Our Smallholding

Four Hills Country began on a working smallholding in rural Cheshire – a place shared with horses, dogs, cats, wildlife and a great deal of weather. It’s where our ideas are born, where products are tested, and where the heart of our brand truly lives.

Life on a working smallholding

The smallholding is a mix of stables, fields, ponds, gateways and clay soil that teaches us something new every season. It is where we manage our own horses daily and where we learn, first-hand, what actually works in real yard life: from winter mud management to summer flies, from turnout challenges to daily routines that shift with the weather.

This lived experience shapes everything we choose to stock, recommend and design. When we talk about practicality, durability or fit, it comes from real use – not theory.

The horses behind Four Hills

Our horses are more than part of the scenery; they’re the reason we exist as a brand. Different ages, types and personalities mean we test products across a wide range of real-life needs:

• good-doers, sensitive types and the occasional escape artist,
• horses in work, horses in rehab, and retired or young horses living quietly at home,
• rug destroyers, mud rollers and the ones who believe fencing is optional.

Everything we stock has to hold up to the reality of everyday yard use – if it doesn’t work for us, we don’t sell it.

Moving operations to a dedicated unit

While the smallholding remains the heart and home of Four Hills, we now operate from a small warehouse unit around 15 minutes away.

This move allows us to:

• receive deliveries reliably during bad weather,
• avoid courier access issues during heavy rain and winter conditions,
• pack orders in a dedicated clean, organised space,
• offer smoother, more predictable dispatch days, and
• store stock safely and efficiently.

The smallholding still shapes the brand, the testing and the decisions – the warehouse simply makes day-to-day operations more practical for both us and our customers.

Local collection from our warehouse

Customers who live nearby can choose Local Collection at checkout. Collections take place from our warehouse unit, not the smallholding unless it's feed & bedding and are by appointment only so your parcel is ready and the process remains quick and easy.

Seasons on the land

The smallholding changes dramatically throughout the year, and those shifts guide our stock and our content. Summer means fly protection, hydration and lightweight layers. Winter means mud control, warm rugs, safe footing and reliable wet-weather gear.

Living with these realities keeps us honest about what is genuinely useful, comfortable and durable. If something saves time on a dark cold evening or stands up to daily use, we take notice – and those are the items we gravitate toward stocking.

Thoughtful land management

The land remains at the centre of everything we do. We’re gradually improving drainage, planting more trees, expanding shelter areas and creating spaces that support both horses and wildlife.

This mindset naturally influences how we run Four Hills Country. We favour slower, more intentional retailing, reuse packaging wherever possible, and focus on products that last.

Why the smallholding still matters

Even though orders are now processed from our warehouse, the smallholding is still the soul of our brand. It grounds us. It reminds us that every product we choose has to work in messy, unpredictable, real-world conditions.

When you shop with us, you’re supporting a small rural business built around real horses, real land and real people. Every order makes a difference – to the yard, the animals, and the future we’re building.

And if you ever want to know how something holds up in daily use, just ask. Chances are, we’ve tried it here first.