The main barn at 111 Kite Hawk Lane, Knightsen, CA

Our Development

It has been a goal for Roger Cleverly: Equestrian Training to have a base where we could offer a broad spectrum of training for both riders and drivers ever since the business was started in 2003. On April 1, 2009 we made that step by taking over the operation of Mullins Stables, a 45 stall barn in Knightsen, near Brentwood in East Contra Costa County, CA.

The Training Center

The facility includes a 12 stall barn, with 12 ft x 12 ft stalls and individual 12 ft x 12 ft paddocks, and 33 paddocks on a mainly sandy base, many with shelters. There is also a 50 ft round pen on sand and an open arena that currently measures some 60 yards x 42 yards. The arena surface is a mix of sand and dirt, and gives a good footing for both saddle and driven work. We are planning to realign fences to lengthen the arena and create a full 80 meter x 40 meter driven dressage court.

The Local Area

Kite Hawk Lane is a gravel road and runs about 1/2 mile from Eden Plains Road to the barn, so there is an area immediately off the property on which to drive. The local roads are not commuter routes, and run in a 1 mile north/south and east/west grid, so are good for conditioning driving equines to traffic. To the south of the barn is an area of undeveloped land where cross country training can be done and many of the local trails are usable throughout the winter, and there is access directly from the back gate of the property.

Activities

The primary focus of the Training Center will be carriage driving, but we also extend a warm welcome to hunters, jumpers, Western riders and those who enjoy recreational riding on the trails in the East Bay.

Conditioning and Rehabilitation

 Roger has spent years conditioning horses, ponies and minis for a variety of activities, including hunter jumping, dressage, horse trials, endurance riding, and fox hunting. He also trained his own Thoroughbred for National Hunt steeplechase racing, and was an amateur exercise rider and assistant trainer at Cree Lodge Racing Stables at Ayr in Scotland. These days, he applies his knowledge and experience to training and conditioning horses, ponies and minis for carriage driving, both Pleasure Showing and Combined Driving, and helping owners to reschool ex track Thoroughbreds for a second career.