The handling of the decision to sell a London 2012 Olympic legacy centre came under fire in a lively debate – but the resolution still stands.

H&H reported on questions surrounding the future of the Greenwich Equestrian Centre in Shooters Hill in 2024. The £1.6m venue had a significant amount of public funding, including a £250,000 direct investment from Sport England.

The Royal Borough of Greenwich’s decision-making cabinet agreed to dispose of the site in less than a minute during a meeting on 26 November. Members of the public contacted councillors, who called in the decision – asking for it to be looked at again.

The matter went before the council’s overview and scrutiny committee on Wednesday (8 January), when the handling of the decision on the equestrian centre was discussed in depth. This included hearing from a number of members of the community.

Cllr Matt Hartley, one of the signatories of the call-in, branded the decision-making process as a “complete contradiction” of the council’s own “very glossy” community engagement pledge and described the “disappointing” lack of engagement as making “a mockery of the council’s own words about engaging communities”.

“The panel will be aware that there is widespread public opposition to the disposal of the equestrian centre site,” he said.

“Two petitions have been handed in to the council with more than 1,400 signatures combined, and many of the residents signing the petition want to see a return to equestrian use, at least in part, as part of the future of the site.

“And that’s one option – there are surely lots of different options that could be explored with a bit of imagination. Explored together, collaborating with the community on how to utilise this asset to achieve everybody’s objectives, the community groups’ objectives, but also the council’s own corporate objectives and political objectives, not least around health and wellbeing in our borough.”

Members of the cabinet said the correct processes had been followed, it had engaged with certain parties, and that “being financially responsible means making tough decisions”. They also said a two-week consultation on the future of the site is yet to take place.

“To remain financially stable and deliver the frontline public services that our residents deserve, we have to make the best use of resources and land that we own,” said cabinet member Cllr Averil Lekau, who later added that the equestrian centre “is just not the luxury we can afford”.

“The recommended disposals mean that we can put more resources into protecting frontline council services that residents need,” she said.

“We’re going to have to make £33.7m in savings to balance the budget and protect these services. Next year, we’re forecasting a budget gap of another £27m. Cabinet considered the cost of running different services and facilities, including the business case for repurposing, and concluded that there was no reasonable prospect for these coming back into use for council priorities.”

She added: “We have a difficult choice to make. I don’t think any council wants to throw out the family silver here, but we’re in very, very challenging situations.”

In response to queries about the lack of engagement with British Equestrian (BEF) and Sport England, interim head of property Steve Dunevein told the meeting the council had met with both for an hour each in October.

BEF chief executive Jim Eyre said the briefing document for this meeting “inferred long consultation with us” which he described as “slightly disingenuous”.

“We did have a meeting. We had sought a meeting for quite some time, and actually, although it was an open meeting, the decision was a ‘fait accompli’ – there wasn’t much room for negotiation,” he said.

“The decision has clearly been made through an optic of finances without consideration of the social and community value these centres create.”

Mr Eyre “strongly” recommended the decision to dispose of the centre be reversed, that the council ensure any future consultation “is consultation” and that “there is sufficient opportunity” to enable the centre to “return to the valuable community asset it can be”.

He added: “The centre is not just about horses, it’s about people. It provides vital access to allow children from all backgrounds to have the opportunity to experience a unique relationship with the horse and have the opportunity to broaden their horizons. It can be transformative and aspirational. These are not just local benefits. They’re reasonable opportunities for inclusion, recreation, employment and even environmental stewardship.

“Like pitches and pools, it should be part of the council strategy for sports facilities focusing on the need for health and well being not marginalised because it doesn’t fit the norm. Once this land is lost, it’s lost for good.”

A member of the public added: “Disposing of a centre like this really doesn’t just mean losing a building, it means closing the door on future opportunities and possibilities, on untapped talent that we do’’t even know is out there. We’re constantly telling young people to dream big. How can we do that if we are not giving people opportunities?”

Tao Baker, who has been campaigning to save the centre with the hope of running it as a community facility once more, said: “The council’s decision to sell the site, made without notifying the community or seeking input, fails to follow proper process.

“Public open space must be protected by transparency and consultation, neither of which has occurred here. This undermines trust and contradicts the council’s own commitments to fairness and inclusion.”

She added that metropolitan open land “is protected” and can only be released under exceptional circumstances.

“Financial difficulty does not constitute exceptional circumstances,” she said.

Committee chair Lauren Dingsdale, who cast the deciding vote, said the original decision will stand. She also urged cabinet members to take into account what they had heard, in terms of engaging with interested parties when making subsequent decisions.

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A £1.6M city equestrian centre built as part of the London 2012 Olympic legacy is to be sold, in a “loss for the community and the sport as a whole”.

The Royal Borough of Greenwich’s cabinet approved the sale of the Greenwich Equestrian Centre in Shooters Hill in under a minute, during a meeting on 26 November. Documents cite “easing financial pressures” as a reason.

Council members have submitted a call-in of the decision; asking for it to be considered again.

The centre’s creation was funded by several sources, including the council, Hadlow College, direct investment by Sport England, plus financial backing from British Equestrian (BEF).

BEF head of participation Mandana Mehran Pour told H&H the BEF “was not consulted during the decision-making process” and was “first made aware of the closure of the site by concerned members of the local community”.

“Despite our efforts to engage with Greenwich council’s CEO and regeneration director, our offer to meet and discuss the matter was not accepted,” she said.

“It was only after involving Sport England who invested in that site – they have a 25-year agreement that prevents the council repurposing the site – that the council’s property team agreed to meet with us, but by then, the decision was too far advanced to influence the outcome.

“We are deeply disappointed by Greenwich council’s decision, especially without prior engagement with British Equestrian or Sport England.”

She added: “The loss of equestrian centres – especially in urban settings like Greenwich – is an alarming trend. These facilities are vital in providing accessible opportunities for people to connect with animals, develop new skills and benefit from the physical and mental health advantages of equestrianism.

“This decision is not only a loss for the local community but also for the sport as a whole.”

She added that the BEF “has been in continuous dialogue since this issue was raised with the council” and “will continue to do what we can”.

H&H has approached Sport England for comment.

A Change.org petition to save the centre, started by horse owner and businesswoman Tao Baker, had reached more than 1,000 signatures as H&H went to press on 9 December. Ms Baker has been urgently trying to save the venue, with the intention of running it as a community facility (news, 8 August).

“I’m not going to give up on this, as I think there is something special to offer disadvantaged communities and to give young people different career choices,” Ms Baker told H&H, voicing disappointment and frustration with the council, as well as a call for sporting and equestrian organisations to “step up” and do more to help.

Dr Barry Gray, chairman of Woodlands Farm Trust – the UK’s largest independent working community farm – which borders the equestrian centre, told H&H the farm is “really worried” about the potential impact of the sale and the “complete lack of consultation”.

He said the farm “wants to live at peace with the council”, adding: “[The equestrian centre] is a publicly owned site, with publicly owned buildings on it, and we feel the people of Greenwich ought to have a say in what happens to it.”

He added that it is “vital” to keep some form of equestrian use at the site, which he said also has “great potential to be a community hub”.

“I can’t believe anyone with that asset in their borough would want to sell it,” he said.

A council spokesperson told H&H that it is “a well-managed council, but to remain financially stable and provide the services that residents deserve, we must make the best use of the land and properties we own”.

“Councils all over London are reckoning with a legacy of slashed income, rising costs and increasing demand for adult and children’s social care, and a housing emergency,” they said.

“In the last year we have had to make £33.7m in savings to cover our shortfall and balance our budget, but next year we’re forecasting a budget gap of at least £27m. Our priority is to ensure we get the best possible results and deliver good value for money to benefit all our residents.”

The spokesperson added that for any site that is recommended to be sold, the council would invite bits through a transparent and comprehensive process. They declined to comment further, until the scrutiny panel has had the opportunity to discuss.

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Fourteen-year-old Annie Salthouse had the full gambit of experience on her Longines Global Champions Tour (LGCT) debut in London when she fell off her ride Fame in Saturday’s CSI2* 1.15m class, only to turn her luck around with an accomplished victory in Sunday’s final.

“I had a really bad show to start with, I had poles and I fell off him in the ring, so I needed to redeem myself,” said Annie, who is lives in Hertfordshire but trains with Richard Howley in Yorkshire.

“Yesterday I just didn’t trust him, I can go so negative on him, but he’s incredible. He reminds me of a pet Labrador or something, he’s the sweetest thing.”

Annie started riding the 14-year-old gelding, one of Richard’s former CSI5* speed horses, in September but they didn’t quite gel until this summer, when they claimed a victory in the amateur 1.10m final at Bolesworth.

“It was a bit sticky at the start,” said Annie, who is home schooled so she can be flexible with her riding commitments. “He’s a sensitive horse and difficult at times but when we got to Bolesworth it all clicked.

“He’s a very quick horse but he feels like he has a pony stride.”

‘You don’t get time to think’

This CSI2* 1.15m final was held under the unusual “immediate jump off format” — similar to a two-phase, except there is a gap and a bell between rounds, and the second half of the course is then jumped again.

First-to-go Grace Wallace set a long-standing lead with Eau Claire V, before she was usurped in the final throes by Imogen Beecroft (Chablis).

Four riders from the end of the class, Annie cut a swathe through the leaderboard, storming into a 2sec lead.

“The format isn’t quite as good as a normal jump off but you can jump round and see where you need to go, and then you stop and let them have a breather,” she said. “I was very nervous but the best thing about it is you don’t get time to think about going into a jump off and going fast, you just have to go for it!”

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All-round horsewoman Nicky Hanbury’s journey from the hunting field to the showjumping ring hit a new level when she finished first and fifth in the Hyde Park Stables CSI2* 1.15m on her London Longines Global Champions Tour debut.

Nicky switched disciplines three years ago with her home-bred hunters Two To Tango and Park Polo, who she says have “always had to be careful jumpers as I cut a dash hopping gates as field master of the Quorn!”

She set an early lead in this table A class on seven-year-old Tango, only for three riders to bump her down the rankings. But she snatched back her advantage jumping from final draw on Tango’s half brother, 12-year-old Park Polo, to beat Ireland’s Aisling Byrne to the win with 0.88sec to spare.

“Tango was born with his neck bent backwards and he later developed arthritis, he throws the most amazing jump and never touches a pole but he’s not so quick at turning, as he’s a bit like riding a plank. He has shockwave, injections, a massage rug, a heat rug and physio once a week and he’s worth it!” Nicky said.

“Polo is out of the same dam but he is very different, he’s like riding a pony, and I knew I could do really tight turns on him.”

‘I wanted a real jumping machine’

Both horses were out of a mare Nicky bought for her husband, who was a field master of the Quorn for 35 years, after he broke his neck on the hunting field.

“I wanted a real jumping machine to make sure he was safe and I found her,” Nicky said. “She was only 15.3hh and he’s 6’3” but he field mastered off her for three years.

“Malcolm Pyrah, who I rode for 20 years ago, said to me one day that he had some semen from Talan I could have if I had a mare who was good enough, which she was as she was a grade A by Quidam. I had to say to my husband that I was taking the mare back!

“These two are what I bred [Tango is by Esteban]. I am a very lucky girl, I love them, they are like my children!”

‘Di Lampard has made a tweak here and there’

Nicky’s transition to the show jumping arena has been made smoother as she’s had some “very good guidance” over the years from both Malcolm and her close neighbour, British team manager Di Lampard.

“I’ve known her all my life and she’s helped me with a tweak here and there,” she said. “I’ve had a message from both of them since winning!”

This year Nicky made her British team debut when she took Tango to Italy as part of the veteran European squad, returning home with a team silver medal.

“We were jumping in 40 degrees and he got heatstroke and I had Covid, although I didn’t know it at the time, we had two down in the final round which was uncharacteristic,” she said.

“He came back quite poorly and it’s taken six weeks to recover, although he’s back on fire now, he nearly smacked me off in the collecting ring!”

Fifty-six-year-old Nicky decided to make the trip from Leicestershire to London for the LGCT on the recommendation of Judy Pyrah.

“She said it’s got your name written all over it, have some fun,” she said. “It’s very beautiful here and a bit surreal!”

