A lovely equestrian set-up with a six bedroom house and three cottages located in the heart of Northumberland has come on the market.

Ovington House is situated in the village of Ovington in Prudhoe. Ovington is located only a short distance from the A69 which makes it a handy settlement for commuting east to Newcastle city centre and Newcastle Airport and west towards Hexham and Carlisle.

Equestrian centres nearby include: Blue Sky Riding School (31 miles), which boasts indoor arenas, Todburn EC (33 miles) and Redesdale Equestrian (27 miles). Alnwick Ford Equestrian (37 miles) hosts regular showjumping and dressage competitions throughout the season.

Burgham Horse Trials is a 40 minute drive North (33 miles).

Cross-country facilities are just down the road at Little Whittington XC (8 miles).

Get signed up to BSPS Area 1A if you like to hit the show ring.

Hunting in the area is with either the Morpeth or the North Tyne.

Head out for some glorious off-road hacking at either Hamsterley Forest (29 miles) or Seaton Carew beach (50 miles).

Offered for sale by Youngs RPS, this Northumbrian home is currently on the market with a guide price of £1.75m.

Could you imagine upping sticks and living here?

The lush pasture is ideal for turnout and the grazing extends to five acres. Check out these views over the surrounding countryside.

While the area is ideal for leisurely hacking both on and off road, this 20x40m all-weather arena will ensure your schooling is on point all year round. No excuses.

To the side of the house is access into the indoor stables, which provide spacious loose boxes, ideal for this cold weather.

There is also ample parking space for a lorry or a trailer.

Ovington House is a six bedroom detached family home built in the Georgian period.

The kitchen is fitted with a units and central island and there is also an oil fired AGA. It leads through into a cosy sitting room.

The house has a range of period features throughout, including feature fireplaces. It’s the perfect haven to relax in after a long day at the yard.

The dining room benefits from double doors leading out to the decking area.

Within the grounds of the property are three cottages which provide an opportunity for further income and are currently let on assured shorthold tenancies.

Does this north eastern nest get a thumbs up from you?

For all the latest equestrian news and reports, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, out 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 charity has pledged £40,000 to help support rural communities and businesses affected by the recent flooding.

The Prince’s Countryside Fund revealed the news on Monday (7 December).

It will be working alongside The Prince’s Business Emergency Resilience Group (BERG) to support the affected communities and help their long-term recovery.

Storm Desmond has caused widespread damage and disruption to the north of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales since it first hit on 4 December.

H&H has already reported on one horse that died because of the floods, despite rescue attempts, horses being led to safety with the help of a tractor and a donkey in Ireland that had a lucky escape.

“The full impact of the floods has yet to be realised, but many farms have lost livestock drowned in the floodwaters, or been affected by landslips, while feed and equipment has been lost,” said Claire Saunders from the charity.

“This is a catastrophic blow to rural businesses which are already hard pressed.

“Many will be relying on Christmas trade to turn a profit and we need to act swiftly to help them get back on track.”

“We’re urging farms and rural businesses in trouble to ask for help and contact the Farming Help charities and the Cumbria Community Foundation for advice and assistance.”

Environment Secretary Elizabeth Truss said on Monday that more than 3,500 properties had flooded across the country, with the majority in Cumbria.

In Lancaster, 55,000 properties lost power when a substation was flooded.

Horses have had to be rescued from flooded stables and fields and there have sadly been some fatalities.

More rain is also forecast for today (Wednesday 9 December) and tomorrow (Thursday 10 December), with weather and flood warnings in place for the midlands and the North.

The Prince’s Countryside Fund is releasing the money from its emergency coffers.

In total, £30,000 will be given to the Farming Help charities to aid farmers and rural communities in the area and to provide immediate financial assistance.

The Cumbria Community Foundation, which will be working with voluntary organisations to provide initial hardship grants of £500 to individuals, will receive £10,000.

“Flooding causes huge devastation to property, land and the morale of communities, and once flood waters recede and media attention wanes, people still need help to recover,” said Mike Still of BERG.

“We want to help hard hit rural communities get back on their feet and open for business.”

The Prince’s Countryside Fund has also started a fundraising appeal for people affected by the floods.

Contact the Farming Help hotline on 03000 111999 and Cumbria Community Foundation on 01900 825760.

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

It may not seem a milestone compared to the Royal Bath & West Show, which was founded in 1777, nor compete with the outstanding achievements of AP McCoy, but I was proud nevertheless to celebrate the 25th anniversary of my North of England Spring Show last month.

In 1989, I couldn’t comprehend why we didn’t have an equivalent event to the South of England Spring Show in the north, knowing how much support there was for showing. Consequently, the title was born well before approaching the relevant governing bodies and Osbaldeston proprietors Norman and Mollie Bargh to stage the appropriately named two-day horse show. Pony day was added on later.

