About Southill Stables and its staff
Headed by owner Claire Warneford, Southill Stables is a family business that offers a warm and friendly welcome for you and your horse or pony.
Location
We are located on the western edge of the village of Aldbourne in North East Wiltshire, on the borders of Wiltshire, Hampshire, Berkshire and Oxfordshire, approximately 8 miles south of J15 of the M4, and between Marlborough, Swindon and Hungerford. Click here for our location map and get directions.
The village is on the edge of the Marlborough Downs, and is within 2 miles of the Ridgeway; we have good hacking in all directions from the stables.
We are in the Vine and Craven hunting country, and have several meets of the Berks and Bucks Draghounds locally.
Claire Warneford, Stable Owner
Southill Stables is managed by Claire Warneford. Claire has competed around the country and for her local riding Club in show jumping, dressage and eventing. She has also competed in affiliated showjumping. In 2009 she qualified for the 'Search 4 a Star' to go to the Horse of the Year Show.
After leaving school Claire trained at Berkshire College of Agriculture, where she gained her National Diploma, winning an award and her foundation degree has also gained vast amount of experience working with British showjumper Phillip Spivey, Simon Crippen and worked for three years with Gill and Corinne Nash helping breaking, selling bringing on young horses from Germany and Ireland,competing and day to day running of there livery stables.
For more information on the stable services visit our services page.
Horse rehabilitation and Equissage
Claire has a particular interest in horse rehabilitation and specialises in the use of Equissage massage therapy to aid horses in recovery from injury. Equissage offers a safe and sure way for your horse to recover peak form, speeding up healing of most common ailments.
Joe Curtis, Head Lad
Joe joined us in July 2004. He was educated at St. John's School in Marlborough and was given day release to train with us at Southill; he gained his NVQ 1 in Horse Care before leaving school and has his NVQ stages 2 and 3.
Keen and enthusiastic, Joe loves his work at Southill and is a valuable member of the team.
Catherine
Catherine worked one day a week at Southill Stables whilst still at school for some 6 years, before starting full time at the end of 2008.
In 2009 Catherine achieved her NVQ Level 2 in Horse Care.
Farrier
We have an excellent Farrier in Matt Franks, who comes to the yard one day a week for all routine shoeing, and comes to us quickly in an emergency.
Pete is racecourse farrier at Bath, Newbury, Windsor and Kempton.
Veterinary Surgeons
Our Veterinary Surgeons are Lambourne equine, who are based near Lambourn and are quickly available in an emergency.
The team at lambourne equine are very experienced vets and horsewomen; several of the vets hold or have held positions with British National teams.
Please note Clients are welcome to use their own farrier and vet should they so wish but it would be their responsiblity to make the necessary arrangements for them to call.
Aldbourne
You can find out more about the village and its activities by visiting our local website at www.aldbourne.org.uk
Stable History
The Stables were originally founded by Sarah West B.H.S.A.I. in 1982, and was first based at Ford Farm on the Hungerford road just south of the village.
In 1991 the business moved into a new purpose built yard at Southill and remains there today. In November 2009 the stables was taken over by Claire Warneford.