Vere Phillipps

Vere needs no introduction as the best known (but hardest to contact!) source of numerous top class horses in all spheres. He possesses an uncanny/rare knack of seeing the finished article in the raw young horse, buying it and then developing its potential for his clients to buy and progress. His skill extends to matching the right horses to the right clients.

Vere set up professionally as a horse dealer in 1981, primarily buying horses in Ireland. His business has grown by reputation, with little need to advertise. He is now selling to the grandchildren of some of his original clients!

Vere has bought, produced and sold the winners of 5*, 4*, 3* and 2* CCI’s; Olympic, World and European Championship Senior British Team horses, plus European, Young Rider and Junior British Team horses, including multiple medal winners. And most recently, "Allstar B" individual world eventing champion 2018.

Vere has predominantly show jumped, from being a top 20 junior money winner and also being 2nd in the Young Riders National championship, to successes at Grade A and at International Trial level on a large variety of own produced horses. He has qualified horses for Newcomers, Foxhunter and Grade C Championship finals at the Horse of the Year Show five times, being placed on three occasions then selling them overseas. Those horses went on to win at grand Prix level. He has won numerous competitions at all grades through to 1.50 level and has been placed in International Trials. Vere won the National Grade B Championship in 2015 riding "Skerne Scipio", and was the only 3 times winner of the East of England Grade C Championships, quite an achievement for someone who sells all his horses.

After the tragic death of Polly, his late wife, he took up eventing in 2000. Having never evented, in one season he went from novice to 4*, culminating in 4th Place at Burghley, winning the Best First Timer award, and being the highest placed British male rider. Along the way his successes with “Coral Cove” included:

• 9th Bramham 3*
• 4th Gatcombe British Open
• 1st Polly Phillipps Memorial at Eglington
• 1st Auchinlek Super Solvitax Advanced Class

That year Vere was voted Horse & Hound Equestrian Personality of the Year.

In 2001 Vere competed at only 2 events: finishing 4th at Hartpury Advanced; and being a member of the winning British Team at Burghley 4* Olympic Format Test Event, finishing 12th individually.

In 2002 he was placed at Badminton 4*.

In 2003 Vere was 4th Chatsworth Advanced and 1st Eglington Advanced, winning the Polly Phillipps Memorial for the second time. He then retired from eventing!

Vere hunts all winter with the Quorn, producing high class hunters and eventers. Some of these fantastic hunters have been sold to members of the Royal family, and innumerable masters and huntsmen of the premier packs, as well as to ladies and gentlemen riding in the field.

Vere and Clea started buying National Hunt stores as foals and yearlings in 2001, producing them superbly on their large farm to be sold at the premier sales as 3 and 4 year olds, guaranteed untried. Many of these have gone on to win bumpers, over hurdles and over fences, and then progress to win Black Type races including at Cheltenham.

Vere also farms a mixture of grass and arable land, producing high quality hay, haylage, oats and straw for their own horses and commercially.