IMJS97
Well-Known Member
Hi all, just wondering if anyone's kept horses at Slough Farm Livery, Clandon Park Livery or Ruxbury Farm? If so, would love any feedback!
Livery close to SW London
- Thread starter IMJS97
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JenJ
Well-Known Member
I know people that had horses at Slough Farm (was only DIY at the time, I don't know if that's changed since) 10-12 or so years ago. All positive really. I would have gone there myself if I'd had better transport options. Each stable had a lockable 'cubicle' in a barn to store your feed hay etc, I was always so envious of those
Don't know of the others.
The Fuzzy Furry
Old Timer
2 of those are reasonably local to me.
Ruxbury never advertise, never seen much about them on local pages (good or bad), decent arena, would need to box out to hack if you want to do more than field riding if you like hacking as well as arena work.
Clandon park has well rotated fields (though they can be v wet on parts of the estate), access to v good hacking. Not cheap, but good services offered. Was a bit 'them and us' between the grass liveries and part/full but I think that's been sorted these days. Lady Onslow is very hands on.
Ruxbury never advertise, never seen much about them on local pages (good or bad), decent arena, would need to box out to hack if you want to do more than field riding if you like hacking as well as arena work.
Clandon park has well rotated fields (though they can be v wet on parts of the estate), access to v good hacking. Not cheap, but good services offered. Was a bit 'them and us' between the grass liveries and part/full but I think that's been sorted these days. Lady Onslow is very hands on.
IMJS97
Well-Known Member
That's very helpful, thank you! Yes Ruxbury is now off the list due to the lack of hacking. And I thought that might be the case re Clandon - lots of people are actually leaving due to some management issues but I still like the look of it. Slough Farm is sounding like it may be the winner, although there is a bit of road work. Have you ever hacked on Claygate or Esher commons?
IMJS97
Well-Known Member
Thank you!! Have you ever hacked on Claygate or Esher commons??I know people that had horses at Slough Farm (was only DIY at the time, I don't know if that's changed since) 10-12 or so years ago. All positive really. I would have gone there myself if I'd had better transport options. Each stable had a lockable 'cubicle' in a barn to store your feed hay etc, I was always so envious of those
Don't know of the others.
The Fuzzy Furry
Old Timer
Sorry, not hacked over either of those commons, tho have dog walked a long time ago over Esher. I'm more Chobham and Horsell commons and Pirbright ranges direction.
I know they have staffing issues periodically at Clandon, mostly due to location. Their annual fun ride is well supported locally, despite being well over double the cost of all others I know of.
Go visit, ensure you find out all fixed rules etc and try to speak to liveries already there.
If you are able to whizz further down the A3, look at Thundry Farm at Elstead.
JenJ
Well-Known Member
I used to when I was over in Chessington and then Oxshott. Both are really lovely to ride over, but I found over time that as there's basically the one route to get there and back - and from where I was it took 30 minutes or so to get there - it actually felt quite boring and limited to hack out.
I'm over Bookham way now with hours of hacking over Norbury Park and Ranmore Common. It's probably some of the best hacking in the country.
Surbie
Well-Known Member
Slough Farm has part livery as well as DIY, but the part livery side is small. I've had friends there till fairly recently. It's a big friendly yard, there's always someone to hack with. Plus the YM's daughter runs a self-drive transport company so horsebox hire is easy. The arena gets busy in winter. DIY turnout is up a quiet lane from the yard. IIRC DIY turnout is fairly large herds & the fields are on clay so gateways are interesting in winter. Rates are competitive as there are 10 other DIY yards in the nearby area.
I only know people who've left Clandon, so possibly not the best reviews from them.
The roadwork from Slough Farm to the bridleway is pretty easy. Hacking over Esher and Oxshott has got busier over the years, though it's still quiet if you go early. I had a couple of very close calls with dogs off-lead with zero recall. @JenJ is right, there's just the one track to get to Arbrook and then over to Esher, though a few routes around the common. Arbrook Common is a good loop, though largely surfaced. Using the same access bridleway, Princes Coverts offers miles of hacking, linked to Ashtead Common and then Epsom but is boggy in winter off the main track and they have just put an almost invisible fence across a hill lots of people used as a gallop.
