Katie Harper Katie has been involved with horses in a variety of disciplines for many years and has now settled into Harestock Stud where she is concentrating on her liveries, eventing career and her passion for producing youngsters. As a youngster, Katie was a keen horsewoman and pony club member, qualifying for the pony club championships ten times on six different horses at Dressage, Show Jumping, Eventing and Mounted Games. She also spent some time training with BYRDS dressage, winning numerous competitions and coming 2nd at the south east talent spotting with the highest riding mark.

Katie was taught to ride by Caroline Xuerb who runs Albury Equestrian Centre, where she kept her horses and trained for the following 12 years. Whilst working for Caroline, Katie gained a wealth of experience in breaking, producing and schooling horses and ponies in preparation for competition and fun homes. She left the yard only when she moved in with Neil in Basingstoke and still remains close firends with Caroline, who she still uses as an encyclopedia of knowledge on young horses - a passion she has kept to this day. Whilst living in Basingstoke, Katie kept her horses in a little yard she rented and worked for International eventer Ross Miller, which gave her an oppertunity to get some experience of training and preparing for competition at the highest level of the sport.  After concentrating on eventing, Katie has taken a number of horses in the uk up to intermediate at events such as Barbary Castle, Longleat International and South of England and the thoroughbred championships. She is hoping to have her top horse ready for competing internationally next year. Katie has had a fairly quiet year competition wise as she has been nursing her top horse back from a fractured skull last August. She has amazed vets by getting him back not only into normal work, but back into Eventing in just a year following a 35 week fitness programme.

Katie also specialises in producing youngsters both for performance homes and also pleasure rides. Her understanding approach puts emphasis on making sure the horse is physically strong enough and mentally mature before asking any difficult questions, thus reducing the likelihood of encountering any problems and causing any issues with the horse. She also helps owners with naughty horses. Her last few horses have been a resounding success with Leica, trained from 4yo, went from broken to top ten Pre Novice in just over a year. Katie and Neil ran Harestock Stud in winchester as a successful livery yard from June 2008 to April 2010 when they moved to Bury Hill Farm. They made lots of friends and contacts who all still stay in touch and meet up for training and a bit of a social! They are dedicated to providing a friendly proffessional environment and the best standard of care for horses and owners treating them all as if they were their own.

Neil Warner Neil is no stranger to the competition scene, having represented his county as a young player in cricket as well as playing southern league hockey and proving to be brave and fast on the rugby pitch. A keen sportsman, he is also extremely enthusiastic about motorcycle racing, racing grass track all over the south. A qualified personal trainer, Neil has been invaluable in analysing rider's personal performance in both training and competition. Having spent nine years as a whole-time fire-fighter in Hampshire, Neil has been able to qualify as an emergency medical technician and has had a great deal of experience with difficult situations and medical emergencies making him excellent with communication and people skills. Qualified as an advanced HGV as well as a blue lights response driver, Neil ensures horses travelling with him receive a smooth and safe journey.

Although Neil has been involved with horses for the past three years and has been very quick to pick up the skills needed to care for their day to day needs. He is extremely understanding and kind with even the most difficult of animals.

Photography kindly supplied by Nicholas Cave Photography