The beautiful Tatton Tabitha!

Our Clydesdale horse Tatton Tabitha was born in May 2008.  Our little girl is blossoming into a very special young lady and has been really busy these last few months undertaking her training.

Tatton Tabitha in shafts for the 1st time, with Jayne

Obviously training starts in the first few weeks of life, halter training, being led and having her feet picked up. It’s crucial this is done, as if left until she is older and she decides she doesn’t want to pick her feet up then we’re in trouble. Apart from basic handling they can’t undertake any work until the age of three, when fully grown.

We start by placing the harness on her, leaving it on for a few hours at a time, whilst she gets used to it. Then we start to long rein, which is where she is driven without her actually pulling any weight and then the next stage is to put her into the shafts.

The picture above shows Tabitha during her first time in this small training cart - she didn’t put a hoof wrong. Whatever she has been asked to do she has accepted and taken everything as a real pro.

Now three years old Tabitha is old enough to be put in foal. She was therefore stabled recently at the stud farm in Church Minshull and on Monday 20th June we found out she was a few weeks in foal! Another new addition next year.

Find out more information about our other rare breed animals at Tatton Park here.

Jayne Chapman, Farm Manager