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48 cross-country schooling venues you need to check out


  • If you would like to enjoy cross-country schooling this year, the facilities listed below should give you some ideas as to where you could go.

    Depending on the ground conditions and the time of year, you might prefer to school on grass or on an all-weather surface. We have plenty of examples of both options listed below.

    The number of all-weather facilities has increased significantly in recent years allowing riders to train on good going regardless of the time of year.

    All-weather schooling facilities

    Most all-weather courses are open all-year round, but there are some exceptions due to private bookings or extreme weather, so do phone ahead to check before pitching up to ride.

    Aston-le-Walls
    Washbrook Farm, Aston-le-Walls, Daventry, Northants, NN11 6RT
    www.astonlewalls.net
    Price: £36 per horse for the all-weather, £30 per horse for the grass course
    Notes: Grass cross-country schooling is available from February to November

    Hickstead showground
    The All England Jumping Course, Hickstead (Sat Nav: BN6 9HS)
    Hicksteadschooling.co.uk
    Tel: 01273 834315 or email:schooling@hickstead.co.uk
    £36 per hour for one horse
    Notes: All-weather cross-country schooling open October to April

    Lyneham Heath Equestrian
    Lyneham Heath Farm, Lyneham, Nr Chipping Norton, Oxon OX7 6QQ
    www.lynehamheathequestrian.co.uk
    tel: 01993 832 585/07836657395
    Email: info@lynehamheathequestrian.co.uk
    £35 per horse on the grass; £20 per hour on the all-weather loop
    Notes: All-weather cross-country loop open year-round. Grass open late spring

    Pontispool
    Norton Fitzwarren, Taunton, Somerset TA4 1BH
    www.pontispool.co.uk
    Tel: 01823 461196
    Email: info@pontispool.com
    £28 for grass cross-country, all-weather cross-country £25
    Notes: Grass cross-country schooling area open from February, all-weather is open November—March

    Somerford Park
    Holmes Chapel Road, Congleton CW12 4SW
    www.somerfordpark.co.uk
    Tel: 01260 299888
    £30 per horse for all-weather or grass
    Notes: All-weather available December to March. Grass available year-round

    Vale View Equestrian Centre
    Old Dalby, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, LE14 3LX
    www.valeviewequestrian.co.uk
    Tel: 01664 832739
    £33 per horse

    Open during winter

    Aylesford Equine
    Aylesford Lodge Farm, Shoby, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, LE14 3PF
    www.aylesfordequine.com
    Tel: 01664 812834/07885 617940 or 07904 110024
    £25 per horse, per hour, (£15 for under 14’s)

    Berwick Farm XC
    Berwick Farm, Stanford Rivers, Ongar, Essex, CM5 9PY
    www.berwickfarmxc.com
    tel: 01708 688232
    £30 per horse during the week or £32.50 for weekend bookings

    Bonfleur Cross-Country Course
    Bonfleur Lane, Maidstone
    www.bonfleurcrosscountrycourse.co.uk
    tel: 07976 138120
    £25 per horse

    Boomerang Stables
    Chilton Foliat, Hungerford, Berks RG17 0TW
    www.boomerangstables.co.uk
    tel: 07711 499596
    £28 per horse

    Burnham Market Eventing Centre
    Sussex Farm, Burnham Market, Norfolk PE31 8AG
    www.bm-ec.com
    tel: 07767 420357
    £25 per horse

    Chilham Park
    Chilham Castle Estate, Chilham, Canterbury, Kent CT4 8DB
    www.chilhampark.co.uk
    tel: 01227 730811
    £25 per horse

    Chiltern Cross-Country (CXC)
    Chiltern Cross Country, Oxford Road, Woodcote, Oxfordshire, RG8 0PH
    www.chilternxc.co.uk
    tel: 07767 370148
    £30 per horse

    Deer Park Cross Country
    Park Lane, Brockhampton, Glos GL54 5SR
    www.deerparkcrosscountry.co.uk
    tel: 01242 820881
    Email: info@deerparkcrosscountry.co.uk
    £20 per horse