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Two British teenagers left more experienced riders trailing in their wake when they claimed a CSI2* class apiece on the second day of the London Longines Global Champions Tour (LGCT).

Ever-competitive Whitaker brothers James and George had to settle for runner-up spots behind the pair, with James finishing second to 19-year-old Rachel Proudley in the Hunter Woodshavings 1.45m and George being beaten by 15-year-old Noora Von Bulow in the 1.30m Martin Collins London Cup.

London-based Noora was on her second appearance at Chelsea but was claiming her first LGCT victory, riding her partner of three years Interstar B.

Their unhurried and intelligent round, which included a wonderfully economical line from the double to the final oxer, left them 0.81sec ahead of George and his father-in-law Martin Wood’s mare Zirocca Zoom.

“He’s had a few busy weeks as we were jumping [on the junior team] at the Europeans, so I just wanted to give him a really nice round,” Noora said. “He likes a bit of speed and I think he really enjoyed that and I really enjoyed that!

“I’d walked the last line as a seven or an eight and I thought I’d see what I ended up on but going on the inside line on the seven worked really well for me.”

‘We’ve created so many good memories’

Interstar B was a very successful young horse, winning many age finals and the grade C final at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) in 2021, before he was sold to the Von Bulows. Noora and the 11-year-old I’m Special De Muze gelding have since become a consistent member of junior European squads.

“The last two years have been really strong years for both of us and we’ve created so many good memories,” Noora said. “We’ve gained experience together and really created a bond.”

The win comes two days before Noora moves from London to Belgium to more effectively juggle her school and competitive commitments.

“School is always a priority and it’s important to my family and me to have a proper balance,” Noora said.

“For the past few years the horses have been 1hr45 away from us [with Tony Newberry and Fiona Dunning], so I only get to ride at the weekends. We’ll be continuing with them in Belgium.”

Yorkshire-based Rachel Proudley capped a month of firsts with new ride Petitfour VD Wareslage when she secured a commanding victory on her LGCT debut.

Jumping from early doors in the Hunter Woodshavings CSI2* 1.45m, Rachel shot more than 10sec into the lead on the zippy nine-year-old gelding, leaving the remaining 34 combinations vying fruitlessly to topple her time.

‘He’s one you can always go in and try for the win on’

Just previous day’s victor James and Just Call Me Henry posed a valid threat, managing to get within 0.61sec, but the remainder of the field trailed more than 5sec behind.

“It wasn’t an ideal draw but it paid off anyway,” said Rachel, who is currently riding both her own string and for Richard Howley’s HK Horses.

“It was a good course today that suited my horse, he’s not very big but he is quick on his turnbacks and he’s quick across the ground.”

Petitfour VD Wareslage was bought by Rachel’s owner John Chadwick from HK Horses in June and since then the pair has chalked up a series of notable wins.

Rachel claimed her first area trial victory with him at Royal Lancs at the end of last month, before heading to Samorin, where she secured two CSI2* wins, including her first rankings class victory.

“It’s nice to have kept the ride on him,” she said. “He’s one you can always go in and try for the win on.”

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The five military working horses who were injured after running loose through London in April are “recovering with remarkable speed”, as are their riders.

An update from the Army today (4 June) said that three of the horses are now back on duty and “against all expectations” are looking likely to take part in The King’s Birthday Parade (15 June). The other two are continuing to recuperate in the countryside at The Horse Trust.

Commanding officer of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment (HCMR) lieutenant colonel Mathew Woodward said that is is “very likely” that Trojan, Tennyson and Vanquish will participate in Trooping the Colour this month.

“The remaining two, Vida and Quaker, are enjoying a summer holiday in the Chilterns thanks to The Horse Trust,” he said.

“They are expected to make a full recovery and we look forward to seeing them back on duty in due course. Of the two most seriously injured soldiers, one is continuing his recovery at home and the other at the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre, Stanford Hall. They are both considered likely to return to military service in the fullness of time.”

On 24 April, the horses were out on morning exercise in Belgravia when they spooked by construction rubble being dropped through a plastic tunnel. The horses were seen galloping through the streets, as police and the Army worked together to catch them.

Jeanette Allen, chief executive at The Horse Trust, said that it “has been a privilege to provide these wonderful horses with the space and time needed to fully recover”.

“It’s been so lovely to see Trojan, Tennyson and Vanquish enjoying such a relaxing break and now we have Vida and Quaker already loving their time here,” she said.

“All five horses are much younger than our regular service residents and seeing them running, rolling and generally having fun after such a challenging experience, is a real joy.”

Today’s statement from the Army added that the horses’ “remarkable recovery is thanks in no small part to the excellent in-house care they’ve received from the Army’s own dedicated veterinary surgeons and the amazing specialist support provided by The Horse Trust”.

The statements said that all injured soldiers and horses received expert emergency care immediately after the incident, and the horses were then put under constant supervision by Army vets.

Once Trojan, Tennyson and Vanquish were well enough to travel, they were sent for respite at The Horse Trust. After careful assessment, they were found fit to return to London and were collected on 29 May.

“The Horse Trust understands the importance of maintaining an active lifestyle for animals to prevent sickness and injury. Returning to work can help facilitate this lifestyle for the horses, ensuring they remain fit, healthy and enjoy long and fulfilling lives,” said the statement.

“On the same day that Trojan, Tennyson, and Vanquish left the Chilterns to return to Hyde Park Barracks, Vida and Quaker – the two most severely injured horses – were pronounced fit to travel and arrived at The Horse Trust for their respite care, having been discharged from veterinary care in London.

“Vida and Quaker have made a remarkable physical recovery and showed great enthusiasm and joy upon their arrival at The Horse Trust, galloping into fresh pastures. Vida, the Cavalry Grey, wasted no time in turning from white to brown as he rolled in the grass. The horses appeared bright and in good spirits, clearly displaying a close bond with each other and the soldiers who accompanied them.

“The horses will remain with The Horse Trust for as long as they need before being assessed for their suitability to return to work. Onsite veterinary care is available 24/7 to provide any necessary treatment during their stay.

“The long-standing relationship between The Horse Trust and HCMR provides for the perfect support as the military working horses unwind and relax in the Chilterns.”

The statement added: “Both the Army and The Horse Trust have been overwhelmed by the amount of public care and interest in the recovery of the soldiers and horses affected by the incident, and would like to thank everyone that expressed their concern and best wishes for a speedy recovery – they look to have been granted!”

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A police horse who was injured in a vicious dog attack in a London park has moved to the Horse Trust to continue his recovery.

Urbane sustained multiple wounds to his chest, torso and legs when he was attacked in Victoria Park, Tower Hamlets, while on duty in March.

He is recovering at the Buckinghamshire charity; the plan is for him to spend the next four to six weeks there, and the aim is for him to return to active service.

“He suffered appalling injuries, and the Horse Trust is the right place for him to come to continue his recovery, where he will deservedly receive our world-leading veterinary care and respite,” said the charity’s chief executive, Jeanette Allen.

“Like all our horses here at the Horse Trust, Urbane is a brave, big-hearted, loveable animal. He has a wonderful character and is incredibly reliable.

“As we have specialist skills in caring for police horses, we are honoured to be entrusted with Police Horse Urbane’s ongoing recovery, which will be administered with expert care by our staff and volunteers and supported by kind donations from the public.”

Ms Allen added that Urbane has “served Londoners faultlessly” at events including Trooping the Colour, changing of the guard and The late Queen’s funeral, and has “kept the public safe” when on duty at football matches and demonstrations.

Despite the injuries Urbane suffered from the dog who attacked him, he has already been pictured befriending his vet’s Labrador, and it is hoped the horse will make a complete recovery, both psychologically and physically.

“We were all shocked and devastated by the dog attack on Police Horse Urbane, who is a remarkably dependable horse with a playful side to his character,” said Sgt Carly Harber, of the Metropolitan Police mounted section.

“We are so grateful to the Horse Trust for offering respite to this magnificent member of our equine team, and we will be watching his recovery with great affection and hope.”

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Horse riding in London has never been more popular and for city-dwelling equestrians there are more opportunities than you might imagine to enjoy some time in the saddle amidst the concrete jungle.

Whether you’re a rookie rider looking to learn the ropes in a safe environment or an experienced equestrian looking for fast-paced thrills, there are stables to be found nestled in the shadows of the city’s skyscrapers, and some of London’s vast and plentiful green parks are best explored on horseback.

You may not always be able to escape the constant drone of double decker buses and beeping horns, but horse riding in London is one of the greatest escapes from city living.

Where to go horse riding in London

1. Hyde Park Stables

Where: 63 Bathurst Mews, London W2 2SB

You can’t find a more central location than Hyde Park Stables, one of the last standing mews with horses in Central London and an equestrian venue for over 300 years. You can ride out, escorted by an instructor, into the 350-acre Hyde Park, down the world famous Rotten Row and beside the beautiful Serpentine lake, or stick to the outdoor arena if you prefer. All levels of horse riders, both adults and children from the age of four, are catered for and you can choose from either private or semi-private options all year round.

Prices: from £115 for a 1hr semi-private arena lesson or lesson ride in the park, Monday to Sunday.

2. Wimbledon Village Stables

Where: 24a/b High Street, Wimbledon SW19 5DX

Experienced equestrians wanting to go horse riding in London should set off to SW19 and make the most of 3,000 acres of beautiful hacking through Wimbledon Common and Richmond Park. Wimbledon Village Stables (WVS) is a members’ riding club, although experienced non-members are also able to ride on weekdays (Tuesday to Friday) on one of their beautifully schooled horses. As well as offering arena lessons and idyllic hacking with an expert team of instructors, the yard boasts a fully interactive horse simulator in their Equicise studio – a great training aid for riders of all standards. Livery services are available for any city-living horse owners and there is also a busy social calendar to enjoy with lecture demos, guest speakers, competitions and parties.

Prices: from £80 for a 1hr ride on Wimbledon Common, Tuesday to Friday. Membership starts from £450 per year for occasional riders.

3. Stag Lodge Stables

Where: Stag Lodge 1, Robin Hood Gate, Richmond Park, London SW15 3RS.  Stage Lodge 2, 197 Robin Hood Way, London, SW20 0AA

Split between two locations, Stag Lodge 1 is situated at the Robin Hood Gate entrance of Richmond Park and offers direct access for spectacular hacking for all abilities and pony park lessons for three to six-year-olds. Meanwhile the 11-acre site just down the road at Stag Lodge 2 boasts several large floodlit outdoor arenas and is the place to go for riding lessons. There are courses available to book for children and adults, including the hugely popular pony weeks during school holidays, and a thriving Pony Club. There are over 70 horses of every shape and size at Stag Lodge Stables and they offer various livery services if you want to keep your own horse in the city, too. Such is the venue’s popularity, however, there’s currently a waiting list for under-16s wanting to register.

Prices: from £30 for a half-hour pony park lesson (Mon-Fri). 1hr private lessons start at £65 and adult group hacks from £45

4. Lee Valley Riding Centre

Where: 71 Lea Bridge Road, London E10 7QL

Head to Lee Valley Riding Centre in Leyton where you can enjoy a wealth of fantastic facilities — an indoor arena, two floodlit outdoor arenas, showjumping and cross-country courses and spectators’ area. It offers horse riding lessons for beginners through to more experienced riders, livery and its programme of activities includes pony days, have a go sessions, birthday parties, school groups and training courses.

Prices: From £22 for a 30min junior have a go lesson, off-peak riding lessons start from £45 for 30min

5. The Pony Club

Growing up in central London does not rule out the joys of Pony Club — from camps and water fights to tests and badges. There are Pony Club Centres — where children without a pony can take part in Pony Club activities — across the capital, including Lee Valley, Ealing Riding School and Stag Lodge.

Prices: membership from £37 per year

6. Vauxhall City Farm

Where: 165 Tyers Street, London SE11 5HS

A farm in the middle of London? Yes, really! Just a short stroll from Vauxhuall tube station and within earshot of Big Ben, you can find an oasis of animal heaven, with a small selection of horses and ponies available for a limited number of lessons for adults and children, as well as the RDA. There are stable management lessons available at Vauxhall City Farm, too. Supporting children and disadvantaged people is key to Vauxhall City Farm’s ethos and they also offer a range of educational, recreational and therapeutic support programmes and activities. Even if you just want a horsey fix without getting in the saddle, entry to the farm (Tuesday-Sunday) is by donation, where you can also meet the farm’s huge menagerie of other animals.

