BUSINESS PERSONINTHE SPOTLIGHT
CHN BUSINESSPERSON IN THE SPOTLIGHT
This issue CHN catchupwith local businesswoman, Tracey Habgood, owner of HarleyEquestrian in WoodfordHalse.
HORSEY BACKGROUND? Yes, Ihavetwo brothersand onesister and we all
ride.MyMother bought and sold alot of ponieswhen Iwas younger which meant anyponywehad always had a“ForSale” attached to it! My Mother,Sue Bailey, hunted with the
Bicester&Warden Hill (nowknown as the Bicesterwith Whaddon Chase)&mystep Father,Chris Bailey, who didn’tride soon took the attitude of ‘if youcan’tbeatthem then join them’.Hewent on toWhip in to the BicesterasaAmateur Whip up until 2016 .... 32 years! He has nowretired (aged 72)
WHENDID YOU START WORKING IN THE EQUINE INDUSTRY? IN WHATSPHERES?
Istarted working in the Equine industry as soon as Ileft school ataHunting/Racing yard owned by the lateJohn Sumner.An unforgettable experience, and probably the best learning curvea‘cockyknowit all teenager’could ever
have.Myselfand Christine Mumfordworked thereunder the‘task master’ TomSamways.I’m sure anybody reading this would remember Tom. From thereIworked in aShowJumping
DO YOU COME FROM A
yard foraSwissgentleman based at Fergus &Paula Graham’syardinWardington. Then Iwent out to Switzerland whereI wasbased at the greatWilli Melliger’s
yard.MyexperienceinSwitzerland was amazing. Going to all the International and National shows and in the lastyear of my stay overthereIworked fora smaller yard near Bern. Herethe roles were switched round and Ihad the job of looking after all the young horsesfrom Ireland, going to all the smaller shows & jumping the 4yr olds. It washerethatI found out what Iwould liketodointhe futureasmybossessisterwas aSaddler. Icame back to the UK and found a
saddler called Nigel Parker and it waswith him that Ilearnt my trade,starting up in aportacabin at my parentsfarm and then ontopurchasing ashop in Woodford Halse,HarleyEquestrian wasborn.
WHY HARLEY
EQUESTRIAN? Harleywas in fact the first ponyIwas allowedtokeep,and Ihad to earn money to keep with him, so hencethe name HarleyEquestrian. He wasapiebald 14.2 gelding with probably one of the biggest hearts. An absolutemachine, in whatever Iasked him to do.Harley still remainsatHarleyEquestrian immortalised in porcelain in the office and in spirit in the field above the arena.
HOWDO YOUMANAGE TO JUGGLE YOUR OWN HORSES WITHWORK/ RUNNING THE BUSINESS?
Juggling horseswith work has always been on the agenda, from training my own Point to Pointerstonow,slightly taking it easier and justHunting, ShowJumping and Showing. Iamvery luckyasnow the business is at my parents’ farm so I candothe horsesbeforeand afterwork, although would not be able to do them at all if not forthe help of my brother Ben.
WHATARE YOUR GREATEST SUCCESSES?
•Owned trained and rode Blayney’s Privilege in hock deep mud to win by 24 lengths at the PytchleyPoint to Point at Guilsborough, the daybeforeweopened
PleasementionCentralHorseNewswhenrespondingtoAdvertisementsJANUARY/FEBRUARY2018 25
Left: Tracey pictured with Martin Ledger
HarleyEquestrian in 1998. We all had very bad ‘hangovers’the next day!
•Showing numerous home produced horses in the light weight, middle weight, heavy weight flat classes, as well as light weight, heavyweight&maxi cobs and working huntersall of which qualified forthe RIHS. Another greatachievement wasqualifying our home bred&home produced middle weight hunter,Cape de Monte, forHOYS and having the thrill of competing there.
•Riding in my first ever Point to Point, as abet!
•Spooners&WestDartmoor Hunt Race overnatural obstacles....... BANKS! I had nevertackled abank and neither had the horse,but as Iwas riding a horse that my Mother had justsold the Huntsman Iwas somewhat in acorner to do
so.Shipped down to Devonon the train the night beforetocome 2nd on the Dayout of 11 runnerspassing the Huntsman’shorse overthe final bank.
•The opening of HarleyEquestrian Lifestyle shop&Café, tagging a Café ontoHarleyEquestrian has been avery successful move.
WHATARE THE TOP PRODUCTS YOU SELL THATYOU COULDN’T LIVEWITHOUT?
Formore
informationabout HarleyEquestrian, andtheCountry LifestyleShop& Cafévisitwww.
harleyequestrian. comandwww. harleycountry
lifestyle.com
•Equipe Saddles •Thermal BreechesbyNoble Outfitters, amustinthiscold weather.
•Woof precision thermal gloves and Woof Winter socks.
•Showwhitener!!!! Covers amultitude of sins
•WhalDirtyBeastie Shampoo & the Whal Adelar trimmer.
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