With a family background steeped in horses it was hardly surprising Alex Barr became interested in horses but it wasn’t until he was 12 that he really got bitten by the bug.

His mum Chris breeds part-bred Welsh ponies, all bred for a job – ponies with the Muirsland prefix have been part of the GB eventing team, and sister Maggie evented on home-bred horses.

Now though it is Alex who is taking the Barr name to the front with an impressive stable of showjumpers as well as being in demand for breaking and schooling. His talents also lie with producing young horses and he has a waiting list of clients wishing to send youngsters to be broken.

“My sisters did pony club and eventing but it wasn’t until I was about 13 or 14 that I got really keen on showjumping,” explained Alex.

He left school after taking his highers, agreeing with his dad that he’d do them first, and after finishing them was offered a job at Balcormo and worked with Sandra Low-Mitchell for three years. There he did a bit of everything from breaking, training and breeding to competing as well.

“I decided to set up my own business and came back home. The Low-Mitchells were very good, giving me clients and recommending me to people,” said Alex.

So in 2003 Alex came back home to Muirsland Farm, Lesmahagow, in South Lanarkshire where the horses graze alongside the beef cattle and sheep on the family farm.

“When I came back it was mostly home-bred youngsters that I’d start and get them going, jumping in classes up to 1.25m before they were sold,” explained Alex.

“At the start I was getting a lot of problem horses and ones that were difficult to break but now I’ve a queue of horses to break in. It takes around four to five weeks and I tend to work on two or three at a time.

“I enjoy the young horses, you can see a difference with them each day and it’s very rewarding.”

Outwith his breaking and schooling business, Alex is a well respected showjumper, well known for his hardworking, calm approach to his horses. Currently he has between 12 and 14 horses to jump at various levels from four-year-old novices right up the grades.

All this can’t be done on his own – Alison Murdoch is a valuable member of staff plus girlfriend Laura Forsyth helps behind the scenes and is especially supportive at shows. At home he starts at 7am with hay and feeding, by 8am rain or shine he’s normally in the saddle and will ride up to 10 horses each day varying their work from hacking, schooling or lunging.

“I usually take eight horses to a show as taking as many help keep the individual costs down for the owners,” he added.

Alex also likes to take the young horses out to shows for experience jumping in ‘clear round’ classes. As well as being more cost effective it allows the horses more experience of jumping different heights away from home so that when they are ready to start competing they can miss out the British novice and discovery classes.

Outwith riding Alex is in demand for his teaching and instruction. “I do quite a lot of freelance teaching and run week long courses for intensive sessions of flatwork and jumping. By coming for a training week the riders get a lot more out of out of it,” explained Alex, who has been fortunate to be part of the SEA elite squad and receives training through the squad from John Ledingham each month at Ingliston.

“I don’t think its any coincidence the Scottish riders are doing so well when you see the squad. It’s made us think differently and taken us all to a different level by pushing us a bit more. I take two or three horses each time and they all improve,” said Alex.

“Most horses are in full work so my work is training them on the flat and schooling. All are given a varied work routine including turnout. I’ve got fields split into paddocks so the horses can see each other its good for them to be given variety. Now I’m getting well known, owners are trusting me and are happy to let me put the horses into my own routine.”

His top horses are Cree Cruiser owned by John Aird; Norman Smith’s Tristan M; Classic Connection, owned by Amanda Jane Richardson; Wyacara owned by Neil and Carol Wivell and Robert Wilson’s Major Ted. Most owners will come to the shows to watch their horses and take an interest in their progression. There are also some six-year-olds that need more experience as well as some home-bred four and five-year-olds waiting in the wings.

Both Classic Connection and Wyacara will be aimed at Horse of the Year Show six and seven-year-old qualifiers. Wyacara is already through to the newcomers final having qualified at the Area 15 show at Allerton Park in Yorkshire. Another horse that Alex has qualified for HOYS is Major Ted who is through to the grade C final after qualifying at Dumfries Show. Classic Connection and Tristan M will be aimed at the foxhunter final. The Scottish-bred Cree Cruiser is Alex’s top horse and recently won the area trial at Warrington and only this week won the international trial class at Ingliston.

Last year, Alex qualified Tristan M for three classes at the Horse of the Year Show, coming sixth in the amateur class. “It was the first time I’d ridden at HOYS, I’d qualified before but the horses have been sold. It’s a nice show, the ring is big with plenty of space. Now I’m just concentrating on keeping the horses fit and going well.”

Before he heads to the NEC, Alex has six horses qualified for the the Scope Festival in a week’s time at Stafford. All are aimed in the 1.20m classes or above with Cree Cruiser and Tristan M jumping in the 1.45m classes. The young horses have also qualified for the foxhunter and young horses classes at Scope, and all going well will hopefully pick up a late qualifying ticket for the Horse of the Year Show.

“I’m grateful to my owners who allow me to ride their good horses, they’re all winning decent money and jumping well at their level. I usually sell my four and five-year-olds but I’d like to put a syndicate together for the young horses. Syndicates work in racing so there’s no reason why it can’t work for showjumping,” added Alex.