How to make the most of summer evenings with your horse

We all know that summer means more daylight hours to enjoy with your horse. It also means keeping little ones busy during the school holidays, endless social engagements that you just can’t say no to, and all of this on top of your usual busy schedule.

So how on earth are you meant to fit in getting your horse out to shows when it really seems there aren’t enough hours in the day? Thank goodness for evening competitions.

Here’s just some of the fantastic venues who accommodate those of us who can only spare a couple of hours in the evening to get our horses out and about.

Leamside Equestrian, Durham

Ideal for: those who want to compete in the evening every week
Offers: evening unaffiliated dressage
             Evening unaffiliated showjumping

Grove Farm Equestrian, Oxfordshire

Ideal for: those wanting to have a go over a full set of championship British Showjumping fences
Offers: evening unaffiliated dressage
             Evening unaffiliated showjumping

Capricorn Equestrian Centre, Kent

Ideal for: those who don’t have time to plait and get into full competition gear
Offers: evening unaffiliated dressage

Inchcoonans Competition & Livery Yard, Perthshire

Ideal for: competitors in the east of Scotland
Offers: evening unaffiliated dressage

Forest Edge Arena, Norfolk

Ideal for: those wanting to shelter indoors from the elements when the summer weather turns!
Offers: evening unaffiliated showjumping

Cobham Manor Equestrian Centre, Maidstone

Ideal for: London commuters
Offers: evening unaffiliated dressage
             Evening unaffiliated showjumping

Chard Equestrian, Somerset

Ideal for: those who love a beautiful view
Offers: evening unaffiliated dressage
            Evening unaffiliated showjumping

Todburn Equestrian Centre, Morpeth

Ideal for: North-eastern competitors wanting an easily accessible show centre
Offers: evening unaffiliated dressage

Townlease Farm Livery, Wiltshire

Ideal for: Those on the M4 corridor
Offers: evening unaffiliated dressage

Beaver Hall, Staffordshire

Ideal for: those who love freshly prepared, locally sourced food from the on-site café
Offers: evening unaffiliated dressage
             Evening unaffiliated showjumping

Port Royal EEC, Yorkshire

Ideal for: north-eastern commuters
Offers: evening unaffiliated showjumping

Gemma Redrup

H&H features, racing and point-to-point editor

Gemma is an experienced journalist, having been part of the H&H team since 2014, who is passionate about all equestrian sports, including racing and point-to-pointing. She has enjoyed riding out for top trainers Nicky Henderson and Charlie Appleby and took part in a charity Flat race at in August 2018. Gemma’s reporting talents have taken her to numerous five-star events around Britain and Europe, as well as European championships.