Price: from £40 for 45mins lesson

7. Dulwich Riding School

Where: Dulwich Common, London SE21 7EX

Waiting lists at riding schools are becoming more and more common – not just for those wanting to go horse riding in London – and Dulwich Riding School’s is lengthy, but these popular stables are worth the wait for riders aged six and over. They offer group, private and semi-private lessons from complete beginners to novice dressage in their covered indoor arena or outdoor ring, going into the evening on Mondays and Fridays. They are also available for birthday parties and school bookings, plus the all-important “own a pony for a day”.

Prices: from £30 for 1hr group lesson

8. London Equestrian Centre

Where: Lullington Garth, Woodside Park Finchley, London N12 7BP

Set in 34 acres of green belt land and just a short walk or bus ride from Mill Hill East tube station on the northern line make these friendly stables a perfect commute for north Londoners. London Equestrian Centre offers a variety of horses and ponies to accommodate all standards of riders – children can start at the age of four, or keen three-year-olds can take part in 15min “tiny tot” rides. Pony and young rider days take place during school holidays, where children learn how to groom and look after the ponies as well as taking part in group lessons. They also have a select number of livery places available and a welcoming cafe to enjoy after your exertions in the saddle.

Prices: from £50 for a 30min private lesson or 1hr group lesson (£25 for tiny tot rides)

9. Ealing Riding School

Where: 17-19 Gunnersbury Avenue, Ealing, London W5 3XD

Hop on the district line underground to Ealing Common or the Piccadilly line to Acton Town where you’ll find the small, friendly stables of Ealing Riding School. They welcome complete beginners from the age of four to experienced riders, all of whom can enjoy lessons in outdoor arenas from an experienced team of instructors on one of their 28 horses ranging from 11h to 16.2hh. Choose from private, semi-private, group or jumping lesssons and there is BHS stage one and two training, plus limited disability rides. There’s a fantastic range of activities for children to take part in, plus competitions, a vibrant Pony Club and even a reading group.

Prices: from £33 for a 30min children’s group lesson or £49 for a 1hr group lesson for adults.

10. Docklands Equestrian Centre and Newham Riding School

Where: 2 Clapsgate Lane, Beckton, London E6 6JF

Nestled just off the A13 in Beckton, East London, you’ll find 22 horses and ponies stabled at Docklands EC in an open-plan American style barn next to a 20x60m indoor arena and a floodlit 20x40m outdoor arena where lessons are available to riders of all abilities. There are regular competitions and clinics, as well as the ever-popular range of children’s activities. For riders over the age of 12 who want to gain experience in stable management, there is a points-based volunteers programme leading to free riding lessons.

Prices: pony rides for tiny riders start from £1.50 per lap while a 1hr adult group lesson is £35.

11. Trent Park Equestrian Centre

Where: Bramley Road, London N14 4UW

Escape the city’s hustle and bustle at this vibrant riding school just five minutes walk from Oakwood tube station on the Piccadilly line, offering a wealth of options for horse riding in London. From group and individual lessons, to livery services, BHS training, showjumping and cross-country lessons to exhilarating hacking through the stunning surroundings of Trent Country Park for competent riders and three-hour pub rides, plus pony days for children, Trent Park Equestrian Centre has something for all horse-mad Londoners.

Prices: 1/2hr private lessons for children start at £35, 45min group lessons for adults start at £53

12. Deen City Farm

Where: 39 Windsor Avenue, Merton Abbey, Nr Wimbledon, London SW19 2RR

A five-acre slice of the countryside in south-west London, Deen City Farm is one of the city’s oldest urban farms with a riding school offering affordable lessons to the local community. Run as a charity, there are 12 horses and ponies stabled on site, all of whom can be sponsored, and are available for pony rides or adult lessons in the floodlit outdoor arena, or you can book a simulator lesson on “Robohorse”. The “own a pony” days for children aged eight or over during school holidays are extremely popular, too.

Prices: from £29 for half-hour lead rides for children, adult lessons start from £39

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A pair of Shire horses who appeared in the Platinum Jubilee celebrations at Royal Windsor Horse Show have undertaken a final act of service for The Queen.

Operation Centaur’s working Shires Heath and Nobby, aged 17 and 14 respectively, have been helping collect the many thousands of floral tributes in Green Park and Hyde Park.

The pair, who both stand at 18.3hh, pulled flatbed drays – a traditional open card usually used in conservation work across the Royal Parks – to help collect the flowers left by members of the public in tribute to Her Majesty.

They took the bouquets to the leaf pen in Kensington Gardens, where they will be blended with leaf litter and other green waste, to be composted and turned into mulch. That compost will in turn be used in London’s parks, including for the floral displays outside Buckingham Palace.

“The thousands of tributes that have been left held great sentiment for the people who travelled from all over the country to mark their respects for The Queen and they have created a tranquil and beautiful garden visited by so many,” said Andrew Williams, park manager at Kensington Gardens, the Royal Parks.

“We felt that it was appropriate to continue the story of the tributes by creating compost at our green-waste facility here in Kensington Gardens, to support new shoots of life and colourful displays of flowers in spring.

“The mulch generated from the organic material will enrich the soil of the Royal Parks over the coming years.

“The flowers will provide pleasure to the millions of visitors to the Royal Parks in the future, and will enhance these incredible green spaces within London by providing a valuable habitat for invertebrates including bees and butterflies.”

Staff and volunteers filled the working drays with the bouquets and other artefacts, removing any remaining cellophane wrappings and elastic bands, ensuring that only organic material is composted.

Cards, teddies and other artefacts are being stored in the Royal Parks, while a decision is made on what to do with them. The waste plastic is being sent to a materials recovery facility, which will separate out anything that can be recycled.

Operation Centaur is a London-based equine charity that works with rare breed heavy horses in conservation, heritage, equine therapy and community projects.

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Park Lane Stables has taken a major step forward in its mission to buy its Teddington home, following a turbulent year.

The London charity riding school, which is also a Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) and Pony Club centre, raised more than £1m in an effort to secure its base earlier this year, but negotiations hit choppy waters in the spring. This led to the temporary relocation of the charity to Richmond, while it sought a permanent base.

But news today (20 October) brings new signs of hope that Park Lane Stables may yet return “home to Teddington”.

“We have agreed a price for the Park Lane Stables site, and the funds are with our solicitor to proceed to exchange,” states an update from the charity.

“This has proved a far more complex process than we could have anticipated and, while we hoped for a swift conclusion having agreed a price, several technical issues beyond our control need to be resolved before we can exchange.

“But we are being reassured that the finish line is in sight and hope soon to be in a position to confirm that we have completed and will be returning home to Teddington.”

The statement added: “Earlier this year we reminded ourselves: ‘Don’t fear the storm for the rainbow is never far behind’. Since then we have had our sights firmly set on the rainbow, and on coming home to Teddington as the owners of our home. That day should be with us soon.”

RDA chief executive Ed Bracher said that Park Lane Stables’ trustees and centre manager Natalie O’Rourke have the “full support” of RDA UK as they continue to strive for the very best outcome for their riders and carriage drivers.

“The complexities of this purchase – and the need to ensure a secure future for the group – have inevitably led to a more drawn-out process, but we want to thank all those involved who are working flat out to make this happen,” added Mr Bracher.

Neil Rodford, chair of Park Lane Stables trustees, said he wishes to “place on record our thanks for everyone’s continued support”.

“As trustees this is a cause close to all our hearts, and we remain committed to Natalie’s original goal to buy the Park Lane property and provide a secure future for all who depend on the services we provide,” he said.

“It’s never possible to predict the twists and turns of any legal process and this has had more than its fair share. I want to place on record our thanks for everyone’s continued support.”

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London community riding school Park Lane Stables is crowdfunding to raise £1m to buy its home, after it was told

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Charity Park Lane Stables is leaving its Teddington home of 12 years despite the fact that more than £1m was raised to buy the property as negotiations hit choppy waters.

The charity’s lease period comes to an end on 31 May (Monday) and the ponies will be moved to Manor Farm Stables in Petersham, Richmond, on Tuesday (1 June).

An announcement from the charity said it had been “served a notice of eviction” and that it has been “made clear there will be no further negotiation”. But the landlord’s legal team has since told H&H that they can stay until a solution is found and it will “continue to work to seek an acceptable resolution for all parties involved”.

The stables ran a fundraising campaign to raise the landlords’ £1m asking price when they were first served notice in December.

But the charity says the landlord is now asking for a revised sum of £1.3m, which is also the total amount raised in the Crowdfunding campaign, as he has a separate offer from a different buyer. This is around £460,000 above the figure from the highest of three separate, independent valuations of the property sought by the charity (around £840,000). The seller claims to have received a valuation of £1.35 million, which was met by a third-party offer.

“We are acutely aware of the importance of the service provided by Park Lane Stables and the benefit of that work to the community,” a spokesman for the owner told H&H.

“While we regret the personal circumstances that have forced us to seek new ownership for the stables, we will continue to work to seek an acceptable resolution for all parties involved, and remain committed to supporting the continued services on site whilst the situation is ongoing.”

A spokesman for the charity’s trustees said that their first concern is for the “Park Lane Stables family and our horses”.

“Thanks to the astonishing support of the public we now have the means to secure the charity’s future and are now looking at alternative locations within the borough, to ensure we can maintain our RDA [Riding for the Disabled Association] activities, keep accessibility easy for all our riders,and allow us to retain our colleagues and volunteers,” he said.

“We are confident we can do this but sad we have to leave our current home, which looks set to signal the end of at least 200 years of horses in central Teddington.”

Centre manager Natalie O’Rourke told broadcaster Nick Luck this morning (Thursday, 27 May), that the separate offer received by the landlord is for £1.35 million, £510,000 more than the offer the charity submitted.

There are strict rules on charity spending, meaning that charities are only able to pay a fair or even discounted offer on what a property is worth. This means that while the stables was able to fundraise to buy the stables for £1m, which was above the highest valuation, to push that amount to more than 160% of the top valuation is not possible.

The charity’s “asset of community value” status, which gives communities time to raise funds and bid on land or buildings that have a main use or purpose of furthering the social wellbeing or social interests of the local community without it being sold to someone else first, expires in July.

The move to Richmond is temporary and the charity is looking for an alternative location for its operations.

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The announcement from Park Lane Stables said there had been a “period of discussions” with the seller, during which they were asked to pay the revised sum.

It added: “The trustees of the charity went to great lengths to ensure the integrity of the purchase and to act in the best interests of the people who benefit from its existence. They appointed an experienced solicitor who specialises in buying property for charities and organised three independent valuations of the stables, before making an offer based on the highest valuation.

“The trustees have been informed that another offer for the property has been received by the landlord at the higher figure. Park Lane Stables have now been formally asked to leave at the end of the lease unless this alternative offer is matched, and it has been made clear there will be no further negotiation.”

The announcement stated that a request by the charity for an extension on the current lease “has been denied”.

“[Park Lane Stables] couldn’t legally overpay to such an extent even if they wanted to and therefore are left with no alternative but to find a new location and are committed to doing so,” it continued.

“[The stables are] following clear Charity Commission guidelines that say the trustees are responsible for protecting a charity’s money and assets and that the price paid for property should be fair or even discounted which is clearly not the case here.”

RDA UK chief executive Ed Bracher said: “The priority here is to ensure that the disabled children and adults who benefit from Park Lane RDA’s activities can continue to do so. It is sad that the charity cannot remain at the original site, but we support their work to make sure they can secure an alternative venue from which to operate. This will ensure that they can continue to be a thriving and important local asset.”

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.

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Fluffy heartbreaker Teddy the Shetland will be receiving guests for afternoon tea during his stay at The Goring in London this summer.

The therapy pony and Instagram icon will be “pony in residence” at his family’s hotel, from 16-31 August, living in the hotel garden and specially built Monarch stable.

Jeremy Goring, chief executive of The Goring and cousin to Teddy’s owners Alice and Molly, said the Shetland pony is their “most famous family member”, and his forthcoming residency is “creating enormous excitement”.

