Chapter Four: North Yorkshire beckons
In 1987 Ian and Vicki moved to Thornton Steward North Yorkshire where they worked for MFH Miss Susan Fife looking after her hunter and youngstock, whilst here Susan generously gave them the “bottom” yard to set up a small breaking/schooling/ selling business.
Three years later with the business going well Ian and Vicki moved to Vicki` parents yard at Manor Park Farm, nr Richmond. Here with 14 stables grazing and an outdoor school they set about establishing a busy and productive Livery/breaking and schooling business. While at Manor Park Ian was eventing clients horses with great success – famously competing 8 horses in one day at every level at Witton Castle Horse Trials winning the Advanced class that day on organiser Margaret Sheilds horse Crimdon Lucky George. A busy and successful year that saw Ian being placed in the top 100 event riders for 1990. Successful seasons followed in which Ian qualified horses for Blair, Windsor and Burghley 3 day events.
At this time Vicki was eventing mainly on horses brought from the race track to re school/ produce and sell at Novice level. One of the horses that Vicki remembers best was a 3 yrs old bought off a local trainer the day before he took the “final journey!” He had damaged his tendon sheath in a field accident and had a lot of proud flesh on the injury but with treatment, patience and re schooling he went on to be placed in the 4 yr old final of the Burghley Young Event Horse class at the famous 3 day event . Vicki` Mother – Margaret Raines had a love of Fell ponies and since coming to Yorkshire in 1987 Vicki had been showing her mother` Fell ponies under saddle. They were prolific winners of many championships and national titles which included 3 trips to Olympia for the Mountain and Moor land ridden Championship of the year, one such trip in 1989 resulted in Townend Patrick being placed 5th.
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