Apart from holding prestigious qualifying rounds, I also realised — from my fond memories of the Stoneleigh indoor Spring Show — how vital novices’ classes are to competitors, especially at the beginning of the season. One of the highlights for me has been watching some of our North of England novice winners go on to enjoy illustrious careers in the showring, including victories at Horse of the Year Show.

Down memory lane

At the first event, the hack champion received a shirt as a prize. Since then, presenting thousands of pounds worth of products to competitors has become a feature of the show and I’m bowled over by the generosity of those donors and, of course, our loyal sponsors.

One of my favourite photographs from the show, which appeared in H&H, looked like a scene from the Muppet Show. Julie Bankier, winner of the mini show pony championship, was surrounded by more than 100 Beanie animals, donated by Claudia Cooper for the mini classes.

In contrast, two incidents still haunt me to this day, despite not ending badly. A working hunter stopped abruptly at a fence and its front stud became embedded in the filler. Thankfully the horse stood like a rock while the log pile was dismantled underneath him.

The other was like a dramatic storyline from one of the soaps. A distraught exhibitor announced that there was a major gas leak in the horsebox lines. The problem was located but all movements in the area came to a halt for more than an hour as a spark from a horseshoe could, theoretically, have triggered an explosion.

It takes a hardworking team to produce a successful show and without sounding like an Oscar recipient, I would like to thank all those involved over the years — and here’s to another 25!

Ref: H&H 14 May 2015

NORTH OF ENGLAND IN-HAND & M&M Osbaldeston EC, Lancs, 21 July

M&M (Mr R Sutcliffe, Mrs N Clayton) New Forest, Connemara— 1 & res, K Burkin’s Silver Rebel; 2, K Vines’s Knockmore Merrel Prince; 3, S Kivlochen’s Breamar Be Lucky. Fell, Highland, Dales— 1 & ch, Mrs & Miss Burton’s Xander Of Mendick; 2, S Pinfield’s Faraday Barney; 3, J Robinson’s Severnvale Grey Bobby. Dartmoor, Exmoor, Shetland— 1, M Alford’s Dryknowl Ennar; 2, S Dowdeswell’s Raphael; 3, P Taylor’s Uppacott Marjosse. sec A/B— 1, T Neal’s Gwauniarll Nathan; 2, F Barltrop’s Laithehill Icarus; 3, Mrs Dawson’s Gunthwaite Mahogany. sec C— 1, L Dickinson’s Tranmoor Vulcan; 2, P Billington’s Rangeview Remi; 3, J Turnbull’s Tranmoor Flyte. sec D— 1, S Richardson’s Cwmccydan Oscar; 2, J Stevens’s Crugwlyd Rhodri; 3, M Standen’s Outrington Starlight. Torne Valley Ridden M&M (S Hide, G Chapman)— 1, Xander Of Mendick; 2, R Davidson’s Trowan Moulin; 3, P Starkie’s Waxwing Paintbox. Whiteside & Knowles Supreme In-Hand (G Chapman & M Taylor)— 1, J Gilchrist’s Rotherwood Flamenco; 2, J Crane’s Rackwood Robin; 3, L Bishop-Milnes’s Wayward Silhouette. mini (Mrs N Clayton & Mrs G Chapman) LR— 1 & ch, J Pearson’s Heniarth Quasar; 2, Shuttleworth & Leeming’s Waxwing Pastille; 3, I Parr’s Tamevalley Blackjack. FR— 1 & res, S Oldfield’s Georgian Dante; 2, Mr Madeley’s Rotherwood Royal Gold; 3, Shuttleworth & Leeming’s Waxwing Thumbs Up.

