( property, yard & stable )
The success of the farmer who said yes to the horse loving girl
Who knew one little question would develop into a great business partner- ship between dynamic farmer Keith Carr and entrepreneurial equestrian Vicky Abbott, in the village of Caldecott in Northamptonshire. The two met in 2006 when Vicky approached Keith to keep her horses in a field on his farm. Now, 13 years on, they have a livery business with 3 yards and have just completed it with a Scotts of Thrapston stable block. However, in the 27 box site Vicky’s own horses still live out in her private paddock with their stable doors kept open. A key point of the horse’s wellbeing, in Vicky’s opinion, is excellent turnout.
The farm has been in the family and previously worked by Keith’s grandparents, and as well as becoming a thriving business it’s provided a wonderful country home to his two daughters, son and their beloved dogs. Keith said: “The partnership between Vicky and myself has really benefitted the farm as we are able to produce and use everything in house. We make our own hay and straw, although our straw comes back to us in pellet form. Then all the waste from the yard is spread back onto the land. It’s great to have such a complementary and self-sufficient business model”.
The supportive and friendly atmosphere on the yards is a joy. As livery clients arrive with smiley faces to spend time with their horses, the friendly staff are quick to greet them. This is testament to Vicky’s management style and how the business navigates the infamous problems often arising in running livery yards. Although the yard is an impressive sight today it’s the tenaciousness of the pair that got them here.
Keith recalls: “We were initially turned down for planning mainly due to having Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) on site, however our second application was much more successful. It’s been a lot of work to diversify into equestrian from purely agricultural. We have spent time building all the facilities and arenas, but now we have the Scotts stables it’s really finished off the project with a bang. The high quality of the Scotts building does not compare to any other stable company.”
With all the facilities now on site, and the livery business fully functioning, Vicky can concentrate on running her own yard alongside Keith’s yards and both show jumping and dressage events at the site. Of course completed by the perfect judges hut and scoring booth, also designed, manufactured and erected by Scotts of Thrapston.
Vicky said: “Keith and I are discussing the possibility of building a cross country course in the future, so I don’t think we will slow down just yet. We are always looking for new ideas. We have had over 50 entries for our competitions so far this year, so the appetite is there and it also brings people into our facilities to show them
off.This of course self populates our waiting list for livery spaces too”.
We hope the dynamic duo take great pleasure in reaping the rewards from all their efforts. Manor Farm Livery, working in partnership with V Events Ltd.
www.manor-farm-livery.com
20
JULY/AUGUST 2019
For the latest news visit
www.centralhorsenews.co.uk
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96