“I can confirm that chef Richard, Fernanda our head housekeeper, and all of the team are busily preparing his favourite home comforts, and readying the red carpet for what will be our most important state visit for over a year. I hope you can join us!” he said.

Guests can book afternoon tea with the pint-sized palomino, which they can enjoy on luxury picnic rugs in the hotel garden while Teddy roams free, or on the terrace for a more formal experience — quite a glow-up for the humble teddy bears’ picnic.

“From delicious cakes resembling the shapes of ponies and horseshoes, and featuring Teddy’s favourite carrot cake, to Polo mint-infused scones and mini apple tarts, Teddy’s tea will be a feast both for eyes and tastebuds,” promises the five-star hotel.

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The Goring is also offering an overnight package for Teddy’s superfans, which includes afternoon tea with the pony, breakfast and a Teddy the Shetland memento.

Prices start from £50 per person for afternoon tea with Teddy, and £585 for overnight stays.

For more information and to book, visit: thegoring.com/teddy

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.

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Park Lane Stables has received a royal invitation following its successful crowdfunding campaign to raise £1m and save its home.

Mother and daughter Caitlin and Bess Limmer wrote to The Queen during the campaign and received a letter from the palace and an invitation in response.

Bess told BBC Breakfast that they had asked centre manager Natalie O’Rourke at the start of the campaign if there was anything they could do to help.

Natalie suggested they could write to some famous people, and so they contacted Her Majesty.

“We didn’t get many responses, but we did from The Queen,” she said.

Crown Equerry Colonel Toby Browne wrote to the stables, inviting 12 young people to visit the Royal Mews, which is home to The Queen’s horses, when pandemic restrictions allow.

The London-based Riding for the Disabled Association and Pony Club centre started a crowdfunder to buy its Teddington base as the landlord had decided to sell.

It reached its target on 18 February, thanks to donations from thousands of individuals.

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Natalie said she “nearly fainted” when they received the reply from The Queen.

“We are totally blown away by everything that’s happened, but that’s just the icing on the cake,” she said.

“I’m just so happy for the young people — what an amazing thing for them. They put all the effort in here, they muck out, they do all the unglamorous jobs, and now they’ve been invited to the palace. It’s a fairytale.”

She added: “There’s an army of young people and older people that make the magic happen here at the stables and in RDA all over the country, so it’s just amazing that Her Majesty has recognised their role because without them, this just would not happen.”

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.

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A London charity riding stables has raised more than £1m to buy its home and safeguard its future following a crowdfunding campaign.

Park Lane Stables in Teddington, a Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) and Pony Club centre, started the campaign on New Year’s Eve after learning that the lease for their home of 12 years would not be renewed as the landlord wanted to sell.

The charity, which is also a safe place for at-risk young people who can be referred there by schools and local authorities, faced the challenge of raising £1m by 25 February to buy the yard.

Coverage on Good Morning Britain and BBC Breakfast, as well as celebrity supporters, boosted its campaign — with more than £500,000 raised in the past 24 hours alone.

The campaign hit its target today (Thursday, 18 February), and the total is still climbing.

Proprietor Natalie O’Rourke, who has run the stables in its current guise for the past 12 years, told H&H the team “feel so overwhelmed by kindness”.

“The people power won through,” she said.

She added there was one significantly large donation of £50,000, from someone in racing, who also gave them very kind words and “buckets of encouragement” that empowered them to keep going, while the rest was all from individual “believers that wanted us to succeed”.

“The big donations have been fantastic and lifted our spirits every time, but to those who pledged their pocket money, and all the people who gave £5 and £10 and said ‘sorry I can’t give more’, we and our staff and RDA riders would like to say a huge thank you. Between us we made it happen!” she added, in an update on the Crowdfunding page.

She said any extra support will go towards the upkeep of the horses, general running costs as well as buying land for grazing and an arena for RDA riding and carriage driving.

The stables has been home to horses for hundreds of years, serving as Teddington Fire Station in the 1800s when fire engines were horse-drawn, to the riding school in its current form.

Natalie told H&H in January that it was not simply a case of moving elsewhere as its location was key and moving to a rural area would take them away from the community it serves, many of whom can only get there because of the urban location and public transport links.

Park Lane Stables also employs six disabled people and its closure would have meant they would have lost their jobs.

“Horses are being forced out of London,” she said. “We are going to fight as hard as we can to stay, we just need as much support as we can get. It feels like we have a huge mountain to climb. Covid has made it even more difficult, but we are getting local support, which is brilliant and people really want us to stay.”

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The stables has also been raising spirits in the community through lockdown, by visiting those shielding or self-isolating in their homes, so they can wave to the ponies through their windows.

It has been listed as an asset of community value, which is crucial as this ensured it was given first refusal on buying the premises before it could be offered elsewhere.

The charity also promised that if its fundraising was successful, it would be able to provide more subsidised lessons, invest in therapy equipment and the on-site cottage will become assisted living for those with additional needs.

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A family whose lives were changed by the horses and people at Park Lane Stables are urging people to support the charity’s campaign to secure its future as time is running out.

The London-based charity has until 25 February to raise the £1m needed to buy its Teddington home and continue to provide its vital services to the community.

The stables is home to a branch of the Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) as well as a Pony Club centre, and 14-year-old Louis Woolf, who was diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome aged seven, is among its regular visitors.

Louis’ parents, Gary and Thea, took him to a horse club in Hampton, run by Park Lane Stables, after reading about the benefits of animal interaction.

Since then, Louis has attended the Pony Club centre every weekend for the last five years and has also started to help lead other RDA riders.

His parents said his confidence has grown enormously.

“It has transformed our lives and transformed his life,” said Thea. “He went from being a child who would say regularly ‘I’ve got no friends, no one really understands me’, who now has a group of friends and they just talk about horses.

“Yes it’s changed his life, but actually it’s changed our life as a family because I think we were reaching a breaking point, we just didn’t know how we were going to cope as a family.

Gary added: “The key thing is Louis’ independence. He can just get on his bike and cycle down there and come back when he’s done.”

Centre manager Natalie O’Rourke has previously told H&H about the importance of the stables’ location.

She said it is not simply a case of moving elsewhere as stables in London are few and far between, and moving to a rural area would take them away from the community they serve, many of whom can only get to them because of their urban location and public transport links.

The charity, whose appeal featured on Good Morning Britain this week (Thursday, 11 February), has raised more than £377,500 so far and was recently listed as an asset of community value (ACV). The £1m is needed to buy the base as the landlord wishes to sell and the ACV is important as it means the charity has to be given the opportunity to buy the premises first, if they can raise the money.

“I would like to say a huge thank you to everybody who has contributed to the

‘save our stables’ fundraising campaign so far,” said Natalie.

“The generosity and community strength at this tough time in our history has been truly heartening. The stables provide a lifeline for many families that will be devastated to lose the horses from the community”.

Park Lane Stables employs six disabled people, who would lose their jobs if it were forced to close.

Stables worker Hannah Collard-Grey, who is visually impaired (registered blind) and epileptic, says: “Working at Park Lane Stables has allowed me to find my niche and is a place where I’m accepted for being me. Being a part of the Park Lane family has significantly improved my self-esteem and self-confidence because it is a place that has enabled me to

grow and find myself. It may be my occupation, but it’s so much more than that.”

Park Lane Stables has been home to horses for close to 200 years. The black and white building served as a fire station with a horse-drawn engine in the 19th century and has been a riding school since the 1950s.

The stables opened in its current form 12 years ago and has 23 horses and ponies, offering riding sessions in Bushy Park for people with disabilities and learning difficulties as part of the RDA.

The charity is also a safe haven for children and young people, who can be referred there by schools and local authorities.

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Should Park Lane Stables be successful in its fundraising, it has said that it will be able to provide more subsidised lessons as it will no longer have the cost of the lease to pay for.

It will also invest in therapy equipment, and the on-site cottage will become assisted living for those with additional needs.

In a normal (non Covid-19) year the stables provides more 3,000 sessions of therapeutic riding, including hippotherapy and carriage driving, and it has a long waiting list of adults and children in need of its services.

Stable staff and ponies have been cheering up the local community through the lockdowns by visiting those shielding or self-isolating in their homes, so they can wave to the ponies through their windows.

To donate, visit: www.crowdfunder.co.uk/save-our-stables

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

A community riding centre faced with eviction has taken a major step forward to secure its home as fundraising efforts ramp up.

Park Lane Stables in Teddington, southwest London, is aiming to raise £1m to buy its home as the landlord wants to sell.

The site has now been listed as an asset of community value (ACV), which is a significant step towards securing its future in London.

“ACV status is really important as it really strengthens our cause,” centre manager Natalie O’Rourke told H&H.

“It buys us some time as it means that we have the right to bid and that the landlord cannot sell it to another person without first offering it to us to buy.”

The stables, which is a registered charity, serves the community as a Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) and Pony Club centre, and is a safe haven for children who can be referred there by the local authority and schools. As well as offering riding lessons, Park Lane Stables also welcomes those who benefit from spending time with horses on the ground.

Staff and ponies from the stable have been cheering the local community through the lockdowns by letting people know what time they will be exercising the horses, so they can come to their windows to wave.

The stables, whose history dates back hundreds of years, was put forward for ACV status to Richmond Council by local community group, the Teddington Society.

Natalie said the fact the society took the time to do that on their behalf “really makes us feel we are part of the community”.

“The donations and comments make us feel so supported and realise how important the horses are to everybody,” said Natalie.

“We’ve had people reach out to us who used to come here in the 1950s and 1960s as well as people whose lives have been touched [by the horses here]. It’s really strengthening; it’s like scaffolding around us to keep going when we hear all the kind words people say about the horses.”

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The charity has raised 15% of its target, with funds currently standing at just over £159,000, and Natalie added they are pushing hard to keep the momentum going to secure the remaining 85% ahead of the February Crowdfunder deadline.

For more information and to donate, click here

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

A London community riding stables is appealing for support to help buy its home or risk no longer being able to help those whose lives have been changed by horses.

Park Lane Stables in Teddington, southwest London, has survived for hundreds of years while the surrounding area has been developed.

It has a rich equestrian history, from serving as Teddington Fire Station in the 1800s when fire engines were horse-drawn, to the riding school in its current form that makes horses accessible to those who might not otherwise have the chance.

The current operators have been told by the landlord that their lease, which expires in May, will not be renewed, so they have started a crowdfunding campaign to raise £1m to buy the premises and secure their home, for all those who benefit from the work they do with horses.

“If we can’t do it this way, then sadly we will be gone and it will just be another sad story of a riding school lost in London,” manager Natalie O’Rourke told H&H.

“I’m sure the landlord has his reasons and our only hope now is to purchase. Because of where we are in London, the value of the property is quite high, so we are trying desperately to fundraise so we can secure our own future.”

The registered charity operates as a community stables that welcomes people from across London and makes horses accessible and affordable — with a pay if you can ethos — to those living in the city.

It is also both a Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) and Pony Club centre, as well as serving as a safe haven for children, who can be referred there by the local authority and schools. As well as riding lessons, much of the work at Park Lane Stables also involves welcoming those who benefit from and enjoy spending time with the horses on the ground.

Among those the organisation has helped is James Wiseman, who spoke at a parliamentary reception in February 2019 about how volunteering for the RDA at the stables “saved him”. The charity also helped combat loneliness and isolation during lockdown, by exercising the ponies in the local area and letting residents know when to look out for them and wave.

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Natalie added that it is not simply a case of moving elsewhere as stables in London are few and far between and moving to a rural area would take them away from the community they serve, many of whom can only get to them because of their urban location and public transport links.

“Horses are being forced out of London,” she said. “We are going to fight as hard as we can to stay, we just need as much support as we can get. It feels like we have a huge mountain to climb. Covid has made it even more difficult, but we are getting local support, which is brilliant and people really want us to stay.”

The crowdfunding campaign was launched on New Year’s Eve and has already reached £29,000, for which the charity is hugely grateful.

“If we don’t fight now, when [the pandemic] is over and everybody is well again, the horses will be gone. That is why we need to fight now, we are determined and we are positive,” Natalie said.

