Here at Nags Essentials we're proud to be able to work with great riders and equestrian professionals. In this occasional series we chat to them and find out how they'll be cantering through 2017 and beyond. Here we meet Nicole Mills, a successful eventer and stud owner.
How is equestrianism at the heart of your life:
I’ve been eventing since I was 17 – I can’t imagine a life without it. What I love most about it is that you need to need to be able to ride competitively across the three disciplines; dressage, cross-country and show jumping.
What are you working on right now?
Despite having two disappointing falls in 2016, it was still a very exciting year. We moved into Casewick Stud, just outside Stamford and just three miles from the wonderful Burghley Horse Trials. Casewick Stud is a top class training facility with 15 acres and 18 stables. We have our own cross country schooling facility, a full set of competition show jumps, dressage boards and a wonderful Fiberlok 27 x 62m arena, including mirrors. The horses are made up mostly of eventers, a number of young horses being produced for clients and we have a fantastic bunch of very enthusiastic grass roots riders who we guide, support, train and 'hand hold' to help them achieve their individual aspirations.
Masteroast Coffee Company owns a number of horses here, including Charming Boy Jr and Primitive Origin who are both eventers. The others are ex-eventer broodmares and young stock who will hopefully be the next generation of super start.
What's coming up for you?
Casewick Stud is still in its early stages of development for us, however the aim is to create a one stop shop for training both horses and riders and to help them achieve their aspirations and goals. We have a number of outside trainers who come in and hold clinics across all disciplines, something I hope to grow throughout 2017 and beyond.