Island Life Magazine Ltd August/September 2010 | Page 105

gardening

Island Life - August/September 2010

the rider
island equestrian

Shires our pride and joy!
Even though Steve Redfern worked on a
farm as a teenager, he openly admits he
knew very little about horses.
Then he met accomplished
horsewoman Sam Tetlow and his life
was about to change. Now Steve and
Sam, along with 10-year-old son Jack
can proudly boast one of the finest
collections of heavy horses anywhere in
the country.
Six Shire Horses – one a foal just
a couple of months old – and two
impressive Clydesdales make up the
herd of Steve and Sam, who own
and run Windmill Farm Supplies at
Haylands. They are shown with pride at
County and smaller shows all around
the country, ranging from Peterborough
to Devon.
In between running their horse
feed business and parading their
mighty horses in front of enthusiastic
spectators, Steve and Sam also play an
integral part in the smooth running of
an annual event where even the Shires
have to take second place.
The couple help out friends Dave
Lawless and Elspeth ‘Elf’ Ross, whose
Peterborough-based Shires journey
south to pull the state coach at the
Lord Mayor’s Ceremony through the
streets of London. Steve explained
the intricate planning that takes
place behind the scenes before the
newly-elected Lord Mayor meets his
masses.
“Although we don’t actually own the

horses that pull the coach, I go up to
London for a week in November to help
Dave and Elf,” said Steve. “We are up
at 2.0am, and we have to harness up

the horses and then go out under police
escort, and that is only the practise run.
“The police come and get us at 4.0am
from the barracks, and they escort us

Mordy and Monty chain harrowing at home (Ryde)

what's on what pages?
105. Steve Redfern

110. Robert Booth

107. Seasonal tips on your pasture

112. Rosie McKee

108. Puppy Love

114. Kelly Marks

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