Click here to find out more about the Park Lane Stables crowdfunding campaign

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Shire horses have been helping to restore patches of Hampstead Heath.

Nobby and Heath, from Operation Centaur, harrowed areas that had been churned up by runners competing in the English National Cross-Country Championships, which were held on 24 February.

The organisation maintains the last stable of working Shires in London.

Its aim is promote the horse as a contemporary working animal and it also helps protect the endangered breed.

“It was the first time we have worked up on Hampstead Heath, it’s a new project for us which is great,” Operation Centaur’s Andreas Liefooghe told H&H.

“We usually work for historic palaces and the Royal Parks.

“We do conservation work, particularly in urban spaces, and we try to make working horses relevant again in contemporary spaces.

“In these small patches of green land in London it makes sense to do this work with Shire horses [rather than machinery].”

He added that using working horses for conservation in London is a good way of increasing community engagement and raising the profile of Shire horses.

Operation Centaur has a total of 20 working horses, including eight Shires.

“Nobody comes out when you are there with a tractor, but you bring a pair of Shire horses and you are mobbed — it is incredibly good for engagement with the community,” said Mr Liefooghe.

“In that way, we actually can compete with tractors — we don’t just use horse power, we bring people power as well.”

Many of the landscapes the team work on are delicate, so Shires are also preferable to tractors in a number of cases.

Heath, 12, is the more experienced of the two horses, while seven-year-old Nobby has a more “rebellious” character but has now settled into his job.

“Now he gets it — being in that team [with Heath] gives him that safety and security, and he is amazing,” said Mr Liefooghe.

“Shire horses tend to be quite slow to mature and you have to work with them and be patient.

“We treat all our horses as ‘colleagues’ — we don’t force them, we have some horses who like doing certain things and not others. So we try to give them the careers they enjoy.”

Operation Centaur is returning to Hampstead Heath on 15 July to help with haymaking.

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Karina Dostalova, chairman of the City of London Corporation’s Hampstead Heath management committee, said she was pleased to welcome the horses to the heath.

She added using horses meant areas that are difficult to access were reached and the restoration work was able to take place swiftly after the races had finished.

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

A historic horse show has returned to London following a three-year hiatus.

The London Riding Horse Show was held in Hyde Park on 1 October, to celebrate riding in the capital.

A total of 40 combinations from across the city took part in showing, dressage and side-saddle classes. These included competitors from Ebony Horse Club, Operation Centaur, Wormwood Scrubs, Vauxhall City Farm, Mudchute Park, the Honourable Artillery Company and hosts, the Civil Service Riding Club (CSRC).

“We were so pleased the show was a great success,” said CSRC chairman Nancy Lyndhurst.

“Our club’s main focus is organising great opportunities for members to prove riding in the city doesn’t have to be pricey, and everyone can take part.

“Riding in London should be accessible to everyone so it was brilliant to see riders young and old from all the wonderful stables we work with taking part.”

The event, formerly known as the London Riding Horse Parade, was first held in 1938 to improve the smartness and safety of riders in the park.

It developed into a show, but was cancelled in 2014 due to health and safety concerns over changes to vehicle access to Rotten Row.

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The popularity of the parade had also declined in previous years, in part due to the cost of emissions charges, which cost between £100 and £200 a day depending on vehicle size.

But the CSRC managed to revive the show.

Royal Parks gave permission for the event to return to Hyde Park after its three-year absence and organisers were also able to use Knightsbridge Barracks’ all-weather arena.

This year’s show also tied in with the CSRC’s 80th anniversary and was held in memory of long-serving member Harry Fleming.

The CSRC has surveyed competitors to establish whether to hold a show in 2018.

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

This weekend, the best riders in the world gather in Central London for three days of spectacular Global Champions Tour showjumping. From Friday to Sunday (4-6 August) the Royal Hospital Chelsea, is the place to be for some world class sport, great entertainment and a not-to-be-missed experience. H&H brings you a handy guide to the big event so you needn’t miss a thing…

1. The showjumping is split into CSI2* and CSI5* classes — the two-star competitions take place in the morning over fences up to 1.45m, while the elite riders take part in the five-star classes later in the day, where jumps are set at 1.60m.

2. British riders heading to the show include 2012 London Olympic gold medallist and 2014 London winner Scott Brash and his team-mate Ben Maher, plus showjumping legends John and Michael Whitaker.

3. John Whitaker, who turns 62 on the Saturday of the show, will be riding his top horse Argento and the exciting nine-year-old Cassinis Chaplin. “You always want to do well in front of a home crowd and this new venue sounds good — I’m looking forward to it,” he told H&H.

4. A formidable nine out of the world’s top 10 riders are in action in London, including world number 1 Kent Farrington (USA), Daniel Deusser (GER), Eric Lamaze (CAN) and Simon Delestre (FRA). Click here for the full list of riders.

5. All the five-star rounds will be streamed via the website featuring exclusive studio interviews, expert commentary and all the live action.

6. There are 15 events in the Global Champions Tour season, which starts in USA, taking in Mexico City and Shanghai before travelling round Europe with a prestigious final taking place in Doha, Qatar, in November.

7. The London venue is a new destination for the 2017 season and it is the first time an equestrian event has been held in Chelsea, at the site of the famous Flower Show.

8. The Longines Global Champions Tour first visited London in 2013 next to the Olympic stadium. It then moved to Horse Guards in 2014 and Syon Park in 2015. It is hoped that this venue will prove a popular and permanent fixture in the showjumping calendar.

9. Saturday’s grand prix is guaranteed to be a thriller — who can forget the epic showdown between Nick Skelton (Big Star) and Ben Maher (Cella in 2013? This undoubtedly goes down in showjumping history as one of the best jump-offs we’ve ever seen — relive the head-to-head here…

10. The Chelsea Pensioners, for whom the Royal Hospital Chelsea is their home, will be taking a keen interest in the show — you won’t miss them in their distinctive scarlet coats.

11. Visitors can also enjoy a shopping village, refreshment areas and a dedicated children’s area including face painting and the famous Longines carousel ride.

12. Look out for great opportunities to meet the riders at the three-day show and grab a selfie or two.

13. The big class, the Longines Grand Prix, which offers riders the chance to win 300,000euro, takes place on Saturday after the conclusion of the thrilling team competition, the Global Champions League.

14. The Global Champions League team competition is a relatively new addition to the Tour, thought up by president Jan Tops and his team. 18 squads have been battling it out this season with the Hamburg Diamonds currently head of the leaderboard, but British crowds can cheer for the “home” team, the London Knights, represented by our very own Ben Maher.

15. The feature class on Sunday is worth nearly €100,000 and all the top riders will be back in action, making this a really thrilling competition with a guaranteed rollercoaster of a jump-off.

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16. If all that’s whetted your appetite for a slice of GCT action this weekend, head to globalchampionstour.com/tickets where H&H readers can grab a fantastic 10% discount on covered grandstand tickets by using the code HORSEANDHOUND.

17. And don’t miss all Horse & Hound’s coverage with regular updates on our dedicated Facebook page @horseandhoundshowjumping and online as well as the show’s full report and comment from Nick Skelton in next week’s magazine (out Thursday 10 August)

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

A historic show held in Hyde Park is set to be revived after a three-year break.

The London Riding Horse Show was cancelled in 2014 due to health and safety concerns over changes to vehicle access to Rotten Row.

Formerly known as the London Riding Horse Parade, the event first ran in 1938 to raise the smartness and safety of riders in the park.

More recently, it has developed into a show, with classes for juniors and adults as well as veteran, side-saddle and riding school pony sections.

The Royal Parks have given the Civil Service Riding Club (CSRC) permission to hold the show on 1 October this year.

Usage rights of Knightsbridge Barracks’ all-weather arena has also been granted and organisers are now seeking help with logistics ahead of the event.

The revival of the show will come ahead of the 80th anniversary of the first parade.

“We’re so excited to be planning the London Riding Horse Show to celebrate our 80th anniversary and honour a cherished member Harry Fleming,” said CSRC chairman Nancy Lyndhurst.

“We’re hoping that those with historic ties to previous events will get in touch to get involved in what is a unique and important part of the history of riding in London.

“The Royal Parks have already kindly given us the go-ahead to run and we’re busy planning, but we’ll need more help from our horsey friends to make the show a success.”

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The day aims to “celebrate riding in London” and classes will include condition and turnout, as well as dressage and side-saddle competitions.

Entries will be open to a number of the club’s partners across London and the southeast, including Ebony Horse Club in Brixton.

“We’re thrilled to be taking part,” said a spokesman for Ebony. “The London Riding Horse Show is an historic event, and it’s great that our young people will be involved.”

For more information, visit: csrc.org.uk

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Plans are being drawn up to bring horse racing to the streets of London.

The capital has a fair few racecourses on its outer fringes, but several proposals have mooted the idea of laying a temporary racetrack in the city centre.

Johnno Spence is in talks about potentially holding a fixture in London as early as this year under his City Racing venture.

“We are looking at an international thoroughbred racing city centre-based series, which would launch in London hopefully this year,” he told H&H.

Mr Spence was keen to stress that the welfare of horses would be a priority.

“This is not the Palio — it will be very much under the Rules of racing and obviously the welfare of the horse is absolutely number one,” he added.

“It is incredibly exciting — it has taken a long time and a huge amount of planning, years and years.”

He said that more information will be available towards the end of March and that the idea is about attracting a “new audience to racing”.

Meanwhile, global sport and entertainment company CSM is also hoping to launch its world-wide series in 2018.

CSM is working with consultants Oakwell Capital on their bid and are in discussions with private investors and cities across the world, with more information to come soon.

Entrepreneurs Olly Neil and Andy King have created and patented a racing track-system that can be laid and removed in “record time”.

The modular system has adjustable feet to ensure a smooth, level and constant racing surface.

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“The plan is to create a city horse racing world series that will visit six global cities each year — including a grand finale where the champion jockey will be crowned,” said Mr King.

Mr Owen added the 1.4km track is like a “giant Scalextrics” in the way it can be adjusted, built and moved.

He told H&H that London would be a “fantastic venue” and they have surveyed Constitution Hill and The Mall as possible locations. He was also keen to stress that safety and welfare would be at the forefront of their plans.

The early proposals include seating for 10,000 spectators as well as big screens, LED boards and a spectator app that allows visitors to track the position of “their” horse.

“LED wrist bands on spectators will change colour as the horses pass and will flash with the winning silks,” said Mr Owen. “Adding to the whole experience will be a programme of entertainment featuring music and lights.”

Mr Neil added: “We’re going to do for horse racing what Twenty20 has done for cricket and 3×3 for basketball – reinterpreting the sport of kings for a young urban audience and dialling up on technology, entertainment, excitement and energy.”

A spokesman for the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) told H&H that any proposal such as this would require its approval.

“Clearly there are significant issues, including both logistical and welfare-related, that would need to be addressed before any application could be progressed,” he said.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

From the strange looks you will receive on the tube to wondering whether you will ever leave the confines of an arena — Ploy Radford rounds up the perils of riding in London

London. A giant labyrinth of commerce, hipster hangouts, museums and monuments. It has so much to offer a country girl looking for entertainment and to broaden her horizons…

Except sometimes, we’d rather not broaden our horizons too far. And if you decide to swap bars for breeches, there are a few things you’ll swiftly learn about riding in London.

1. Firstly, good luck finding somewhere

Locating a riding school that is close to where you live, with good quality horses and tuition and won’t entirely empty your bank account, is ACTUALLY impossible. I have tried out so many London riding schools from the run-down stables with a rocking-horse creaking ominously on the roof and no-one else in sight, to the place right next to a busy bypass. (I shall generously assume that the reason the instructor spent my one and only lesson there screaming at me was just to be heard above the traffic.)

2. Prepare to clock up the miles and odd looks

Ironically, given the horse used to be a major form of transport, you will now need to use every modern form of public transport to get to a horse. Think, tube, national rail and bus all together. I’m just waiting for the day I need to use the riverboat or Emirates cable car.

While on said forms of transport pre-lesson your crop will get shifty side-long glances (because no one of course catches anyone’s eye on London transport). Post lesson you will get the recoil-and-sudden-change-in-direction-towards-another-seat-manoeuvre.

