life, such as competing in all three disciplines, cross-country schooling, hunting and sponsored rides. His owner of many years, Helena has learnt much with this lovely horse and it is only due to her being off to Uni that this special boy finds himself on the market – ideally to remain at Lavant House Stables, but this is not essential. The most important thing is to find a suitable new owner who can provide an excellent home to this very special horse.
Good to box, clip, shoe, catch, handle, etc. fully vacinated, sound and fit, Fraser is suitable as a first or second horse to a caring home.
Fraser going for it cross county .....
Fraser & Helena at Horse Show 2011Fraser competing Pony Club
Fraser competing Pony Club
Hugh
Status: Riding School/For Sale/For Loan
Height: 16.1hh
YOB: 2006
Gender: Gelding
Colour: Chestnut
Breed: Irish Sports Horse
Owner: LHS / Molly Brooks
Price: £4,250
(Loan is only available if to remain at Lavant House Stables)
This is an interesting horse that has top Irish bloodlines on both sides, being Arctic Cue on one and King of Diamonds on the other. Flashy to look at with his bright chestnut coat, white blaze and legs, he has a workmanlike way of going and has to be one of the most level-headed horses ever. Nothing fazes Hugh, and whilst he is a perfect gentleman when ridden the same cannot always be said of him when out in his field where he definitely wants to be the king-pin!
There are not many horses who want to to look after their rider as much as Hugh does, unsurprisingly because of this he has become an instant hit with everyone privileged to ride him.
Good to box, clip, shoe, catch, handle, hack, etc. Hugh is also fully up to date to vacinations, teeth checks, etc. Suitable for teenage or adult rider.
Hugh Pony Club One Day Event 2011
Hugh at horse show 2011
Hugh just arrived
Jigsaw
Status: Working Livery
Height: 14.3 hh
YOB: 1996
Gender: Gelding
Colour: Skewbald (brown and white)
Breed: Irish Cob
Owner: Phoebe Goodale
Jigsaw is of the useful size that can carry an adult or a child. With his kind and gentle nature he has successfully introduced many people to the art of horse riding and is always a popular too as a first horse for our livery clients.
Phoebe sensibly snapped Jigsaw up a couple of years back, and has as a consequence never looked back since – a special small horse who will always, and has proven to be, worth his weight in gold!
Julepe
Status: Elite Livery
Height: 16.1 hh
YOB: 1998
Gender: Stallion
Colour: Grey
Breed: PRE – Pure-Bred Graded Spanish Horse (Andalusian)
Owner: Mrs Caroline Pattison
The horse that started it all. Will there ever be another horse to replace Julepe or of his equal?
As our very first Andalusian horse, purchased by the owner of LHS during her first exploit to Spain in 2001, he was the reward of a childhood dream after a terrible year of cancer with her young son. Bought for a bit of light-relief, he proved to be much more than we bargained for and has taken many people to top placings in all of the primary equestrian disciplines, setting them on the road to their further successes.
He may be now in semi-retirement but he continues to weave his magic by helping his owner Caroline to achieve her aims and a bit more beyond (as is his way!) whilst also continuing to compete successfully at the lower levels, go hunting, and just about everything else because this is one very multi-talented horse – so typical of the breed we have since discovered.
Kilkenny
Status: Riding School/For Sale/For Loan
Height: 15.2 hh
YOB: 2005
Gender: Gelding
Colour: Bay
Breed/Type: 1/2 Irish Draught & 1/2 Thoroughbred
Owner: LHS
Sale Price: £3,750 ono (Only for loan if to remain at Lavant House Stables)
A good-looking, quality small horse who is also up to weight and is of a type that tends to be bred by accident rather than design, with a big character and is hugely popular with those who get to know him properly.
Straightforward, he is cheap to keep, easy to do and never makes a fuss about anything. Works well on flat, over show jumps and cross country, hacks alone with a confident rider, good to hack in company and sensible to take out Hunting. An unusual horse in that he is usually extremely hard to find when you are looking for one of his type.
Good to also to box, shoe, catch, clip, etc., fully vaccinated and fit. Genuine, kind horse with a big character so is better suited to a confident person who thrives with this type of horse.
