Best quality of life for both horse and his human in the UK

[ihatework]

Well there are good and bad pockets in most counties.

If you want good year round turnout and hacking then one of your priorities should be the type of ground - look for chalk, sand or brash at a push.

Do you have to earn a living / need access to motorway and/or rail?

Do you prefer specific type of countryside? Hilly, flat, close to coast?

Do you need access to competition venues?

What sort of budget are you working to as that may narrow it down significantly.

Do you want full rural, semi-rural or suburbs?

 

[Birker2020]

Warwickshire is very pretty, some lovely villages. Lots of fun rides and off road hacking.

 

[paddy555]

not to bump into the hunt every five minutes it’s hell!

there is somewhere where you don't bump into the hunt?????

 

[LadyGascoyne]

You forgot the horrendous traffic, the fact its mainly flood plain so continually floods and is muddy year round in lots of places. The city is fairly spread out and the area I know covers about a 10mile radius of the centre. Outside of that traffic is a bit better, but I've not really found anywhere that stays dry. The continual building of houses with no infrastructure to support them is already causing issues and will get worse and worse. But mainly its the traffic that makes me hate the place. 90mins to go 4 miles if I need to be in uni for 9am!

And its not relatively expensive, it is almost London expensive. 2 bed houses for a million quid in some areas. I cant imagine having horses at home here is in most peoples budgets.

I'm not a fan and cant wait to move away!

But aren’t you in Oxford rather than where I am?

I think being 40 min out makes a huge difference. We aren’t too muddy, and don’t have tend to have flooding except for in the valleys and the water meadows.

Traffic isn’t an issue, although I wish the roads were quieter to hack on.

Property prices are definitely a challenge but I don’t know where OP is on that, so it might not be an issue for them.

ETA, 90 min to get into the city centre is madness!! That’s longer than it takes me from out near Chippy! Thats the ring road throwing complete chaos isn’t it? Worst design ever. I tend to drive to the station, 3-5 min, take the train, 15 min to Oxford station. Get a taxi or walk to central things, or get a taxi to the hospitals in Headington. If I drive, it’s to the Lamb and Flag or the Oxford Science Park and both probably take me 40-45 min - 30-35 min if I leave very early or later in the evening.

 

[Spot the Merry Risk]

there is somewhere where you don't bump into the hunt?????

I think if they’re not with you they’re with me!

 

[Spirit7]

Im in north Surrey near the Kent border- Miles of off road hacking, massive horse community, access to great vets, hospitals, tack shops, deed merchants etc. I’m lucky I have horses at home and good facilities but there are lots of small yards (everywhere) and a fewreally good livery yards within 10-15 mins hack . - near to M25 too so easy to get to the coast as well. I’d move to southwest to the coast or to south Gloucestershire if I didn’t have to commute to work in London though! What an amazing position for you to be in! Best luck.

 

[phizz4]

Another vote for southern Shropshire. Church Stretton area, wonderful hacking on the Long Mynd, easy access to Shrewsbury by car (park and ride), train and bus. Livery yard at All Stretton, High Dugeley. Rain shadow of the Long Mynd, A49 gives good north and south access.
Second choice would be close to Cannock Chase.

 

[I'm Dun]

But aren’t you in Oxford rather than where I am?

I think being 40 min out makes a huge difference. We aren’t too muddy, and don’t have tend to have flooding except for in the valleys and the water meadows.

Traffic isn’t an issue, although I wish the roads were quieter to hack on.

Property prices are definitely a challenge but I don’t know where OP is on that, so it might not be an issue for them.

ETA, 90 min to get into the city centre is madness!! That’s longer than it takes me from out near Chippy! Thats the ring road throwing complete chaos isn’t it? Worst design ever. I tend to drive to the station, 3-5 min, take the train, 15 min to Oxford station. Get a taxi or walk to central things, or get a taxi to the hospitals in Headington. If I drive, it’s to the Lamb and Flag or the Oxford Science Park and both probably take me 40-45 min - 30-35 min if I leave very early or later in the evening.

Yup. where you are is lovely. I tend to head out that way to walk the dogs. Central Oxford is like a different world. I've moved over towards Witney way now, gorgeous area, very horsey, even wetter! 7am on a Sunday morning and theres been a constant stream of cars over the 5p toll bridge. Uni is headington to there isnt really a sensible train or bus option. Drives me demented!

 

[[59851]]

Hi all! I'm hoping to pick your collective brains.... I can relocate anywhere in the UK and trying to find the best options for my horse to have good all year herd turnout and for us both to have lots of off road hacking to enjoy. Open to all suggestions, including livery yards as a home with land might be a bit too far out of reach at the moment. Having too much choice is sometimes not a good thing when making a decision. Thanks in advance!

avoid the south east - over populated over built and extemely expensive.

 

[spacefaer]

Another vote for southern Shropshire. Church Stretton area, wonderful hacking on the Long Mynd, easy access to Shrewsbury by car (park and ride), train and bus. Livery yard at All Stretton, High Dugeley. Rain shadow of the Long Mynd, A49 gives good north and south access.
Second choice would be close to Cannock Chase.

Also easy access down to Ludlow!

Several livery yards, several strong riding clubs. Not so much affiliated competition but good road networks to get out to it.
Amazing hacking and a strong bridleway maintenance group too.
Top of the Long Mynd above the clouds!

 

[Bellaboo18]

Another vote for southern Shropshire. Church Stretton area, wonderful hacking on the Long Mynd, easy access to Shrewsbury by car (park and ride), train and bus. Livery yard at All Stretton, High Dugeley. Rain shadow of the Long Mynd, A49 gives good north and south access.
Second choice would be close to Cannock Chase.

