The food of champions

Carriage driving has become a family obsession for the Kelly clan who have been sweeping the board with their talented home bred stallion Max.

The Welsh cross Hackney was a happy accident at Sam and husband Matt’s farm near Godstone in Surrey. A stallion saw a gap in the fence - and an opportunity.

Eleven months and 10 days later one of the best carriage horses they have ever worked with was born, joining the couple’s herd often mares, stallions, yearlings and foals.

Max is now a 15hh champion who joins Sam, Matt and their daughter Hannah, an equine physiotherapist, at shows all over the country and his haul of trophies and rosettes is impressive.

Sam said: “Max was a lovely surprise, even if we hadn’t been expecting him. We raised him and broke him to the harness and he hasn’t looked back. He’s eleven now so he’s really starting to come into his own.“

The Kelly family’s passion isn’t just carriage driving. They are helping to safeguard the Hackney breed. In April, the Rare Breeds Survival Trust declared Hackneys at risk, with just 31 UK, including the couple’s treasured stallion Stapleford Enchantment.

Like the Shire horse, the breed’s survival rests on the shoulders of a few breeders dedicated to keeping them alive.

Sam said: “We have a mix of breeds, but our main aim is to safeguard the Hackney, ideal for carriage driving. “Although Max is part Welsh, he’s all Hackney and really takes after his sire. He’s such a clever character and really chilled. He takes everything in his stride and loves nothing more than getting in the traces.

He’s a bit of a daddy’s boy and adores my husband. As long as he’s around he’s happy and relaxed. He’s one of the few horses I’ve seen lie down at a show. He really is one in a million.

”Max has competed locally all winter and has qualified for the Indoor Carriage Driving Finals at Arena UK in Lincolnshire. His haul rosettes includes Reserve Intermediate Horse Champion, winning the precision and paces in his class.

Outdoors he’s won the National Novice Horse Qualifier at the East Anglian Carriage Driving Event, qualifying for the National Carriage Driving Championships in Crick in September.

He will be competing across the country over the next few months, with Sam keeping balance at the back of the carriage while Matt drives.

Sam contacted the Newsletter Team to thank Mole Valley Farmers for our equine product range, currently used by all ten of her equines.

She said: “I really wanted to let you guys know how great your horse range was. It’s all I give my animals and they are all doing so well on it.

“From the Veteran Mix to the Conditioning Mash I can always find something to suit my individual horses and ponies, whether in foal, competing or retired.

Sam and Matt’s herd tucks into Mole Valley Farmers’ Molassed Chaff, High FibreLite, Horse and Pony Cubes, Veteran Mix, Competition Mix, Conditioning Cubes, Stud and Youngstock Cubes, Conditioning Mash and our Vitamins and Mineral Supplement.

“It’s great quality and good value but, most importantly, they all seem to like it. Max looks in tip-top condition, my brood mares are all thriving and we’re all looking forward to a great year, competing in something we all love,” added Sam.

You can find our comprehensive equine feed range in store or online at www.moleonline.com