Above the Saddle

Above the Saddle is a small livery yard in West Hoathly, West Sussex, run by Gemma and Sinéad. Gemma brings experience in yard management and day-to-day horse care; Sinéad is a BHS accredited coach and teaches riders from outside the yard as well as liveries. Between them they have a background in horse welfare, livery yards, rehabilitation and horse management.

The yard is forage-led. Horses are fed through trickle nets and turnout, with regular condition scoring and a chaff and balancer with no added fillers. Turnout is individual, paired or herd, set out so horses can still see their friends, and large fields, a herd track system and overnight turnout keep horses moving. Care is planned around each horse, starting with a conversation with the owner, and the yard uses eco brands wherever possible.

Every livery package includes hay, feed, bedding, a stable, a field and use of the facilities. Services are then added on top, from bring in and turn out through part and full livery to schooling and rehabilitation.

Facilities include a floodlit outdoor arena, stables, a tack room, a tea room and toilet, a grass track for herd turnout, individual and paired turnout fields, and hacking. Yard access is 7am to 8pm, in line with the planning permission for the arena lights.