Kenny out hunting for the first time with the crew 2011!
Knight
Status: Elite Livery
Height: 15hh
YOB: 2003
Gender: Gelding
Colour: Grey
Breed: Connemara
Owner: Alejandra de Brunner
This eye catching schoolmaster is a fantastic step up for Alex from her much loved pony Domonic. Knight is a good all rounder, having competed in all Pony Club disciplines so you’re sure to see Alex having lots of fun on him this summer.
Limerick
Status: Working Livery/Half Share Loan
Height: 15.1 hh
YOB: 2004
Gender: Gelding
Colour: Bay
Breed: 1/2 Irish Draught & 1/2 Thoroughbred
Owner: Olivia Linares & half-share available
Limerick, otherwise known as “Limmy” is a classically handsome Irish gelding belonging to Olivia, and whom we are also seeking another half-sharer for on our loan scheme.
Straightforward, Limmy also has something about him that makes him a little cheeky and he can’t resist gently testing people out, which is purely without any malice of course! An intriguing horse who is also a lot of fun.
Louis
Status: Elite Livery
Height: 16.3 hh
YOB: 1999
Gender: Gelding
Colour: Dark Brown
Breed: English Thoroughbred
Owner: Mrs Anna Walls
Louis is our “old man” of Lavant, although if you spied him in the field with his herd members you might be forgiven for dropping the “old”! The result is Louis is constantly getting himself into trouble with his non-existant survival instinct – proven by the fact that he is a primary part of the active (horse) gang in his field who dictate how everyone else is going to behave!
Much loved by his owner Anna, Louis is our first serious Retirement Livery – something we have realised we are probably pretty good at supplying because looking after older horses definitely requires extra skilsl and expertise, especially when these retirees think they are a teenager!
Pepper
Status: Staff Livery
Height: 16.3hh
YOB: 2007
Gender: Gelding
Colour: Iron Grey
Breed: Irish Sports Horse
Owner: Amelia Thomson
Our great Irish Horse Dealer Gerty Tynan picked Pepper for Lucy Thomson’s daughter Amelia when asked to find her something to eventually event.
When Pepper arrived with us early in 2011 (alongside Hugh) he looked rather bedraggled and sorry for himself and a mere 15.2 hh. However even at this initial introduction Pepper had what we call ”the look of lions” about him, which means he had presence and poise – hardly surprising as he is from the famous Irish stallion Sea Crest line.
Six months later Pepper had grown at least another six inches and stood just shy of 17 hh – the tallest horse at Lavant definitely! Just about sat on when he arrived, four months later he stated affiliated eventing and with his kind and generous nature has consistently improved his performance regardless of whatever he is asked to do. A big character who is ruled by his stomach, Pepper is often spied untying himself and wandering from stall to stall in the yard in order to select the best haylage net to pick from!
Like a big teenage boy, Pepper is forever hungry and bumping into things!
Out Hunting 24.12.11
Phoenix
Status: Staff Livery
Height: 16hh
YOB: 2005
Gender: Mare
Colour: Chestnut
Breed: Irish x Warmblood
Owner: Steph Guest
Steph has owned Phoenix since she was foal and on coming to work for us full-time she jumped at the chance to bring her mare here too.
It is obviously a lot easier for staff to have their horses in their workplace, but also of benefit are the range of training facilities and expert help available whenever required.
Quinn
The "handsome boy"!
Status: Staff Livery
Height: 16.2 hh
YOB: 2007
Gender: Gelding
Colour: Dark Brown
Breed: Irish Sports Horses (Irish x Selle Francais)
Owner: Amelia Thomson
Quinn was an unexpected bonus when we travelled up to the mid-country in the autumn of 2011 to look at an event horse with form to help Amelia gain more experience in this discipline. Having finally got to the location we learned from the owner of the “in-form” event horse that he had misbehaved with another young potential purchaser that morning and she was not prepared to sell him to Amelia.
So to make use of the journey we opted to view the seller’s youngstock instead, which was initially carried out in a rather desultory manner because another young and inexperienced horse was not what we were looking for. The fourth horse pulled out for our inspection was Quinn and rather like love at first sight, sometimes you just know instantly this is the one. Unsure after seeing him first ridden as he was a bit “fiesty” as Amelia called it, this opinion was swiftly changed on seeing him jump and his fate with us was sealed the minute she sat on Quinn - this was a match made in heaven.