3. Accept that you will be late. Often

Public transport always fails when you have a lesson you need to get to, meaning your blood pressure will hit levels its not supposed to until you’re at least 60. For the sake of your heart, either leave hours in advance of a lesson, or learn to meditate. Remember your horse will not mind in any way having less lesson time…

4. The riding could be pretty slow going too…

You know that scene in Lord of the Rings where Arwen gallops through the trees to get away from the Ringwraiths? Yeah, you won’t be getting to do that in London. Besides the fact that riding school horses are notoriously bitter about the idea of movement, there just isn’t the space. There will be a lot of spiralling in despair around arenas.

5. Traffic and Londoners are a problem

I would not be surprised if some Londoners have never seen a horse before. Which, would explain why they feel the need to drive nerve-shatteringly close to the horse you’re riding on a road to get somewhere remotely green. They just want a closer look and are in no way in severe need of swift kick to remind them of their place.

6. Friends won’t even bother making conversation when there’s a horse around

Horses are such a rare sight comparatively in London, that once you and your friends go past the Household Cavalry or some mounted police officers, talking to you is a lost cause. You’re too busy cooing over the horse and dreaming of a career change.

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7. And you can kiss that dream of getting onto the property ladder goodbye

Aside from the fact lesson prices in London range from painful to eye-watering, there will be uber rides to get to lessons on time once public transport fails. So, prepare to be permanently broke. But, damn is it worth it.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

A project that uses horses to tackle bullying is underway after a pilot study found a change in attitude from two-thirds of participants.

Equine assisted learning therapist Dr Andreas Liefooghe has been working with groups of children to help to teach them to cooperate and work together.

At each session, the group is given a set of tasks to complete, for which they have to work as a team with a herd of horses in an arena.

Dr Liefooghe is a psychologist and psychotherapist at the University of London.

“I have been researching bullying for the past 20 years both in schools and in work places and I am a life-long horseman,” he told H&H.

The project follows a successful pilot, funded by the Royal Parks Foundation, which ran in November 2014.

After the pilot, which involved more than 60 children from two London schools, major changes in behaviour from bullies was reported.

Two-thirds of the participating children who would have tolerated bullying behaviour prior to the course showed that they would no longer accept it.

Bystanders within the groups that took part also become more involved in their environment following the sessions.

Dr Liefooghe said the process was not to identify bullies, but was about tackling bullying on a group-level.

He added that simply taking a bully out of a crowd in effect creates a “job vacancy”, allowing someone else to take their place rather than stopping the problem.

Dr Liefooghe is currently working with six different schools and group size ranges from small numbers up to 30 people. The groups have seven sessions in total — five with the horses and two without.

Rather than being completely led by a plan, the children are given a few exercises to give them a focus, for example to move the horses around an object.

“The tasks themselves are secondary, the real thing is for them to work as a group,” he said.“You cannot bully a shire — you have to ask them.”

For most participants working with horses is a new experience, but in one case a child who had experience with horses, but the rest of the group did not want to listen to him.

“To the group, he could have been a resource,” said Dr Liefooghe. “Bit by bit we got to the position where he could demonstrate some leadership — but leadership at a level that the group could accept. ”

Most of the equines used are the therapist’s own shire horses, which he also lends to the Royal Parks for conservation work.

The project began in anti-bulling week in November and finishes at the end of March.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Health and safety concerns have led to the cancellation of a long-running riding event in central London.

The London Riding Horse Parade (not pictured) has been taking place in Hyde Park since 1938.

The original aim of the event was to raise the smartness and safety of riders in the park.

More recently it has developed into a show, with classes for juniors and adults as well as veteran, side-saddle and riding school pony sections.

Combinations are judged on their turnout and the horse is also assessed by a farrier and a vet.

However, it was cancelled last year due to vehicle access restrictions imposed by the Royal Parks.

At the time, organisers said they would do “all they can” to run the parade in 2015.

They discussed other parking options and possible routes competitors could take, but were unable to find a suitable alternative.

Organiser Claire McCaffery-Clarke, from the British Horse Society (BHS), told H&H that the Royal Parks has become “very tough” on vehicle access to Rotten Row.

“It is looking incredibly unlikely that the parade will ever happen ever again,” she said.

In past years, horseboxes were able to park at the end of Rotten Row — giving competitors easy access to the parade site.

But once the parks put the new restrictions in place, the organisers decided that there would be “too much risk” to both the competitors and members of the public.

“In the old situation, everything was tight and we could keep members of the public at bay and safe,” Ms McCaffery-Clarke added.

“The Royal Parks have not said that we cannot run the parade, but the restrictions they have put on access mean there are too many variables for something to go wrong.”

She also said that the popularity of the parade has been declining in recent years, partly due to the emissions charge — affecting horseboxes — that came into force in the capital in January 2012.

The charges are between £100-£200 per day, depending on vehicle size.

A Royal Parks spokesman said: “Rotten Row is primarily for the use of everyday park users and horse riders, making it generally unsuitable for event vehicles and infrastructure.

“We worked closely with the event organisers to identify a suitable alternative location to host the event, but at the time were unable to find one.”

As a final attempt to revive the traditional event, Ms McCaffery-Clarke has contacted the Civil Service Riding Club to see if they would consider taking it on or running something similar.

The group is set to consider the proposal at their meeting in November.

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When you are working with horses all day, the last thing you want to see once you’ve escaped from your breeches, rectified your hat hair and eventually managed to head out for dinner, is a saddle or a stable. But it’s a different story when you’re reluctantly tied to London and longing for mud and fields — you’ll take any equestrian fix going.

How to get an equestrian fix in London

1. The Riding House Café (pictured above)

What is it? An all-day brasserie.

What’s the horsey twist? Take your seat in an original stable that sits up to 14 for private dining — ideal for gathering your horsey friends for a Christmas outing. Not a skip or wheelbarrow in sight.

Where is it? 43-51 Great Titchfield Street, London, W1W 7PQ

Visit: www.ridinghousecafe.co.uk

2. The Whip

What is it? An equestrian-themed cocktail bar above The Running Horse Pub.

What’s the horsey twist? It’s a toss up whether to order the Seabiscuit Flip, the Red Rum Julep or the Pina Pony — all identified by different racing silks on the menu. Sit back and sip, surrounded by comforting horse memorabilia.

Where is it? 1st Floor, 50 Davies Street, Mayfair, London, W1K 5JE

Visit: thewhipmayfair.co.uk

3. Stables Bar

What is it? The Stables Bar is attached to The Milestone, a Grade II-listed boutique hotel.

What’s the horsey twist? Enjoy your favourite tipple, a savoury snack or light meal while you sit in what was originally a carriage house, admiring the selection of equestrian paintings that adorn the walls.

Where is it? The Milestone Hotel, 1 Kensington Court, London, W8 5DL

Visit: www.milestonehotel.com

4. Steam & Rye bar

What is it? An American-themed late night bar and restaurant in the City with live music, where the glamour of the Great Gatsby meets the Wild West.

What’s the horsey twist? Possibly not quite what you had in mind when you dreamt of getting the thrill of riding in London, but at the Steam & Rye you can be legged up onto the bucking rodeo bull to put your lower leg position and seat to the test. Expect rowdy spectators who are desperate for you to fall off and are irritated by your Andrew Nicholson-esque stickability. And the best part? You can relive your ride thanks to the GoPro camera in the bull’s head.

Where is it? 147 Leadenhall Street, London, EC3V 4QT

Visit: www.steamandrye.com

5. The London Riding Club

What is it? A private members club in London that sources quality riding in the UK and abroad — as well as providing a social network for like-mined equestrians, with access to exclusive venues and events.

What’s the horsey twist? Go the whole hog and become a member — not just to get access to fabulous riding in and around London — but to fill your social calendar with equestrian themed events. ‘Canapes with the cavalry’ gives you a taste of the treats awaiting you.

Where is it? The Clubhouse, 11-14 Grafton Street, London W1S 4EW

Visit: www.ridinglondon.com

Can you recommend a bar or restaurant with a quirky equestrian twist? Let us know below

From gentle hacking to fast-paced polo, London has it all, and a city job doesn’t mean riding has to stop

Living in London doesn't have to mean giving up horses, as long as certain things are taken into consideration

Tucked right in the heart of the capital is the Mounted Branch of the City of London Police. St Paul’s

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Scott Brash and Hello Sanctos jumped a sensational triple clear in front of the home crowd in London to win the Longines Global Champions Tour grand prix and pocket a cool €148,500.

“I feel like the luckiest person right now,” said Scott, 28, who heads to the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in France as part of the Great Britain team at the start of September.

Last year, it was his British team-mate Ben Maher and Cella who triumphed in the inaugural London GCT at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, in one of the greatest jump-offs of the series. This year, it was Scott who soared round 5sec faster than Ludger Beerbaum and Zinedine, demoting the legendary German rider to the runner-up spot.

“Jumping in front of our home crowd gives us all a real lift,” added Scott, who received a standing ovation and rapturous applaud from the packed grandstands in the Horse Guards Parade Ground in central London.

Taking third was Dutchman Maikel Van Der Vleuten riding VDL Groep Verdi who faulted against the clock with last-drawn rider Katherine Dinan of USA unfortunately hitting the deck when her horse refused at the double in this four-rider jump-off.

Don’t miss the six-page special report with all the action from the London leg of the Longines Global Champions Tour, analysis and verdict on this new venue in next week’s Horse & Hound, out Thursday 21 August.

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Horse Guards Parade in London has undergone a transformation in the past week, as it prepares to host the world’s top showjumpers.

An 80m x 48m sand arena has been built at the central London site ahead of the three-day Longines Global Champions Tour competition, which starts on Thursday (14 August).

More than 1,100 tonnes of sand has been delivered to Horse Guards for the arena, which was set up last week (pictured right).

There will be approximately 240 horses competing and nine of the world’s top 10 showjumpers among those in action.

It is the first time the venue has hosted an international equestrian event and Brits — including world number one Scott Brash (pictured below left) and number two Ben Maher — will be competing.

“It is great to be at such a fantastic venue. This is a very important international event for British showjumping and all credit to everyone involved,” said Scott.

Showjumping will be shown live on BBC2 on Friday (15 August) from 3pm-5pm and Saturday (16 August) from 5.15pm-7pm.

For more information visit: www.globalchampionstour.com

For full report and analysis on the London leg of the GCT, don’t miss next week’s issue of H&H magazine — out Thursday 21 August.

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Nine of the top 10 showjumpers in the world head to central London later this month (14–16 August) for the Longines Global Champions Tour (LGCT) five–star show at Horse Guards Parade.

World number one Scott Brash and number two Ben Maher will line up against top names including Germany’s Ludger Beerbaum and Marcus Ehning, French riders Kevin Staut, Penelope Leprevost and Patrice Delaveau, USA’s Jessica Springsteen, McLain Ward and Laura Kraut and Canada’s Eric Lamaze.

LGCT Tour leader Edwina Tops-Alexander, Olympic champion Steve Guerdat and recent Aachen grand prix winner Christian Ahlmann will also be in action.

Other British showjumpers competing at the three-day show include Michael Whitaker, Peter Charles, Mark Armstrong, Jessica Mendoza and Alexandra Thornton. Ireland will be represented by Cameron Hanley, Mark McAuley and Conor Swail.

Scott Brash (pictured) is the reigning LGCT champion and has already won two legs in the 2014 season in Cannes, France, and Estoril, Portugal, and finished third in the German leg in Hamburg.

“It is great to be at such a fantastic venue. This is a very important international event for British showjumping and all credit to everyone involved in organising and supporting it,” said Scott, who is on the shortlist to represent Great Britain at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) in France next month (2-7 September).

This is the second time the LGCT heads to London. Ben Maher and Cella thrilled the crowds with their grand prix-winning round at the Olympic Park last year, but this is the first time that Horse Guards in London hosts an international equestrian event.

“It is a huge privilege to bring the tour to London again this year,” said event organiser Peter Phillips.

“After the success of the inaugural event in 2013 at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, we wanted to build on that and it doesn’t get much better than the iconic setting of Horse Guards Parade to host the Diamond League of showjumping. We once again welcome back the best riders and horses in the world in what will be their final appearance before heading off to WEG.”

