Riding in England?

Hey all, I have a really cool opportunity coming up where I’ll be in England for all of March and April with minimal school/work commitments. I’ll be in Cambridge while a family member teaches at the university and I’m wondering if anyone has recommendations for the best way to ride while there!

Riding wise I’m coming from somewhat of a unique situation, I haven’t ridden in over a year due to my gelding’s ongoing lameness issues and having 2 other young horses that aren’t yet started. I had to put my gelding down just over a month ago and with fewer board/vet expenses I’d like to get back in the saddle and reconnect with riding. Given that I’m out of shape and likely to be nervous getting back in the saddle I know I’m not a candidate for exercise riding type options and am totally cool with that, just wondering if anyone has any suggestions for learning/riding opportunities while I’m in Cambridge!

I’d really like to hack around as much as I can and if I can lesson and get in shape while I’m there that would be great too. It would also be really nice to find a place where I could do handling type lessons or get some more experience handling young horses or studs, always looking to increase my knowledge base in those areas!

I appreciate any suggestions/recommendations you may have, I’d love to be able to make my trip as horsey as possible (:

It’s a great part of the country to ride in! I’m from there, but I’ve been gone a very long time, so I can’t give you specific recommendations.

What I’d do is either go find the nearest decent-sized BHS riding school and talk to them about what they could offer you, or find a good local tack shop and go talk to the staff about where they would recommend.

And most tack shops in England have really good noticeboards with information about upcoming events, clinics, etc.

Have fun and report back!

1 Like

What sort of transport will you have access to? (Cambridge is very much a cycling town).

Within cycling distance to the South there’s a Haggis Farm, though that’s primarily a Polo Yard.

Closest true riding schools are Springhill in Dry Drayton to the NorthWest, just off A14 or Hall Farm in Waterbeach to the North off A10. Hall Farm do hacking, and would be my recommendation for a confidence building place.

Further out there’s quite a few more, Bridge Farm in Cottenham, South Cams EC out past Harston, Sawston RS in Sawston and Hill Top EC in Yelling. Hill Top has a really good rep for higher level lessons.

1 Like

Thanks guys!

@atr that’s a wonderful idea thank you, I will definitely check out the tack shops

@Abigor thank you so much! Transportation wise I have generous relatives who have told me “not to worry about it” so I think I’m pretty flexible? I’m trying to figure out what that means exactly lol. I’ll get in touch with Hall Farm and check out a few others, maybe once I’m a few weeks in I can lesson at Hill Top lol. Any recommendations for tack shops to check out?

Thanks again guys, will definitely report back on my equine adventures abroad (how’s that for a mouthful lol?)

Don’t forget all the other equestrian activities: point to points on a weekend (Horseheath is my favourite local to Cambridge), flat racing at Newmarket, jump racing at Huntingdon, eventing starts in March. There are a couple of local polo clubs. You might even manage some foxhunting before the season finishes at about the end of March. The Thurlow, The Puckeridge and The Suffolk are in reach (and their webpages might have info about hirelings or contact The Hon Sec). Newmarket (18 miles or so from Cambridge) has a fascinating Horse Racing Museum and anyone can go and watch the hundreds of horses out on the gallops in the mornings though there are organised tours that will take you to studs and yards too. And if you go down to London (45 mins by train), visit The Royal Mews and the Horse Guards Museum. You could also have a ride in Hyde Park along Rotten Row.

Since you will only be there 2 months and don’t want lessons, I’m not sure you will find anything other than trail riding? How much time do you have to ride etc and where are you staying? In the city or rural?

@Jealoushe
Hi! I’m more than happy to lesson, I’d just like to hack around the countryside as well. Looking for barn/program recommendations where that’s an option (:

The flat is about a 20 min walk from the city centre I believe. Time wise I’m pretty wide open, like I said above I’m lucky enough to be going at a time that I have minimal work or school commitments so most of my days are free and weekends are going to largely be spent travelling!

1 Like

Thank you so much! These are all wonderful suggestions!!

What a cool opportunity! I don’t have any suggestions but you should definitely ask on the Horse and Hound forums. They’re the UK equivalent of CoTH in many ways.

There’s also a big FB group called Eventing - UK that may be helpful too.

Ok that’s great, check this link out:

https://www.bhs.org.uk/enjoy-riding/find-a-place-to-ride

Thank you! I registered with H&H but somehow cannot figure out how to post myself lol, hopefully that will be a good resource once I can get on there!

@Jealoushe I’ve actually already been on the BHS site and perused their database! I was more looking for recommendations based on personal experiences and anecdotes (:

1 Like

I was a student there, oh so long ago. Such a lovely area - you’re going to have a great time!
Look up the Cambridge University Draghounds.

I rode at a friend’s place but it was out in Essex. I had a little Triumph Spitfire that I took back and forth. It burned oil like it was its job and stranded me one day just after the big roundabout at Newmarket. Still, loved that car! Highly recommend getting something to putter around in if you can. Then there’s no end of places to ride. Folks in the hunt community and in the university community can certainly set you on the right path.