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Cumbrian Heavy Horses is a new and exciting equine facility for the English Lake District and Cumbria - formerly operating on the Isle of Skye we moved to the Lakes a year ago and are pleased to to be able to cater for the many visitors to the Lake District who share our love and passion for horses and the beautiful area we live in.
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Annie Rose
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Annie with her best
friend: “Benny”
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Annie runs Cumbrian Heavy Horses with partner in life and in business Tim Ancrum. Annie started West Highland Heavy Horses many years ago with the firm belief that heavy horses required a future without the traditional perception of them being a bygone relic!! That passion has led to the business' growth over the past 10 years from a two horse dray outfit to a vibrant and friendly yard with BHS Approved Riding School status using only Clydesdales and Shires for riding.
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The business' development coincided with her family, which at times she has found difficult, and wants to say a huge thankyou to the many friends, including her children's dad, who have helped over the years! She loves developing the business but her first love, that of directly working with these beautiful horses, is still her driving passion (pardon the pun!!). She also knows that the Clydesdales and Shires are the real stars, so beautiful, and very much hopes that with the new facilities on offer here, with the vision she shares with the team, that many more folk can be encouraged to come and ride a fit, well schooled Clydesdale....
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Tim joined Annie and the team at West Highland Heavy Horses on Skye five years ago. Initially smitten by Annie (!!) the horses soon grew on him, and he is now a partner in the relocated Cumbrian Heavy Horses. Particularly fond of Major, Ben and Branson, Tim is an excellent ride leader loving adventure and long routes and, during the rebuild here at Chappels, skills learnt during his role as Estate Manager have been of use, as he worked on much of the building work.
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Tim Ancrum
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Tim und Max at the
Burgie Horse Trials
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He shares a passion for these beautiful horses with the team, and is delighted with the new premises and opportunities which we have here, developing the ridden use of the heavy horse to its full potential.
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Alan Robson, our Yard Manager
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I came to work for Annie and Tim (after leaving my carriage managers job) in February 2007. This is my first year of working with these Clydesdales and I find them the best horses in the world to work with - and I must say I have worked with most breeds. I have a great love for carriage driving and am therefore delighted that Annie has plans to develop the driving side of the business in the near future for anyone interested in learning more about the art of driving. Equally, in my eyes, they are the most comfortable horses at walk, trot, canter and flat out gallop...and boy are they fast!!!
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Robin
I initially came here by chance as temporary help over the winter which has progressed to a student position as I learn more and more! I’ve come to love these solidly elegant hairy galumphs we call Clydesdales and the progressive business that has been built around them. I arrived here with very little knowledge of horses and now know how much there is to learn if I am to reach my goal of riding across outer Mongolia independently with Gaëlle. Learning is something that drives me in life and the fact that I’m doing it from the back of Hamish my much loved favourite and not in a classroom makes me never want to leave!
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Gaëlle
I came here from Paris wanting to work with horses with a view to travelling, with Robin, on horseback in Mongolia. I was initially supposed to work here for no more than three months, but the uniqueness of Cumbrian Heavy Horses having inspired me, I decided to stay for another year (little by little finding more excuses to extend my time here!!). Working with Clydesdales might not have been the most appropriate thing to do, given that Mongolian horses are semi-wild scrawny pixie horses!..
But I can now say I have no regrets whatsoever and will miss my sweet gentle giants (heavy racehorses!) when I am on the other side of the world...
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Linda, our part time ride leader
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I have worked with horses for most of my adult life – on and off! Now I am doing something I really enjoy, working with the Clydesdales and Shires at Cumbrian Heavy Horses, with the beautiful Duddon valley as a backdrop. I live in Bootle which is just down the road and started work at Chappels in April. Having recently completed a series of qualifications in horse care, ride leadership and road safety I am well prepared to help people get maximum enjoyment and benefit from being with these wonderful horses. Clydesdales are gentle, good-natured giants and although I am only little (honestly it doesn't matter the horse are so good!) they are always responsive to their riders and always great to work with...(the people aren’t so bad either!), so look forward to meeting you!
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Carol and Richard, our special friends
and Prince’s main fan club members!
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These two long term heavy horse fans have been mentors and quiet supporters since the businees' inception up on Skye. They own Prince our Shire and are always there for us. You might see them flitting in or out of the yard and always, if he's there, Prince gets a special cuddle!
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Andy, Doreen, Di and Rhona, our support group!!
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These wonderful folk come down here most weekends to help out, and as such have learnt a considerable amount and are now gearing up to take some exams so they can help on rides, too! We very much appreciate their help, support and continued enthusiasm for these fantastic horses, thanks guys!! Andy's special lady, apart from Doreen his equally wonderful and very-tolerant-of-his-equine-passion wife, is Gypsy, he's often to be found whispering sweet nothings in her ear...say no more!! Di enjoys Hamish, whilst Rhona seems to enjoy them all!
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Laura
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“I look forward to many more special summers with Annie and Tim, our horses and human team here at Cumbrian heavy horses.”
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I began, as it feels, my legacy here with the heavies in the summer of 2005 and now each subsequent summer (and every other opportunity I get) I have been drawn back to build on my knowledge and concrete my passion for these “Hairies!”. I hold very fond, unforgettable memories of our old home in the Isle of Skye, with its rich friendships, yet embrace the improvements that our new location provides. Over the years I have spent with Annie and Tim a special relationship has developed as we have been privileged to share in many memorable events - our ridden demo at Blair 05, various showing attempts, taking our Clydesdales swimming in the clear waters of the Sound of Sleat ....such experiences enhance our enjoyment and this enthusiasm can be shared amongst our clients.
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Ciorstaidh
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Ciorst has a Scottish spelling of her name, as we first met her up on Skye where she became our first "little helper". Seven years later she is our best friend and spends as much time here with us as her school holidays (and parents Martin and Margaret!!) permit. Her best friend here in the yard is Bailey the wee pony; she is a fabulous rider and has a great sense of humour, helps out everywhere, and knows the yard almost as well as we do!!You are likely to meet her in the holidays..
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(c) 2004-2008 Cumbrian Heavy Horses
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