Tuition Clissy has taught up to International level since starting her own career. She is a BE accredited trainer and teaches at Whorridge all year round.

Occasionally we arrange 'away days' and Workshops.

Althea is developing into a very good teacher/trainer herself with several young pupils competing at BE90, and BE100 level.

Livery/Owners We have horses here at livery and for their owners to produce for competition either short term schooling or long term. In 2008 and 2009 we had several permanent “boarders” who ended the season successfully at three day events. Clissy supervises all the liveries and work and training and the results speak for themselves.

Our Students We have brilliant students working with us. Over the years we have preferred generally to have younger working pupils who are school leavers – with or without own horses – who are keen to learn “the business”. We like our students to be with us for at least a year, and can honestly say none of our ex pupils has ever had problem finding work in top yards – in England or abroad.

Our working pupils live with us on the farm and receive training and tuition from us and also full board and lodging. If we have a student with a horse we work out some sort of arrangement allowing for keep, training etc. Anyone here with their own horse I try to produce as we would our own. The only problem with “own horses” can be transport – if we have room I take the students but to be honest having the availability of your own transport is best as we are often full up! We provide everything including TV, washing machine, fridge/freezer, microwave etc. The pupils have one day off per week which we arrange to suit everyone – plus some extra days over Christmas and two weeks holiday in the year.

We do also have students here full time on the NVQ/Apprenticeship scheme through a local college.

Everyone helps with all aspects of our stud work and the eventers – we have approx 80 visiting mares during the stud season – plus mares in to foal.

If any one is interested in coming to Whorridge we do like to start off with a “guided tour” type visit where we meet each other and hopefully your parent(s) and then to have any keen “would-be” students to stay for several days to see how the business works. If you live a long way away this can be combined; we have an excellent train and bus transport to/from Exeter (12 miles away) and Tiverton parkway (3 miles away) Cullompton is 5 minutes from us – a busy town with all “facilities” and right next to the M5 junction 28 – we can always drop off or pick up. We are always interested in talking to prospective students – short or long term.

Student Louise Clarke with Team Bleekman's Delphy May Grey. Anna Hayward riding Sarah Allan's Prince Apollo Alex Grinstead riding Sarah Allan's Rowanberry.

Tim Rogers riding Corrieview Owen in the U21 3 Day Chamionships at Weston Park Olivia Franklin riding Redd or Dedd

Accommodation We can recommend any owners or parents visiting to stay with either: Maureen Mingo – Althea’s Godmother who runs an excellent family Bed and Breakfast at Rewe Brake, near Whimple – 15 minutes away. Tel. 01404 822 586 www.smoothhound.co.uk/rewebrake Fay Down – Another top B&B at Upton House, Cullompton. Her son Richard has mobile holiday homes and lodges with fishing available. 5 minutes away from us. Tel. 01884 33097 www.upton-lakes.co.uk Sandra Vallis – Our neighbours have wonderful holiday lets on their farm sleeping 2, 4 and 7. www.highdownfarm.co.uk