Event rider Laura Collett has moved to a new yard in Lambourn for the 2014 season.
The 24-year-old, who has been based at the Membury Estate — which belongs to her long-time backer Phillip Walker — for the past 4 years, has taken the decision to move to Windy Hollow Stables (pictured below).
Windy Hollow Stables, Laura’s new base
“I have been there [Membury Estate] for 4 years and I am hugely grateful,” Laura told H&H. “But it was time to move on and do it on my own.
“He [Phillip Walker] has been a fantastic support and hopefully it will all carry on. They have been an amazing family to me through thick and thin.”
Laura sustained serious lung and liver damage in a rotational fall at Tweseldown at the beginning of the summer (8 July). She went to make an impressive recovery and helped Britain to secure the Nations Cup series.
Laura’s groom tweeted: “King Kauto is loving his new yard!”
Laura has just returned from a holiday in Dubai and came back to the new yard, which she is currently sharing with fellow eventer Chris King.
“They very kindly moved for me whilst I was away,” Laura said. “It’s been a rather stressful year and mum didn’t want me to have to go through moving lots of boxes and stuff.”
Laura also had a difficult end to the season when one of her top-horses, Noble Bestman, fractured his off-fore pastern during the cross-country at Boekelo (12 October).
“Steve” had to remain in Netherlands to have an operation, but Laura is hopeful that he will be able to come home soon.
“He is good and hopefully he is going to be able to come home in a couple of weeks,” she said.
“He is off the medication and it is now the only reason why he can’t come home is because of the travel.”
Laura, who is also currently retraining National Hunt legend Kauto Star (pictured above right), is hoping to have 18 to 20 horses at her new base for next season.
