Riding Tuition

Carol Starkey, the owner of Lyford Stud, offers training in all disciplines to riders of all ages and abilities on their own horse or pony at Lyford Stud, at their own premises or other yard locally.

Carol is an enthusiastic and sympathetic trainer dedicated to improving both horse and rider, helping them to become more confident and reach their maximum potential.  She is happy to teach individuals, group lessons and clinics.

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 went to work in a dressage and showing yard.  Whilst there she trained with a junior and young event rider and trainer and at age 16 years Carol started eventing and went on to compete up to Intermediate level. She attended Warwickshire Agricultural College where she gained the National Equine Diploma (the highest equine qualification at the time). Before her third year at college Carol was keen to improve her show jumping phase in eventing and took the opportunity to go to Germany to train with top level show jumpers there. During her time in Germany Carol would bring on young horses jumping up to 130cm level and by the time Carol returned the UK she was bitten by the show jumping bug and her focus changed to pure show jumping.

During her 3rd year at college Carol set up a wedding carriage business and after leaving college she set up a livery yard in Henley. She ran her wedding carriage business for 12 years and alongside this and her livery yard she also competed successfully in BSJA on her own horses, trained students, took in horses for veterinary rehabilitation and re-schooled difficult horses.

After 18 years at Henley Carol sold up and moved to Lyford Stud where she now runs a successful livery yard, holds a variety of equestrian events during the summer, teaches students in all disciplines and is a popular Pony Club instructor.

A testament to Carol’s teaching skills is her eldest daughter, Scarlett, who she regularly trains. At 10 years old, Scarlett qualified for the Show Jumping Championships at Cricklands where she won the silver medal. The following year Scarlett qualified for the Dressage Championships at Cricklands where she won the gold medal in the under 16s. Carol also had a working pupil that she trained who won the gold, silver and came 4th in the over 16s dressage on 3 different horses in the same year.

In 2017, at 12 years old, Scarlett qualified for Team 1 in the Area Pony Club Competition in show jumping. The Pony Club Area Competition saw the dressage team, of which Scarlett was also a member, qualify for the Regional Championships with Scarlett coming 8th individually in the Area dressage. Having also now taken up eventing Scarlett was a member of the Pony Club eventing team for the Area Competition where she won the individual competition and the team qualified for the Regionals, where Scarlett  notched up another success with an individual win and the team coming 8th.

In 2018 Scarlett won the Area Dressage Competition, helping the team to qualify for the Regionals where Scarlett won as an individual and the team came 7th. At the Area Eventing Competition both the team and Scarlett individually won, followed by the Regionals where the team came 2nd by 0.3 penalty, and Scarlett also came 2nd individually, by 0.4 penalty. That same year at the National Schools Equestrian Association competition Scarlett came 5th individually, helping the team to gain 3rd place.

Although Carol has been a dedicated show jumper for many years, having competed in BSJA competitions up to small grand prix level 140cm, with Scarlett’s keen interest in eventing Carol has now taken up her eventing reins again. Teaching one of her show jumpers to event Carol has already gained one win and 2 second places in her first 3 events.

An additional mileage fee is charged for lessons at other premises. All lessons should be paid for at time of booking. At least 48 hours notice is required to cancel or re-arrange a lesson. Cancellations with less than the stated notice will require the full lesson cost to be paid.