Behind the scenes with Equiteam

by Lindores Cross Country | May 8, 2017 | Camps

Life at Camp – Day 0

Author: Equiteam Instructor Liz Daniels UKCC Level 2

Co-host Lou and I are no strangers to Lindores and have been hosting camps here since 2014. We love it at Lindores, which is why we keep coming back! Primarily our camps are confidence camps but this one is a little different as we are hosting on behalf of the lovely Wobbleberries.

The Wobbleberries have two end goals in mind, one is to complete a BE80 and the other is to raise money – inspired by Hannah Francis. So far Wobbleberries across the UK have raised a fabulous £150,000. For more information on the challenge click here.

Today is arrival day before the start of three intensive days work for
horses and riders! As camp hosts its important
to be there to welcome everyone and make sure both horses and riders are all settled in.

Lou and I arrived at Lindores at 4pm in glorious sunshine and it wasn’t long before Mr Black Snr and his lovely smile appeared to ask if we were OK X and needed anything. Anna, Richard and family are always so accommodating, which makes running camps a real pleasure. This is our 6th so far this year – and it’s only the beginning of May!

The first horses arrived, alongside their nervous riders and as always the stables are clean and tidy and ready for us to use. For many people simply coming to camp is a huge achievement and a big deal but we constantly remind everyone that is what we are here for. As people arrive Lou has got her homemade tomato and red pepper soup warming and once people are settled they come in to the bothy and have soup and baguettes.

The bothy is one of the most amazing things about Lindores,so rustic, yet so welcoming and you can’t help but feel at home here (I do keep joking that I am moving in soon!). Mr Black had kindly lit the wood burner so when it started getting chilly there is a nice warm place to congregate. It really is the hub of the camps.

Some of our campers have opted to stay in Lindores Lodge, which is stunning inside, the view is to die for and it has a hot tub. No more selling required! The remaining campers are staying in trailers or in tents (hard
core!), but again it’s great that Lindores cater for all.

For me tonight is really a time when I try and get to know a little but more
about our campers, hopefully give some reassurance to those that need it and
then go and plan my teaching groups, which start tomorrow. It’s another late
night, but Lou and I can’t wait until tomorrow and are keeping everything
crossed that this wonderful weather continues for camp (even though the
ground desperately needs rain!).

More to follow tomorrow,

Liz

EquiTEAM Instructor

Equiteam Facebook

Wobbleberries Challenge – Ride for Hannah 2017

Lindores Lodge

Scottish Rider – April Spotlight

by Lindores Cross Country | Apr 28, 2017 | News

Scottish Rider Magazine April 2017.

We’re delighted that the front cover is a fabulous photo of British Eventer Louisa Milne Home riding Future Plans at Lindores Cross Country.

Scottish Rider Magazine ran a feature page covering the recent developments at training facility Lindores Cross Country and they loved the photograph (taken by professional Dave Mackison) so much they used it for the front cover of their mag.

Here is what Scottish Rider had to say about us:

Full speed ahead at Lindores Cross Country

Equestrian Business of the Year nominee 2017

Anna Black, manager of Lindores Cross Country, and the team at Lindores Cross Country were delighted to be nominated for Equestrian Business of the Year in the HorseScotland Awards 2017. Lindores Cross Country, which has expanded heavily in the last few years since it was established in 1989, now operates as a full equestrian training centre. The growth and expansion of the business has been based on their customer feedback and a desire to always do better.

On course for success

Lindores now have 30 stables, show jumping paddocks, a sand school, luxury accommodation, campsite and living space to offer customers so their offering is more than simply cross country training.

The well established course boasts 125 fences built to British Eventing standards, ranging in height from tiny open ditches up to 1.2m so riders from beginners up to two star eventers will benefit from training at the facility. Fences are built by BE accredited course builder, David Wilson, who has been designing and building bespoke fences at Lindores since 2014, ensuring the centre’s standards are upheld.

A lot of hard work was put into the development of the cross country course in 2016, and the centre’s hard work is paying off. The course is rapidly becoming one of the best facilities around, not only boasting fence heights and styles to suit all levels, 26 riding camps have been booked in so far for 2017 – an astonishing growth compared to just two camps held in 2013. Independent hosts and instructors frequent the centre to hold clinics, some of which sell out in minutes.

As well as hosting more camps in the future, Anna and the team are hoping to provide further opportunities for horse holidays with their 30 stable capacity, and the expansion of the luxury holiday lodges with hot tubs to provide more dwellings.

Danny MacAskill’s Wee Day Out

Recently Lindores Cross Country became the setting for a hay bale stunt in Danny MacAskill’s Red Bull film “Wee Day Out”. This inspired the recent creation of the unique six metre high keyhole fence, the Danny MacAskill Hay Bale fence.

“Danny receives thousands of offer to perform stunts at various locations across UK, so for him to take us up on our offer to film at Lindores was an honour,” Anna explained.

Scotlands most iconic hay bale fence was officially opened on 8th March, by Danny himself and one of Britain’s top event riders, Louisa Milne Home riding Future Plans. They spent the day filming stunts over many other fences on the farm and completed a race across stunning countryside and horse jumps requiring bravery, skill and determination. They jumped pheasant feeders, whisky barrels, steps and cottages, finishing with the iconic Danny MacAskill-inspired fence.

Danny then made the most of the facilities on-site and stayed in Lindores Lodge, the relaxing rural retreat. He chilled out in the hot tub like many horse riders do after spending the day outdoors. In fact Lindores Lodge has been so popular the team are building a couples luxury retreat and a two bedroomed lodge in 2017.

Like Clockwork

New addition to the facilities at Lindores in 2017 is Scotland’s first fitness and pace training facility. With BE regulations allowing riders to compete with stopwatches from BE80 and above. It is now more important than ever before that riders practice using a stopwatch and get a feel for the correct pace. Many riders don’t know or have the facilities to practice pace and control over authentic cross country ground, so Lindores have introduced the facility which can be used with or without its brand new fences. And for those not sure whether to invest in a stop watch if you hire one at Lindores you can try before you buy.

Moving forward

Anna makes sure she listens to customer and industry figurehead feedback when expanding Lindores’ offerings, meaning that customers are at the heart of all of her decisions. The team offer something for everyone, for those looking to bring their non-horsey friends or other half, the sporting venue is also able to offer clay pigeon shooting, as well as walks and spa treatments, with a great range of other attractions nearby.