Lindores Equestrian is at Blair 2023. The Black family and their team who run Lindores will be ready with big welcoming smiles. Please pop in to meet the Blacks, Katy Irons our General Manager, Hannah Doherty who joined the team in July and Vicky Honeyman who has been working with us since 2021.
Our stand has a design a jump activity for the kids (& adults if you fancy), treats and we’re just keen to catch up and hear your news!
We are inviting all our riders, coaches, camp hosts, loyal parents, pony clubs, suppliers and basically the community that have helped create Lindores into the multi-faceted venue it has grown to become. But we’re also keen to meet new people and businesses so if you’re interested in finding out anything please pop in.
Our stand is on the south side of the Banvie Arena, in between the Land Rover Experience and next to British Eventing stand.
All the best to the riders and their horses who have been training so hard for Blair Castle International Horse Trials – it’s a highlight of the Scottish eventing calendar. We are supporting you and look forward to following your progress.
Congratulations to Polly Quaile aged 14 who is the 2020 winner!
The judges at Lindores Equestrian were overwhelmed with all the design entries for this years competition. We have to congratulate everyone who made the effort to create and send in such impressive designs. The standard of concepts are getting better and better every year which is making choosing one winner harder and harder for Lindores Equestrian.
Why did the Whale win?
The judges loved Polly’s design for a number of reasons. The concept with ‘no more plastic’ grafitti’d on a whale is extremely important message to save the beautiful planet we live in. We’ve never seen a jump design like it and we’re 100% behind what it says! The design has a very safe and forgiving profile for a training facility like Lindores. The design also has three jumping heights that can be wide enough to comply with British Eventing standards. The whale concept very cleverly allows for the 50cm height to be in the middle which we also loved for training.
Who came close second?
Competitions don’t normally tell everyone who came second – but this year we wanted to share a design that gave us the biggest laugh. We liaised closely with our British Eventing Course Builder on this design but sadly it just didn’t tick as many boxes as The Whale. So well done to Caroline Wilson and Frances Ferguson with their ‘Brave Pants and Posh Pants’ design. Inspired by the Equiteam Confidence Camps that are hosted here at Lindores. ‘Brave Pants’ was a strong re-occuring theme that clearly means a lot to many riders. Well done everyone!
Greta Thunberg inspires Polly Quaile
Polly Quaile the winner of this years competition is a member of Strathblane Pony Club and has a 15.1hh Irish Sportshorse called Noah. Polly learnt to ride in her local riding school from age 4 but she is also a keen sailor. She often sails with her dad on the west coast. She said she feels strongly about plastic pollution and she see’s plastic on the beaches and it makes her sad. At the time of this competition Greta Thunberg was sailing across the Atlantic and after a bit of research Polly realised there was no whale cross country jump in existence. Polly said,
‘I want to make a change and just like Greta I want to raise awareness of plastic pollution. This idea was a nice way to do it’
When Equestrian Manager Anna Black announced to Polly that she was this years winner Anna asked if there was anything the equestrian industry could do to help tackle plastic pollution and she raised a very clear point. Polly said:
I think it’s the small things, the industry could think about recycling feed tubs and doing their bit.
We both hope that this jump at Lindores Equestrian will help raise awareness and generate idea’s on how the equestrian industry could reduce plastic pollution.
What’s Next?
The whale design is incredibly large scale and and it requires a 6metre long tree that is 1 metre wide. A huge amount of resource and effort was taken to find the perfect tree. The team at Lindores sustainably sourced a tree from the local town, Cupar. We will be telling the story of the tree and its journey to becoming a whale in future blogs.
The Whale will be carved and painted over the coming weeks by our British Eventing course builder. We will invite the winner of the competition to open the fence and be the first rider to jump it. After that, everyone is welcome to jump ‘The Whale’ at Lindores Equestrian training venue in Fife which opens 1st March 2020 and is open 7 days a week during daylight hours.
Until then, stay connected – and think about what you could do to reduce plastic pollution!
With the BEu100 Championships at Frickley Park now an exciting memory forever etched in the brains of all those young athletes who represented their country, we wanted to find out more about some of the support crew.
The role of supporting Mums and Dads covers everything from groom to mentor to transporter and of course financial support. When we interviewed a selection of the BEu18 Scotland Team it was apparent how they all cited a parent as their biggest supporters.
We were keen to get a parents perspective and so we took a few minutes with super Mum Emma Bryce to find out more.
The Interview
Please introduce yourself and your daughter
My name is Emma and my daughter is Ellie. Ellie is on the Lindores Equestrian sponsored BEu100 Scotland Team.
Do you come from a horsey-background yourself and has this been a help or a hindrance?
I had a pony when I was younger but my parents weren’t horsey in the slightest. I bred my own foal in 1999 Macrana.
How has riding influenced Ellie as she is growing up?
