What started off as a hobby for Carol Ayre soon grew and the former showjumper now runs her own riding school with her husband Bob and her son Mark.



HORSES have always been part of life in the Ayre household.
Carol Ayre, 60, grew up with horses and riding soon became her number one passion.

"My dad always had horses and I just grew up with them. I was one of four girls and we all rode and took part in competitions," said Carol who lives with her family on the site at Crimdon Pony World in Crimdon Dene.

"When I met Bob he became interested in horses and our children, Robert and Mark, grew up with them as well."

Carol had a successful show jumping career and when she had her second son Mark, now 32, he soon become hooked.

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At the age of just 17 he represented England in an under 21 Home International Competition, bringing home a bronze medal.

Bob, 64, who made his career in the meat industry before retiring to concentrate on the business, said: "The boys have been riding since they were about two, as soon as they could walk they were on the horse."

In 1984 the family turned their hobby into a career when they opened the riding club and stables.

In 2000 it became an OFSTED approved kid's club with facilities for disabled children.

The whole family is involved in the running of the club. Carol is responsible for the running of the kid's club, while Mark is the stable manager and Bob manages the administration side.

Robert now lives in the Isle of Mann with his wife and two children Lauren, 11 and Nathan, seven months, but Lauren also stables her horse at the school.

Looking after the horses and running the business is a full time job for the family and everyone gets involved.

Even Mark's wife Michelle, 28, helps out and despite once being terrified of horses, she now can't keep away.

Mark said: "Originally Michelle was really scared of horses, but now we can't keep her away and she helps out in the business too."

Bob said: "The whole family is involved. We are always busy and we often have groups of children here too staying in the kids club so it's always lively.

"There is always something to do and we wouldn't have it any other way. We all love the horses and we love what we do."

Carol said: "The horses have become part of our family. We have had thousands over the years.

"You get attached to them, all of them have names and it gets upsetting when you lose one. At the moment we have 23 Shetlands and Cobbs. Our youngest is Donkey, we call him that because he looks like the donkey out of Shrek and the oldest is Breeze who is 16.

"We recently lost one who was 35 years old and was called Sherry. She was Mark's Shetland pony and it was really sad."

Although there can be sad times the family can never imagine doing anything different.

Carol said: "It's something our whole family enjoys doing together. Even our granddaughter who lives in the Isle of Mann keeps her horse here so that she can ride when she comes over.

"We've always been a close family so we get on well. It helps that it is a family business as it makes you put that little bit more in and we are all enthusiastic.

"Our granddaughter is always saying she will run the school after us and Mark has just bought some land at Trimdon so he has plans for the future too."

Bob added: " We work well together in the business as a family and we are lucky to have excellent staff.

"It's a lovely place to work and we all get along. We feel lucky to be here, we live in a beautiful place. We wouldn't change it for anything."