The Longines Global Champions Tour of London takes place from 14-16 August. Limited tickets are still available: Book tickets now

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A colt by 2012 Olympic silver medal-winning showjumper Glock’s London has been born in the UK.

Breeder Jenny Philcox believes he is the only foal by the famous horse to be born in Britain.

“It’s very exciting” she said. “I’m 99% sure he is the only London foal in the UK. I also confirmed this with Paul Schockemöhle, who had the sole breeding rights to London last year, and he said I am the only one.

“I’m thrilled and will be taking him to the British Equestrian Federation Futurity for assessment later on in the summer.”

He will be registered British Hanoverian.

Ms Philcox’s former PSI auction mare Baconda (by Baloubet Du Rouet) gave birth the foal on Saturday (17 May)

Last month London (Nabab De Reve/Chin Chin) sold for

€8.6 million in an online auction.

The 12-year-old stallion, who competed at London 2012 with Dutch rider Gerco Schröder, was bought by the Glock Horse Performance Centre. Glock’s also own Edward Gal’s ride Glock’s Undercover and Hans Peter Minderhoud’s Glock’s Johnson.

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The equestrian world has been shocked to learn that 4 retired showjumpers are being included in the auction to settle Eurocommerce Holdings bankruptcy.

A Dutch court ruled last month (5 March) that Rabobank had the right to collect assets from the bankrupt stables. The auction will feature a host of elite showjumpers — including Olympic 2012 silver medallist London (news, 27 March).

However, alongside the top horses, 4 retired showjumpers — aged between 21 and 25 — are also for sale. A couple of the horses competed at the 2004 Olympic Games and have been given guide prices between €250 (£200) and €500 (£413).

The auction opens today (Friday 4 April) and closes on Monday (7 April).

View details of the Eurocommerce auction

This article was first published in Horse & Hound magazine (3 April 2014)

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Dutch showjumper Gerco Schroder’s Olympic 2012 silver medallist London is one of several international horses going under the hammer next month.

This follows a ruling by Dutch courts that Rabobank has a right to collect assets from the bankrupt Eurocommerce Stables.

Eurocommerce Holdings filed for bankruptcy in July 2012, and the horses’ destination has been under discussion since.

London was seized shortly after the Olympic Games, but was returned to Mr Schroder while proceedings were underway. However, since a judge ruled on 5 March that the bank has a right to €38,250,000 (£32,000,000), all the horses, stables and trucks will be sold at BVA Auctions (4-7 April). Many international prospective buyers have already registered their interest in the online auction.

A price-tag of around €10million (£8.3million) was rumoured when London was seized in 2012.

The provisional list of lots up for auction includes other top Dutch showjumpers, such as the Gerco Schroder-ridden New Orleans, Callahan and Seoul; Wout-Jan van der Schan’s Capetown and Sacramento; Albert Voorn’s Tobalio, as well as breeding stallions.

Eurocommerce said in a statement that the receivers and the bank had “determined that the stables are not profitable to run and therefore cannot see any other responsible option than a forced auction, which is also deemed in the interest of all creditors”.

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Dutchman Gerco Schroder and his silver medal-winning Olympic ride London won the five-star grand prix in Doha, Qatar, on Saturday night, taking home a cool €214,500.

The runner-up spot went to Ireland’s Denis Lynch with the 10-year-old Argentinus stallion All Star 5 — the only other clear after three rounds on the final day of the CHI Al Shaqab.

“I want to thank my horse — he really is very special,” said Gerco, one of six jump-off contenders from 37 starters.

Robert Smith made the jump-off for Great Britain, finishing sixth on four faults with Voila. Local rider Sheikh Ali Bin Khalid Al Thani delighted the crowds with fifth on Cantaro 32.

Earlier in the day, Danish dressage rider Nathalie Zu Sayn-Wittgenstein won the freestyle grand prix with Digby.

Read the full report from Al Shaqab in the next issue of Horse & Hound, out 4 April, 2013

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All human and equine samples taken at the London 2012 equestrian competitions have tested negative, the FEI has revealed.

More human and equine tests took place at London 2012 than at any previous Games, with the top four riders and horses being tested from every class. Further random tests were chosen by computerised selection.

FEI President HRH Princess Haya said: “These were the most tested Games ever and we also tested for more substances than ever before.

“We worked hand-in-hand with the Horseracing Forensic Laboratory in Newmarket and thank them for the speed with which they processed all the samples so that we could maintain a level playing field throughout the Games.

“Now that we’ve had three major championships that were the most heavily tested ever and they were 100% clean, we can hold our heads up high and say that yes, this is a victory.”

The news comes as a great triumph to the equestrian community, after doping scandals at the previous two Games, Athens and Beijing.

Ingmar de Vos, FEI Secretary General, said: “Today’s news demonstrates the resounding success of the FEI Clean Sport campaign, which has been fully embraced by the international equestrian community. The International Paralympic Committee and the World Anti-Doping Agency have also gone to great lengths to ensure a clean Games.”

For more information on the FEI’s Clean Sport campaign, head to www.feicleansport.org

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The Canadian Equestrian Federation has expressed its disappointment at Tiffany Foster’s disqualification at the Olympics.

A strong stance on hypersensitivity was displayed by the FEI at the London Games when Canadian rider Tiffany Foster was disqualified from the team showjumping.

Canadian team manager Terrance Millar said: “We are very unhappy about this. It is a decision that lacks any common sense. It is just blind application of a rule. It lacks judgement.”

Tiffany’s horse Victor was found to have “clear and obvious hypersensitivity on the front of the coronary band on the left forelimb” by FEI vets on 5 August, just 15 minutes before the start of the team jumping.

Vets said there was “no accusation of malpractice”, but the horse was deemed unfit to compete.

But teammate and 2008 Olympic gold medallist Eric Lamaze was outraged and at the time said he would not compete for his country again until the Canadian Equestrian Federation stepped up its support for Tiffany.

A protest lodged by the Canadian chef d’equipe was denied by the FEI Appeal Committee, as there is no right of appeal to elimination for veterinary reasons.

Canadian Olympic team vet Dr Sylvie Surprenant added: “In our opinion, the horse was fit to compete. However, the FEI hypersensitivity protocol is such that if the horse is sensitive to the touch, regardless of the cause, the horse is disqualified. While the FEI rules were followed, we believe there should be a review of this protocol.”

But FEI secretary general Ingmar de Vos said it was “an obvious case of hypersensitivity”.

It is the second time the condition has been in the news in relation to the Olympics. Last month, Ireland’s Denis Lynch was dropped as an individual for his country at the Games after his horse Lantinus 3 tested positive for hypersensitivity (news, 12 July). Again, there was no suggestion of malpractice, but it was the third such incident for Denis in 12 months.

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Olympic medal-winning horse London has been removed from Dutch showjumper Gerco Schroder as part of bankruptcy proceedings against Dutch estate agency and building company Eurocommerce.

Gerco and London won both individual and team silver at Greenwich, but the horse was seized shortly after the conclusion of the jumping competition by Dutch government officials.

The 10-year-old warmblood stallion is owned by Ger Visser Jnr, the son of the Eurocommerce boss.

Eurocommerce filed for bankruptcy in July.

London is believed to have been moved to Ben Maher’s Cambridgeshire yard.

Ben told H&H he was not able to comment on the matter.

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As well as Britain’s incredible gold medals, equestrian fans were dazzled by the fabulous showjumps created by course-designer Bob Ellis and his team.

On their way to gold, the British boys jumped their way over an amazing array of British icons and London landmarks – including Tower Bridge, a London bus, the lions and Nelson’s Column from Trafalgar Square and Stonehenge.

And these fabulous jumps could be coming to a show near you. After the Games, they will go to the British Showjumping (BS) jump store in Hampshire, which provides jumps for hire and sale.

Bob told H&H: “Most of the jumps were built for us by BS and they will go back to them after the Games, so I believe we have not seen the last of them.

“Kelvin [Bywater] and I have been working on the designs since we got the contract in June 2010. We wanted to make it all about the UK, with London featuring prominently.”

Thirty-two unique jumps were displayed across the competitions by Bob and Kelvin, who drew the original designs.

“We spent quite a few days in London going to museums and landmarks. Then Kelvin sketched them down roughly and we took those designs to Christine Bousfield,” said Bob.

Mrs Bousfield is an Oxfordshire-based artist. She was commissioned to produce fence drawings for the 1976 Montreal Olympics and creates the detailed drawings of the fences each year for the Blenheim and Gatcombe horse trials programmes.

The 50 initial ideas were whittled down to the 32 that were approved by the FEI, before being made from wood and polystyrene by the BS team.

The end result has received plaudits from all over the world. Commentator Mike Tucker, who has seen many Olympic courses over the years, described them as being on “a level of design and attention to detail never seen before“.

Bob said his phone and email have not stopped pinging.

“It’s brilliant that people have taken the trouble to email me,” he said.

And which is his favourite? As H&H went to press, Bob’s most impressive jump was still to come – he was saving it for the individual competition.

This news story was first published in the current issue of H&H (10 August 2012)

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My heart has just about stopped trying to burst out of my chest and resumed its normal rhythm. If the pressure was getting to me, what must it have been like for William Fox-Pitt, Zara Phillips, Mary King and Tina Cook in the final showjumping rounds for Olympic eventing medals?

Alas, I wasn’t at Greenwich, but watching on a giant TV screen borrowed for the duration of the London Games and located in pride of place at H&H Towers. Lord knows what will happen to it after the Games; I have kindly offered to take it home for safekeeping…

Anyway, it was almost as good as a ringside seat. And back to that pressure on Zara. Unusually, most of the national press — redtops and quality alike — have embraced eventing enthusiastically for the first time. Purely coincidence that The Queen’s granddaughter happens to be on Team GBR, I’m sure.

With members of her illustrious family present, the burden on Zara’s 31-year-old shoulders must have been heavy indeed in the team rounds. She and High Kingdom rolled a pole — and the entire staff of H&H groaned along with the audience in Greenwich — but she held her nerve and got home with four faults plus three time-penalties.

The time was pretty tight, but William Fox-Pitt nipped inside and was clear with Lionheart. Mary King, like the consummate professional that she is, produced a copybook clear with seconds to spare on Imperial Cavalier. What a woman! We think she should run for Prime Minister.

Tina Cook had just one time-penalty, but was otherwise clear. Good enough for team silver behind the mighty Germans, favourites from the off and 2008 Olympic gold medal holders. How we’d have loved gold, but silver is not so shabby.

Zara was, if anything, under more pressure in the individual — her first at an Olympics and on home turf to boot. But she produced the goods this time, clear inside the time. A magnificent effort — the entire office burst into spontaneous applause. Now who can say the selectors shouldn’t have picked her for the team?

Tina and Mary both had two down, but finished fifth and sixth. Just outside the medals, but pretty good results nonetheless.

Can you imagine if we’d have won gold? We would have heard the cheers from Greenwich in H&H Towers – and they would probably have heard ours.

Nicola

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Britain’s event riders have won Olympic team silver.

They couldn’t quite reach the Germans, who have led throughout the competition in Greenwich Park, but they held off New Zealand, who took bronze, and Sweden, who dropped to fourth.

Tina Cook, who jumped clear with one time-fault on Miners Frolic, said: “Of course it’s brilliant to win silver. I’m a lot more excited than I look! The scores are so close — it could have been a gold, it could have been nothing — but every competitor here wants gold.”

She sits in fourth place going into the individual medal decider this afternoon.

One place above her in bronze position is Mary King, who jumped a brilliant clear inside the time — which proved hard to get — on Imperial Cavalier.

Britain’s third clear round came from William Fox-Pitt, foot-perfect on Lionheart. But after his nine time-faults across country, unfortunately William was the lowest placed of the Brits and his score did not count towards the final standings.

Nor did Nicola Wilson‘s, who hit one fence on Opposition Buzz. Neither Nicola nor William will jump in the individual final, despite both being in the top 25 — Nicola 19th and William 15th — as only the three highest-placed competitors from each country are allowed through.

Zara Phillips will jump again. She and High Kingdom had four faults plus three time-penalties, and are in 14th place currently.

Sara Algotsson Ostholt holds pole position for Sweden on Wega, but looming just 0.7pen behind her is Germany’s Michael Jung, whose first round clear on Sam clinched team gold.

