Oak Valley Farm
Oak Valley farms is where Olivia, Ruth and many of their friends work. It is a rescue centre and caters for many different types of animals. Ruth's pony, Marshmallow, was one of the farms residents before Ruth adopted him and they love to come back and visit.
Below I have listed the farms current equine guests. They are mostly permanent residents now but some are being rehabilitated and could be looking for adoptive homes.
*** Please note that any adoptions mentioned are for story purposes only, and none of them are actually for sale. I could never part with any of my babies! ***
The farm has 4 stone stable blocks with stabling for 15 horses and a few American style 'looseboxes' for those horses who need a little more space. It also has large paddocks and a well equipped dressage / jumping arena perfect for any equine activity.
As well as the horses, ponies and donkeys there are dogs, cats, and a number of farm animals including a goat and Mabel the pig. Many of these can be seen in Ruth's photo stories.
This page is a work in progress so keep checking back....
Below I have listed the farms current equine guests. They are mostly permanent residents now but some are being rehabilitated and could be looking for adoptive homes.
*** Please note that any adoptions mentioned are for story purposes only, and none of them are actually for sale. I could never part with any of my babies! ***
The farm has 4 stone stable blocks with stabling for 15 horses and a few American style 'looseboxes' for those horses who need a little more space. It also has large paddocks and a well equipped dressage / jumping arena perfect for any equine activity.
As well as the horses, ponies and donkeys there are dogs, cats, and a number of farm animals including a goat and Mabel the pig. Many of these can be seen in Ruth's photo stories.
This page is a work in progress so keep checking back....
The Green Barn 'Boys'
Take a Chance
"Chance" 5 years old 16.3hh OTT Thoroughbred Gelding Iron grey Chance is a recent arrival. He is a genuinely nice horse but is terrified of everything, particularly loudspeakers and crowds which put an end to his promising racing career after just one race! He is here for handling and bringing into regular work. He is benefiting greatly from being on an active farm and is slowly coming out of his shell. He may be up for adoption in the future. |
Wellington
8 years old Welsh C Gelding Chestnut 13.2hh long term boarder Wellington is a lovely pony who is one of our long term boarders. He belongs to Taylor. Taylor has only recently been given Wellington and hopes to do well in pony club, jumping and showing with him. Eventually Taylor wants to do eventing and I am sure Wellington will love that too if he is not outgrown first! He is a genuine all around pony and always does his very best. Wellington is sometimes used for lessons with nervous or younger riders. He is not up for adoption. |
Jet
14 years old Dales Stallion Black 14.0hh permanent resident Jet has a few minor health issues and is now one of our longest permanent residents. He can still be ridden on the flat and enjoys the occasional buck with a unsuspecting rider! He is normally well behaved and loves cuddles and treats. Like many of his breed, he does have a stubborn streak and is best suited to a confident rider! He is not currently being considered for adoption. |
Burlington Bertie
"Bertie" 12 years old Irish Cob Stallion Piebald 15.0hh Bertie is a real cheeky chap! He has learned how to unbolt his stable door but he doesn't quite know what to do once it's open so he just stands there and whinnies until someone comes to help. He is used mostly for lessons but is very strong and quite nervous so takes a brave rider! He is very popular as he is very strikingly marked. He is still a stallion so could be used for breeding. He would make very pretty babies! For now he is here on a permanent basis but we are open to the possibility of fostering him out on a short term basis. |
Henry Higgins
8 years old Irish Cob Stallion Roan 15.1hh Everybody loves Henry! He can turn his hoof to any activity and had a very promising show jumping and dressage career until an unfortunate accident injured his owner and led to him being placed here at the farm. He is currently used for lessons but is looking for the right rider to take him to the next level. It is hoped that he can be placed back with his old owner when she recovers but in the meantime he is enjoying his stay with us. |
The Red Barn 'Girls'
Abbeymore Pink Fizz
