Client Story – Lowton Stud Showjumpers

When the Bratt family trio wanted to start up a Stud and showjumping business in Devon, the Westcotts team were on hand to support their journey.

In 2019, daughter Alex Bratt was looking to turn her wealth of experience in producing showjumping horses for sport and sale, into her own business venture. Following a lengthy search and a lot of luck the perfect place for her own Stud premises was found in the village of Bondleigh just outside of the town of North Tawton in beautiful Devon.

But extensive renovations were needed to get the farm up to scratch to deliver the high standard needed for breeding and training horses ready for international competition.

Sarah Watts, Partner at the Westcotts Okehampton office, stepped in to help the family secure the funding needed for the renovations. She helped the family draw up a detailed business projection which was submitted to the bank.

Following the successful funding bid, throughout 2020-2022 Alex and her family undertook the mammoth task of renovating the Equestrian Centre and with a lot of love, blood, sweat and tears. This included blocks of stables for livery, indoor and outdoor event and training arenas, as well as lodges for letting and a stud of their own.

Lowton Stud Showjumpers was born!

Westcotts have continued to support the business through maintaining the business records and providing extensive advice, including how to minimise risk. Last year, the Westcotts team supported the relocation of Lowton Stud to Shropshire following the sale of the Devon property, in a bid to be more centrally located for competitions.

The home of Lowton Stud is now Oswestry Equestrian Centre at Carreg Y Big Farm in Selattyn, just outside of Oswestry in Shropshire, and marks an exciting new chapter in the progression of Lowton Stud.

Sarah Watts, Partner at Westcotts said: ‘I’ve thoroughly enjoyed working with the Bratt family, offering support from maintaining their business records to advice throughout their 

business journey over the past few years. They are a business that never stand still, and I’m pleased I will also be supporting them in their next chapter in Shropshire, including through their upgrading of their new equestrian centre.”

Alex Bratt, Founder of Lowton Stud Jumpers said: “Westcotts, and Sarah Watts in particular, have been exceptional in supporting us to grow our business over the last few years. Having taken on a complex site and large restoration project in conjunction with our Equestrian business, a lot of the stress was taken away by Sarah’s support and expertise to guide us every step of the way. We could not have completed the project without her assistance and advice.”