Look ‘through the keyhole’: Alex Hua Tian’s yard [PICS]

Enjoy pictures from Eventing magazine's photoshoot with British-based Chinese event rider Alex Hua Tian

Pinfold is just 20min from many eventers’ favourite cross-country schooling ground Somerford Park Farm. With numerous competition centres within an hour, and the M6 15min away, it is ideally positioned for a busy event rider.

The main yard at Pinfold Stud has barely changed since its heyday as a thoroughbred stud back in the 1960s. Champion two-year-old Petingo, who went on to finish second in the 2000 Guineas and won the St James’s Palace Stakes as a three-year-old, was bred here in 1965. Numerous other race winners have come through the impressive archway that leads you under the clock tower.

The stud’s most recent revival has been as a livery yard, and the facilities include a 44 x 66m outdoor — due to be resurfaced over the winter — and an indoor school measuring just over 20 x 40m, which is light and airy.

The main yard boasts 21 stables with a further five opposite the indoor school. An immaculate circle of grass graces the middle of the square and woe betide anyone who rides over it. They have the use of 20 acres at the moment, but with the option for up to 80 more as necessary with a track round the outside to ride.

The fields are a decent size, with good Cheshire hedges for shelter. Old-timers FBW Chico — Alex’s 2008 Olympic ride — and Jeans are currently enjoying their retirement in one field with another former eventer/showjumper, Norton H.

There is a small kitchen for tea breaks and lunch, and a large tack room.

The staff — Amy Shafe, Alex Roy and Ellis Noble — live on site and are joined five days a week by Kate Hort, who worked for the Frederickses and is now Alex and Sarah’s yard manager.

Read the full ‘through the keyhole’ article in the December 2014 issue of Eventing magazine out on 22 November.

Enjoy more ‘through the keyhole’ features:

Look ‘through the keyhole’: Dutch eventer Andy Heffernan’s yard [PICS]

Enjoy pictures from Eventing magazine's photoshoot at Somerford Park Farm

Look ‘through the keyhole’: Italian eventer Vittoria Panizzon’s yard [PICS]

Enjoy pictures from Eventing magazine's photoshoot at Norton Grounds Equestrian

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