We are very pleased to welcome vet Simon Harvey B.Vet.Med.MRCVS onto our advisory team. Simon trained at the Royal Veterinary College(RVC) and has had a great deal of experience treating horses, which has included working with the equine vet R.W. Hartley in Petersfield.

He now runs his own practice in Tewkesbury that has recently been plunged into stardom by the BBC 'Vets in Practice' Programme.

When he is not performing operations on all animals large and small in front of TV cameras he will be providing the Horses and Courses team with the veterinary expertise to ensure everything is up to date and in line with current practices.

Horses and Courses is Beth's brainchild.

Having worked in industry and in colleges, Beth spoke to many people of the requirements they felt were needed in the horse industry and students. Understanding that there were problems with the traditional methods of equine training the idea of the horses and courses was born.

Beth has an HND in Equine Studies, BHS Int. SM and BHSAI, Certificate of Education and Professional Certificate & Diploma in Business. Her industrial experience has been diverse from being a student at Catherston Stud, a yard manager, an equine marketing consultant, and college lecturer.

Beth has two books published and another one on the way. They cover equine nutrition, physiology and behaviour so she has a huge understanding on these subjects. When she has the time Beth enjoys competing in dressage competitions, producing her very talented young Dutch horse.

Currently Beth has three horses, (well two and a half, if we count Oscar!) Felix an elderly gentleman, has been competing in dressage competitions for a number of years, but is now semi-retired and an ideal schoolmaster for a capable rider.

At the moment he is looking to go out on loan as Beth is so busy with Horses and Courses.

Two years ago Beth bought a young and talented horse back from Holland. Nicknamed "Blackie", he has grown and grown and grown! Currently standing at 17hh and yes, he is black! He is destined to do great things in the dressage world, as long as he stops growing! Fortunately whilst being so tall, he is a very kind and amenable. He is about to imbark on his first his competition season, ans we plan to keep you informed of all his successes and pitfalls!

Last but not least, we must not forget Oscar; he is your typical bossy small wild and woolly pony he keeps the bigger horses in their places. Look out for his pictures cropping up in many of the work packs.

Having been brought up in Yorkshire -showjumping country, she jumped in juniors then seniors, and although a Pony Club team member, she didn't know much more than canter and jump.

From competing in Jersey she was sent to train with Robert Hall, who persuaded her that in producing jump horses she need to know an awful lot more than cantering and jumping! Steph gained her BHSAI and then had the good fortune to be offered a chance to compete in South Africa. There she evented and thoroughly enjoyed the different discipline.

On returning to Jersey Steph show jumped in Europe finally basing herself in Hampshire at Mr Coakes yard. Here they produced and competed on anything from baby novice horse to grade A.

Steph ran her own yard in Gloucestershire and acquired difficult mares that needed a little understanding and ended up with a very successful team. She trained, hunted, competed and bred some very good horses.

The teaching and training side was great and in occurred in a happy environment that helped in producing the results. Moving on into another business altogether the world of fashion and events - business skills became very necessary. But in time she missed her horses and became a pony Club "Mum" and then a college lecturer and yard manager.

She has competed at national and international levels and has travelled extensively with her horses.

Her qualifications on paper are BHSIntT and Certificate of Education.

Steph's horses.
Having had a collection of great and not so great horses , which I am sure you will get to hear about during your course.! She now has a 15.2.hh bay mare. She took this little horse on at college when she was being so naughty and wicked.

Steph felt that she needed sweetening up and a change of environment, so came to Steph' and her attitude has improved very quickly.

They now usually come to a compromise and she is competing in Working Hunter, dressage and combined training, although her sire is a grade A show jumper, sadly Steph doesn't think it is her forte`. However she has been and still is quite a challenge, but gives her a great deal of pleasure.

We will let you know of our progress.