I have worked in the horse industry for over 10 years, with most of my experience being with dressage horses.

2011 was, for me, a terrible year. After the sad and sudden loss of by best horse to date, Apollo’s Salvadore, I decided that I needed a bit of a change.....

With MEC’s new reception and training facility now open I thought this may the opportunity to have the change that I was looking for. So when the position became available I successfully applied and now can be seen answering calls, dealing with clients and all the admin that comes with the smooth running of MEC. I also assist the team at PPL with marketing and design, producing publications for their clients.

During the weekends I still very much enjoy working with the horses and training the clients that I have and passing on the knowledge that I have learnt over the years onto others that I now teach.
I worked for two years as a British Dressage Apprentice with international Trainer and Grand Prix rider, Angela Niemeyer-Eastwood. Have trained with Paul Fielder, Patsy Bartram and during 2009/2010 I had the opportunity to train with Emile Faurie. Emile is one of the country’s top international dressage riders and trainers and has represented Great Britain at World, European and Olympic level.

Qualifications.

• BHS NVQ 2 inc Specialist care of the Performance Horse
• Riding and road safety
• Competed up to advanced-medium level Dressage
• In 2003 was under 21 ‘A’ Squad national champion
• Placed 5th at National talent spotting finals. (2003)

Hi, my name is Kathy and I have been working at Middleton Equestrian Centre since April 2009.  I have kept horses since I was three years old, when I had my first pony called Sugar.  I have had a variety of jobs, but have always ended up back with horses !

I decided to go and get by BHS exams a few years ago and did my training at the School of St Mary and St Ann in Abbotts Bromley.  I gained my AI in 2003 and went on to get my Stage 4 care.  I really enjoy working at Middleton Equestrian Centre and hope to continue well into the future.

I’m Dawn Fellows and I help run the riding school at Middleton Equestrian Centre (MEC).  MEC is my second home as I’ve been here since I was 11 yrs old starting as a weekend ‘Helper’. I have now worked my way up to the heady heights of  Riding School Manager, due to my hard work and loyalty to Kerry. 

I adore working with the horses and my work colleagues, we are one big happy family. I am always happy to help others and really enjoy welcoming new clients into our world. I am constantly striving to improve and am taking further BHS exams this year.

My qualifications are:

• NVQ 1 & 2
• BHS Stage 1 Care
• Riding and Road Safety
• First Aider

Hi, I'm Laura, I joined the team at Middleton Equestrian Centre at the end of 2012 and have taken on responsibility for the Pony Club. I have worked with horses for over 4 years and have my own 4 year old Welsh Section D called Rusty, whom I hope to start showing this year. I am currently studying for my NVQ Level 3 in horse management and business. I am always striving for more qualifications and hope my dedication and passion will influence the pony club children to achieve as much as they can.

Hi I'm Chloe, and I started at Middleton January 2013. I have always loved
horses and have worked with them for many years. I studied for a degree in
Equine Sport Science at Hartpury College and graduated in 2009. Since then I
have work thorugh my BHS stages and hold stages 1-3. I have experience
working with a variety of horses and particulary enjoy working with young
horses, eductaing them and watching them improve. At Middleton I hope to
further my knowledge and enoy working with team of like minded and
professional people.

I have ridden since I was four and had my first pony "Bertie" at the age of six. I started working with horses while still at school and continued to do so while at university, I can't remember what it's like not to have horses!!

I mainly worked as an instructor teaching all ages and abilities, breaking and schooling, I find watching clients progress and gain confidence and bringing on the young horses really rewarding.
When I'm not working i have spent the last few years taking my 3 nieces to competitions on and off the lead rein so my riding has taken a back seat, I am looking forward to making more time for myself this year.

I joined MEC in October 2012, I enjoy working as part of the team here. Being here has really motivated me to start competing again myself and continue with my exams.

