Popular competition venue to reopen as training centre for police horses
The Hand Equestrian Centre (HEC) is due to reopen as a training centre for police horses and dogs.
The former competition venue in Clevedon near Bristol closed last year (17 December) and all competitions were cancelled.
It has now been bought by Avon and Somerset Police who will use the centre as a new public order training base, and to house the mounted and dog sections.
“This is an exciting opportunity for the constabulary to move into a state of the art facility which will enhance the public order training for police officers and potentially others across the region,” said police and crime commissioner Sue Mountstevens.
“It will also provide a better environment for both their staff and animals. The Constabulary has for some time been telling me that their current base at Bower Ashton no longer offers the flexibility they need and it’s also in need of considerable repair.
“By moving into this new base it will give us a modern facility fit for the 21st century, improve the training the police can do and offer more opportunities to work with partners and our regional colleagues.”
The news of HEC’s closure came just two weeks before the popular New Year ding-dong show and ahead of key qualifier dates including British Showjumping pony premiers in January and February 2015.
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
In a statement at the time, the Hand’s owner Nick Davies said the announcement was made with “a heavy heart and great sadness”, and he thanked staff and sponsors for their contributions over the years.
“We have agonised over this decision but are faced now with no alternative but to close the centre and put the property up for sale.”
The Davies family bought the centre eight years ago and invested in developing the facilities into an Olympic-approved venue.
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
Rachael joined Horse & Hound in 2014, initially as a digital sub editor then became part of the news team as a writer in 2015. The philosophy graduate studied journalism at the Press Association before working as a local reporter at the Brentwood Gazette. Rachael is now a mum of two and still loves all things equestrian, including hacking, dressage and jumping with her cob Bert. Rachael left the H&H staff to go freelance in June 2019, but still contributes to our magazine and website, as well as our sister magazine Country Life, among others.