Silent running for Nick Skelton’s yard

Anyone interested in show jumping needs no introduction to the legend that is Nick Skelton.

Hickstead Derby winner three times, World and European Championships, Olympic Games and Nations Cups through the 80's and 90's, he was World Cup Final Winner on his favourite Dollar Girl and has to date made 160 GB team appearances, taking home 13 championship medals.

Nick's state-of-the-art stable yard in Warwickshire is, as you would expect, subject to a strict regime which starts at 7.30 a.m. with the grooms feeding the horses before they are worked or hacked through the morning. Washed in the purpose-built wash boxes, dried in the solariums, hooves picked and greased they are fed again at 1.00 o'clock.

it's always interesting to know what solutions other people apply to the day to day running of their yard. Moving feed and haylage around, preparing the school, cleaning up at the end of the day. For a number of years Nick used as a workhorse a Polaris 500 ATV he bought from former racing driver Jodie Schechter. When it came to the time for a change he decided on a new Polaris EV 4x4 electric vehicle, an innovative move in several respects.

He uses the EV for something everyday whether it's at feeding time, towing a set of harrows to prepare the school, monitoring the gallops, cleaning up the stables or just general ground care. Nick makes the point that as it is totally silent and will never backfire it won't spook the horses. Important when it's working around some very high value horses and can be used when they are exercising and for a whole variety of tasks throughout the day.

He says the concept of the EV is invaluable and reassuring. At 5 o'clock his horses have the last feed of the day, followed by a late night check. The ideal time to plug in the EV for its overnight charge, ready for the next working day. For details of the Polaris EV, the world's first true electric 4x4 ATV, contact the nearest Polaris dealer or Polaris