This article is from the January 2021 Horse Deals magazine.
Photos & article: Anna Zakaras.
The tree-lined driveway from the property entrance. You can see the beginning of the track up to the stable block and arena.
When it came to finding a property for breaking in and pre-training Thoroughbreds and Warmbloods, along with teaching and competing up to FEI level in eventing themselves, a diverse but functional property was required for the young and successful couple, Jack and Jessica Hayden of Hayden Equestrian.
In 2015 they found their dream property in Berrima in the beautiful Southern Highlands of NSW. Surrounded by gently rolling green hills complete with a track, round yard with viewing deck, cavaletti training paddock, stables and a floodlit and mirrored Olympic-sized arena. The Haydens lease the front 40 acres of the horse facilities and cottage as a part of the wider 100 acres that are privately owned.
“After spending a year in Germany in 2014, working with different riders and equestrian businesses over there, we came home knowing how we wanted to start to run our own business. We approached the current owners of our property unadvertised and we feel pretty lucky to have found it. Now, we’re busier than ever,” said Jack.
Jack and Jessica have a steady base of regular and loyal clients. In particular, Jack has developed a strong reputation for producing high-quality dressage horses.
The property has a combination of stables, yards, individual paddocks, group and larger spell paddocks depending on what their horses’ needs are. The majority are fenced with wooden posts and shelters, and the larger paddocks have dams for the warmer months. Given the local climate, they’re lucky there’s rarely a shortage of grass.
After meeting at 19, Jack went on to work at Limitless Lodge in Wyong Creek in 2010 where his education in starting horses began. Jes studied Developmental Studies at the University Of Newcastle.
They were married locally in 2016, fully investing in the booming Southern Highlands region that is now home to an honour roll of top-level equestrian facilities and riders.
The entrance gate of Hayden Equestrian which is a short five minute drive from the town centre of Berrima.
The quaint and welcoming one bedroom cottage.
Jessica and Jack Hayden.
The wooden stable block looks onto the round yard and up to the arena so everyone feels a part of the daily activities.
All eight of the stables are bedded with shavings and automatic waterers.
Training halters and ropes are easily accessible from the tie up bay and tack room.
The office off the back of the tack room and next to the stables, is where Jessica manages the accounts and calendar schedule.
Jessica’s 2* eventer Chili in the tie up bay before a schooling session.
There’s plenty of room for their tack collection featuring dressage, jumping, stock and pony saddles.
The functional feed room where yard manager,
Naomi Potter, manages the daily feed routine.
The round yard alongside the stable block is fenced high with wooden planks and an inside rubber lining for safety with young horses.
The round yard features a shady viewing deck for clients and students to observe Jack working with younger horses.
The view from the stable block down to the track. Horses enjoy lots of grass, shade and a gentle decline with lots of space across paddocks.
The track is a great place for the exercise of young horses. There’s also an inner grass track that’s regularly mowed for schooling and fitness for the performance horses, pre-trainers and Thoroughbreds.
The starting gate where Jack teaches the breakers and pre-trainers to jump out of the barrier and onto the track ahead of their racing careers.
An aerial shot of Hayden Equestrian featuring the arena on the left, working down to the round yard, stable block, smaller paddocks and down to the bottom, featuring the track and spelling paddocks.
The mowing of various areas around the property is a regular activity so there’s variety across riding areas for all horses. Here Jack leads a yearling through the middle of the track and past the dam.
One of the four large dams on the property which supply water to the paddocks using
a piped gravity system and bore water
when necessary.
There’s plenty of room on-site for floats and goosenecks.
The working farm tools are neatly organised alongside the round yard and stable block to ensure regular cleaning and turn over.
The farm buggy is used twice daily across the property to feed hay and hard feed depending on horses’ needs.
The lovely view from the arena exit down to the stable block is a nice reward post-ride and ensures all activity of the property is basically within eye-shot.
The Olympic-sized, sand, mirrored and floodlit arena is harrowed daily and has showjump storage along the outside of the hedged and fenced arena outskirt.
Residents’ Benson the spoodle and Isabella the cat — a part of all the arena action from the shaded seat for onlookers.
One of the two large arena mirrors used as a visual aid
by riders when schooling
and teaching.
The stone-lined pathway from the stables alongside the round yard and up to the arena entrance not only provides a defined line of entry, during the wetter months, it ensures stable footing when accessing the arena.
There are a number of individual post fenced and shady paddocks, with wooden shelters.
Solar panels for electric fencing around the two large spelling paddocks down near
the track.
A view across the five individual paddocks featuring post fencing, shelters and plenty of grass looking down to the track.
The training paddock in the middle of the track is regularly mowed and features a training cavaletti set up for younger horses.
The view from the track looking up to the top of the property showcases the two large spelling paddocks and an abundance of grass.
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