"Fizz" 28! years old Welsh Section A Mare Palomino 11.2hh Fizz is the old lady here, she has been here since before most of our yard helpers were born! She is mostly retired following a long showjumping career, but is in excellent health and can still give these young whipper snappers a run for their money! She is occasionally used on quiet hacks which she really enjoys. Mostly she just soaks up the attention - she knows she's a star! She will live out her days at the farm. |
Gypsy
23 years old New Forest Mare Strawberry roan 13.3hh Gypsy is one of those 'been there, done that' ponies. She really has done everything, showing, jumping, eventing, dressage, driving, you name it - she's tried it. She was retired here by her long term owners who moved on to horses but who still visit regularly. She is in great health and doesn't look a day over 15! She's a grand old lady. She will live out her days here as well. |
Megan
5 years old Welsh Section C Mare Strawberry Roan 13.2hh Megan is a great little mare with a penchant for escaping! She is always happy to be caught after her adventure though. She was bought from a local horse sale along with Buttons, below. She is still young and has only just been backed but so far she hasn't put a hoof wrong. Ruth has been enjoying riding her while her own mare is recuperating, and she is a particular favourite of Olivia's, but if they can part with her she will be available for adoption soon. |
Buttons
6 years old (ish) Fell x ? mare Bay 13.3hh Buttons is so named as she looks just like cadbury's chocolate buttons! She is a shy, reserved girl who tries her hardest to do whatever is asked of her. She was purchased, in very poor condition, by our yard manager from the back of the meat truck at a horse sale so we do not know her history, she seems to have some fell breeding. She is the perfect lesson horse but we feel would do well with one owner to bond with. She is therefore available for foster / adoption. |
Morning Mist
"Misty" 23 years old Connemara Gelding Grey roan 14.0hh Misty is a gelding but he is so gentle he is housed with the mares, we call them his harem! He comes from a good jumping pedigree but was a little too wild in his youth for a child rider. He had some success in eventing but a field accident caused his early retirement. His owner showed him in hand for a few years and he is now used here as a lesson horse. He may be available as a short term foster if the perfect person came along but we are more than happy to keep him with his harem! |
The 'Feltie' Barn
Atomic Snowball
"Snowball" 14 years old Eriskey Gelding Grey 13.0hh Snowball is one of our best lesson horses. He has done everything in his career. He is a top scoring junior showjumper and has also competed at a high level in eventing, in hand showing and dressage. He is enjoying showing young riders the ropes and is happy to do anything they ask as long as there is food involved! Snowball doesn't really like being in his stable, he prefers to be out in the field getting as dirty as possible! Ruth is hoping to compete him this year. |
Mynydd Buttercup
10 years old Welsh Section A Mare Palomino 11.2hh Buttercup is another of our top lesson horses. She is very gentle and patient with the younger riders and has been known to contort her body to help a slipping rider stay in the saddle, (or at least somewhat on top of her!) Buttercup is still quite young but she has also had success in the showjumping and dressage fields. Erin is hoping to show her in hand this summer. |
Angus
6 years old Shetland stallion Piebald 40" Angus is our newest arrival at the farm and what a character he is! If there is trouble to be had, he is more than happy to be in the middle of it. There should be no way he can reach the bolt on his stable door but he still somehow manages to escape, then let everybody else out, (except for Snowball, for some reason!) Ruth has taken Angus under her wing and he has proven himself to be a promising prospect. We are trying to keep him working so he doesn't find mischief so Ruth has been spending time with him working with natural horsemanship techniques to improve his ground manners. Ruth is also just light enough to ride him and he loves to tackle small jumps in the arena. We are looking forward to being able to use him in lessons, eventually! |
The Big Barn
Pickwick Papers
"Pickle" 5years old Donkey jack Palomino pinto 12.1hh Both Pickle and Valentine (below) belong to Ruth and Olivia's friend Merida - although they are posing with Erin for their photos, Merida is shy! - Merida has no room at home right now so they are boarded here at Oak Valley where they are sometimes used for lessons. Pickle is a big lad for a donkey and Merida says he is still growing into his ears! He does enjoy being ridden along the local lanes and can pop over a low jump or two, but his eye catching colour and easygoing temperament are tempting Merida to use him for stud duties and showing. Watch this space...! |