NORTH OF ENGLAND SUMMER PONY Osbaldeston EC, Lancs, 14 July

SP (Mrs A Barton, Mr P Wilson) LR— 1 & res, K Carter’s Chagford Lewis; 2, C Cochran’s Kenilwood Music Boy; 3, H O’Neill’s Rocksgreen Cold Mountain. FR— 1 & ch, Thomas & Richardson’s Fofsway Flutter; 2, D Walder’s Wentward Quality Quest; 3, J Kitson’s Barkway Chorister. 128cm— 1, A Georgakis’s Parkhill First Edition; 2, L Curry’s Kenilwood Windsong; 3, M Mackay’s Warleigh Rosetta. 138cm— 1 & res, L Edwards’s Stanley Grange Revelation; 2, I Welby’s Ainthorpe Countess; 3, M Stanford’s Touch Of Mischief. 148cm— 1 & ch, D Thomas’s Crafton Touch Of Gold; 2, C Murray’s Broteifi Pillow Talk; 3, C Thompson’s Roseberry Highland Fling. McDonald Supreme Mini— 1, P Emmerson’s Fairmarsh Black Magic; 2, P Starkie’s Waxwing Paintbox; 3, Chagford Lewis. SHP (Mr D Hinde, Mr A King) 153cm— 1, C Scholes’s Westwood Vireinia; 2, K Campbell’s Laurent Perrier; 3, C Heaton’s The Parson. 143cm— 1 & ch, G Kapadia’s Rotherwood Maybe; 2, R Walker’s Fleetsmoor Firefly; 3, J Finlow’s Ellenbrook Master Plan. 133cm— 1 & res, P Taylor’s Ronai Mr McCawber; 2, A Georgakis’s Yealand Angelina; 3, L Curry’s Parkhill Playboy. 122cm— 1, R Frank’s Hollybush Trump Card; 2, K Choynowski’s Pebbly Paint Pot; 3, Mrs Cambray’s Rillaton Peter Pan. Leaventhorpe Hall Supreme RP— 1, Roseberry Highland Fling; 2, L Edwards’s Hindleap Choir Boy; 3, D Lacey’s Radway All Talk. int (Miss H Barton & Mr J Bourne) SRT 153cm— 1 & ch, Crafton Touch Of Gold; 2, Radway All Talk; 3, Grierson & Bott’s Whalton Wolf Whistle. 158cm— 1, S Harrison’s The Tempest II; 2, L McMulloch’s Derwent Shadow Play; 3, D Burgin’s Haddon Hurricane. SHT— 1, J Wyslych’s Escarda; 2 & res, A Tweedale’s Diamond Grove; 3, I Bentley’s Private Collection. WHP (Mr P Aldred & Miss C Pearsall) 133cm— 1 & res, M Rodgers’s Parkfield Freddie; 2, R Melling’s Rhode Island Red; 3, S Bebbington’s Rushmoor Sunrise. 143cm— 1, M Sargent’s Twilight Tarragon; 2, T O’Connor’s Pebbly Drawn Order; 3, R Dudgeon’s Caperann Blazer. 153cm— 1 & ch, J Knipe’s All Fired Up; 2, N Schofield’s Johnny Hero; 3, S Weir’s Otto. int— 1, P Keepe’s Carnsdale Top Gun; 2, E Barnes’s Noble Rockstar; 3, M Bowling’s Westwood Red Fox. coloured (Mrs X Barker-Wild & Miss C Hamilton) native/cob/trad 0 horse— 1, K Mathison’s Elijah; 2, V Prescott’s Mis Print; 3, S Samuels’s Just Huff and Puff. pony— 1, K McNeill’s Rock TJ; 2, J McGuinness’s Higher Tongs Honey; 3, K St George-Smith’s Merlin The Magic Maker.

NORTH OF ENGLAND SUMMER HORSE Osbaldeston EC, Lancs, 7 July

Hunter (Mr G Mernagh) working— 1, J Jerram’s Noble Clover; 2, J Smith’s Beach Baby; 3, S Lears’s Woodfield Cross. weights (Miss J Armstrong-Small, Mrs P Powley) small— 1, P Binks’s Suwannee River; 2, L Smith-Crallan’s Randalstown; 3, J Greenwood’s Sir William John. lwt— 1, J Jerram’s Azarax; 2, Greenwood & Heath’s Unrico; 3, C Bardo’s Titterington Tom. mwt— 1, P Hodgson’s Jackpot II; 2, J Gilliver’s Fair & Square; 3, W & E Gibson’s Ringfort Landmark. hwt— 1 & ch, J Day’s Manton; 2 & res, S Hinchcliffe’s Avalanche II; 3, W & E Gibson’s Shelford Ruper. hack (Miss K Davis, Mr J Cochrane) sml— 1 & ch, L Edgar’s Wilderness Carmen; 2, E Cross’s Saranella Valencia; 3, L Parker’s Derwent Destiny. lge— 1 & res, G Russell’s True Blue; 2, L McCulloch’s Derwent Shadow Play; 3, B Blissett’s Wizard II. riding horse (Miss K Davis, Mr J Cochrane) sml— 1 & ch, Done & Pretty Ponies Ltd’s Carnsdale Cinderella; 2, T Pethig’s In Tune; 3, D McCormack’s Manhatten. lge— 1 & res, C Bardo’s The Philanderer; 2, S Carey’s Unique; 3, C Blaskey’s I’m Blue Chip Two. cob (Mr J Cochrane, Miss K Davis) lwt— 1 & res, P Atkin’s Tommy Tucker; 2, M Maguire’s Kingscall; 3, S Hinchcliffe’s Lockwood. hwt— 1 & ch, C Neame’s So Smart; 2, C Farrow’s Little Countryman; 3, H Hyde-Andrews’s Colebrook. Deanwater Hotel Ridden Show Horse (A Leaver & G Mernagh)— 1, C Bardo’s Silverstream; 2, L Smith-Crallan’s Tranquil Heights; 3, C Gridley’s Silent Words.