The Farmers Mart Aug/Sep 2015 - Issue 41 | Page 41

The Downings

John had a very good contract
with the NCB, looking after the
local mine’s hardworking pit
ponies.
They started with two old
stables which were updated
and steadily added to as time
went, helped 10 years ago by
a couple of grants - one from
Business Link. They also had
buildings to convert from the
time when they had a herd of
10 suckler cows which they
sold last year as they were
becoming too much hassle.
SUPERB LIVERY FACILITIES
Today, thanks to Mark’s
desire for perfection, they have
31 horses on DIY livery in state
of the art stabling with tack
rooms, feed stores, exercise
ring, ample grazing , haylage
and straw,floodlit menage w