Click For Home - Equiworld and the logo device are registered trademarks.
horseEquestrian Chat Rooms and Message BoardsEquiworld Horse Site IndexHow To Contact The Equiworld TeamNeed Help Using Equiworld?horse
horse
Special Sections for Members
Equestrian Products and Product Reviews
Information on Horse Care and Breeds
HorseLinks and Equestrian Search Engine
Sports, Events and Results
Equiworld On-Line Equestrian Magazine
Riding Holidays and Travel
Training and Education of Horse and Rider
Equestrian Services
horse




 

JOHN'S BACKGROUND

I must be "lucky John" for I am now able to make the time to travel the world teaching, developing the Equiworld website and working with some of the horseworld's finest people. Although horses still very much take centre stage, I make a point of taking time out in every year for some adventure. I try never to miss an opportunity to go riding, sailing, scuba diving or play polo with friends old or new.

I grew up a country boy on the farm first in Scotland and later in Central Africa where my father was farming. Hardly being one of life's academics, horses and shooting were top of my list and the horses won by a mile!

I was always proud to wear "The Kilt" and I am happy to say my son is too.

horse

Not until I returned to Britain at the age of 10 did I learn to ride. As a boy, an introduction to pony racing gave me a love of galloping across country at speed which I have never lost and led me to eventing later in life, and now to polo. My early years in the Pony club prepared me well for the day when I was to sit the first instructors exams at the tender age of 17.

I was fortunate to pass out with honours from the Porlock Vale Riding School, trained by Mr John Lassetter who was later to become one of Britain's leading dressage trainers and riders. A new position in England gave me the opportunity to teach for two years in the famous Pennwood International show jumping yard where I gained valuable experience and contacts, which are still useful to me to this day.

I moved back to Scotland aged 21 to Hayfield Riding School where I was lucky to meet and married my wife Sue who was then one of my pupils. From here on I was able to produce my own competition horses and although I have competed in many disciplines, I favoured and seemed to excel in the world of eventing where I have made many friends. Working together our family and staff have developed the school over 30 years to become one of Scotland's finest.

A natural expansion and progression has occurred since the Equiworld club started to promote Hayfield practices globally. We are already looking forwards to a situation where pupils, members and young trainee professionals can move from country to country staying with the Equiworld/ Hayfield system. Even now much of our success is directly attributable to the efforts of successive generations of dedicated staff members and enthusiastic hard working students. We presently have a superb team of well trained and enthusiastic professionals who are assisted at every turn by our members. With two daughters and a polo mad son in their twenties life is never dull!

Back to John's Home Page 


Copyright 1994 to 2024 Equiworld at Hayfield, Aberdeen, Scotland - 30 years on the web. Archived Version.