The Human Team

Tim Cheffings

Tim's equine based upbringing and transition through the pony club has served to fuel his passion for horses and instilled ethics of dedication, commitment and a real ambition to achieve. Tim has been riding all his life and his aim is to become one of the top event riders of his generation, with his sights set on Badminton and Burghley. The vast majority of Tim's rides when he started out were homebred youngsters he backed and brought on himself.
Tim is known not only for his talent as a rider and as a trainer of
young horses, but also for his perceptive and calm approach to his horses and
their training. Tim rides a variety of horses, most of which have been started
from scratch at Downe Farm and are now successfully going up through the levels. His talent and dedication was rewarded in 2015 when he won the 'Mark Todd Bridging the Gap Scholarship'.

Tim is always looking to take on new rides both short and long term and would be delighted to help you get involved...

Some of the horses Tim has produced:
Colby II: Tim has produced Colby from Intro level eventing right up to CCI*** level, with placings at Advanced. The pair qualified to compete at International 4 star level.
De Beers Duchess: Duchess was bred by Tim's mum- Vanessa. Tim then backed her as a 3 year old at the age of 14. The pair went through the levels together from pony club right through to CCI2*
De Beers Detonator: Det was also bred and backed by Vanessa and Tim. Det then went on to successfully event to Intermediate/CCI** level.
Alinero Van Het Scharenburg: 'Nero' was purchased as a recently backed 5 year old. Tim produced him through from BE90 up to top level where he competed his (and Tim's) first CCI4* at Burghley in 2014.
Donateur: Donateur was another talented youngster purchased as an unbacked 4 year old. Donte and Tim netted the biggest wins of their career's so far in the CIC2* at Belton International in 2016, as well as winning the CCI2* at Osberton International in the same year...with hopefully many more 'big wins' to come!
Gaston:
Gaston is highly talented and came to Tim as a very raw and unbacked 3 year old. Gaston has so far lived up to expectations and in his 6yo year has finished in the top 20 in his first two International runs, the CCI1*'s at Hartpury and Osberton Internationals. We hope that there are very big things to come for him.

Vanessa Cheffings

Vanessa has won up to Advanced medium affiliated dressage on the stallion De Beer. She has been backing and starting young horses for over 30 years and has also bred very successful young stock during this time.
A few of the horses that Vanessa has bred and or started:

The Understudy - Advanced event horse.
De Beers Dominic - Advanced event horse
De Beers Duchess - CCI** and long listed for the young riders team
De Beers Dynamite - Intermediate event horse
Downe Right Rebel - Intermediate event horse
De Beers Delfi - 3rd in her first CCI* as a 6 year old

Clare Sansom

Clare was born in Devon, and as a child was an active member of the south Devon hunt pony club. She attended her 'A' test and continued through the British horse society examination system, to gain her B.H.S.I at the ages of twenty two. From this point, she specialised in show jumping riding for a variety of owners. She produced a range of horses, including her own grade A 'Peaceful Guide', Mrs Mackeood's 'True Grit III' who went on to represent the country at young rider level, and 'Rose-a-Bazar'.

At the age of thirty she became the youngest person to achieve the fellowship of the British Horse Society, as a specialist show jumper. Since then she has attained a bachelor of arts degree with Honours in Education, and a Level Three Certificate in tutoring in sport

For sixteen years she worked full time as a senior lecturer and programme manager in both further and higher education at Bicton College. She now works freelance, combining responsibilities as a chief assessor and formally the National Examination's moderator for the British Horse Society, with teaching and coaching. She trains riding club and pony club members, career students and competition riders, both show jumping and Eventing, from grassroots to advanced levels.

Clare Wilson

Clare has been breaking, schooling and competing horses full time for 19 years. 12
years as head girl for Vanessa and the last 3 years self employed but still based at Downe farm.
She regularly compete at affiliated and unaffiliated competitions, including up to advanced / two star eventing, foxhunter and above showjumping and up to advanced dressage.
Clare still helps Vanessa with the breaking and bringing on of the young horses.

Lindsey Cheffings Dip, FdSc Master Saddle Fitting Consultant

Lindsey is a Dip, FdSc Master Saddle Fitting Consultant trained by Nathaniel Underwood. She works with Tim's horses regularly, ensuring that their saddles are always a perfect fit and that they are suitable for purpose.

Lindsey is also a partner in Cheffings Equine Saddlery.

Emma Bryant

Emma has been involved with Downe Farm for many years and in addition to her working role, is also now a part-owner of Gaston. Emma has been actively working in the capacity of Business Support for Downe Farm for the past few years, with her role including: organisation of facility hire/clinics/lessons/events, book-keeping/credit control, website/social media management and all general enquiries and administration.

Emma can be contacted by using the contact form on this website, or emailing downefarm@outlook.com

Helen Tompkins MSc (An Manip) PG DIp (Vet Phys) Dip ITEC (Eq) MMAA MNAVP BEVA Allied Professional

Helen Tompkins is a dual-qualified Veterinary Physiotherapist and McTimoney Animal Practitioner covering Devon, North Cornwall and West Somerset. She uses physiotherapeutic techniques (massage, mobilisations, manipulation, electrotherapy, stress point therapy, exercise therapy and stretching regimes) and McTimoney Animal Manipulation techniques to address musculoskeletal/performance issues in animals. Helen works extensively on horses but also treats companion and farm animals.

“Physical therapy for animals... for suppleness, mobility and performance”
http://www.helentompkins.co.uk/uk