When we caught up with Clayton at the World Cup in Le Pin he advised us that he would be moving to Florida to set up a new training base in the USA and to extend the reach of his business Southern Stars Saddlery. His new base will be at Oak Lane Farm owned by Charles (Chuck) & Anne Koch where he will have the use of 36 stalls plus 150 acres of paddocks and schooling pastures with a further 600 acres of idyllic grassland for cross country schooling and hacking.
“I’m extremely fortunate to have found this perfect setting on which to establish my U.S. training operation here in Ocala,” said Clayton. “I have been exploring several options for expansion of my eventing program along with Southern Stars Saddlery into the U.S. market and this location will enable me to fully explore the potential of both businesses. Chuck and Anne Koch have been most gracious in supporting me with this move as we build the business. The property also affords the prospect to host competitions making it the ideal destination for eventers all year round.”
Clayton will be competing at Fair Hill International CCI 3* in Maryland from October 19-21, 2012 and will move to Oak Lane Farm straight after the event. The plan is to have ten horses in training at Oak Lane Farm by January 2013; among his international clients relocating to Ocala will be South African, Hayley Parker with her Advanced horse Pigrela des Cabanes.
“It’s a very exciting opportunity for me at a time when I am shifting my focus to coaching to be able to offer clients the perfect environment in which to prepare for competitions at all levels here in the States,” added Clayton. “I thrive on challenges and exploring new horizons in eventing and there is clearly enormous potential here in Ocala to develop the sport with the landscape that Oak Lane Farm presents.”
