"Titch and I have been running Hungerford Livery for 12 years ever since the Aldershot Garrison Stables was closed due to Defence cuts and we needed to relocate our livery business. We have built up a successful and welcoming yard where our liveries feel part of the family.

I have always had a real passion for horses and started my career in Show Jumping, have also Evented but now enjoy British Dressage thanks to a Welsh section D and Tracy Lawson who helped me take the first steps into the world of Affiliated Dressage and together we successfully competed at Elementary Level. I am currently competing Zorba - a KWPN who is proving to be a bit of star.

I represented the Central Region at the Home Internationals (2009 and 2010) on Sonic (who is now on loan to Georgina) and Zorba, respectively.  

Titch has ridden at International Eventing level and has now been ‘dabbling’ in Dressage but he did win the Prelim Championships on Samfire at the Home Internationals in 2010 as you can see from his pictures on the gallery!

Georgie our daughter has successfully competed at BSJA and recently won the Foxhunter class at the Hand New Year Show. Her highlight was also jumping 1.65m in the Puissance. She loves her jumping but I am trying to get her to love dressage just as much and will be going to British Dressage Camp in April 2011. So watch this space!"

DENISE (and Rhino):

"I arrived at Hungerford Livery a very nervous rider 8 years ago (I think!).  I have since grown in confidence and hopefully in skills too.  The day we arrived, Cliff, my highly strung 16 yr old 16.3 gelding walked off the lorry, took a look around, took one deep breath and let out the biggest sigh you ever did see.  From that moment on he was relaxed and chilled, he could start his semi-retirement in a peaceful setting. We enjoyed our regular lessons with Di even if I did fall off once or twice.  Sadly Cliff had severe navicular in both front feet and a year later I decided the kindest thing to do was to send him to horsey heaven.  Di and I knew this was coming and shortly before I lost Cliff she helped me find William Wallace.   

William or Wally as he was affectionately known was a 15.3 heavyweight cob.  He was just what I was looking for, cheeky, forward going, gorgeous and only 5 years old.  A year after owning Wally I had a bad fall off him and lost my nerve…again.  I made the decision that I needed to sell him and to get something quieter in order for me to regain my nerve. Whilst I was without a horse I shared my friends heavyweight cob Annie.  She was calm and safe and I began to grow in confidence once again.  

I was at home one Thursday afternoon and I got a phone call off Di saying she had just bought me my new horse and that I should come and meet him!  I cautiously went along to meet him as Di told me she had bought him as a 3yr old and he was from Reading horse market.  Just to keep Di quiet I went into the field to meet him.  He was called Gerry but due to his stocky build he looked more like a rhino, so Rhino quickly became his name.  He was a small heavyweight cob, very nervous and really wouldn’t let me near him for long periods of time.  Saying all this I thought he was cute.  Over the next few weeks Di and the team at the yard started the process of breaking him in.  Day by day I started to fall in love with his cheeky character.  One day whilst most people were out I got up the confidence to sit on him, it confirmed my fears, I really had fallen in love with him!  Di was right, she had bought my next horse and I quickly bought myself the best Christmas present ever, my new horse.  Four months after I bought Rhino I was diagnosed with breast cancer so had a year off riding.  During this year Di and the team at the yard schooled Rhino for me as well as supported me through my illness.  I am glad to say that four years down the line a very much loved Rhino and I are doing very well.  We love our lessons with Di and enjoy the various clinics that run at the yard too.  We have been out competing in dressage and have even won rosettes.  Rhino and I are very happy here at Hungerford and will be around for many years to come.   

Many thanks to all at the yard who look after us from day to day. "

CHLOE:

"I moved to Hungerford last year, and we have settled in really well.  Chief really enjoys the 24 hour turnout with other horses!

Hungerford is a friendly, relaxed yard with lots of help and assistance available. Di and Titch have helped me to improve my flat work, having previously not had any lessons on Chief."

SHAUNA:

"I started off horse sharing a 17.2hh ex racehorse (learnt to ride on!) in 2003 and now have 3 horses at Hungerford Livery!  I have a very busy job in the Army and have in the past left my trusty steeds safely in their care for up to 6 months at a time.  I left the yard in 2007 with 2 horses (menagerie was growing!) as I was posted to Plymouth and returned again in 2010 after another posting to Camberley.  I had my horses (a different 2 to the 2 I left with!) at a yard 5 mins from where I work but soon moved them back to Hungerford Livery where they lead a much more natural life as horses should with 24/7 turnout in small herds in fields and the liveries also receive as much support as they need which is no easy feat for Di and Titch!

I currently have a retired 11 year old ID x TB chestnut mare, Red whom I hope to breed from in the future, Dudley a big coloured 17hh 5 year old ISH gelding who I compete mainly dressage (un/affiliated) and hacking but jump a bit at home and plan to event at some stage when he filled out a bit more and stopped growing!!  And I have just bought Ruby, another 7 year old ISH chestnut mare, 16.1hh, who, when I learn to ride her properly, will be destined for some affiliated dressage and show jumping (I might be being a little ambitious there but we all have to dream!)  Ruby is the best horse I have ever had, ever sat on and I now feel that I have found 'my horse' and that with both her and Dudley, I can now stop searching ;-)"

GEORGIE:

"I have worked at the yard since leaving school and my main passion is Show Jumping, but mum is trying to get me interested in Dressage. I am currently jumping 1.30m on my horse Dilly and now have a new horse, Apollo who has just started his jumping career."

CHARLOTTE:

"I came to Hungerford 2 years ago very inexperienced, but after intense training and 'lots of shouting' by Di, I am now capable of running the yard and schooling the livery horses. This year I am aiming to do Affiliated Dressage on my horse Cosmo."

GEORGINA:

"I started working at Hungerford Livery at the beginning of February 2011, having spent a few months at Wellington Equestrian Centre. I am currently studying for my NVQ and BHS Stages along with Georgie, Charlotte and Izzy. I am looking forward to training with Di on her horse Sonic, who I am currently loaning."

TASH:

"I came to Hungerford in early 2003 as a groom. Over the years I have participated in all local RC activities including Showing, Dressage and small ODE's. Just over 3 years ago, I bought a dressage horse (as dressage has always been my first love), and have competed up through the grades and we will be making out medium debut soon! I also love hacking and have been hunting a few times which was a lot of fun! I no longer work at the yard, but have stayed on as a livery as it's like a second home and is such a lovely place to be."