Equestrian

Equestrian Millar’s tale of grit & determination

Aaron Millar is a very successful local eventer, his mother was a keen rider, and he began his career at his local began with his local pony club. At 16 Aaron was faced with the choice to continue in education and go to university then pursue a military career at Sandhurst Royal Military Academy but his addiction to thrills and spills of equestrian life had been sparked at 10 years of age. He chose horses and his career goes from strength to strength, one could say that the most important horse in his career was Henry found by Carolyn Criton, he says RIDING HIGH: Aaron Millar belives in determination over talent he owes his achievements to He believes in determination injuries with a lasting sport, but Aaron’s syndicatethem both. Henry was an Irish sports horse that took him through young riders and they went on to achieve at the National under 18s and he came seventh at Branham aged just 19. They went on to compete three times at Burghley and once at Badminton and he credits Henry as being his horse of a lifetime. Aaron says that he loves all eventing disciplines equally and that you possibly must, to achieve in the sport. over talent, which may rings true throughout Aaron’s story; that determination saw him establish his own business at just 21 years of age, running his yard at Wigginton for 10 liveries, later moving to yards in Exeter and Cattistock as he grew his business. He’s now based in Buckland Newton, and the yard is currently full, with 18 horses competing. Aaron was involved in a serious car accident in 2015 in which he sustained impact. He was unable to work for a year, whilst he was lucky in his recovery-disastrous in a career dependant on full fitness, but once again Aaron’s determination shone through, having invested in a lot of young stock that he couldn’t produce and losing a lot of business; injury was the catalyst for him to strengthen his team and focus on developing a more sustainable business model. Eventing is an expensive model makes it accessible to those with an interest in the sport. Enthusiasts have the chance to become owners, with shares starting from £100 per month (which may be a very shrewd investment, as two or three are likely to reach fivestar level). Stakeholders will be able to visit the yard every month and all events. Their investment will offer them shared owner ship and a dividend on any profits made. Riders urged to report problems using bridleways and other

By Kate Smith Horse riders in Shaftesbury say they struggle to find bridleways around the town. Showjumper Charlotte Williams who lives in West Stour, said: “There are very few bridleways in Shaftesbury and sometimes we do encounter problems with locked gates or overgrown paths. I used to live in Surrey and our bridleways officer was fantastic – we fundraised to keep bridleways in good shape and we would often get together to clear overgrown hedges, which 78 are a perennial problem. In many places to ride there are also problems with off-road bikers or herds of cattle, which you are unaware of until you might be half way across a field – this can be quite daunting on horse-back especially if the cattle start to run.” Charlotte told us of a beautiful but little known bridleway near Wincombe Lane, which takes you behind BV Dairy and across to the Coombes. “This is a lovely bridleway but little known, because the bridleway sign miraculously disappears. This track though, if you can find it, is great.” Niki Elliot, who is a keen mountain biker and hiker, said she had also encountered problems on bridleways and public paths. She said: “I relocated to Shaftesbury last November. During the first lockdown I bought an OS map for the area, thinking it a good opportunity to get to know the local bridleways and trails whilst keeping my daily exercise local. “I found gates bolted and locked and some signposted bridleways were impossible to pass, including on the Hardy Way and the Wessex Ridgeway.” BHS county bridleways officer Carol Shoopman says Dorset Explorer, Dorset Council’s online mapping app gives everyone access to a huge range of layers and tools, which can be overlayed onto a modern map providing a magnitude of routes for the horse and rider. “Dorset Explorer can be downloaded onto your phone, so you can pick your paths when

Howdy to north Dorset’s very own cowboy

By Jade Leahy

BACK TO THE RANCH: Dean has returned to be near family

I’ve been hunting for a musician. owner taught Dean how to cowboy to chat on my Off One day Dean and his wife ride. Like me, he wouldn’t

The Lead Rein podcast for were debating the path they entertain an English saddle quite a while and I never wanted their lives to take and now, and believes in the old expected to find one in rural Dean said: “I want to be a cowboy adage ‘there are two north Dorset. cowboy...” types of cowboy – those

Dean Robbins is surely north Dean’s wife must have an who’ve fallen off and those

Dorset’s one and only equally adventurous spirit, as who are going to’. cowboy? she began packing her bags, He became every inch the

Dean was a working cowboy no questions asked! authentic cowboy, learning to on a Colorado ranch. Perhaps That was it, they relocated to ride the ranch’s quarter horses, most surprisingly he doesn’t Colorado. Dean’s wife found carrying out ranch repairs, have a horsey background and a new job as a teacher in a branding cattle and roping had only ever ridden a horse local school and Dean set up cows. (It’s quite a skill, he three times! about becoming a cowboy – at practised on a wooden cow for

Born and raised in Child this stage one who couldn’t a year before tackling the real

Okeford, he grew up watching ride. thing.) spaghetti westerns with his Luckily, he found a ranch in Dean said: “Being a cowboy dad.Those films would go on Colorado looking for a was the hardest and best job to influence his life, with him protégé who would happy to I’ve ever had, early mornings becoming a professional do things their way. The ranch and long days, but I loved all rights of way after issue raised in Shaftesbury

you are out with your horse,” said Carol. “And if anyone would like to learn more about our bridleways then they can join my Facebook page: BHS Access & Bridleways Dorset.” Giles Nicholson, Dorset Council greenspace manager, said: “It is an offence to intentionally obstruct a public right of way, so this report is a concern and we would encourage walkers and horse riders to tell the Ranger Team of any issues so they can be investigated and rectified. “There are over 1,700 bridleways in the Dorset Council area. These are mostly historic rights of way, where passage over private land has been established over many years. “It is often difficult to create a new bridleway or footpath, as these routes will most likely be over private land, however Dorset Council has been successful in creating some new bridleways such as the North Dorset Trailway. “This year has seen a significant increase in people using their rights of way, and the Ranger Team, with the help of apprentices and volunteers, are resolving more problems than ever before. “The removal of side vegetation which may be obstructing a bridleway and the provision of useable gates is the landowners responsibility, the surface and signage is the responsibility of Dorset Council. “Please assist us, by reporting issues online, to show us where your concerns are.” dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/ RightsofWay of it, from learning how to ride then rope...riding in the mountains on trails three feet wide...with a 1,500-foot drop.” Dean moved cattle across 1,500 acres and led dude ranchers and pack horses out on trail rides into the mountains, taking people on hunting trips in the snow, and driving draft horses pulling a sleigh. He’d spend his evenings singing the songs he penned around the camp fire. Whilst the dudes opted to stay in the comfort of cabins, Dean slept under the stars with his mount keeping watch for mountain lions and bears. After seven years on the ranch, Dean returned to north Dorset to be closer to family, but he didn’t hang up his cowboy boots. Although covid-19 has temporarily put paid to his live gigs, like me, his love of horses has led him down another interesting path. Unsure where he would find work away from the microphone, one day as he walked through the village of Almer he stopped to talk to Sarah Viven, owner of Horserenity equine assisted learning centre. It was a done deal. Dean says what he valued most about the cowboy way of life were their values: trust, authenticity and family centred. Dean is the perfect fit, adding to those values and supporting young learners at Horserenity. Transport yourself to the Western lifestyle by listening to Dean on Spotify.

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Two Leather Saddles & One Felt Saddle, numerous bridles, stirrup leathers & irons, all broken but useful for repairs etc. Open to offers for job lot to clear. Call 07871 165609