My Funny Valentine
"Valentine" 4 years old Arabian Stallion Dark bay 15.3hh Valentine is a giant for an Arabian and he is probably still growing. He got his name as he was born on Valentines day. He is still young but Merida would like to show him and hopefully do some dressage in a couple of years. He is quite the looker and has the floatiest trot we have ever seen, when he is turned out in the paddock all the girls gather round to watch, human and equine! He may be available at stud in the future but for now he will focus on his training, and looking beautiful of course. |
The American Barn
Scoot-a-long
"Scooter" 8 years old Paint Gelding Liver Chestnut pinto 15.3hh Scooter is our one and only Western horse. He is quite new to us and is teaching us how to ride 'cowboy' style. He does trail, cutting, reining and even parade. He can be ridden English but his long low head carriage makes that a challenge for even the longest armed riders! Scooter is a lovely easy going chap and everyone wants to give him a try. He is officially up for adoption where he can fulfill his potential but we would be sad to see him go. |
Better Than Roses
"Rosie" 15 years old Shetland x New Forest mare Piebald 11.1hh Rosie got her rather original name as she was a Valentines day present for our farm manager Emma. I agree that a pony is better than roses any day! Rosie came from a sale and was used as a lesson pony. She didn't seem to be losing any weight though, despite a strict diet and plenty of exercise so it wasn't a huge surprise when she produced a filly foal one night! Once Love bug is weened Rosie will go back to lessons, and hopefully lose that weight! |
Love Bug
4 months old Shetland x New Forest x ?? filly Piebald Love Bug is such a sweetie. Once we had got over the original shock of finding 2 ponies instead of one we moved them into the American barn so they have a little more space. Love Bug demands a lot of attention from everyone and she is never denied! She is totally spoiled and has already learned to beg for a treat by watching her mother. We would like to teach her a few more tricks when she is a little older as she is very bright and loves to be around people. She's already a star though! |
Gulliver's Travels
"Gully" 12 years old Connemara Gelding Grey 14.0hh Gully is our most recent arrival here at the farm. Our manager, Emma, competed him very successfully when she was a child then when she outgrew him (he's a small boy and she's super tall!) he went to her younger sister. Now that she has outgrown him too Emma brought him back to the farm. He loves to do cross country and 3 day events, he can be a little spooky in the dressage arena though and very strong in the show jumping phase so he needs a strong hand. He has impeccable ground manners, as you can see here, and a really sweet personality. Ruth can't wait to try him out in the arena! |
Photo Gallery
Just some photos from around the farm, showing the stable blocks, paddock and arena.
Top left shows the main 3 stable blocks, top right shows all the stable blocks and the paddock, please excuse the pollen on the roof of the big barn! The middle left shows the stable blocks, (including the carriage in the American barn), horse box, paddock and the arena and the middle right shows a close up of the arena with Ruth encouraging Angus over a few poles! The bottom photos are new, we recently added sand and dressage markers to the arena so I took some new photos of the arena. Here Ruth is riding Gully for the first time, they make a nice pair!
Thank you for visiting and I hope you have enjoyed getting to know us. Keep checking Ruth's site for stories. :)
Top left shows the main 3 stable blocks, top right shows all the stable blocks and the paddock, please excuse the pollen on the roof of the big barn! The middle left shows the stable blocks, (including the carriage in the American barn), horse box, paddock and the arena and the middle right shows a close up of the arena with Ruth encouraging Angus over a few poles! The bottom photos are new, we recently added sand and dressage markers to the arena so I took some new photos of the arena. Here Ruth is riding Gully for the first time, they make a nice pair!
Thank you for visiting and I hope you have enjoyed getting to know us. Keep checking Ruth's site for stories. :)