    Field Farm Cross Country
    Field Farm, East Road, Wymeswold, Leics LE12 6ST
    www.fieldfarmcrosscountry.co.uk
    tel: 01509 880251
    £25 per horse, £20 for Pony Club members, reductions for groups

    Canter Hallington cross-country course
    Home Farm, Hallington, Louth, Lincs LN11 9QX
    www.canter-hallington.co.uk
    tel: 07767 440828 or 01507 605864
    £15 per horse

    Ely Eventing Centre
    Downham Common, Little Downham, Ely, Cambs, CB6 2TY
    www.elyeventing.co.uk
    tel: 01353 698839
    £30 per horse

    Gasston Stables
    Hurst Lane, Headley, Epsom, Surrey, KT18 6DY
    www.gasstonstables.co.uk
    tel: 07746 815796
    £25 per horse

    Golden Valley Equestrian Centre
    Coach Road, Alfreton, Derbyshire, DE55 4ES
    www.goldenvalleyequestriancentre.co.uk
    tel: 01773604520
    £15 per horse

    Helen Bell Equestrian
    The Paddocks, Breckenbrough, Thirsk, Yorks YO7 4EL
    www.helenbellequestrian.co.uk
    tel: 07708708967
    £25 per horse

    Kelsall Hill Equestrian Centre
    Organsdale Farm, Middlewich Road, Kelsall, Tarporley, Cheshire CW6 0SR
    www.kelsallhill.co.uk
    tel: 07809 689972
    £25 per horse

    Lincomb Equestrian
    Lincomb Farm, Lincomb, Nr Stourport on Severn, Worcs, DY13 9RB
    www.crosscountrycourse.co.uk
    tel: 07986200777
    £20 per horse, £15 per horse for under 16’s

    Littleton Manor Equestrian
    Littleton Manor Farm, Littleton Lane, Reigate, Surrey, Reigate, RH2 8LB, access via Littleton Manor Farm, Flanchford Road, Reigate Heath, RH2 8QZ
    www.lmeq.com
    tel: 07771 600033
    £25 per horse

    Mostyn Farm Ride and Cross Country
    Wern Home Farm, Tre Mostyn, Whitford, Holywell, Flintshire CH8 9AR
    www.mostynfarmride.co.uk
    tel: 07765 402738
    £15 per horse

    Munstead
    Heath Lane, Godalming, Surrey GU7 1UN
    www.munsteadhorsetrials.com
    tel: 07798 626075 (book online)
    £25 per horse

    Rosamund Green Farm
    Shepton Mallet, Somerset BA4 4JG
    www.rosamundgreenfarm.co.uk
    tel: 07511 078285
    £25 per horse

    Rosehill Equestrian Centre
    Rose Lane, Henley-on-Thames, RG9 3EB
    www.rosehillequestrian.co.uk
    tel: 01628 824078
    £20 per horse

    Swalcliffe Park Equestrian
    Swalcliffe, Banbury, Oxon OX15 5EX
    www.swalcliffeparkequestrian.co.uk
    tel: 01295 780206
    £25 per horse

    Tweseldown Racecourse
    Bourley Road, Church Crookham, Fleet, Hants, GU52 8DY
    www.tweseldown.co.uk
    tel: 07500 957246
    £30

    Specific opening times

    Angus Smales Eventing
    Chestnut Tree Farm, Somerby, Rutland
    www.facebook.com/angussmales
    £25 per horse or £50 per horse including hire and a lesson with Angus
    Notes: Opened for 2020 in January. To book, either send a private message to the Facebook page or text 07761180535

    Bicton Arena
    Yettington Road, East Burdleigh, Budleigh Salterton, Devon EX9 7BL
    www.bicton-arena.co.uk
    Tel: 01395 441162
    £25 per horse up to four horses, £20 for under 16’s, £13 for under 10’s
    Notes: Open from March

    Blackwater Farm Equestrian Centre
    Blackwater Lane, Great Witchingham, Norwich, Norfolk NR9 5PH
    www.blackwaterfarm.co.uk
    tel: 01603 873187 or 01362 688227
    £20 per horse, £15 for riders 18 years old and under

    Coombelands Equestrian
    Stane Street, Pulborough, West Sussex, RH20 1BQ
    www.coombelands-equestrian.co.uk
    Tel: 01798 872796
    £30 per horse
    Notes: Book online.

