Horse scene around Mildenhall?

[Outfoxed13]

Hello everyone,

This is my first post here on Horse and Hound. Please forgive me for the immediate call for assistance, but I am hoping you fine folk will be able to help me with some questions. I'm an American, and have an opportunity to be stationed in the UK (Mildenhall, Suffolk) next year, and was curious what the horse community was like there. I have not ridden in two years, but am very eager to get back into it. Prior to my voluntary break from riding, I had 17 years experience, three of which were as a professional rider and farm manager. I grew up riding (American) hunters and equitation, did a couple of show jumpers, and eventually dabbled in eventing, dressage, and hunted for three seasons in Northern Virginia. I fell in love with hunting and would certainly like to find my way back to the field. I know my way around horses, but after two years off, I will need a few months to get back into it.

Is it expensive? Are there good liveries in the northwest Suffolk area? What about the availability of open trails/land for riding out? I rode out a lot on neighboring private land in VA, and got addicted to it. I love ring work, but definitely enjoy spending time out of it as well. I'm not looking to compete right away, but I'd be a fool to not show at some point while in England!

I'm sure it varies by the yard, but is leasing a common occurrence? I would want to lease a horse if possible after taking lessons for a few months to get back in riding shape. And depending how much time I spend there, I might eventually look to purchase. One of the nicest horses I've ridden in a long time was a beautiful English Thoroughbred and former 4-star eventer. He was really a lovely representation of that type.

There's no guarantee of me being stationed in the UK, but I'm thinking of pushing for it if I can. My other preference would be returning to the NoVA/DC area here in the States, since I loved my time there would would be more than happy to return (especially with a decently paying career, not being poor all the time as someone's trainer/groom/manager!). But part of me has always wanted to spend time in England, and something is telling me now is the time to do it, while I'm still young, somewhat single (long story), and not tied down with kids or a horse of my own at the moment.

Thank you kindly in advance for any help you can offer. The more information and resources I can gather now, the easier my decision will be.

 

[Jesstickle]

Hi there.

There are plenty of horsey bods in that part of the world don't worry. I have a few friends who keep horses nearby in Brandon and occasionally I am lucky enough to go over to ride with them. The hacking, or trail riding or however you call it, is really good. You're basically in the middle of a forest full of sandy tracks for cantering on Plus there is a pretty river they live near which they go to with the horses for a paddle sometimes. Bliss

I'm sure someone who knows more than me will turn up and tell you all about your options re livery etc but I can vouch for it being a nice horsey part of the world in the mean time.

 

[nikkiportia]

There is definately plenty of horses near Mildenhall!
Newmarket is the HQ of Horseracing, and is about 15-20 mins drive away
There is quite a good local scene of pleasure riders too, so I'm sure you'll manage to find some riding if you do get stationed here

 

[AGAGE]

As the others have said there's a lot of horsey people in this part of the world. I used to keep my horses at Little Lodge Farm, in Santon Downham, which is probably a 20 minute drive or so from Mildenhall. They have a website if you google them. Sally, Roy, Hannah and Jeff (the owners) are lovely. It's a big yard though, and in summer they have a lot of holiday makers with caravans etc, so it does get busy but also helps to bomb proof the horses.

When I kept my horses there about 7 years ago, there were a couple of liveries with partners from the USA base at Mildenhall. There is excellent hacking in the forest, there's no need to go any where near a road.

As for riding clubs, there's Worlington Riding Club out that way, between Barton Mills and Newmarket. I used to be a member with them about 15 years ago, when I was about 10 years old. They do XC, SJ and dressage competitions etc.

Not sure about hunting, I know there's a hunt out Cambridgshire way and further into East Suffolk, there's also the Dunston Harriers near Wymondham/Attleborough, which isn't too far. You are probably best posting on the hunting forum, for more info on local hunts.

And obviously there's Newmarket near by where you can see the racehorses exercising, watch the races and visit the national stud, among other things. There's also a good tack shop out that way, and Rossdales Vets/hospital, which is always handy to have close by for emergency colics, scans etc.

Hope this gives you some more info.

 

[Outfoxed13]

Thank you all so much! The information is greatly appreciated! That all sounds like a wonderful balance of options. I cannot wait to investigate further. As I said before, my last several years of riding have been spent doing a wide variety of things, rather than being strictly focused on showing as I had been prior to that. So eventually I'm hoping for a little bit of everything again (lots of hacking, plus XC, SJ, dressage...whatever's available). I will ask around on the Hunting forum as well to gather information on the hunts and capping. I am also very excited to hear that Newmarket is not far, and I would certainly spend some time there. I remember as a child having a large picture book which contained numerous photographs of early morning workouts at Newmarket. I'm guilty of falling in love with those images and then running to my parents and pestering them for riding lessons (and a pony).

Thank you once again for the responses; I cannot say that enough. If anyone has something to add, I would love to hear it. Even this little bit of info is extremely helpful, and makes me feel very eager to look into moving to the UK.

 

[Jesstickle]

Is that you in your siggy? Come and ride my horse. I'm in Cambridge it's only half an hour away. You look like you ride loads better than me, you'd do him the world of good! And Little Lodge is where my friend keeps her horse. Couldn't think of them name of it. Lovely yard

 

[Outfoxed13]

Thanks jesstickle! Yep, that's me in my sig. I rode professionally for a few years, absolutely loved it, and would ride anything and everything that came my way. I never intended to be a professional my whole career though, as I knew I'd burn out on it (and I did). So I moved on and found a new career that'll allow me to have horses in my life again for fun. Unfortunately though, I discovered that after a long time away from riding, all my skills go out the window, LOL. Maybe not all, but the coordination between brain and body is somewhat off. I'd need several weeks (months? Probably months) to get back into riding shape and fine tune things to where they were.