Birchwood Equestrian Services

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About Us

Birchwood is set in scenic countryside just north of Kidderminster (Worcestershire). We're a friendly, private livery yard with internal stabling, large, secure, post and rail paddocks, quiet lanes and miles of directly accessible off-road hacking.

We offer a comprehensive service to the horse owner, be it schooling youngsters, nurturing the 'more mature' equine, or all stages in between! We also offer training on your horse, not just to livery owners, but to anyone wishing to bring their horse to us or to use our manège.

Horses may be placed with us for any (or many!) of our services and may stay for a few days, months or years. Whatever the purpose of your horse’s stay, they will receive kind, experienced handling from qualified people and a regime tailored to your requirements.

Birchwood is owned and managed by Lana Colley (BHSAI). Following a successful career in eventing, Lana now concentrates on competing in dressage, but her background and training enable her to be an equally able tutor of the jumping disciplines.

Lana has devoted her life to horses and you may rest assured that those placed with us benefit not only from her knowledge and experience, but from her profound love and understanding of 'the horse'. Livery owners soon find that, if they're unable to visit their horse on a daily basis, they can relax in the knowledge that it's receiving every care and attention (including plenty of TLC!).

We pride ourselves on appreciating each horse as an individual, not only in terms of its basic feed, care and exercise requirements, but in understanding its own particular character and temperament - and the same goes for the owners! Whether you're a serious competitor or would just like some help in enjoying your leisure horse, you're very welcome here.

We're also experienced in the care of racehorses that are retired, resting between racing seasons or recovering from injury, allowing them to relax and unwind before going their various ways. The young man on the right was totally disenchanted with the racing game and is thoroughly enjoying a career in endurance, another remained with us and competed successfully in affiliated dressage, others have returned to the 'day job' and further ones remain with us for re-schooling or just simply relaxing and repairing!

Incidentally, Birchwood is also home to numerous cats, dogs (Jimjoy Labradors), and poultry, so equine residents soon become accustomed to sights and sounds which they could encounter out hacking or at shows. Being in the heart of the country, they also see an abundance of pheasants, rabbits and other wildlife in their daily lives and we find that they quickly become accustomed to the neighbours!