Ellie has been riding since before she could walk so as a result spends every free moment she has with them. When she fell in love with eventing she took in two liveries to fund it, getting up at 5am every day to ride and muck out before school.
As a parent what have you invested into Ellie achieving her goals?
Mainly time as after buying her first pony she has saved and purchased her subsequent ones.
How did you feel when Ellie got selected for the BEu18 Scottish Team?
Exceptionally proud, she had worked so hard to achieve her goal of representing Scotland and had many setbacks along the way but always picked herself up, dusted herself off and tried again.
As a parent which phase of eventing to you enjoy the most and why?
Cross country I think as it’s wonderful to watch but heart racing at the same time.
Which is your least favourite part?
Dressage as it’s the phase Ellie always feels she could have done better. It’s also the phase I can’t watch!
Since Ellie has been eventing what have you learnt?
To be patient, never give advice to her at an event and how lovely and supportive all the other parents are.
What advice would you give to other parents with a son/daughter interested in taking up eventing more seriously?
Make sure you have an understanding other half as weekends are rarely spent at home!
Does Ellie have any supporters who need a mention?
Two years ago Ellie was approached by Jim Spiers from Advanced Roller Doors (EK) to be a brand ambassador who has been an amazing support ever since and more recently by A2B Equestrian, who are a riding safety centre, and ensure Ellie is well kitted.
Find out more…
If you haven’t watched our fun video with some of the BEu18 team you can watch it here.
Or if, like many of the BEu18 team you’d like to come and train at Lindores Equestrian you can.
Photograph: Front from left: Brooke Walker, Iona Landale, Emma Walker (Team Captain). Middle from left: Kelly Grant, Pollyanna Smith. Back from left Roan Grant, Laura Patterson.
About the British Eventing Scotland u18 Team
A selection of the ‘local’ British Eventing under 18 Scottish Team visited their sponsor Lindores Equestrian just one week ahead of the National U18 Championships at Frickley Park.
What an awesome bunch they are! With the youngest rider in the team at 14 years old. The team at Lindores were blown away by their confidence, positive mind-set and extensive training calendar!
It’s nice to get to know the team that are representing our nation. But alongside our fun Q&A’s video clip above there is of course a more serious side which has involved working and training hard to get the results needed to be selected.
From the horses mouth
Each rider and horse qualified under the British Eventing Youth Programme and we couldn’t be prouder of the hard work and dedication they have shown. said Anna Black, Manager at Lindores Equestrian.
Many of the riders have trained over the cross country fences at Lindores.
“I did cross country on Heaven for the very first time at Lindores. I remember getting so much confidence apart from I couldn’t get him over the classic Lindores jump in the water! Thankfully that didn’t last long!”
said Kelly Grant, who aged 15, is representing Scotland with Heaven for the first time in the 100 team.
Kelly Grant riding Heaven
Roan Grant, groom for Wills Oakden, is also making his debut appearance on the 100 team riding Caballo Rojo (stable name Will) and said:
“I’m really excited about being part of the team and I’m most looking forward to the cross country. It’s been really nice to come and meet other team members tonight.”
While the cross country is the phase that the team seem unanimously most excited about, the team are divided as to whether they are more apprehensive about the dressage phase, or the show jumping phase.
“I’m most looking forward to seeing all of my friends and getting to have another crack at 2* cross country”
“However I am slightly worried for the show jumping as I find Millie [who is 14.2hh] struggles with the horse distances. Being selected for the team means a lot and is made even more special by the fact we are competing for our country.” said Ruth Farnsworth
Local rider Jemima Cross is no stranger to Lindores Equestrian and she is also making her Scottish Team debut, saying
“I am looking forward to representing Scotland at the Championships and being part of a great time. I am most apprehensive about letting Patrick [Village Crescendo] down.”
Jemima Cross riding Patrick. Photo by Action Replay Photography
As young athletes they all have great motivational advice to share. Katie Edgar said:
“The best piece of advice was given to me by Ian Stark when I was 13 and I asked him how I could get on to a British Team. His advice was ‘every time you go out competing do your very best for yourself. My advice for any rider chasing their dreams would be never give up. You only get out what you put in.”
Katie Edgar riding Airborne. Photo by Action Reply Photography
Jodie Craig, who is also making her debut appearance agrees,
“You may think that you are the only one having problems or difficulties but you’re not. The only way to improve and get better is to work through these coming out even stronger each time you ride. As the famous saying goes ‘we learn from our mistakes’. It is also important to sometimes take the time to realise how far you have come as I find this motivates me to work harder.”
When speaking to individuals they are all excited about the opportunity to ride together as a whole team for their country. Let’s get behind them all and show them our support.
