Queen’s Love of Horses Shown in Pictures

To mark the birth of Prince George a rare collection of photographs have been released of the Queen, highlighting her love of horses.

The family snaps were taken by her mother and father who were then known as the Duke and Duchess of York.

Queen Elizabeth II has had a lifelong affection for horses and the photographs prove that. She started to learn to ride aged 3 and she was a proficient rider by 6.

In one of the photographs the four year old Queen is seen sat on her Shetland Pony named Peggy. The pony was a gift from her Grandfather King George V. Here at Cheval Liberte we wondered what type of stable she would have had? One thing is for sure our ranges of internal stables are fit for any royal horse.

A second photograph shows the young Elizabeth pretending to ride a small toy horse. She is captured in the garden of Naseby Hall in 1928.

The photographs which predominately have an equine theme are all part of a private family collection. They will mark the early years of Queen Victoria through to the modern day.

In May, the Queen also took part in a BBC programme called The Queen: A Passion for Horses. The programme, presented by Clare Balding included footage of her naming newborn foals and inspecting her animals. 

Cheval Liberte Alphabet – B and C

In the first part of this blog series, we looked at Cheval Liberte via the letter A and our challenge was to bring you something relevant to the business for each letter of the alphabet. So, what have we managed to unearth for the letters “B” and “C”?

B

Blanket Racks – A Blanket rack does it exactly what it says on the tin! It’s essentially a rack or a bar that can fixed to your stable walls so that you can conveniently store your horse blankets. If the blankets have become wet, these racks also come in handy when trying to dry them.

C

Comfort – Comfort is a really important word at Cheval Liberte simply because all of our products are designed with the comfort of horses as the main priority. This is closely followed by issues like security etc. However, first and foremost we are passionate about horses, and their comfort and well being will be considered through each and every design decision. If horses are content, it actually makes the job of looking after them so much easier.

If you want to learn more about us, please visit our main website at www.cheval-liberte.co.uk and tune in next month for the next slice of our alphabet.

Top Tips to Keep Stables Secure

When looking to purchase stabling there are a number of issues to consider including security.

Equestrian yards and stable blocks can be targeted by thieves who are looking to make off with valuable riding equipment.

Police advice horse enthusiasts to ensure their equipment is marked and recorded with their postcode. This will ensure that when recovered it can be taken back to its rightful owner.

Recently, bridles, bits and other items of tack were taken from stables in Northumberland.

Horse riding equipment including saddles and bridles are expensive to be replaced and opportunist thieves are taking advantage, say police officers.

Here at Cheval Liberte (UK) Ltd take security of stables very seriously and are happy to answer any questions you may have. In the meantime think about the following crime prevention methods to safeguard your stable from being broken into.

1.       Have adequate locks on gates surrounding your yard.

2.       Mark all tack with your postcode.

3.       Think about installing CCTV cameras.

4.       Photograph your horses and equipment so if they are stolen you have something to show police.

5.       Have security lighting around your stables.

6.       If possible, wheel clamp horseboxes.

7.       Horses could be targeted too – remember to micro chip your animals. However, never padlock a stable when your horse is inside.

There are a number of things to consider when choosing stables or American Barns including internal stables, doors and windows. Whatever you decide rest assured we can discuss all your security needs.

The Cheval Liberte Alphabet: All Things Stables and Horses - A

Welcome to the Cheval Liberte alphabet. Over the course of several blog posts, we will be bringing you details about the company, our products and the industry in general in a series of short “alphabetic” sections. We may not manage the full 26 letters (unless we cheat on a few) but we will try and bring you something interesting for each one.

So, let’s start at the beginning:

American Barns – These American style barns are certainly grand in appearance and certainly look the part if you have the space to accommodate them. Having said that, here at Cheval Liberte we are able to build them per your size requirements, so you can still have that great “big country” look even if you only have a small amount of land.

Access – It’s blatantly obvious (but it fits in with our alphabet) that all of the barns on our website are designed to provide great access for both horses that need the shelter and security and those that will be working with the horses and entrusted with caring for them.

If you are interested in our range of American Barns, please feel free to visit us and see our full selection over on our main website.

Grandest Stables Ever Built On Show

The Chantilly Estate in France – home to the grandest stables ever built has opened its new Museum of the Horse.

Covering 6500 square feet, the museum will be housed in the different rooms of the Cour des Remises. The carriage garage complex from the 1700s has been entirely restored since 2011. The rooms form a half-circle next to the world famous Great Stables.

There will also be a large room dedicated to artwork depicting horses.

At Cheval Liberte we know how important stables are and so do the organisers of the Chantilly Estate.

Housed in the western part of the Great Stables are two of the most important French historical carriages. The Imperial ladies’ brougham and the Berlin of the duc de Condé have been recently refurbished and restored to their former glory.

If you have an equestrian yard and want to turn your barns into something great we would be happy to help you so feel free to contact us.

Any derelict structure can be turned into a great stable and options can include large individual American Barns or Internal Stables which come in a Standard or Prestige Range.

Who Are Cheval Liberte?

With an extraordinary passion for horses, Cheval Liberte began life in France 18 years ago with its primary goal to produce and supply stables, stable equipment and stalls that catered specifically to the needs of both the horses and their owners.

As riders and breeders, the owners are in the perfect position to understand the needs of both the animals and those that are tasked with taking care of them, as well as having an in depth knowledge of the wider equine world and industry.

In 2005, Cheval Liberte (UK) Ltd was established. They are now the sole importers of products from the Cheval Liberte brand and distribute those products in and around Great Britain and Ireland.

The comfort and security of horses is behind every design decision and development. A product that serves both the best interests of the animals and their owners is of the utmost importance as the company strive to produce a range of products that are skilfully designed and engineered.

Whether it’s temporary stables, American barns, internal stables or a range of accessories such as shutters, windows and doors, those hallmarks of quality will be present throughout.

You can learn lots more about the company and their products by visiting the main website at www.cheval-liberte.co.uk

American Barns Prove Popular in the UK

American barns are obviously synonymous with the United States – the clue is in the description, American. These massive barns can be seen dotted all around Midwestern towns. They are often painted a lovely red and have large wooden doors. The minute a visitor sees the magnificent structure one knows they are in horse riding territory and the horse rules.

Cheval Liberte knows how important horses are to their owners which is why the company, based in north Wales stocks American Barns. These are luxurious barns which will keep any horse in tip-top condition.

The famous structures are often used in television shows. If Dallas or Dynasty ever wanted to show horses in a stable it was always inside a grand American barn and not a timber lean-to.

Most recently Emmy winning series Homeland had a scene inside an impressive American barn. The scene was used to set up a conversation between lead actor Damian Lewis who plays Brody and a wealthy horse breeder wanting to finance a political party in the upcoming US election.

American barns lend themselves to large equestrian yards but Cheval Liberte’s products can be used for smaller projects too. There are a number of American barns to choose from including the Laminate and Manoir.

Available throughout the UK and Ireland, American Barns are growing in popularity. 'The Manoir' barn is a modular design which enables customers to have an unlimited number of bays, each comprising two stalls for their horses. The barns are supplied with large, double sliding doors at both ends and have the added advantages of sheltered areas along both sides.

The Laminate Barn could allow you to have an unlimited number of stalls. It has double sliding doors at both ends and the galvanized steel framework is clad with timber.

The barns have grown in popularity in recent years and help UK equestrian yards stand out from the crowd.