View the results

Don’t miss H&H’s full report of the Olympic eventing, in the issue on sale FRIDAY 3 August – 23-page special report, with comments from Ruth Edge, Pippa Funnell and Mark Phillips, pictures of every cross-country fence, stunning photos and full analysis.

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If you thought the Olympic action began on Friday, 27 July – think again. Planning a last night out with friends, ahead of three nail-biting weeks in front of the TV? Cancel it!

H&H’s bumper Olympic preview magazine comes out tomorrow (Thursday 19 July) and is unmissable. Including 30 pages of Olympic content, it analyses British contenders, the challenges they face and their main opposition.

It is also packed with features comparing the equestrian events at this Olympics with those of the 1948 London Games; an interview with Ann Moore and Richard Meade 40 years after their medals at Munich; the best equestrian stories from Olympic history; a photoshoot with the owners of Team GBR’s horses, and news, reports, veterinary coverage and more.

“We’ve been planning this issue of the magazine for the best part of a year. It’s been created, polished and handled with immense care – we think it’s a winner,” said H&H Editor Lucy Higginson.

The bumper issue has a special fold-out front cover featuring Britain’s stars.

And the following week’s issue (on sale 26 July) includes a pull-out-and-keep guide to every horse and rider competing, with scoring columns to keep abreast of the action whether you are at home or at Greenwich.

Our Olympic reports will devote 20 pages to EACH discipline, including more photographs, expert commentary and performance analysis than ever before.

In order to report on complete competitions, two Olympic reports magazines will be on sale on a Friday instead of Thursday. The 2012 eventing reports go on sale on 3 August, the following issue is then out on Friday, 10 August, with the final Olympic issue appearing in Thursday, 16 August.

Online, the H&H website has a section devoted to the Games that includes the timetable, news and video features. It will have twice daily updates on the action, plus our popular H&H Live minute-by-minute web feed on key days.

Visit www.horseandhound.co.uk/olympics2012

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The British Olympic Association (BOA) has confirmed the four dressage athletes and their horses who will compete for Team GB at the London 2012 Olympic Games.

The selected riders will compete at Greenwich Park from 2-9 August.

The athletes selected to Team GB today to contest the team and individual competitions are:

• Laura Bechtolsheimer (27) from Ampney St Peter, Gloucestershire riding Mistral Hojris, owned by Dr Wilfried & Mrs Ursula Bechtolsheimer and rider
• Charlotte Dujardin (25) from Newent, Gloucestershire riding Valegro, owned by Mr Carl Hester & Mrs Roly Luard
• Carl Hester (44) from Newent, Gloucestershire riding Uthopia, owned by Mr Carl Hester and Mrs Sasha StewartThe athlete selected to Team GB to contest the individual competition is:
• Richard Davison (57) from Combridge, Staffordshire riding Artemis, owned by the Countess of Derby

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Paralysed eventer Claire Lomas – who completed the London Marathon in a robotic suit earlier this month – has set her sights on a new challenge for next spring.

The 32-year-old was left paralysed after a fall at Osberton Horse Trials in 2007, but now plans to cycle from London to Paris using a bike powered by her legs and arms.

“After the marathon Dan (my husband) and I asked ‘what shall we do next?'” Claire told H&H. “We are still in the very early stages of planning, trying to find all the right equipment.”

Claire already trains on a static version of the bike she hopes to use for the trip.

The FES bike (which stands for Functional Electrical Stimulation) delivers an electrical current to the muscles in her legs, making them contract in a pattern that controls the bike.

“Not doing the horses anymore means I really miss being outside,” she added. “I’m looking forward to getting some fresh air on the bike.”

Claire has raised nearly £200,000 for Spinal Research by completing the marathon and hopes to continue supporting the charity with her next challenge.

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Successful British event rider Lucy Wiegersma was selected for the British Olympic eventing squad in 2008 for the Olympics in Hong Kong, but missed out when her horse Shaabrak went lame.

Having suffered such severe disappointment, Lucy put together a plan to ensure she would not be in a similar situation four years later. Find out what that plan was, Lucy’s thoughts on Greenwich as a venue and what it would mean to her to represent her country in London, in our exclusive video.

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Peppermill, John Whitaker‘s top horse, looks set to be out for at least a year with a tendon injury.

The 14-year-old, who suffered a tendon injury last year, has damaged the opposite foreleg this time.

Peppermill, who is owned by Rebecca Stones, returned to competition in June after nearly a year out due to injury. In November John and Peppermill won the grand prix in Munich.

But despite Peppermill’s setback John is still aiming at the Olympics – with Argento.

“I don’t think there is a realistic chance of Peppermill going to the Olympics,” said John.

“If you’d asked me this time last year whether Argento would be ready for the Olympics I’d have said no. But the way he’s improved, I’m more inclined to say yes.

“He picked up a small injury at the end of the summer, so we’re giving him a bit longer off to give him a chance and see how he progresses next year.”

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The British Equestrian Federation (BEF) plans to invest £250,000 in a new training and rehabilitation centre in south-east London, in a bid to create an enduring physical legacy from the otherwise “pop-up” 2012 Olympic equestrian events.

The BEF received £750,000 from Sport England in 2009 to spend on legacy projects — with £250,000 for this centre, £250,000 for the Ebony Horse Club in Brixton’s new riding centre and the rest to fund smaller Hoof projects.

David Gadsby of the BEF’s Olympic legacy project, Hoof, said that if granted planning permission the new centre will cost around £1.6m.

“Hadlow College will provide the expertise while Greenwich Council and the BEF will create the hard facilities,” he said.

Greenwich Council has applied to build on council-owned land at Shooters Hill on the Greenwich and Bexley borough borders.

Permission is sought for an indoor and outdoor arena, horsewalker and 20 stables.

It would be run by Hadlow College, based in Tonbridge, and open to students in September 2012, offering equestrian training from BHS stages to degree courses.

“It will be 95 per cent equestrian use,” added Mr Gadsby. “People can get their first experience of riding, then follow that up as a career.”

The College was unable to comment on the plans.

The project is joint-funded by Hadlow College, Greenwich Council, the Olympic Development Authority, 2012 organisers LOCOG, the London Mayor’s Fund and the £250,000 grant from the BEF.

Cllr Chris Roberts, leader of Greenwich Council, said: “This will introduce thousands of London children to the thrill of horse riding and provide future educational opportunities.”

The site was used as a horsebox park, or equestrian staging post, during the equestrian test event and is likely to be used in a similar way for the Games.

A LOCOG spokesman said: “It will be a brilliant facility.”

This news story was first published in Horse & Hound (18 August, 2011)

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Today I got as close as I’m likely to get to watching the Olympic cross-country live (like most people, I failed in the ticket ballot). Today’s two-star track for the invitational test event was interesting, entertaining (though not very problematic), attractive — and hot.

Packs of local school children brought a new perspective to the event. No respectful hush for them as horses approached the water — they squealed encouragement as the riders cantered in, creating a real buzz (well, until they got bored).

Aside from them, the mostly invited crowds boasted an extraordinary density of ‘equestrian personnel’. Progress round the course was therefore interrupted by endless encounters with fellow media, event organisers, riders, owners, equestrian PR people, equestrian sponsors and more.

Without question Greenwich 2012 will clearly offer challenging terrain (few people were prepared for just how undulating it is), wonderful going, a splendid main arena and great television.

The bigger challenge will be giving ticket holders a similarly first-class experience. The park is dense with trees. Will there be scope over next year’s course (roughly twice the length of this one) to see more than one fence at a time? And the typical ‘pitch up in your 4×4 and do a spot of shopping’ horse trial visitor will need re-educating about what to expect.

It was interesting to gauge the opinions of people on the course and venue (see next Thursday’s H&H).

Where’s the legacy?

But if one thing riles me viewing the impressive ‘pop-up horse trial’ that’s been built at Greenwich, it’s the lack of legacy.

Curiously, I’ve never before been bothered by the legacy issue. I’ve always felt that if a largely portable course keeps costs down and thus helps retain equestrianism in the Olympics, that’s fine with me.

But the initial projected budget of £6million has been shot to smithereens. The cost now is believed to be nearer £40million. For that sort of sum, it would have been great to have world-class facilities after the Games, besides the London-focused equestrian projects being created under the ‘Hoof’ programme.

Get more reaction and analysis of Greenwich Park at the London 2012 equestrian venue in next week’s H&H magazine

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With the Olympic test event in Greenwich Park less than two weeks away, details of the British squad have been announced.

William Fox-Pitt riding Gaucho, Pippa Funnell with Billy Shannon and Piggy French on DHI Topper W will be representing Team GBR at the two-star event.

Other senior riders, such as H&H columnist Tina Cook and Mary King, will be attending as spectators to get a feel for the venue.

And although the test event is only for eventers, the British Equestrian Federation told H&H that “most of the senior World Class performance athletes from all disciplines” have been invited.

Horse & Hound will be on site at Greenwich for all four days of the test event with daily reports, blogs and photo galleries published online. A full report packed with expert analysis, plus reaction from the riders, will be published in Horse & Hound magazine (14 July issue)

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Activitists are planning an orchestrated on-site protest during the Olympic test event (4-6 July) at Greenwich Park.

Members of the campaign group NOGOE — No to Greenwich for Olympic Equestrian Events — are planning to protest twice daily in a bid to target riders and officials and convince them of the unsuitability of the site.

NOGOE’s Sev D’Souza said: “We are holding these peaceful protests to get riders to see some of the shortcomings of the venue. We are hoping we can get them to think again and to ask questions of [Olympic organisers] LOCOG. The equestrian community is our last hope [to get the Games moved].”

The protestors intend to convene at St Mary’s Gate, where riders and officials will enter the venue. NOGOE is concerned about damage to the park and how its use will impact on the local community.

Horse & Hound will be on site at Greenwich for all four days of the test event with daily reports, blogs and photo galleries published online. A full report packed with expert analysis, plus reaction from the riders, will be published in Horse & Hound magazine (14 July issue)

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Hoof, the British Equestrian Federation’s (BEF) Olympic legacy project, is supporting a free seminar on health and safety and employment law for the London Horse Network (LHN), to be held at the Hilton Olympia Hotel on 28 February.

“These subjects may seem rather dry on paper but have sparked some serious debate during previous LHN meetings,” said Jodie Maile, volunteer chair of LHN, which consists of riding school managers, livery yard owners, instructors and grooms, based in the capital.

“It will be great to have industry experts who understand the challenges faced by riding centres and instructors, dealing with young, old, disadvantaged and vulnerable people in a high-risk environment.”

There will be workshops from the British Grooms Association and Career Grooms, as well as sessions with British Eventing health and safety officer Ray Hipkin and employment law solicitor Nicole Seaman.

David Gadsby, the BEF’s London representative said: “Between HOOF and the LHN, we have a comprehensive line-up of professionals that will aim to introduce their expertise, answer specific questions on the day and indicate various channels through which network members can access continued support.”

Contact jodievm@aol.com for more information or to register a question for the experts to answer.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Are you an experienced steward, fence judge or dressage writer? Would you like to assist at the 2012 London Olympics?

British Dressage (BD), British Eventing and British Showjumping are asking equestrians interested in helping at Greenwich to pre-register their interest before 16 July.

The London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) starts its formal application process at the end of July.

A LOCOG spokesman said: “We will be looking for up to 70,000 volunteers in total, and approximately 500 specialist volunteers for equestrian sport.”

Volunteers must commit to a minimum of 10 days over the Olympics or Paralympics (or both) and to attend a minimum of three training sessions. They will get free travel within London to and from the venue, free meals and a uniform.

They must also be available for the equestrian test event, provisionally planned for 4-6 July 2011.

BD chief executive Amanda Bond said: “The Olympics are an amazing opportunity for the equestrian community and we hope that working with LOCOG to develop our volunteers will mean that we have a real lasting legacy.”

Registration forms are on the British Equestrian Federation and disciplines’ websites. There are set criteria for the specialist positions, which are explained on the member bodies’ websites. For example, an eventing warm-up steward must have regularly assisted at three- or four-star CIC/CCI events during the past three years.

This news story was first published in Horse & Hound (8 July, 2010)