Copdock Riding Centre.

29/12/2025

Arena hire available
PM / Email to book.

29/12/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/1DbVobvwXB/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Why yard politics happen (and why opting out is allowed)

Large livery yards often get talked about as if they are “toxic” or difficult.
That label is rarely the full story.

When lots of people share a space, care deeply about their horses, run on little sleep, manage money, time, weather, and welfare, something very human happens.

Social dynamics form.

That does not mean anyone has done anything wrong.

In busy yards, information travels fast. Opinions get shared. People watch each other because they care, because they are learning, or because they are trying to work out what is expected of them. Silence can feel loaded. Boundaries can be misread. None of this requires bad intentions.

Most yard politics are not about malice.
They are about anxiety.

👉Fear of being judged.
👉Fear of being seen as incompetent.
👉Fear of standing out.
👉Fear of speaking up for a horse and becoming “that person.”

And it is okay to step out of it.

For what it is worth, I have only ever been at one yard that made me feel genuinely uncomfortable. It was not dramatic. It was subtle.

Opting out does not mean being cold, unfriendly, or superior.
It can look like staying focused on your own horse.
Keeping conversations kind but light.
Not carrying stories that are not yours.
Making choices quietly and consistently.

Healthy yards are not ones where everyone agrees.
They are ones where people allow difference without turning it into a problem.

Most good horse care is unremarkable to watch.
It happens early in the morning, in bad weather, without commentary.

If you have ever felt tense just arriving at a yard.
It may have been the weight of unspoken expectations.

You are allowed to love your horse, care well, and still choose peace.

What helped you feel safe & accepted at a yard?
Or what made you realise it was time to leave?

24/12/2025

Wishing all our customers old and new a very Merry Christmas and healthy happy 2026.

16/12/2025

Apparently you can watch some coverage as below.

https://londonhorseshow.com/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22470652274&gclid=Cj0KCQiAo4TKBhDRARIsAGW29bdx5AAyisJFiPk7T2mwNbSnWxFoS1MPEoszJDjrzBpVFw_uTUd8sWQaAuamEALw_wcB

10/12/2025

💓 https://www.facebook.com/share/1BVrBfubZX/?mibextid=wwXIfr

“Confessions of a Riding School Saint”

Hello, human.
Yes, you — the one still trying to find the correct diagonal.

I’m the riding-school horse you meet once a week. You call me “steady,” “safe,” or, when I don’t immediately burst into extended trot, “lazy.” I’ve carried hundreds like you — some with bouncing enthusiasm, others with a death-grip on the reins and a look that says, “Please, not canter.”

Every rider brings their own style. Some kick like they’re starting a lawnmower. Some perch like a baby giraffe learning ballet. One even tried “natural horsemanship” by whispering at me for twenty minutes. (I admired the effort, but grass would have been more persuasive.)

I do my best to translate. But it’s tricky when one person wants me to go forward, the next to collect, and the next to “just feel the rhythm” while clamping both legs and pulling on my face. You’d be confused too.

Sometimes, when the messages get too loud or too mixed, I tune out. You call it “lazy.” I call it “self-preservation.” You see, my job isn’t easy — I must keep everyone safe while pretending your seat bones aren’t trying to send Morse code in three languages at once.

I’ve met every training philosophy going: “forward fixes everything,” “never use the leg,” “ride from the seat,” and my favorite — “just sit deeper!” (Usually shouted as the rider performs a mid-arena levitation.)

But I’ve also met kindness. The quiet rider who remembers to breathe, softens their hand, and says “good” when I try. That’s when I lift my back, stretch my neck, and remember what partnership feels like.

I don’t care about levels or ribbons. I care that you try to understand me. That you see me not as a piece of gym equipment but as a partner — one who has to process your nerves, your posture, and your Spotify playlist of contradictory aids.

So before you call a horse lazy, ask yourself: am I clear? Calm? Consistent?
Because the truth is, I’m not stubborn — I’m exhausted from reading mixed signals.

If you listen, I’ll listen. If you work on you, I’ll meet you halfway — maybe even with a flying change if I’m feeling fancy.

After all, I’m not just your ride. I’m your mirror, your teacher, and occasionally, your unpaid therapist.
Now, pat me. I’ve earned it.

Author: Gary A Diploma

05/12/2025

Watch out for shows in the new year.

01/12/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Dgrn61cdv/?mibextid=wwXIfr

*** UPDATE ***

On Friday 28 November, under the advice of our Veterinary practice we took the decision to lock down due to one of our liveries displaying symptoms which required us to take immediate action.

