Sky1 chooses The Stables for Fat Familes’ treat

Sky1 recently chose The Stables Equestrian Centre in Wilstead as the location for the inspirational goal in the last episode of the current series of Fat Families: Second Helpings. Having lost a total of almost 16 Stones, the Hadrell family visited The Stables along with program host Steve Miller to try their hand at horse riding.

The program is aimed at helping families lose weight through a combination of improvements in their diet and adopting appropriate exercise. The Second Helpings edition of the program sees Miller re-visit families he has already worked with, to assess their ongoing success and reward them with an activity that has been a long-term ambition.

The Hadrell family from Luton lost a total of 15 Stone 10 pounds throughout the course of the series and the producers contacted The Stables to see if it would be able to provide facilities for the family to try their hand at riding.

Describing The Stables as “an exclusive establishment”, Miller was on hand as owner Jo Samuel-Blackstock introduced the family to some of The Stables’ 28 horses. She gave each of the family members an assessment lesson, getting even the most inexperienced novice riders to trot by the end of their first try.

The Stables was also the location for the final weight-loss reveal, as well as the ceremonial dumping of the lard used to indicate the average weight loss of each of the four family members – a full wheelbarrow load.

Commenting after the program aired on 7 July 2010, owner Jo Samuel-Blackstock said; “Of course, we were delighted to help the producers of Fat Families when they asked if we could give the Hadrell family an introduction to horse riding.

“I gather that Matt had ridden before but not for some time, while Sarah, Eileen and Linda were all complete novices. But that’s what we do, so I wasn’t worried about getting them up and riding. In fact, once they’d overcome their apprehension about actually getting on the horses, they were fine and seemed to really enjoy the experience.

“It’s a wonderful vindication of the effort that the whole team here at The Stables has put in to develop the reputation, for Sky1 to choose to come here as part of the series. I am extremely proud of the professionalism that the staff showed when the production team was here, as well as how well-behaved the horses were, despite all the activity that went into filming for the day.

“Now, I just need to figure out what to do with four stone of lard!”

For the Sky1 Player, where the episode can be viewed, click here.