Looking for the best showing in the UK? You need to live here…
With some of the best producers, training centres and shows in the area, property expert Carla Passino explains why Essex has all there is to offer if a showing haven is what you are looking for.
Why choose Essex for all of your showing needs?
Essex has an unusually high concentration of great showing riders and producers.
Which top riders can you expect to spot in the area?
Katie Jerram (pictured teaching), of Great Dunmow, has won countless accolades, not least with the horses she produces for The Queen. In Epping, Justine Armstrong-Small is one of the biggest names for working hunters and in Chelmsford, Lisha and Janay Leeman of Kellythorpe Stud are successful breeders, with several HOYS placings, including a first and second place in the Cuddy Supreme In-hand Championship in 2013. In Ongar, Terri Guyett has a strong reputation for showing ponies and M&Ms, while in Maldon, Team Colosso have joined forces with producer Leon King for what looks like an exciting season.
Beyond the showing crowd, Essex has a strong tradition of driving and is home to Team GB member Wilf Bowman-Ripley.
Where can you hone your skills?
Home to the British Show Pony Society (BSPS) area 15’s classes, Brook Farm in Stapleford Abbotts has excellent facilities and hosts regular Katie Jerram clinics.
Where can you get competitive?
Brook Farm runs affiliated and unaffiliated showing competitions, including qualifiers for the Royal International Horse Show (RIHS).
The National Pony Society’s (NPS) Area 14’s RIHS qualifiers are held at Ashfields Carriage Centre. Essex’s convenient location and good transport link make it easy to reach other venues across East Anglia and the South of England.
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What can you expect to pay?
The main price bracket for equestrian properties in Essex is £600,000 to £1 million, according to Zoe Napier of Zoe Napier Country & Equestrian.
Ref: Horse & Hound; 28 May 2015
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Carla Passino is a freelance writer on a range of topics, from property to women's luxury, food and drink.