NVQ 2 care, riding and schooling
NVQ 3 care of the performance horse
Riding and road safety

Hi, I'm Holly and I started working at MEC in February 2013. Being from a very horse orientated family, I have ridden and owned horses from a young age and have had my thoroughbred, Fly, for 6 years now. As a Cornish girl, I once spent my days milking cows, but my passion for horses took over and I decided that I was more cut out for the equine industry! Since then, I have gained invaluable experience grooming for top level dressage horses and hope to further my knowledge with the competition horses here. I am currently working towards my BHS stages as well as enjoying my role as part of the brilliant, friendly team at MEC!

Hi, I’m Sam, I have been riding since I was 13yrs old and working with horses since I left school at 16yrs old. I enjoy working with competition horses and watching them compete. I started at MEC in April 2010 and my aim is to work more with competition horses to gain further experience. My qualifications include: NVQ level 2 horse care and riding, BHS Stage 1 and BHS Riding and Road Safety.

Hi my name is Dani and I've been working at MEC since December 2010. I love working with horses and have done so for the past five years; along with owning my own for the past eleven years. I enjoy competing my horse Connie whenever possible and training her in my spare time. After doing my A levels I studied at Hartpury College to earn an Equine based degree and now enjoy my role at MEC along with my colleagues and continue my experience in the industry.

Hi, my name is Amy and I have recently joined MEC as Apprentice Groom. I have been riding since I was 15 yrs old. After leaving school at 17 yrs old I studied at Brooksby Melton College. My qualification include: First Diploma in Horse Care, NVQ Level 1 in Horse Care.  I now enjoying my role at MEC working alongside my colleagues and continuing to earn further experience in the Equine industry.

Hi, my name is Gemma. I have been riding since i was 7yrs old and worked with horses since i was 16yrs old. I went to Askham Bryan College in York and studied Level 3 in Horse Management which included horse fitness, NVQ Level 1 and BHS Riding and Road Safety. I started at MEC in November 2012 and really enjoy it as i aim to gain more experience with a wide range of horses.

Hi my name is Kirsty and I have been riding horses since I was 13 years old. I have recently joined the team at MEC, as apprentice groom. I love working with the Apollo competition horses, and very much enjoy working at MEC where I hope to continue to gain more experience.

Hi, I’m Emma and I’ve been riding at MEC since I was 14. I now got to Rodbaston College where I am currently studying Equine management and hope to go to university in September to study Equine Science. In my spare time I’m an apprentice groom with MEC, where I hope to gain more experience within the equine industry with help from my colleagues. I love working on both the Apollo’s yard and Livery yard at MEC and wouldn’t change it for the world.

The Middleton yard is at it’s busiest at the weekends, with all three schools being used for flat, jump or lead rein lessons continuously on both days. This involves scores of visiting students and a constant stream of horse and pony change-overs which at least doubles our normal workload on the yard.

We have a dedicated team of youngsters who regularly give up a day of their weekend to help us make sure that the school runs as smoothly as possible, but without compromising our primary objectives around the horses care and well-being, and the cleanliness and hygiene of our facilities.

Our weekend helpers perform a multitude of supporting tasks and are often our ‘unsung heroes’.  Some of their responsibilities are:

• Mucking out before the school opens
• Rug changing
• Grooming all our ponies and horses being used in the school
• Tacking and un-tacking at the start/end of lessons (we do not leave our ponies in their tack all day !)
• Providing support in lessons (Jump building, lead rein support etc)
• Skipping, haying and topping up water (at least 3 times daily)
• Tack Cleaning and Maintenance
• Regular Yard hygiene (our yard is swept 3-4 times/day, rug and storage rooms swept and tidied daily, schools and turnout fields skipped)

When they are not doing all this, they have a list of other chores to do that helps keep our facilities looking the best that they can be.

Our helpers regularly attend on-yard training, in Stable Management and Horse Care that follow BHS Stage 1 guidelines, taught by our senior staff members, and cover practical topics such as:

• tack and tacking up
• rugs and rugging up
• how to groom
• how to muck, skip and make fair a stable
• feeding and haying

All our helpers are managed and supervised by Dawn Fellows, our Riding School Manager, or by the senior member of staff on the yard.