Poplars Farm was bought by Mr and Mrs Warrington back in 1981 as a base for their daughter Mandy (BHS AI) to further her career as a riding instructor by running her own riding school. Over the years Mandy and her family have built the riding school to what has become one of the most reputable riding schools in the area. Mandy herself had a passion for riding as a child and was fortunate enough to
have her own ponies. She was a keen show jumper, and progressed through the ranks from ponies to horses, where she competed successfully at Grade C level, with her best horse Merry-Go-Round. Mandy gained her teaching qualifications, under Sue Snow at Field House equestrian, where she became a BHS AI before leaving to start up her own Riding School here. It was during the early years here at Poplars, Mandy met her husband Chris, who also works on the farm, and they had two daughters, Philippa and Francesca. Mandy then started to live her passion for horses through her daughters, who both rode and competed from a very young age. Both girls competed successfully in the showing world for many years, their most famous pony being Barkway Honey Bee (Beebee), who won many prestigious competitions for the girls, as well as giving them both the first of many rides at the Horse of the Year Show. Philippa (Pip) currently works full time as a riding instructor alongside her mum here at Poplars. Having graduated with a first class honours degree in law from Staffordshire University in 2009; she followed her heart and her love of horses, and joined her mother at the riding school. She also, is a qualified BHS AI, and has also completed her BHS Stage 4 riding exam. Over the next 12 months, Philippa aims to complete her stage 4 care exam and ITT to become a BHS II. While predominantly teaching here at Poplars, Pip also does a small amount of freelance teaching, teaching people on their own horses/ponies. More recently, Pip has also returned to competition; after retiring from the show ring 7 years ago, she has successfully evented one of the horses used in the riding school over the 2013 summer period. Francesca (Chez) also works part time at the riding school, she is a BHS Stage 1 and is currently in her final year of studying History at Liverpool Hope University. Chez has always continued to compete after being introduced by her mother years ago, and this year joined Pip and started to event her working hunter pony, Freddie In Clover. In addition to the riding school, Mandy’s family run business also offer a livery service, with both DIY and working liveries.