The icing on the cake with this visit was the misbehaving experienced event horse happened to be Salt who I had no intention of leaving behind, he is SO “my type” of horse, even though Amelia was less impressed. So we actually ended up with both horses for the originally cost of Salt – before he misbehaved on the day of our eventful visit (forgive the pun).
Quinn’s competition name has been changed to Mr Google to go with Dr Pepper (as in Pepper – Amelia’s other young horse) and probably should have been called Mr Nosey – he wants to know about everything and anything going on around him. He also has the most amazingly trainable temperament, so much so that when I first worked him myself I quipped that if he were a human I would employ him like a shot, so amazing is his work ethic.
Aimed at 2012 BE Training and Intro classes we will also definitely be campaigning this lovely young horse in the prestigious Burghley Young Event Horse Series. And as they say: “watch this space”!
Amelia with her 3 "boys" - l to r - Salt, Quinn & Pepper
Robbie
Status: Elite Livery
Height: 16.2hh
YOB: 2006
Gender: Gelding
Colour: Bay
Breed: Irish Sports Horse
Owner: Hayley Horsman
This lovely, quality young horse is a fitting replacement for the exceptional Connemara pony Rory who taught Hayley so much along the way. As a typical Irish Sports Horse Robbie really knows how to jump and is an exciting project for Hayley to produce along with the support of her mother Claire who is herself an experienced equestrian.
Roma
Status: Riding School/For Sale/For Loan
Height: 15.3 hh
YOB: 2002
Gender: Mare
Colour: Grey
Breed: PRE – Pure Bred Graded Spanish Horse (Andalusian)
Owner: LHS
Price for Sale: £4,500 (only for loan or sell if to remain at Lavant House Stables – half share loan also available)
Roma came to us as a bit of an afterthought when we were seeking a top quality Iberian brood mare from Spain through the highly respected Spanish Horse Agent Miriam Frenk.
The brood mare, Kalia, duly arrived with Sacristana (Saucy) at foot, and after viewing video footage, so did the yearling Romantica from the same well known Spanish Horse Stud.
From the day she arrived Roma has supported the well known equestrian philosophy that “an exceptional mare is better than any gelding”. For example, during her formative years Roma was the star pupil of southern Natural Horsemanship displays under the tutelege of the renowned NH trainer, Rio Barrett.
Once backed and being ridden Roma has consistently proven to be popular with all abilities of rider – probably because she just does it all. Whether you want to do dressage, show jumping, eventing, hunt, sponsored rides, etc. or just have a jolly good friend, Roma will always make a serious effort to fit the bill.
Roo
Status: For Sale/Working Livery
Height: 15.2 hh
YOB: 2001
Gender: Gelding
Colour: Bay
Breed: Thoroughbred x Irish Draught
Owner: Mrs Claire Pennycook
Price: TBC
Dear Roo arrived with Fraser and both of these horses have proven to be absolutely irreplaceable. 90% of horse-owners in this country would give their eye-teeth for a Roo (or a Fraser for that matter) because they can do anything, are 100% straightforward to ride, are also lovely on the eye and even lovelier to have around even if just as a friend! Such a pity we don’t know how they are bred otherwise I am sure LHS would be hot-footing it out to Ireland to buy both parents!
Saucy
Status: Staff Horse
Height: 16.1 hh
YOB: 2003
Gender: Mare
Colour: Roan Grey
Breed: PRE – Pure Bred Graded Spanish Horse (Andalusian)
Owner: Jess Callander
Saucy came over to us from Spain as a foal at foot to Kalia and has over the past few years bred us two super Spanish foals as well as competently got on with her ridden work.
Typical of this breed, Saucy is multi-talented and is able to perform successfully in any type of equestrian discipline, which is why she remains with us as a staff-owned horse with Jess.
