EQUESTRIAN
turn up to visit their horses that are very
smartly dressed and driving very expensive
cars. The last thing they want to do is put
on a pair of wellies and walk through horse
s**t everywhere. Also, I have horses in
the yard like Fresh Direct Corlato who’s
probably worth a million pounds and the
last thing the owner would want to see is
an untidy yard, it doesn’t reflect well at all,”
Tim explains in his usual direct manner.
Dovecote, Tim’s property, was not an
easy purchase; it took a lot of negotiation
as the main property had another
cottage and land attached to it.
“We spent months negotiating. I wanted
to buy just the main house and some of the
land, but the owner didn’t want to split the
properties. He finally agreed to split, right up
until we were due to exchange, and then he
decided he wanted to sell the whole lot.
“At this late stage I had to pull out because, in
those days, I could not afford his asking price.
In the end I managed to do a back to back sale
on the other cottage and land to ensure the sale
went through, albeit by the skin of its teeth.”
Since Tim has been in Dovecote, he has
spent a lot of money re-furbishing it and now
the property has full size indoor and outdoor
schools, a horse walker, a washroom for the
horses, a shoeing area, and over 25 first class
- life
Above: Tim riding Melanie’s horse Kalico Bay
with Melanie and groom looking on. Below:
Melanie riding Venadium-R under Tims instruction.
Inset: Fresh Direct Corlato grazing, note how the
paddock has been sectioned off so that she can’t
go too mad and injure herself!
stables. In addition, he has acres of paddocks
all with post and rail/electric fencing and
several outbuildings and barns. It’s now
without question The Hilton for horses.
“Running costs for the yard are about. £4,000
a week, which is no small amount, and if
I was not Tim Stockdale it would be hard
to make ends meet. I feel sorry for people
who run yards nowadays as there is very
little money in it, and if you break a leg you
could be out of business within a month.
“I’m no fool, though and I know that I am very
lucky to be in the position I’m in today where I
can demand good fees, but I have worked hard to
get myself into this position. I have to continue
the hard work every day with my technique and
horses to maintain my position, if I don’t, I’m
not that foolish to think I couldn’t lose it all.”
Tim Stockdale was talking to Martin Potter
Sponsored by Froghill and Brickfields
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