 |
 |
 |
|
|
 |
Sarah grew up as an active member of the Cambridgeshire Hunt Branch of the Pony Club (PC). She represented the branch at Area level in Dressage, Showjumping, Horse Trials and Tetrathlon and competed at both the National Tetrathlon and Dressage Championships. She passed her Pony Club A test in 1997 and went on to gain her BHSAI. Sarah worked on several International yards, and then returned to the family farm in order to set up her own business, Firs Farm Equestrian / Sarah Millard Eventing, a training and livery yard and base for her own competition horses. Sarah is a freelance instructor and trains riders of all abilities. For several years she was trainer for the Cambridgeshire PC Dressage and Horse Trials teams, and is now Chief Instructor for the Puckeridge Hunt Pony Club and is responsible for all their Open Area teams. She has also been involved in the training of the very successful Huntingdon and District Riding club junior teams. Sarah's first love is eventing and she has competed to CCI 3* level. She is currently campaigning home-bred horses from Intro to Advanced and also competes horses for other owners. Competing at dressage and show jumping through the winter months helps with the education of the young horses and enabling the more experienced ones to continue improving out of the main competition season. Sarah is now based at Edgcote, nr Banbury which is on the Oxfordshire/Northamptonshire border. From her new yard she is continuing to compete, take horses in for training and teach. She also returns regularly to Firs Farm to run clinics.
Craig is a valued member of the team as Yard Manager. He has worked with horses for over 15 years since leaving school and has worked in a variety of yards that include hunting, racing, international show jumping and eventing. Through his extensive experience of professional yards he manages horses to a very high level of care and his ability to turn out to a high standard is a much valued asset to us at FFE! In his spare time Craig is also a keen racing enthusiast and has in the past trained and his own pointers. Craig has day to day responsibility for the horses welfare on the yard and any specific additional requirements of owners should initially be directed to him.
Matt Cox Matt and his partner Jamie have been able to move their horses to where they live but Matt will continue to run clinics at Firs Farm. Matt has trained to Grand Prix; training his own horse from Novice to Grand Prix and competing him to Prix St George. Recently, he has trained with Spencer Wilton, Andrew Gould and Eileen O'Conner and in the past few years has also trained with Isabell Wessles, Hilary Huges, Claire Lilley and ridden in lecture demonstrations for Carl Hester. Matt has strived to take something positive and unique from each and every one of them and has combined this knowledge to perfect his own training and teaching techniques. Matt passion in teaching is to help his clients achieve the all important 'feel'. He says "I believe feel cannot be taught by instruction alone, it has to be developed through the rider experiencing the feel." He strongly believes in encouraging his students confidence and says "I take immense pride in my work and clients, and am committed to helping them achieve their goals". Matt has an exciting young horse, Aston, who he is currently training with Grand prix in his sights. Aston is already showing a great aptitude for advanced work.
The team would not be complete without mentioning Geena - Beannie to her human friends. This large grey Lurcher thinks that the Horsebox is provided primarily for her own use and loads herself at the first suggestion that the vehicle might be going out. She attends all events and has many canine friends on the eventing circuit. Geen has also moved to Banbury but returns with Sarah to clinics and is still seen at all events that sarah is competing at.
Firs Farm Equestrian is a family run business and takes pride in both its reputation and the high standard of care for its horses and facilities.
|
