About Us
Colleen Long - Owner & Yard Manager
I live at Maple Farm with my partner Kevin. My mum Sheena, and my stepdad Peter, live next door, and together we all work together to make Maple Farm Stables the best it can be.
I decided to set up my own livery stables a few years ago. It had always been a dream of mine to have the 'perfect' yard; a place that had all year turnout, a decent school which was floodlit and never had puddles, great hacking without roadwork, and to be somewhere where the horses are truly looked after.
The History...
Back in 2004 my own horse, Jo Jo, suffered a serious digital flexor tendon injury which resulted in her being declared by Liphook Equestrian Hospital as no longer suitable for riding. It was at that time I looked for a retirement home for her. Sadly I couldn't find anywhere that had the standards of care that I wanted for my beautiful mare. I ended up renting a field, taking on a couple of companion horses, and I looked after them myself.
Against the odds, and after months and months of rest and recuperation Jo Jo did recover, and I'm pleased to say that she was able to compete at low level dressage and could be hacked out. I'm still riding her now (just hacking these days), and I believe that given time, many horses can recover from injuries like this.
So, to cut a long story short, I set up Maple Farm Stables and decided to offer Part Livery (with all the things that are important to the daily life and care of the ridden horse), and I wanted to offer Retirement and Recuperation Livery so that horses like Jo Jo could get the chance to recover from their injuries or live out their days in the best possible retirement home.
Over the last few years myself, and the team here at Maple Farm Stables, have cared for a number of horses that have recovered from injury, and we also have some horses that are just happier living out than in a stable. What I have learnt is that every horse is different, and one size doesn't fit all.
Maple Farm Stables is different from the rest... It is here because we want to look after these wonderful animals, and it so much more than a job or a business. It's our way of life.
Tel: 07771 694 168