    Everleigh Equestrian
    Quickset Stables, Everleigh, Marlborough, Wilts SN8 3EU
    www.everleigh-equestrian.co.uk
    tel: 07990 571463/01264 852674
    £15 per horse

    Foxberry Chasers
    Foxberry, Caldwell, Richmond, North Yorks DL11 7QL
    www.foxberry.co.uk
    tel: Text 07793 444247
    £25 per horse

    Gloucester Lodge Farm
    Blyth, Northumbs NE24 3PH
    www.gloucesterlodgefarm.co.uk
    tel: 01670 353633
    £10 per horse

    Iping
    Hammerwood, Iping, Midhurst, West Sussex, GU29 0PF
    www.ipingcrosscountrycourse.co.uk
    Tel: 01730 813635
    £25 per horse
    Notes: Open April to October

    Hillocks Farm
    Cleobury Morimer, Shrops DY14 0EB
    www.hillocksfarm.org.uk
    tel: 01299 270710 or 07970 278839
    £20 per horse

    Little Whittington
    Little Whittington Farm, Corbridge, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE19 2LA
    www.littlewhittingtonxc.co.uk
    Tel: 01434 672340
    £20 per horse
    Notes: Call to book — specific opening times. Open from March

    Nurstead Court
    Nursetad Church Lane, Meopham, Gravesend, Kent, DA13 9AD
    www.nursteadcourt.co.uk
    Tel: 0800 0934935 or 07971164023
    Email: info@nursteadcourt.co.uk
    £25 per horse
    Notes: open  at certain times — check website for details

    Parwood Equestrian Centre
    Great Westwood, Westwood Lane, Normandy, Guildford, Surrey GU3 2JE
    www.parwood.co.uk
    tel: 01483 813860
    £25 per horse
    Notes: Open April to October

    Rabson Manor
    Winterbourne Bassett, Swindon, Wilts SN4 9QF
    www.rabsonmanor.co.uk
    tel: 01793 731202/07765 924252
    Email: info@rabsonmanor.co.uk
    £22.50 per horse

    Rein & Shine Equestrian Centre
    1 Buryhill Farm, Braydon, Wilts SN5 0AD
    www.reinandshine.co.uk
    tel: 01666 860068
    Email: info@reinandshine.co.uk
    £20 per hour
    Notes: Open from May. You must pre-book. Fee reduced to £10 per hour if the rider has competed in one of the centre’s cross-country-based events

    Sapey
    Cockshutts Farm, Upper Sapey, Worcester, WR6 6XU
    www.sapeycrosscountry.co.uk
    Tel: 07970 652320
    £20 per horse
    Notes: Open April to October. You must pre-book

    Stockland Lovell
    Stockland Lovell Manor, Coultings, Bridgwater, Somerset, TA5 1JJ
    www.stocklandlovell.com
    Tel: 01278 652224
    Email: info@stocklandlovell.com
    £25 per horse, under 16’s £20
    Notes: Tends to be open for 10 months of the year

    Stour
    Field Dairy Farm, Spetisbury, Blandford, Dorset, DT11 9EE
    www.stourxc.co.uk
    Tel: 07583 797420
    £25 per horse, £15 per horse for the mini course
    Notes: Open March to October

    Team Jones Equestrian
    Lowlands Farm, Barrowden Lane, South Luffenham, Rutland, LE15 8NH
    www.teamjonesequestrian.com
    Tel: 07841 747816
    £25 per horse
    Notes: Open when weather allows. Any riders who wish to hire, and who have not competed at three-star level or above must be accompanied by a rider or trainer who has competed at three-star level or above, or alternatively book a cross-country lesson with five-star rider Richard Jones

    Thornton Lodge Country Sports
    Thornton Lodge Farm, Easingwold, York YO61 3QA
    www.thorntonlodgefarm.co.uk
    tel: 01347 821306 or 07968 268835
    £25 per horse
    Notes: Open from March to October

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