Moving to UK. Horse options?

[MTshowjumper]

I posted on Of Topic about moving to the UK. I was offered an Associateship position in the UK almost a year and a half ago, and the VISA process is FINALLY almost finished. They have me set to move there in January. I am equally excited and terrified. The position is in St Albans (in Hertfordshire), north of London. I have never been to the UK before, and the first time will be when I move there.

Sadly, I will have to sell my riding horse and find homes for my two older horses before I go. I want to ride while in the UK, but I don’t know the best way to go about it. I am an experienced rider in the Jumpers (competing through 1.2m), and eventing. I am ok with just taking lessons or leasing, but I don’t know how things work there. Will I be able to find lesson programs/horses for more than novice riders? Is leasing a good option in the UK? I usually have plenty of people throwing horses at me to ride and/or compete if I wished for free here in the US. Is that common in the UK too? I know Americans are considered too forward in the UK, so I hesitate to just show up at barns to introduce myself. Any advice/experiences? Any one familiar with that area?

[Erika]

I have no advice to share. What a grand adventure you are going on. Enjoy and keep us updated as things unfold.

Good luck,

Erika

[scruffy_the_cat]

Depends entirely on where you will be but if you are near Stanton or Broadway in the Cotswolds, give Jill Carenza a call. She has lots of “hirelings” for beginners all the way up to competition eventers and showjumpers so you can dip your toe into the waters before committing long term to anything. I have ridden one of her competition eventers (Tosca) and he’s the real deal. Super xc training options as well- she has a steeplechase course, galloping track, xc jumps, etc.
http://www.cotswoldsriding.co.uk/ or on Facebook: Cotswolds Riding at Jill Carenza Equestrian.

[eclipse]

I’ve facebooked a friend of mine and ex chronicle poster who lives near London! Hopefully she will be hear soon to give some advise.

[MTshowjumper]

Thank you!

[copper1]

Start reading Horse and Hound to get a feel of the horse community where you are and as I recall Hertforshire is pretty horsey. Drive around and stop and visit some stables you go by or attend a hunt or race meet

[snakeybird]

One option, if you are concerned about coming across as a pushy American, is to ask for advice from your future colleagues about local stables; most likely, someone will know someone who rides. Then, perhaps that someone can provide you with an introduction to the local horse scene. IME, and speaking as someone who has lived there, this is the way things are traditionally done in England. However, doing a bit of internet research and politely making inquiries is likely also acceptable, as lesson barns are, after all, businesses.

[solstince]

American here that moved from the States to the UK 6 years ago. The horsey world is so different here!
I have a small breeding program and might have something for you to ride :lol: But my horses live about an hour from St Albans I actually live part-time in Harpenden- a few mins from St Albans. Hertfordshire is very ‘posh’ and very horsey. And also not far from lots of other very horsey areas. But the notion of ‘eventing barns’ and ‘lesson programs’ etc doesn’t seem to exist here the same way it does in the States. Feel free to PM me I’m quite happy chat about what I’ve seen in 6 years. Also consider joining the Horse and Hound forum and starting to follow posts there.