At first glance, it’s difficult to work out whether pictures of showjumper Jamie Gornall’s North Yorkshire yard are computer-generated plans of some kind of equestrian idyll — or if this is real life.
With exposed beams, an island in the tack room and a tree-lined yellow gravel driveway, you could be forgiven for thinking this was some sort of extension of Soho House, the exclusive members’ club whose rustic charm is being emulated in homes across the globe.
Take a look around the mind-blowing set-up (and prepare to be jealous…)
The location
Jamie Gornall's base at Home Farm, Kirk Hammerton is set in 15 acres of beautiful North Yorkshire countryside between the spa town of Harrogate and historic York.
The rider
Jamie's time spent in Germany riding with Olympic gold medallist Ludger Beerbaum has shaped and influenced his design of the yard.
Sensitive design
The development of the former dairy farm buildings was completed in late summer 2015, with horses moving in shortly after. The attractive buildings seamlessly combine the original features of the historical buildings with the practicalities of modern materials and facilities.
The stables Gornall Equestrian has 19 stables, which have been created from former dairy farm buildings and include fittings by German company Röwer & Rüb.
The stables Jamie Gornall
The tack room
The yard's stable complex includes a large tack room with under-floor heating to store leatherwork and saddles at an optimum temperature, and beautiful, oak shelving to store rugs and equipment.
The tack room
Fittings here — and in many other areas of the yard — are provided by Dutch company SeBo. An adjoining laundry room takes care of the yard's daily cleaning requirements with a large industrial washer and dryer.
The indoor school
The highlight of Home Farm is perhaps the impressive 35x60m indoor riding arena, with its unwaxed surface on an Andrews Bowen Equaflow system favoured by the Global Champions Tour series. The arena building, constructed by German company Gebr Schütt, has a Glulam beam structure to the roof — a natural alternative to steel or concrete — with a light-and-ventilation ridge. A suite of luxurious viewing rooms, styled and decorated by Averil Blundell Interior Design, allows owners to enjoy watching their horses' progress in comfort.
The solarium
An equine resident makes the most of the solarium, with decor to rival a human spa.
Extensive facilities
There is also a large grass arena that was created following consultation with the Sports Turf Research Institute, which provides advice on grass arenas at both Hickstead and Dublin showgrounds. And an all-weather gallop track with a surface by Andrews Bowen encircles the area.
The stables
When not in their deluxe stables, all the horses — including stallions — are turned out in individual paddocks with Centaur equine safety fencing.
Work in progress
Work is due to begin on a top-of-the-range horse walker building, complete with a central lunge pen.
