Report
Cotswold RDA, winners of the Riding for the Disabled (RDA) Riding School award
Andrew and Vivienne Newton of Court Bank Farm winners of the DIY Livery Yard category with Gemma Tattersall, Dr Frances Henson and Suzy Middleton
Best of British celebrated in the SEIB Livery Yard and Riding School of the Year Awards
T
he first ever SEIB Insurance Brokers Livery Yard and Riding School of the
Year Awards were held at the glamorous British Horse Foundation dinner at the Leonardo Royal London City Hotel on the 11th January. Winners of each of the four categories were presented to by British Olympic eventer and NAF brand ambassador Gemma Tattersall, SEIB’s Suzy Middleton and Dr Frances Henson of the Animal Health Trust (AHT).
SEIB has set up these awards to celebrate the best in riding schools and livery yards throughout the UK in association with horse care and supplements company NAF. The awards are supported by the Animal Health Trust and the British Horse Foundation.
The general public were invited to nominate their favourite livery yard or riding school for the SEIB Livery Yard and Riding School of the Year Awards back in November. Over 1,400 nominations were received before an expert panel of judges carefully came up with a shortlist of yards throughout the country. Each yard on the shortlist received a judge’s visit before the panel decided on the
ultimate winner in each category of the awards.
Winning the best DIY Livery Yard category was Court Bank Farm in Staffordshire. Proprietors Vivienne and Andrew Newton proudly accepted their award. Vivienne said: “We didn’t know anything about the SEIB awards until the judge phoned to say they were on the way to do their surprise yard visit. The girls on the yard had nominated us and kept it very quiet. We are thrilled to have won this.”
Andrew added: “We work really hard to make sure that everyone at the yard enjoys their time here and has a positive experience.”
Judges comments about Court Bank included: “Beautiful stables with tack area behind and separate rug hanging area. All year-round turnout, lovely to see muddy horses out in the field. Super yard and lots of happy people there. They have a first aid kit for the use of everyone, human and horse, and are taking a lot of guidance from the BHS as new yard owners.”
In the best Full Livery Yard category, Church House Farm in Essex took top honours. Bob O’Connor has owned and run
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Church House Farm for 17 years and he and his partner Roxanne Carter went up on stage to collect their award.
Bob said: “Winning this means a lot to us all – we will have a celebratory bottle of champagne for everyone at the yard tomorrow. You are only as good as the people around you and Adrienne Devonish, our yard manager, is totally committed, making sure everything on the yard is done right. I am honoured as we all work very hard for our liveries who are great people.”
Hampshire-based Wellington Riding won the best Riding
School category. General manager, David Sheerin collected the award on behalf of the yard.
David said: “We are delighted to win this inaugural award, we are very proud of our horses, ponies and staff who all work incredibly hard and certainly deserve this recognition.”
Wimbledon Village was commended by the SEIB Livery Yard and Riding School Awards judges: “This yard is a gem in the middle of a very busy town on the edge of London. Lack of space has led to many ingenious solutions. Muck is taken away
Winners of the Full Livery Yard category, Church House Farm
© Trevor Meeks
© Trevor Meeks
© Trevor Meeks
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