Meet The Staff
Steph
Steph is the owner and founder of Country Treks in the early days when it was just going to be '6' ponies at Ginny Hole. Now its more like 36!! In the early days Steph did everything, teaching, caring for the horses, taking the rides as some of her staff will remember. As she got busier she started Carol Phelp to help on a Saturday and then gradually grew and grew and so did the number of horses and thankfully customers! Steph has 2 daughters, Heidi who works in the summer (see profile as instructor) and Holly who works for the Activity Centre. Her two twin boys, Steve and Dan have a fab time on Smokey Joe and Simon. Steph's husband Ant runs the Activity Centre. Steph has her all time favourite Paddy who she hunts on a Wednesday with the Wheatland. Paddy is still the superstar who jumps everything and anything and will never leave Country Treks. Steph loves running the business but is very glad to have such a competent set of staff who you will read about below
Helen
Helen is a certain age! She's had a long history on horse yards and has an excellent reputation as yard manager at various competition and hunting yards. After a 'horsey break' when she had Holly and Lucy and started her own nursery, she finally relented into Steph's pressure and came back to her horsey roots leaving her own business under capable management. With children and nursery experience, Helen is the perfect choice for Pony Club and as Yard Manger the Country Treks horses get the best of the best! Helen loves hunting, jumping and taking her daughter Holly off to local shows. She says she's never been happier now she's got the extended Country Treks customers to bring on and look after and the adults also love her incredible local knowledge of the local area (and the best local pub stops!).
Anna
Anna left college and decided to pursue a career in horses. Anna learnt to ride at Country Treks at the tender age of 7 years old. She was a regular at Ginny Hole and when she became a teenager she enjoyed helping on Saturdays and now she is full time. Anna loves hunting with the Wheatland (Mostly on Spritzer who is her confirmed favourite) and she is looking forward to doing some show jumping and cross-country this year as she loves jumping.
Harriet
Harriet learnt to ride at Country Treks when she was younger and after a spell of not riding has now returned to the centre as a fully fledged member of staff. Harriet does not at the moment own her own horse, but secretly has her own favourite at Country Treks called Annie. Harriet and Annie make a great team and take part in various fun rides when they get the chance! A favourite with the kids, Harriet has earnt her place as a fantastic instructor here at Country Treks.
Louise
Louise is formerly an Old Vicarage employee but her roots have always been horses, so when she had her cute baby girl 'Daisy' she decided to come back part time on Monday and Tuesday to Country Treks. Steph was delighted as Louise has successfully produced lots of horses to high event level and one of her jobs is to school the Country Treks new arrival. She's also an old hand at yard work and an excellent conversationist, so an ideal person to take out our ladies on an early week ride.
Nikki
Nikki is the newest recruit, primarily in the office answering your calls, but we let her escape now and again so she could be taking your ride out!! Nicky has been horse-mad since the age of 7 and has still got her childhood pony Danny who she treats like an absolute prince!!
She has always loved horses and coming to Country Treks means she can combine her skills in the office with her favourite passion. Nicky is qualified in First Aid and Riding and Road Safety, has a lovely personality and is great fun to ride with. Nicky is also very busy on a Saturday helping the little ones in their lessons at Ginny Hole.
Adele
Adele sees to our Pony Club and Stable Management side of things. She is very busy on a Saturday helping the Pony Club kids progress through their badges. She is incredibly knowledgable and is a very good and clear teacher. If you want to learn how to do something properly, Adele is your girl!!
Adele is also very good teaching the children in their lessons at Ginny Hole. In her spare time Adele competes in affiliated Novice Dressage, proving she is as good at teaching horses as she is people!!
She is pictured here on her Belgian warmblood Weltina, having a good gallop with Steph on Paddy. They recently took part in a Your Horse article - "Schooling as you Hack" - which came up with novel ideas to combine both schooling your horse and happy hacking!!
Heidi
Heidi is Steph's daughter and has earned her place on the staff by doing 3 full summers, and before University, every Saturday. A lovely personality, very popular with the kids and her favourite place is teaching in the school. After years of being taught by Pat Crann, Heidi has a super career at Pony Club National level and BSJA and her pony Danny progressed so well he is now top money winner in Sweden. Her horse, Paddy, she reluctantly gave to her Mom when she went to University to study law, after Paddy had won pretty much everything he was entered in. Heidi works the odd Saturday when she's back and is looking forward to a full Summer at Country Treks when she finishes in May this year.
People we would be lost without...
Luisa
Luisa is a long time friend of Steph's and is 'behind the scenes' mucking out and generally helping. She also is provider of bacon butties, delicious home made cakes, scones and frothy marshmallow topped hot chocolate. She is running a little 'Cafe' for Country Treks and at just £1 for a bacon buttie. If your planning a ride its well worth ordering something yummy for your return.
Karen
Karen is another very important lady who is 'behind the scenes'!! Karen is the Old Vicarage Adventure Centre Cook, and as well as creating delicious home cooked food, yummy cakes and biscuits for the OVAC visitors, she also takes care of the Country Treks Customers!!
Karen makes all the gourmet picnic lunches, mince pies, cakes and snacks that you might enjoy on one of our special rides!! She also caters for all Country Treks groups and provides all meals for our summer Pony Camps.
John Rodgers
John is our Saturday Pony Club Instructor. He is a regular at Wheatland Pony Club and we are extremely lucky to have our regular Saturday slot. His lessons are always fun and informative and the regulars love him. He also helps with our Pony Club Shows and judges the clear round/ dressage/ handy pony. John works his ride hard, and loves to see the improvements. Some of our regulars (and they know who they are) have come from being 'passangers' to really accomplished riders, who can tackle problems, jump full courses and sit with balance and correctness. They are a real credit to him. John breaks, schools and has a passion for point-to-pointers and is currently concentrating on one or two real 'hopefuls'.
Pat Crann
Pat is a friend of Steph and Country Treks are very lucky to have such a reknowned coach. Pat comes to teach the staff and the more advanced riders at Country Treks. She has represented Great Britain on the Show Jumping team abroad and actively competes at a very high level, producing young stars of the future. Also Pat is a UKCC accredited coach for equitation and jumping and coaches the coaches so her wealth of experience is truly invaluable. She also runs 'horse owner' certificates and lectures for us, and ran a very successful lecture series last summer.
