Chris

As both Owner and Manager of Farm View Hall Livery, it is no wonder that Chris takes an active and involved role in the running of the yard. Despite coming from a strong farming background, he has always been passionate about the horses and finally took the decision to purpose build a luxury Livery Yard from nothing but a field in 2005. Despite only starting off with a modest six boxes, Chris soon had a waiting list, and another block of six quickly followed. Things continued in this manner over the next few years until he had a large yard of 42 stables, an outdoor menage and a luxury indoor school.

Despite also part-owning and running a large scale Dairy Plant with his brother, Chris was actively involved with his ex-wife's Dressage and Showing horses, traveling the length and breadth of the country to watch her compete, their horses perming up to Medium level Dressage and Showing at the likes of Hickstead and Addington Manor.

He has always played a big part within the livery business, not to mention the fact that he produces all of his own hay, haylage and straw for the yard, so clients can always be assured of quality. Never content to settle for what an average, Chris has yet more plans and ambitions for Farm View Hall, and is committed to continuing improving and upgrading the yard until he is satisfied that it is the very best that it can possibly be. With two youngsters maturing over the summer at grass, he is looking forward to seeing them produced by his Farm View Team over the coming months.

Gemma

With a dynamic previous career in the racing industry, Gemma certainly has the know how and wherewithal to help keep a yard of the size and standard of Farm View Hall running smoothly and effectively. At the mere age of thirteen, Gemma was introduced to the thoroughbred racing industry through Genny Benson and Owan Fagan when they loaned Gemma her first thoroughbred; a 17hh ex racer Rosoman. Despite her young age, Gemma knew she wanted nothing more than to work in the racing industry with thoroughbreds, and sure enough at the age of 17 she left school and went to work for renowned racing trainer Ferdy Murphy. Here Gemma worked riding out the Hurdlers, and also was one of the select few to work in the pool swimming the horses.

Although Gemma loved working with the race horses, she quickly came to the realization that she was more interested in offering young horses, especially thoroughbreds, a start to their working life that would give them the best possible chance. To do this Gemma realised that she needed to gain the knowledge to make this possible, and soon after turning 19 went to work for the Monty Roberts trained Sarah Kreutzer, who ran a yard in North Yorkshire working with problem horses and youngsters. Gemma gained a wealth of experience under Sarah, the least of which being that she learnt to ride Western and the values of Intelligent Horsemanship. Gemma worked for Sarah for several years, during which time she came to manage the yard for Sarah, working with an endless diversity of horses and ponies, helping to both undo the traumas they'd been faced with and to give youngsters an ideal start to their ridden careers. Adding another dimension to her work, Gemma worked closely with both owners and the young children who came to do the workshops.

To add to this, during this time period Gemma came by two thoroughbreds, both ex racers, who she competed to BSJA level. Although she sold one on to a competitive home, she still has Maddie who she went far with. Gemma then switched her focus to a family life, forgoing working in the equestrian industry for the next five years while she devoted her time to raising her two young children, Lily-Ella and Harry. However, still mindful to keep self-improving, she used her time to complete an NVQ in Childcare, which enabled her to work in Primary Schools as a teaching assistant. Still obsessed with the horses, Gemma kept her own horse - Maddie - as well as a plethora of shetland ponies for the children! Gemma also became very involved with the Shooting scene, spending many days out shooting with her own working dogs, two of which she sill has with her at Farm View Hall. Despite being a full time mother, Gemma is totally committed to taking the yard to the next level and is always busy working on the feedback from liveries to keep both the staff and the yard on track.

Emma

At only 20 years old Emma has worked in a diverse variety of places within different sections of the Equestrian industry. Having competed in the sport of Endurance Riding since the age of twelve, Emma Advanced at the age of fifteen, earning her place on the British Young Riders Development Squad. Although her competitive career was hampered by lameness and financial constraints, Emma decided to gain a different insight into FEI level Endurance by Grooming/Crewing for both the Young Riders and Senior Riders at FEI events both in England and abroad, including European Championships. These experiences took her all over the UK and abroad to Germany, Portugal and Spain as traveling and competition groom.

During this time Emma was 16/17 and studying for her three A Levels, all of which she achieved in 2009. After leaving Sixth form she went straight to work at an Arabian Stud in Durham (Deerness Arabians) where she was given the task of starting the youngsters under saddle, preparing the youngstock for In Hand Showing and the general care of the broodmares. In the february of the following year (2010) Emma left the UK to go and live and work in Estonia at the Akhal Teke Stud owned and run by Kätlin Leisson and Kaido Puussepp. Emma worked there for four months and in that time got first hand experience with stallion handling, foaling and even leant how to artificially inseminate! As Kätlin and Kaido are practitioners of Natural Horsemanship, Emma was able to expand on her understanding of NH and used these methods in working with the young stallions and mares to start them gently under saddle.

When her time in Estonia had run its course, Emma returned to the UK where she commenced work at a small Dressage and Performance Stud in Durham which also offered a Livery Service. Here Emma had dual responsibilities, being needed to work and handle the stallions and youngstock whilst also being required to work on the livery yard. Due to the return of their daughter, who was in her own right a Young British Dressage Rider, Emma's position was negated and she once again sought a position within the industry. Only a few days after making the decision to leave her current job, she found herself coming to have a preliminary interview with Chris and Gemma at Farm View Hall. Despite the majority of Emma's experience being centered around Stud work, she clearly possessed a good sound knowledge of not just horses but customer service. Since coming to work at Farm View Hall Emma has received endless positive reviews from our liveries, her previous sole charge responsibilities on yards providing her with the experience needed to effectively run and maintain a facility such as FVH offer.

Emma is available to all liveries for a variety of services, including ridden work (schooling or exercising), clipping, bathing etc etc. She is now concentrating on making her entrance back onto the Affiliated Endurance scene with her potential FEI mare, Shaanah.