Vote for your BHS/ABRS Riding School of the Year for 2026

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SPILLERS Horse Feeds Riding School of the Year 2026

The BHS/ABRS-accredited riding school that sets the standard – both in rider satisfaction and horse welfare – when it comes to starting children or adults on their riding journey.

In a new category for 2026, we are celebrating the very best riding schools from around the country in the Horse & Hound Awards.

The shortlist

Barnwell Equestrian Centre

A group of riding instructors and staff from Barnwell Riding School

The riding school in Cornwall that breaks the mould, using social media to fund free lessons

Credited for “moving with the times and making riding accessible for all”, family-run Barnwell Equestrian Centre’s Chloe Tinson has inspired her community by going above and beyond to “get bums in saddles”.

By monetising her social media channels, Chloe has been able to fund free riding lessons at Barnwell for children who would otherwise be unable to access the opportunity.

“We’ve been learning with no blueprint to follow,” she says. “We’ve held 43 sessions so far, have 40 more funded and are aiming to get to 100 by the end of the year.

“I would encourage others to see if they can do similar.”

One happy client said: “There are lots of good riding schools, but this one genuinely changes people’s lives.”

Lancing Equestrian

Two young riders toss a horseball from one to the other while a lady holds both ponies. One pony is chestnut and white. The other pony is bay.

The West Sussex, rescue-oriented riding school that takes riders from first lesson to competition

Lancing Equestrian was nominated by happy clients who believe the centre “changes lives for both horses and riders”.

They say: “Lancing Equestrian demonstrates what a modern riding school can achieve with horse welfare, rider development and community as the three pillars that are mutually beneficial to each other.”

With welfare at the heart of everything they do, the riding school takes on rescues and gives them second lives as teaching partners, which allows children to develop genuine horsemanship skills rooted in understanding an animal’s needs.

The horses support riders from their first lesson right through to competition in a range of disciplines, including showjumping, dressage and mounted games.

Some students have gone on to join competitive teams, and even represented Great Britain at the 2026 European Horseball Championships.

Manston Riding Centre

A young boy holds his hands softly around a horse's muzzle as the horse breathes on his face. The horse looking out over the stable door

The Kent riding school – for equestrians of all ages – providing rescue horses with a second chance

Catering for a wide range of riders – up to the age of 80 – Manston Riding Centre provides what clients call “good, old-fashioned fun” and this year they’ve started adult pony days with great success.

The centre works with Kent Horse Rescue to help give rescued horses an education. Some stay at the riding school if they’re suitable, while others find homes with customers and have even gone on as far as Pony Club championships in their second-chance lives.

The team are passionate about the horses’ welfare but are also praised for their “always encouraging customers to strive for more, whether that’s learning new skills or reaching personal goals in life.”

Mullacott Equestrian Centre

Four riding school horses enjoy cantering along a beach

The Devon centre changing young riders’ lives through non-traditional education routes

Mullacott Equestrian Centre has been praised for having a “phenomenal approach with riders with special educational needs, giving them time, patience, responsibility and a belief in themselves to discover what they are truly capable of”.

While the centre takes pupils of all levels, it is part of the British Horse Society Changing Lives Through Horses programme and they’ve found that those with special educational needs gravitate to Mullacott and coach Hannah Fennell in particular.

The staff believe that even if traditional education doesn’t suit you, there are still opportunities to thrive, shine and be part of a team that helps them grow into well-rounded adults. One happy client described their positive impact as “immeasurable”.

About the Horse & Hound Awards 2026

The Horse & Hound Awards are celebrating their 11th year, being held in partnership with NAF and Agria.

As ever, the Horse & Hound Awards winners will be nominated and voted for by you, with the exception of the Horse & Hound Lifetime Achievement award, which is decided by a Horse & Hound panel. We intend to recognise both the big names who have made 2026 special and the unsung heroes who make it possible for all of us to enjoy equestrian sport and our horses, at every level.

The winners will be revealed at a glittering ceremony at Dallas Burston Polo Club in Warwickshire on 25 November, where some 300 people, including heroes of the summer’s World Championships, will gather to enjoy a glamorous evening of champagne, winner reveals, BAFTA-style speeches and dancing.

Carol is an experienced journalist and editor, who is also a passionate amateur rider and dedicated horse owner, having ridden since childhood. She has a particular interest in the emotional well-being and ethical training of horses, alongside veterinary matters, having garnered extensive first-hand experience of numerous equine health conditions through more than 30 years of horse ownership.