Their sponsorship of the British Eventing Scotland U18 team
Winner of Equestrian Business of the Year 2019 at the national horsescotland awards, Lindores Equestrian celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. Reputed to be the most popular, friendly and inclusive training and horse holiday venue in Scotland, Lindores Equestrian are proud sponsors of the British Eventing Championship Team.
Lindores Equestrian has been a key training destination for many British Eventing riders and instructors. We are immensely proud to support the qualifying team that have worked so hard and for so many years. The world-class riders and their British Eventing support team will represent our country at the Frickley Park National U18 Championships from 25thJuly – 28thJuly 2019.
What’s the secret?
We will be meeting and interviewing some of the riders before the British Eventing Championships in July to hear directly from them how they qualified. We want to know how they made it and how they are feeling? What tips can they share for the rest of us training to be great?
So follow us on our social media channels @lindoresquestrian and visit www.lindoresxc.co.uk where you can find out team secrets. And a little about the venue where it all started, for some.
#LindoresEquestrian #TeamScotlandu18
Photo Courtesy of Kate Lawson
CONGRATULATIONS – 2019 U18 SCOTLAND TEAM
Novice/2* Team
Emma Webster – The Face of Rome (Team Captain)
Rachel Williamson – McDiamond / Antrim October
Georgia Buchan – Valentino III
Olivia Burns – All Rosie
Freya Hartley – Waterloo Sunset
Pollyanna Smith – Castleroche Star
Ruth Farnsworth – Go H Alainn
Ellie Bryce – Lacoste
E100 BTeam
Grace Botterell – Winston XX (Team Captain)
Roan Grant – Caballo Rojo
Laura Patterson – Edelweis V
Katie Edgar – Ardagh Airborne
Kelly Grant – Heaven Eyes
Brook Walker – Shannondale Flight
Jemima Cross – Village Crescendo
Jodie Caig – Hespo
Sophie Mason – Pebbly Limited Edition
Iona Landale – Sioux Dreamcatcher
There are 3 BE100 team reserves (in alphabetical order):
Gregor Walkingshaw – Craigmancie Symphony
Rebecca Scott – Dinozzo
Sasha Niven – Forrests Foxy Lady
Vicky Edgar – Ardagh Bobby
Equestrian Business of the Year 2019 at national horsescotland awards.
Celebrating our 30th anniversary, Lindores Equestrian is a first class training facility for riders and horses of all levels. Ideal for beginners right through to professional riders we have visiting instructors, kids, adults, holiday makers and camp hosts visiting to ride for pleasure or progression.
Lindores is award winning because it offers so much more than any other venue. We’ve simplified it into three key things which are Stay, Ride, Relax…
Click to visit our luxury accommodation website
STAY
At Lindores you can visit for an hour or your can stay for a week. There is accommodation to suit all budgets. Guests can stay in the luxury lodges which have private hot tubs, stunning views and interiors. The architecturally designed houses and gardens are purpose built so their accessible, dog friendly and kid friendly. If you’re keen for more affordable accommodation guests can stay in a bunkroom, pitch a tent in the campsite or hook-up their horse lorry for a comfortable night stay next to the famous Bothy.
The Bothy
The working farm has converted a cosy Bothy that is the heart of all the equestrian camp and clinic experiences. The Bothy has a kitchen, log burning stove, dining area, lounge seating with accompanying showers and toilets.
The training venue is ideal for kid and adult camps both residential and non-residential. Visiting hosts and instructors from all over the country hire the venue to create their own camp experiences.
There are limited spaces for hosting and riding in 2019 but do get in touch if you want to know more, they team will be happy to help CONTACT US
RIDE
The backbone of the business is the famous Lindores Cross Country course. Spanning 85 acres with over 125 British Eventing standard fences there is a huge range for training.
4** Eventer Louisa Milne Home riding Future Plans at Lindores
Customers can also hire the brand new working hunter fences on grass. They can hire the Olympic show jumping sized outdoor arena all year. There are also grass paddocks for turnout and dressage.
The hacking at Lindores offers varying terrain off road and the views from the stunning farm in Fife are so famous that Red Bull filmed with their sponsored athletes and EQy magazine voted it the ‘No 1 Horse Holiday destination’ nationally.
Olympic Show Jumping sized Arena
Incredible Hacking and Stunning Views
Brand New Working Hunter Fences on Grass
RELAX
The business has always been run by the very friendly Black family. They have created a very relaxed and welcoming environment. The business has grown off the back of listening and asking instructors and customers what they want. If the customers and horses are happy the Blacks are happy. Because of this openness camps and horse holidays at Lindores can include on foot activities such as: paint balling, full body massages, vet talks, pilates, personal training, confidence coaching, racing talks, inspirational speakers and more recently biking experiences.
Have Fun Building Confidence and Trust
Lindores Equestrian is proud to be the best in 2019 which is why it is the perfect fit sponsoring the British Eventing Scotland U18 team at the 2019 Champs.
