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MENDIP TIMES
It’s a family affair
IT is many years since I have visited the Blackdown Stud up on the top of Shipham Hill and it was a pleasure to see it looking to beautifully attended to, full of top quality horses all looking relaxed and happy. Many local people will remember David Urch, the popular horse vet owning the stud With CELIA and breeding his Shire X TB horses, and it GADD has had a couple of other owners in recent years but 18 months ago Zoe and Stephen Day purchased the large equestrian facility to help support the eventing success of their 26-year-old daughter Jamie Lee. Local business owners already, the family run CG Eventing from the stud, and produce and compete quality event horses. Jamie Lee started competing at a very young age and as a member of the Banwell Pony club competed very successfully in all disciplines. Sister Jodie has also always been extremely keen and competed throughout her teenage years, now aged 23 years old she is a massive support to her more competitive sister. It was a bit of a shock to the family when Jamie Lee gave up the horses and went to train to be a hairdresser on leaving school and was completely out of horses for several years. During that time Zoe herself took over the ride on Jamie Lee’s very successful pony club horse Fred and enjoyed success in dressage and eventing. Aged 20, Jamie Lee decided to get back into the sport and really has never looked back. Her mum insisted though that she did a whole winter of ‘mucking out’ and doing all the dirty jobs before giving her the ride back on Fred. In her first season back eventing in affiliated competitions she completed a CCI 1* competition and started to develop her string of horses. The horse that really worked its way into her heart was Serano, an attractive grey who was bought at a ‘bargain’ price as he was known as a head shaker but Jamie Lee has had a huge Jamie Lee in action
Jamie Lee Day and her string for 2015
amount of success with him, competing in several 3* and Advanced competitions with great success. A prolific cross country horse he has produced numerous, consistent clear rounds and many placings. Jamie Lee said: “As soon as I sat on him I just knew we had to have him, it really was ‘love at first sight’.” Although fit and well at the moment he has suffered a small injury and will come back to competition in 2015 but probably just stay at the level he is at. Another promising horse is Arkansa Gold who has competed at 2* level, but Kato Ridge, an 8-year-old intermediate horse, is the one that Jamie Lee hopes will follow in Serano’s footsteps. It is clear talking to Jamie Lee that she really loves her horses, the stables are immaculate and no corners are cut in their welfare and care. Having such a great support structure with Jodie and Zoe never far away is fantastic to see and I feel sure that 2015 will be a very successful one for all of them. The facilities at Blackdown stud are really good, with miles of off-road hacking literally outside the gate, an indoor school, horse walker and plenty of well-drained turnout. There are a few spaces available for livery here although I am sure they will get snapped up quickly so if you are interested give Jamie Lee a call on 07894 266203.
January 2015 show dates Wednesday 7th Lower evening show jumping at Badgworth Arena, Axbridge Sunday 11th Winter dressage and show jumping series at Avon Riding Centre, Bristol Wednesday 14th Higher evening show jumping at Badgworth Arena, Axbridge Wednesday 21st Lower evening show jumping at Badgworth Arena, Axbridge
PAGE 76 • MENDIP TIMES • JANUARY 2015
Saturday 24th Unaffiliated dressage at Pontispool Equine Sports Centre, Norton Fitzwarren Sunday 25th Unaffiliated dressage at Pontispool Equine Sports Centre, Norton Fitzwarren Wednesday 28th Higher evening show jumping at Badgworth Arena, Axbridge Saturday 31st Eventers Challenge at Pontispool Equine Sports Centre