Kingsbarn reopens as Blue Ridge Equestrian Centre
Kingsbarn Equestrian Centre, near Falkirk, is now up and running again, after being sold.
The centre has been renamed Blue Ridge Equestrian Centre and has been bought by farmer and businessman Alasdair Beaton.
The centre was put up for sale earlier this year after the company behind Kingsbarn — Jakem Ltd — was put into liquidation.
It went on the market with rural property specialists Baird Lumsden for around £650,000.
It has now been reopened and has horses on full livery on site, with plans to start running competitions.
The centre will be managed by Lisa McIlreavy.
The family are well-known for breeding and selling Texel sheep and Mr Beaten’s company, Chemcem sponsors rider Ron Brady.
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The centre is set in around 44 acres. It has a 75m x 60m international indoor arena, 75 indoor stables and 89 outdoor stables. There are also offices, a café and feed store.
Last year H&H confirmed that showjumping shows at the centre had been
reallocated due to the liquidation, which followed a dispute between centre owner Jackie Kemp and a stakeholder.
A spokesman for British Showjumping told H&H that they would be open for discussions with the centre regarding future events.
The centre originally opened in 2007 — costing £10m to build — owned by Stewart Aitken. Since then it has had a had a chequered history. It went into administration in 2009 and Ms Kemp reopened the centre in under Jakem Ltd the same year.
Late last year Ms Kemp was under investigation by the Scottish SPCA after a social media campaign, entitled “Let’s stop this horse cruelty” was set up.
Scottish SPCA inspectors visited her premises days after the Facebook page went live in November.
In January the investigation into equine neglect was concluded and there were no criminal proceedings.
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A graduate of Exeter University, Amy joined our news team from Redpin Publishing in 2008 as news writer. She was promoted to deputy news editor in May 2013 and became news editor in April 2015. She left Horse & Hound in March 2016 to take up an editorial position in Dubai.