Horses
Clippie
Clippie had a very famous Hanoverian dressage stallion as a dad called “Garcon”, and a Thoroughbred cross mum. His show name is Eclipse and he was born on 15th May, 2003. Clippie has grown much taller than both his mum and dad and we reckon he is now 18.1 hands. He came to Shieldbank in April 2015 to be trained as a vaulting horse; he also works in the riding school when his vaulting commitments allow! He is very sociable; wanting to be everyone’s friend (horses and people) but doesn’t always remember just how big he is compared to others!
Acorn
Acorn is a Norwegian/Welsh pony mare, standing 14.1 hands and born in May, 1995 in Devon. Her full name is Hearsay Acorn and is registered with the Welsh Pony and Cob Society as a part-bred. Acorn has an eel stripe along her spine (a dark line) going all the way from her mane to her tail. She has a lot of experience helping people to learn to ride, adults and children alike. Acorn loves doing anything with poles; either going over in walk or trot……or even better if she gets to canter and jump! She is also very good with children & loves to play games with cones or having walk and trot races with Barbie. When out in the field Acorn is usually the last to come in……the grass is just too delicious!
Barbie
Barbie is a Haflinger pony (a breed of horse that originates from Austria & Italy) & stands 13.2hands. She was born in the Netherlands in 1998 and named Ibien. In 2007 she was shipped across to Ireland where she was sold as “Lot 14” in one of the famous horse auctions. Thereafter she came to a riding centre known as Kingsbarns that subsequently went into liquidation. We bought her at the dispersal sale with a nasty looking wound in her side caused by getting caught on the pin of a gate. At that point no one knew if she could ever be ridden again. However, she proved what a tough little personality she has, and is now one of the great favourites amongst the children. She has very good looks with a golden body and a beautiful flaxen mane. She is probably the noisiest pony on the yard………whenever it gets close to feed time you will hear her give a whinny or two to remind us to start dishing out the hay! Barbie does a lot of work with our younger riders & has helped many to enjoy their riding. However she is also great for a smaller or lightweight adult to ride; the Haflinger is a very good all-round riding horse & Barbie would certainly agree with that!
Velvet
Velvet is a very classy looking black Welsh B/Trakehner mare that we look after for her owner. She was born on the 18th July 2008 in England and moved up to Scotland in 2013. Velvet is in livery with us and her stable is in the cattle court. Velvet loves going out in the field with the others. Velvet is working very well improving her dressage, especially pairs dressage to music. She is also enjoying work over poles and small jumps.
Robbie
Robbie was born in 2008 and came to Shieldbank in 2016 to take on the role of helping people to learn to ride. He is a lovely 13.2 hh skewbald cob, born in Ireland, with a very kind temperament, and able to carry both adults and children. He has a wonderful sense of humor and likes exploring. Robbie's favourite pastime is eating!
Freckles
Freckles (registered under the name of "May") was born on the 1st of May in 2012. She was bought by us to replace Millie (who ended up moving to Germany). We gave her the name Freckles because she has spots around her muzzle and between her nostrils. According to her passport she is roan in colour, but most of the year she looks bay. Freckles is now our main vaulting horse. In addition, she works in the school for the more experienced riders doing dressage and jumping.
Winston
Winston is a purebred Cleveland Bay gelding born in 2009, approx. 17.2 hh, with a very gentle and unflappable nature. We have introduced him to vaulting where he shows great promise and has won the Team Competition in Walk twice. In the riding school he is very dependable and gives riders loads of confidence.
Cole
Cole is a 12.3 hh Fell cross pony, born 2007, with aspirations to be "the man in charge". He has no problems keeping Winston in his place and loves to be the centre of attention.
Digby
Digby, a 14.2hh dark bay gelding born in 2005, came to us from Rutherglen and was owned for 6 years by a young girl who loved him to bits. Digby taught her to walk, trot, canter and jump. Digby looks like Cole's big brother. We think he has a lot of Dales breeding in him.
Maya
Maya is a 17 hh approx. Dutch/Hannoverian mare born in 2010. Maya has had a foal in the past, but is now concentrating on forming relationships with more experienced riders.
Cracker
Cracker is a 12.2 hh piebald gelding with a wonderful moustache! He was born in 2017 in England. He considers himself to be very good looking. Cracker has been introduced to several young riders who love him dearly.
Bluebell
Bluebell is a 12.2 grey mare who arrived in 2019 in the middle of her pregnancy. She duly gave birth to her foal Tinkerbell in April 2020. After caring for her foal, Bluebell was taken back into training for ridden work. Bluebell now works regularly in the riding school and is showing herself to be a gentle soul learning to teach young people to ride. We are not sure which year she was born in, but we believe it to be 2015.
Libby
Libby is a 14.2 hh black mare born in 2010. She is very friendly and welcomes everyone to the yard. Libby loves going out with her pals into the field. She loves cantering and jumping.
Tinkerbell
Tinkerbell is approx. 11.2 hh, born at Shieldbank in 2020, and is very cute. She is still too young to be ridden, but she is very much part of the family here and makes her voice heard!