Cheston Farm Equestrian Centre is home to husband and wife team, Sophie and Andrew Osborne. The centre has been a riding establishment for many decades and was purchased by the couple in July 2007. Since then, the Centre has seen huge investment and undergone a major transformation.
The arenas, stables, house, clubhouse cafe and fields have all been overhauled, replaced or built from scratch. We are always re-investing to develop the Centre and are proud of our achievements and the reputation we have established.
Developing and managing Cheston has been our passion for 13 years. The centre is our home, our job and our lifestyle! It is all encompassing, sometimes exhausting and frustrating, often very moving and rewarding. However, it is our lovely riders both little and large, our horses and our staff team that really make Cheston what it is. We welcome all those who want to be a part of something we really believe is a very good thing and always is striving to be better!
Sophie is a British Horse Society qualified Instructor and BHS Stable Manager (Stage 5) with decades of experience including teaching in equine colleges, freelance instruction and competing in Eventing (BE Novice) and produced her own horses for all equestrian disciplines including Solstice Drum for Dressage (BD Advanced Medium) who is now a firm favourite in the Riding School. With no horsey background, a local Hampshire riding school started her passion for horses, with Pony Club forming the backbone of her teen learning. The support of parents, pony club and horsey mentors meant that a great grounding was achieved as a teen with help from Peanut, Sultan and Bamber. Following University, Sophie worked for The Princes’ Trust, Raleigh International and other youth and community roles, but with charitable funding increasingly at risk, she returned to her first love building a career and business around it.
Andrew is the other half of the business responsible for managing the administration, facilities and land at Cheston Farm. Andrew has spent many hours on diggers, dumpers and other machines helping to restore Cheston to its former glory. As a horseman, he only took up riding in 2007, but his Irish Draft x Thoroughbred hunter, Elvis, looks after him and the two of them enjoy canters across Dartmoor and take part in show classes.
When Cheston allows, Andrew is a keen competitive sailor of racing dinghies on Salcombe Harbour in summer, or driving the lorry to take young horses out to shows and events. Doggies are a huge love, our Lab and Cocker Spaniels keep us busy with outings to beaches and moor. He is also a fabulous chef and loves his kitchen! Like Sophie, Andrew held various management and director level roles working in both the public and charity sector before the couple launched in to a new way of life.
