Eventing from W. Berks - recommendations needed!

[LVBeventer]

Hi guys, I'm in the final few days of preparing for my big move to Upper Basildon, where I'll be living on a lovely livery yard and commuting to Surrey to work as yard manager for another. By mid-summer I'll have squirrelled away enough to finally replace my wonderful eventer who was euthanased a couple of years ago. I'm thrilled as there's a distinctly four-legged hole in my heart at the moment and due to finances and uni I've not been able to be as horsey as I'd like the past couple of years. This time around, because of this wonderful job and generous employers, I'll finally be able to have the resources to do everything properly - get my own cheapo secondhand horsebox, have decent tack, compete regularly, and most importantly, work with the best trainers I can find. I've been really lucky in the past to have had some ace working pupil jobs so great training is a huge priority for me.

So, Berkshire people - and those from the surrounding counties! - I'd love to hear some of your recommendations! Where are your favourite places to cross country school? Which competition venues do you swear by? What is the hunting like - I've never been and would love to go next winter! And who do you train with?

Any recommendations - or words of warning! - about anything horsey in that neck of the woods would be so much appreciated! Thanks!

 

[ihatework]

OK from Upper Basildon you will have easy access onto the M4 corridor and also the A34 up towards Oxfordshire.

XC schooling your main good one would be Boomerang.
Small local Dr/SJ venues would be Cullinghood, Checkendon, Hall Place - my preference from those would be Cullinghood
SJ only is Blewbury but it's a bit of a dive
Dressage only East Soley and Fairoak grange are both nice venues.
Farley Hall easy to get to - a smart livery yard that holds lots of good clinics
A little bit further afield, the bigger show centres that are reachable (depending on your travel tolerance) - BCA, Merrist Wood, Patchetts, Sparsholt, Addington, Quainton
You will be reasonably spoilt for choice regarding BE events
Hunting wise - you are on the boarder of the foxhound packs, probably just about in Kimblewick Country. Also a couple off good drag packs - Berks & Bucks probably has the most in your area but Sandhurst also do-able.

 

[LVBeventer]

OK from Upper Basildon you will have easy access onto the M4 corridor and also the A34 up towards Oxfordshire.

XC schooling your main good one would be Boomerang.
Small local Dr/SJ venues would be Cullinghood, Checkendon, Hall Place - my preference from those would be Cullinghood
SJ only is Blewbury but it's a bit of a dive
Dressage only East Soley and Fairoak grange are both nice venues.
Farley Hall easy to get to - a smart livery yard that holds lots of good clinics
A little bit further afield, the bigger show centres that are reachable (depending on your travel tolerance) - BCA, Merrist Wood, Patchetts, Sparsholt, Addington, Quainton
You will be reasonably spoilt for choice regarding BE events
Hunting wise - you are on the boarder of the foxhound packs, probably just about in Kimblewick Country. Also a couple off good drag packs - Berks & Bucks probably has the most in your area but Sandhurst also do-able.

That's fab - thank you! Will go and have a google of all of those now!

 

[PolarSkye]

Very comprehensive list from ihatework .

I would just add . . . Snowball Farm - they do ODEs, jumping, dressage, combined training and eventer's challenges. Small, friendly venue with good facilities.

Also Pachesham . . . similar to Snowball (but avoid anything indoors - their indoor school is awful.

Wellington is also pretty do-able for you - they do a bit of everything there and hold both affiliated and unaffiliated events in all three disciplines (SJ, DR and eventing) - plus, I think you can go XC schooling there and they have a very good jump/XC trainer in David Sheerin (good trainer but very no nonsense).

Our jump trainer has just set up a yard in Pirbright which isn't that far from Chobham - he does jump clinics and has nice facilities (Law Meadows Stud).

If you're willing to travel a tad further afield, Tweseldown is a great XC schooling venue - particularly as the sandy ground means the going is good pretty much year round.

Personally, I don't like Checkendon - but that's because my boy doesn't like their indoor school.

How exciting - good luck with your new endeavours .

P

 

[LVBeventer]

Very comprehensive list from ihatework .

I would just add . . . Snowball Farm - they do ODEs, jumping, dressage, combined training and eventer's challenges. Small, friendly venue with good facilities.

Also Pachesham . . . similar to Snowball (but avoid anything indoors - their indoor school is awful.

Wellington is also pretty do-able for you - they do a bit of everything there and hold both affiliated and unaffiliated events in all three disciplines (SJ, DR and eventing) - plus, I think you can go XC schooling there and they have a very good jump/XC trainer in David Sheerin (good trainer but very no nonsense).

Our jump trainer has just set up a yard in Pirbright which isn't that far from Chobham - he does jump clinics and has nice facilities (Law Meadows Stud).

If you're willing to travel a tad further afield, Tweseldown is a great XC schooling venue - particularly as the sandy ground means the going is good pretty much year round.

Personally, I don't like Checkendon - but that's because my boy doesn't like their indoor school.

How exciting - good luck with your new endeavours .

P

That's really helpful - thank you further afield isn't an issue, I'm happy to travel a bit as I'll be competing BE and fully expect that sod's law will ballot me out of all of the nearby competitions so I'll be used to traversing the M4 ahaha!

 

[Angeline]

Looks like you will be living around the corner from me! I can highly recommend Swalcliffe, recently went XC training there this weekend and it was fab! Mixture of fences from BE90 to Advanced and even with the awful weather we have had the ground it ok. If you are wanting something more local then go for boomerang, i am heading there this Sat for some training prior to my event at Aston on Monday! PM me your mobile number and I can pop you a text if you want to meet up for a hack in upper Basildon xx