Silver
Status: Working Livery
Height: 14.3 hh
YOB: 2005
Gender: Gelding
Colour: Dapple Grey
Breed: Connemara
Owner: Mrs Jacqui King
This stocky, friendly pony is the ideal “family pony” because anyone and everyone can ride him. Small enough for a child but strong enough to carry a reasonably sized adult, Silver is as straight forward as they come. Silver hacks out safely, jumps all types of fences including cross country, is schooled on the flat and regularly competes in all types of Pony Club activities. Couple this with his lovely nature and ease to handle on the ground, he really is an ideal first or second pony/horse.
Smithy
Status: Elite Livery
Height: 16.1 hh
YOB: 1996
Gender: Gelding
Colour: Bay
Breed: 7/8ths Thoroughbred
Owner: Mrs Sandra Young
Dear Smithy is the much loved horse of our livery Sandra. When he first came he seemed to skip through one injury or accident to another, which Sandra patiently worked with to bring him back to full health. Fingers-crossed, after the first year this spate of injuries has ceased and Sandra is now fully enjoying everything Smithy has to offer – this very handsome and kind horse who is the perfect gentleman and certainly the perfect first horse for Sandra.
Squiggles
Status: Elite Livery/Working Livery
Height: 16 hh
YOB: 2002
Gender: Gelding
Colour: Bay
Breed: Anglo Arab
Owner: Nathalie Hyman
Squiggles proper name is “Hand to Heart” and he has been out there, seen it and done it all. With a sound British Eventing record at the lower levels he is a great first horse for Nathalie who up to now has benefited from our Pony Pal system to develop her skills enough to enable her to handle and ride the more quality type of horse as Squiggles. Nathalie first met Squiggles when visiting Scotland so he made a long trek down south to join us!
Part Elite/part Working Livery, Squiggles is also exercised via the riding school under our more advanced pupils.
Toddy
Status: Staff Livery
Height: 16 hh
YOB: 1978
Gender: Mare
Colour: Chestnut
Breed: Thoroughbred x Hanoverian
Owner: Ms Nicola Collins
There is no mistake with the horse’s year of birth given above – this is one incredibly old mare, who is kept healthily alive by the dedicated care of Nicola combined with the help of Toddy’s previous owner Mrs Karen Jones and her daughter Georgia.
Toddy is from one of the first “warm-blood” stallions to stand in this country, the Duellist line, and Karen has always been a “local” whilst Toddy arrived back in this area from Berkshire when Nicola relocated to us to become our General Manager in 2007. This resulted in Karen hot-footing it to our door to see her previous horse – and she has stayed ever since!
Travis
Status: Working Livery
Height: 15.2 hh
YOB: 2003
Gender: Gelding
Colour: White-grey (flea-bitten)
Breed: Connemara
Owner: Ceilidh Wands/Loan Owner: Jenny Lane
It feels as though Travis has been with us forever such is his popularity, which is why it is not surprising that when his long-term owner Ceilidh thought it was best to sell him when she was off to Uni, she then changed her mind when it came to the crunch – and crunch it was with the scrum to buy this horse! So thankfully Ceilidh remains a regular attendee at Lavant House Stables.
A lovely looking and larger version of the Connemara, Travis is incredibly kind and willingly does whatever is asked of him, which is no doubt why he earns himself so many affectionate fans.
Venus
Status: Staff Livery
Height: 15.2 hh
YOB: 2002
Gender: Mare
Colour: Grey (White)
Breed: PRE – Pure Bred Graded Spanish Horse (Andalusian)
Owner: Jade Horspool
Our first Spanish brood mare Kalia arrived with us from Spain in foal with Venus, who’s father is from a famous historic breeding line of Andalusian dressage horses. Born at the stables of our Natural Horsemanship guru Rio Barrett, Venus arrived on the day when the planet Venus was eclipsing the sun, hence the name. Thereafter we preferred to name our Spanish homebred stock after consecutive letters of the alphabet, starting with Amora and Amorio the following year.
The intention with our homebred stock is to breed and produce horses that either excel in competition or become solid riding school horses – as riding school horses do need to have certain and very specific characteristics to succeed. However Venus fitted neither bill, noran ideal brood mare, therefore she was gifted to our employee Jade Horspool, who has the skill to ride and care for this less-than straightforward mare! Jade also keeps her startingly clean which is no easy task when all of our horses live as they should – out on pasture 24/7!
