John Ballard
John is the Proprietor and Yard Manager of Llangwyryfon Livery and Llangwyryfon Country Breaks. John has over 45 years experience working with horses. He as worked with a variety of horse categories including show, dressage, hunting, point to point, national hunt and flat racing.
Experience and Training
John completed his British Horse Society qualification during an apprenticeship at Epford Equestrian Centre, Devon in 1977.
On completion of his apprenticeship he moved to a hunting and competition yard in Dorset where he remained for many years. He worked within a team breaking and schooling horses. He quickly gained a reputation for working with challenging and difficult horses. Owners would send their horses to him when all other attempts had failed.
In 1985 he moved to a stud where he developed skills in veterinary care, management of mares and foals and then on to stallion management. He developed a particular tallent for yearling prep and sales work.
In 1990 John started his first business working freelance breaking and schooling horses before moving on to racing yards.
John worked in various racing and hunting yards in Dorset before finally relocating to the New Market area where he obtained various positions in prestigious studs and racing years.
John’s last position before moving to Wales was for Newsells Park Stud in Hertforshire, a leading stud focused on breeding and raising exceptional thoroughbreds capable of competing at the highest level on the international racing circuit. He worked to a high standard in all areas of the stud working very closely with one of the leading equine veterinary practices to cement his knowledge and skills in equine care.
In 2019 John moved to wales to open his own business running a four star B&B and livery centre. He shares Ael Y Bryn with the horses and livestock as well as his German Shepherd dogs for whom he has a great passion.
Qualifications
- BHS Stage 1 – Horsemanship
- BHS Stage 2 – Assistant Instructor
- BHS Stage 3 – Instructor
Professional References
References are available on request.
Professional Reference
“John has worked for us for many years. He came to us with a high level or horsemanship and a detailed knowledge and understanding of the sector. Over the years he has demonstrated leadership and a natural tallent for managing a yard and we highly recommend him and wish him well in his new venture.”
Veterinary Reference
“I have worked with John Ballard for many years (approximately 10-12 years). I provide veterinary services for Newsells Park Stud where John has been an employee during that period. John has proved to be an able and well liked member of the team. I am grateful for his attention to detail when following veterinary instructions and helping with the vet round. In particular he is a very competent horse handler, dealing with many horses of different temperaments in a calm and sympathetic manner. John has handled many difficult horses for veterinary procedures and I can thoroughly recommend his skills for care and management of horses.”