After 18 months at the Fox-Pitt yard in Sturminster Newton, eventer Toots Bartlett is moving home (just over the border into Somerset!)
It’s been a month of mixed emotions for Team TB, as we say goodbye to our base at the William Fox-Pitt’s incredible yard in Dorset, and move back home – just over the border in Somerset.
What an absolutely extraordinary 18 months we have had. To be based at such a world class facility, with the opportunity to learn from the very best individual in our sport, has been so motivating and inspiring. I have learned a huge amount from both William and his head groom, Jackie Potts. It’s been the opportunity of a lifetime.
I am very sad to leave beautiful Dorset behind, but the whole team is also incredibly excited about the next adventure!
An unbelievable amount of work has gone on at my family home near Castle Cary – the heart of Blackmore Vale hedge country! We have developed our original small yard into a fabulous new facility, creating six new stables to give me a yard of nine, allowing me to expand and develop TB Eventing as a business. I will be producing young horses while offering schooling and coaching, and also providing equine physical therapy.
The old coach house has been converted and now provides stables, a gorgeous tack room and an amazing loft conversion for me (which I am super excited to move in to!).
I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who has made this possible and although there’s a lot of stress in the middle of a very big move, with all the associated sorting and organising, I can’t wait to see the end result.
Competing at last
Alongside the move, we did finally manage to get out eventing! The weather has continued its attempts at interrupting the 2023 season. However, a very long trip up to Burnham Market in Kings Lynn this month was well worth it. Equador MW gave me a fantastic ride round the CCI3*s for his first run of the year and we finished on a double clear. He’s a very exciting horse to ride and we are just about to celebrate one year of him arriving in England from New Zealand to join Team TB.
This month sees a big change, some trepidation, lots of sadness as I flee the nest and yet so much to look forward to.
Watch this space!
