About Us
Welcome to Lyford Stud
Home of the Starkey family.
Carol has been riding since before she could walk, receiving her first pony on her first birthday. During her childhood Carol competed in show jumping and after leaving school she attained a Diploma in Equine Studies, qualified as instructor and worked abroad on a showjumping yard. Carol moved to Lyford Stud in 2011 and has been growing the business into the success it is today. With 24 horses on the yard, Carol juggles liveries, teaching and venue hire. She is a dedicated and much loved senior pony club instructor for the Old Berkshire Hunt branch, acting as team training for dressage and show jumping for the last few years.
An accident in 2020 left Carol with an injury that put paid to her own competitive career so now her daughters, Scarlett and Lily are her shop window. Her passion has turned to training youngests, not only the highly competitive but also those who simply love to learn to ride. She prioritises correct foundations so that anyone can enjoy the sport in any of equestrianism's main disciplines.
Together with her long-suffering husband, Richard, Carol has been developing Lyford Stud's facilities into a top destination for equestrians across the south. Not ones to stand still, they have added the new Roberts Arena - a superb 85m x 55m sand and fibre surface, that is available to hire and on which the Starkeys will host a Dressage series and one day shows throughout the summer months.
Scarlett & Lily
Carol's two daughters are both involved in day to day operations at Lyford Stud and are keen and committed equestrians themselves. In addition to their home training, both have been members of the Old Berkshire Hunt branch of the Pony Club since they first learnt to ride. They have taken advantage of the training opportunities available, both on and off horses. Working their way through the test programmes, Scarlett holds the AH Standard achievement, Lily has passed the B test, and both are following in her mother's footsteps as they work their way through the Coaching levels. Both girls regularly represent the branch at Area, Regional and National competitions with great success - notably Scarlett won the Novice Dressage competition at the National Championships 2025.
meet our sponsors
Tomley Projects delivers high-quality, detail-driven construction for equestrian, agricultural, commercial and private estate clients. We couldn't be more thrilled with our brand new Roberts Arena!
Tomley Projects Ltd
tomleyprojects.comSupremacy Showing Products - 100% natural ingredients products for your horses and dogs.