Following extensive tests and analysis results, and again on Veterinary advice, we are thrilled to advise that our precautionary measures can now be lifted with immediate effect and therefore our gates have reopened.

We want to thank all those whom even though our decision affected them were so supportive and understanding, but we take the health and wellbeing of our liveries and of visiting Equines seriously and we could not risk remaining open whilst dealing with what we were faced with.

We once again look forward to welcoming you to Boyton Hall Monks Eleigh in the future.

Oh, and please don’t forget to share this post as much as the original, if not more.

01/12/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1BpphJRE5d/?mibextid=wwXIfr

29/11/2025

✨ The most joyful gifts start here ✨
Looking for something fun, active, and a little different this Christmas? 🎄🎁

Jolly Jumps make the perfect present for children who love imaginative play, hobby horse adventures, or practising their riding skills, and they are brilliant for dog agility too! 🐴🐶
Safe, durable, and made in the UK, with clever moulded side cups to help prevent injuries - they are a gift that brings joy long after Christmas morning. ✨

Shop now: www.jollyjumps.co.uk 🛍️
Make this Christmas playful. ❄️✨

29/11/2025

Thanks to all
Our competitors for coming to the show today.
Thanks to for feeding us all. 🍕
Well done all.
We
May squeeze in a trot pole and x pole Christmas 🎅 show possibly before the big day … watch here for details.

27/11/2025

Possible 1/2 loan on 13.1hh ex showjumper.
For light work / hacking. Would stay at yard.
PM me.

23/11/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/1FPDWbwsW4/?mibextid=wwXIfr

🥕 𝟵 𝗦𝘂𝗴𝗮𝗿 𝗕𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗛𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝗢𝘄𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗞𝗻𝗼𝘄 🐴
Sugar beet has been a trusted feed ingredient for over 50 years, but it’s still surrounded by a few myths. With winter firmly on the way, here’s what every horse owner should know about this fibre favourite 👇

1️⃣ 𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗮 𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗯𝘆-𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮 𝘀𝘄𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁.
Sugar beet pulp is what’s left after sugar is extracted for human use — a fibrous, nutritious by-product ideal for horses.
2️⃣ 𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗮 ‘𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗶𝗯𝗿𝗲’.
Highly digestible and energy-dense, sugar beet provides calories equivalent to cereal grains — but from fibre, not starch.
3️⃣ 𝗟𝗼𝘄 𝘀𝘂𝗴𝗮𝗿, 𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵.
Unmolassed sugar beet typically contains just ~5% sugar and 1% starch, making it suitable for horses prone to excitability or laminitis.
4️⃣ 𝗦𝗼𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀.
Depending on the product, soaking times can vary from 10 minutes to 24 hours. Always check the bag instructions and feed immediately after soaking, especially in warm weather.
5️⃣ 𝗙𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗼𝗰𝗰𝘂𝗿.
Soaked beet ferments quickly in heat, so avoid leaving it standing. Quick-soaking options are great for convenience and freshness.
6️⃣ 𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗺𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸.
Once soaked, beet is around 85% water, so a Stubbs scoop provides far fewer calories than cubes or mixes — making portion size easy to overestimate.
7️⃣ 𝗜𝘁 𝘀𝘂𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝘁𝗼𝗼.
A small serving (e.g. 250g dry weight for a 500kg horse) bulks out the bucket without adding many calories — ideal for weight management.
8️⃣ 𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗮 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗼𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗼𝗼𝗿 𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.
Soaked sugar beet can act as a partial hay replacer, especially for older horses who struggle with long fibre.
9️⃣ 𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗲 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗱.
Sugar beet is naturally low in vitamins and minerals, so always feed it alongside a balancer, supplement or compound feed for full nutritional support.

🌿 𝗦𝗣𝗜𝗟𝗟𝗘𝗥𝗦 𝗦𝗣𝗘𝗘𝗗𝗬-𝗠𝗔𝗦𝗛 𝗙𝗶𝗯𝗿𝗲, 𝗦𝗣𝗜𝗟𝗟𝗘𝗥𝗦 𝗦𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗲𝗿-𝗠𝗮𝘀𝗵 and 𝗦𝗣𝗜𝗟𝗟𝗘𝗥𝗦 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺 & 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝘀𝗵 all contain unmolassed sugar beet. Quick soaking with added vitamins, minerals and pre- and probiotics for digestive health — perfect as part of a balanced winter diet.

💚 Read the full article on our website 👉 https://www.spillers-feeds.com/9-sugar-beet-facts-every-horse-owner-should-know

📞 Speak to our friendly Care-Line team for personalised nutrition advice: 01908 226626