Paul Heapy Equestrian

My main focus at the moment is actively working towards my BHSII alongside teaching, after recently passing my Stage 4 exam. I am a BHS Accredited Professional Coach, fully insured and DBS checked for your peace of mind.

My professional riding career began riding for Angela and Brian Crane, of Holden Fold Stud. Angela competes internationally for Ireland in Dressage at Grand Prix level, and owns the highly recognised dressage stallion, 'Mooiman'. I was very fortunate that Angela took the time to train me and develop my riding, allowing me to learn from riding both young horses and her more experienced, top level stallions.

I worked for Angela and Brian for two and a half years, with my main duties being breaking youngsters and schooling. I was also involved in attending stallion parades and competing in dressage competitions for other owners. I also taught for a number of years for Dam Top Riding Centre, Rawtenstall, where my clients enjoyed my down to earth, personable approach, and my client base grew steadily. More recently, I was the Cheltenham Ladies College instructor at Hartpury College, becoming responsible for all outsourced riding at Hartpury, as well as maintaining a high standard of teaching. I also spent time as competition livery manager for Eric and Lizzel Winter at their Monmouthshire centre.

I have also had the opportunity to partake in many different showing classes at county level, from Hacks and Riding Horses to Mountain and Moorland Working Hunter.

I am currently producing my own Thoroughbred gelding, who is an 10 year old ex racehorse, and I have owned him since he was two and a half. I aim to bring him on slowly and have allowed him to mature during the time I have owned him. In his early life, we enjoyed success in Racehorse to Riding Horse classes at county level, was champion racehorse in regional competitions, and competed regularly at affiliated British Dressage competitions at Novice level. He is currently at BE90 and we hope to step up to BE100 in the coming season. I also own a 4 year old KWPN mare named Ha Ilana HFD, who will be produced for young horse classes this season and be aimed at the higher levels of dressage for the future.