She’s the reigning Olympia champion and she scooped her first ridden Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) title last year. Leading pony producer Katy Marriott-Payne shows H&H around her “ponies in the garden affair” — the cosy Northamptonshire yard that turns ponies into winners.
1. The yard
Katy is based in Northamptonshire and her parents used to run a market garden on the yard. Now all stables are filled with ponies — in fact, there are more ponies than stables, so some live out. Katy expects to show 24 this season.
2. The land
2016 Olympia winner Tonwen Hughes' Welsh section A stallion Uphill James Fox at Katy's stables in a small Northampton Village in the UK on the 13th February 2017
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)
The reigning Olympia Heritage champion, Tonwen Hughes’ Welsh section A stallion Uphill James Fox, enjoys some turnout time. Katy has three acres around her Northamptonshire yard and rents a further 10 acres nearby.
3. Championship mementoes
Katy Marriot Payne at Katy's stables in a small Northampton Village in the UK on the 13th February 2017
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)
Katy’s HOYS plaques have pride of place on a yard wall. She has headed the section B class at HOYS for the last three years and netted her first ridden championship there in 2016, winning aboard Yvonne Davies’ Cadlanvalley Buzby
4. The house
Katy bringing the drinks for everyone helping at Katy Marriot Payne stables in a small Northampton Village in the UK on the 13th February 2017
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)
Katy’s home, where she lives with her husband Rob and 10-year-old son Thomas, is a two-minute walk from the yard.
5. The arena
Alice Tomlinson riding Rhesfair The Don, a section A gelding at Katy's stables in a small Northampton Village in the UK on the 13th February 2017
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)
There is a 20x40m outdoor arena, where Katy schools her native ponies and teaches. Pictured is Katy teaching Alice Tomlinson, who has worked for Katy for three years, on the section A Rhesfair The Don.
6. Schooling sessions
Katy riding Woodrow March Past the recently arrived New Forest stallion of Sam Woolerton’s at Katy Marriot Payne stables in a small Northampton Village in the UK on the 13th February 2017
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)
Katy schools Woodrow March Past, a recently arrived New Forest stallion belonging to Sam Woolerton. The pony was previously with Paul Armitage, who showed him in-hand.
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7. Happy hacking
Alice Tomlinson riding Jack and Steph Britain riding Mr P having a hack around the fields around Katy Marriot Payne stables in a small Northampton Village in the UK on the 13th February 2017
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)
Steph Britain hacks out Clandon Precious with Alice Tomlinson on Grahamsley Crackerjack. There is good local hacking around the yard, and all ponies go out regularly as part of a varied workload. Happy ponies perform better in the show ring, says Katy.
8. Keeping on top of office work
Katy Marriot Payne at her home doing the urgent paperwork, ordering feed and dealing with clients in a small Northampton Village in the UK on the 13th February 2017
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)
Katy does all the admin herself. After dropping Thomas at school, Katy sits down to do entries, paper work and speak to owners before going out on to the yard.
9. Fitness matters
Katy Marriot Payne with the bike she peddled all the way from London to Paris in a charity event, in her small Northampton Village in the UK on the 13th February 2017
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)
Katy likes to keep fit. She does Pilates on a Thursday evening and also cycles — she once completed a bike race from London to Paris, raising money for charity in the process.
Thomas riding Cadlanvalley Sandpiper (Sammy) getting ready for his first junior class at Katy Marriot Payne stables in a small Northampton Village in the UK on the 13th February 2017
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)
Thomas schools Cadlanvalley Sandpiper, the six-time Olympia finalist with whom he is aiming at junior classes this season. Thomas will also campaign Powys Jack Flash in first ridden classes.
11. Katy’s one to watch
Katy Marriot Payne and Colne Tiger Bay a Welsh Section A and one to watch at Katy's stables in a small Northampton Village in the UK on the 13th February 2017
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)
Colne Tiger Bay has joined Katy’s yard after being successfully shown in-hand by Sam Morsley, with whom he qualified for the Cuddy in-hand final in 2015 and 2016. The section A was home-bred by his owner Ann Overton-Ablitt and begins his showing career under saddle with Katy this term.
Don’t miss the full interview with Katy and much more in H&H’s showing special issue (16 March), on sale now
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Aimi was responsible for Horse & Hound’s showing, pointing and veterinary pages, as well as assisting with eventing content. Aimi also edited Horse & Hound’s popular occasional magazines, Ask The Vet and Ask The Trainer. She is the former deputy editor of Eventing magazine. She left Horse & Hound at the end of 2017 to take on new challenges in the publishing industry and is now editor at Your Horse.
