Come and experience the wonders of working a heavy horse in the Woods of the Hylands Estate in Essex. With a maximum of 4 participants you will have all the opportunity you could want to get hands-on with our gentle giants.

Format of the day:

There will be some indoor instruction, followed by practical work with horses under cover, followed by working the horses outdoors.   During the day you will experience:

• Grooming and preparing heavy horses for work
• Harnessing Horses for Logging
• The different types of logging equipment that can be used
• Long-Reining and driving horses through the woods
• Pulling Logs with a horse and timber arch

Leader

Matt Waller is a Partner of Hawthorn Heavy Horses, a small business based at Hylands that specialises in the use of working horses for forestry and conservation work.  Matt has a BSc in Countryside Management and 19 years experience of working in Woodlands and with Heavy Horses.

Refreshments

Tea and Coffee will be provided throughout the day.  Please bring your own packed lunch, we will be having lunch in the woods!

Where to go

Meet in the courtyard of the Stables Visitor Centre at 10am in the morning.  To find us enter the estate through the Hylands House entrance, off Three Mile Hill/London Road, post code CM2 8WQ.  Follow signs for parking and then walk to the Stables Centre.

Disability Information

Please call us if you have any special needs that you would like to discuss with us.

Contact information: 

If you have any specific questions about the day please call Claudia on 07970 721384