I love Cannock Chase but I wouldn't pick to live near it. The areas around it are very run down imo. The road works around Stafford for the past few years have been awful and shows no signs of getting better.

 

[phizz4]

I love Cannock Chase but I wouldn't pick to live near it. The areas around it are very run down imo. The road works around Stafford for the past few years have been awful and shows no signs of getting better.

I wouldn't class Lichfield, Brocton, Milford, Penkridge or The Haywood's as 'run down'. Lots of livery yards as well, some with direct access to The Chase.

 

[Bellaboo18]

I wouldn't class Lichfield, Brocton, Milford, Penkridge or The Haywood's as 'run down'. Lots of livery yards as well, some with direct access to The Chase.

A difference in opinion then, unfortunately I would. The road works in brocton and Milford at the moment are a nightmare. If you lived there, Id assume you'd then go to Stafford to shop(?). It'd definitely be your nearest town. If that isn't run down, I don't know what is tbh.

 

[dougpeg]

I love Cannock Chase but I wouldn't pick to live near it. The areas around it are very run down imo. The road works around Stafford for the past few years have been awful and shows no signs of getting better.

I've lived near cannock chase and it has it's pros. Hacking on the chase is incredible and housing prices are affordable. Folk are friendly and it has good transport links and amenities. Most yards still offer herd turnout which seems a rarity in other areas. I moved away as I wanted to live in a more rural area. Having done this I can say my horse's quality of life was far better in cannock.

 

[southerncomfort]

there is somewhere where you don't bump into the hunt?????

Our local hunt has disbanded! Though I will say they were one of the decent ones so it's a bit of a shame really.

Hugely biased, but for good riding, stunning views, not to mention the nicest people you will ever meet, you cannot beat Yorkshire!

Only downside is that winter lasts longer up here than down south, but it's a small price to pay to be able to have our ponies at home.

 

[Traks]

Shropshire - a forgotten gem of a county. Also Herefordshire.

Some lovely outriding in Shropshire (Long Mynd) but don't know anymore about livery yards there.

North Shropshire is good and the long Mynd is lovely...but hardly any livery yards in South Shropshire! North Herefordshire the same, hacking also not great despite it being so rural!

Lots of farms in this part of the world which look great on the face of it...but most people keep theirs on their own farms and therefore hack their own land. It's not great!

 

[MagicMelon]

Aberdeenshire. Good free draining soil mainly which is great for 24/7 turnout. Loads of rural areas which are pretty, safe and cheap (£250k can get you a nice house with couple acres). Have the right to roam in Scotland so you can go anywhere although of course in practice, I dont ride in the farmers fields etc. unless Ive had specific permission. You can be close to amazing beaches for riding and also miles of forestry. Some brilliant competition / training venues (Bogenraith, Cabin (starting up again), Tillyoch, Ladyleys and Ardmedden to name the main ones).

 

[JFTDWS]

This. I’m just across the border in Suffolk. Not close enough to hack to the forest (there’s not just one, I have a choice of at least 3) but we box up at least once a week. Hacking at home is excellent too, quiet lanes and plenty of bridleways/green lanes. Very horsey, plenty of choice of farriers/saddlers/physio etc and clinics/events. sandy soil for all year turnout. If only we had hills it would be perfect!

Me too - I'm nearer Kings (long hack / short drive distance) so have Bury St Edmunds and Newmarket / Cambridge within easy reach. Lovely place to keep horses (my yard is a delight), good hacking, good ground for turnout.

But also, a lovely place for humans. BSE is beautiful, full of history, lots going on socially, and I have Cambridge for my niche hobbies.

 

[Leah3horses]

Semi rural Yorkshire/ Derbyshire or Northumberland in England. Can find some of the most free draining land , open countryside, huge forests, beaches in East / North Yorkshire & Northumberland. Less population density, very horsey, easy access to cities when needed. Although a very cheap old croft in N Scotland with absolutely nothing but stunning scenery, not even mains anything, no house, just absolute freedom, living in my horse box , is my current goal. Did the same in central France for years & loved it, until Brexit ruined it all.

 

[Nevergrewup]

Semi rural Yorkshire/ Derbyshire or Northumberland in England

I'd echo this - if you pick carefully you can combine moorland hacking with a good choice of livery yards and competition centres. Plus loads of vets, blacksmiths etc. around. And for the non-horsey part of your life, there's decent motorway and train links and accessible bigger cities. Just don't go too high up or weather starts to make winter hard work. If you avoid the fashionable or touristy bits house and land prices aren't too bad either.

 

[Fieldlife]

there is somewhere where you don't bump into the hunt?????

I have that somewhere, great hacking and dont bump into the hunt.

 

[Time for Tea]

Would anyone recommend the Ilkley area? West Yorkshire? I’m interested as have relatives there, you never know might relocate! We have walked on Ilkley Moor, it seems very rough. Not sure if you can get on Middleton Moor on the other side.

 

[Nevergrewup]

Would anyone recommend the Ilkley area? West Yorkshire? I’m interested as have relatives there, you never know might relocate! We have walked on Ilkley Moor, it seems very rough. Not sure if you can get on Middleton Moor on the other side.

Ilkley is an expensive place to buy a house, but has some nice livery yards and hacking, there's lots of horsey infrastructure and a very active Riding Club.

My moorland hacking is similar and you really need a horse that's surefooted, e.g. the kind of dressage horses that are inclined to trip over their own feet don't do well and huge-hooved horses can struggle.

 

[Penguin_Toes]

I found North Yorkshire (Richmond/Northallerton/near the Dales) a wonderful place to keep a horse. Lots of competitive opportunities but also beautiful countryside and hacking and several active trail hunting packs doing fun rides all summer etc