"I wanted to write and thank you for the lesson I did on Hoggy on Friday; I know I’m nowhere close to the level of rider that he can accommodate however I really enjoyed the session with you and have found it intensely beneficial in my riding over the weekend since I saw you. At one point I’m sure my hand position was correct for at least 12.5 seconds!! It was really brilliant, I hope to return in a few months and see if I’ve managed to maintain the improvement." Annabelle Ridley
"Having kept my horse at Sparrow Oast I can honestly say it has been the best livery experience I have ever had in my 17 years of owning horses. Not only is the daily routine consistent and set to suit the horses rather than the humans but the care of each individual horse is catered for and carried out to the letter. My horse has never looked so well or performed better and when we move back to Kent ( if there is a space) we will be back. As an instructor, trainer and mentor, Nicola improved my horse's way of going and bought out the potential in both of us. I would highly recommend Sparrow Oast too anyone looking for a professional and dedicated livery service." Michelle Thomas
"I have had my horse stabled at Sparrow Oast for nearly a year now and am delighted I made that decision. Having previously always had my horses stabled at mine or my mother's house, I found it hard finding a livery yard that I felt would look after them as well as I would, Nicola and the girls where very gracious with me double checking everything in the beginning! The yard works to a firm routine which the horses love but at the same time, the staff are willing to accommodate any special requests to suit my riding/competing schedule (which changes quite frequently)! The facilities are great and Nicola is always on hand for advice and instruction. Nicola has also undertaken some schooling work with my young horse and I have had many compliments from other professionals about my horse's paces which is thanks to Nicola's hard work. It is indeed a yard of 'happy' horses (and owners) and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it." Fiona Chalk
“You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one. I hope someday you'll join us. And the world will live as one."
"I am a believer in destiny and fate; everything happens for a reason, and moving to Sparrow Oast definitely wasn't a planned event. However, I do not believe for one minute if I had been searching for a new livery stables I could have possibly been as happy as I am here. If happiness is a destination, this is where it would be. Friendly, knowledgeable and competent staff, excellently maintained facilities, and a content horse all year round are some of the reasons I will always recommend the stables. I have loved having my somewhat questionably behaved horse at a place where I have not ever had to worry about him, and hope for him that he will eventually spend the rest of his days here!" Rea Trotman
"Nicola has successfully competed up to prix st George's and has trained with some of our county's top trainers. Whether you just need to learn the basics or require help learning the more advanced movements we can help you. All levels are catered for and all types of horse are very welcome."
"Nicola has a sympathetic approach to her training focusing constantly on the basic way of going of the horse and the position of the rider, care is taken to understand each horse and rider individually, it is very important that our horses want to work for us and that they are “Happy” horses. Care is taken to understand each rider’s needs and goals, whether it be their first Prelim Test or a Regional or National Final. It is important that our clients enjoy coming to ride/train their horses or just watch them being worked and we strive to provide a relaxed but professional environment for them to enjoy.
"By incorporating Simulator Training into our training regime we can quickly get a greater awareness of our body and how it affects our horse's way of going. If we know which part of our body is getting tight during a particular movement or change of rein then we are in a position to do something about that. By having regular lessons on the simulator you will become aware of each part of your body and how it affects your horse. You and your horse will immediately start to reap the rewards as you become straighter, more supple and balanced then so will he. By paying more attention to our posture and areas of tension we are enabling our horse to work more correctly too.
Here at Sparrow Oast we are passionate about postural health for both horse and rider, we are continually working with other practitioners, saddlers, farriers and experts in horse and rider biomechanics to ensure that our horses can move to the best of their ability with the least amount of stress.