I love the hacking over Bookham way - Polesden Lacey, Norbury Park and Ranmore. Lots of variety, plenty of hills and opportunities for canters and there is less mud. It's further out, but really decent hacking. However while my horse is generally ok with cows, sheep and normal bikes, he's totally freaked by the scrambler bikes so we tended to go early and rarely on the weekends.
I only know people who've left Clandon, so possibly not the best reviews from them.
The roadwork from Slough Farm to the bridleway is pretty easy. Hacking over Esher and Oxshott has got busier over the years, though it's still quiet if you go early. I had a couple of very close calls with dogs off-lead with zero recall. @JenJ is right, there's just the one track to get to Arbrook and then over to Esher, though a few routes around the common. Arbrook Common is a good loop, though largely surfaced. Using the same access bridleway, Princes Coverts offers miles of hacking, linked to Ashtead Common and then Epsom but is boggy in winter off the main track and they have just put an almost invisible fence across a hill lots of people used as a gallop.
I love the hacking over Bookham way - Polesden Lacey, Norbury Park and Ranmore. Lots of variety, plenty of hills and opportunities for canters and there is less mud. It's further out, but really decent hacking. However while my horse is generally ok with cows, sheep and normal bikes, he's totally freaked by the scrambler bikes so we tended to go early and rarely on the weekends.
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IMJS97
Well-Known Member
Thanks so much.
Thanks so much! Where are you based in Bookham? I only know Thorncroft which is nice but only DIY and also road work to get to Norbury. Also Norbury common bridle ways all seem to be restricted now due to council work etc., so I feel like that yard would be too limited but keen to hear about any others!
IMJS97
Well-Known Member
Thanks so much, that's really useful. Interesting about the hacking - I thought it was meant to be really good at Slough Farm! I'll have a look at Princes Coverts. Where are you based for Bookham hacking? As I said in reply to other user, I only know Thorncroft yard and don't think the hacking is meant to be great there!
JenJ
Well-Known Member
Haha, I'll PM you where I am now, but it's very 'Bookham'
.Thorncroft is lovely - I was there for a few years about a decade ago. The hacking from Thorncroft is mostly off road, but you do have to cross Young Street by Bocketts Farm, which is fine but also can be a bit
when no one wants to stop (I cross it regularly as a pedestrian these days, and I'm sure the cars are more likely to slow/stop when they see a horse waiting rather than just a runner/walker/person). Aside from that one crossing though, you can go for hours without seeing another road over Norbury/Ranmore etc. From Thorncroft you can also head in the other direction towards Headley/Epsom Downs (need to cross the A24 though). And they do regular pub/day rides too, it's a very friendly bunch there.The council works on the trees in Norbury have been a right pain in the **** for about a year now, but a lot of our liveries have really been on the case with the council and today one of them went over that way for a run and reported back that all the barriers are gone and the work is all finished!!! So don't worry about that being an issue.
If you're not already, join the Surrey Horse and Pony Facebook page as there's a lot of info on there.
lynz88
🐴💈💃
I used to hack on Arbrook and Esher and sometimes down onto Oxshott. This was years ago though but it was always good. There is a vvveeerrryyyyy long path at one end of Esher common where you could go for a very long canter or gallop - all up a gentle hill. There was another "gallop track" in a more open area - horses seemed to just know when to stop no matter what at either end (though at one of the ends you could make a turn and canter or gallop up a fairly large and semi steep hill as long as you knew you had brakes to stop at the top as the other side was fairly steep)
Surbie
Well-Known Member
That long path has been resurfaced to make it 'accessible for all in all weathers'. It's also been cambered. There is still the wide path in the woods, but you have to keep a sharp eye out for dogs and mountain bikes. When it's clear it's fabulous!
The sand canter track is still there, but lots of the sand isn't. And while I don't want to sound like a killjoy, gallopping isn't allowed on the common. Lots of opportunities for it in Princes Coverts though.
Surbie
Well-Known Member
I don't think the hacking is bad at all, but you need a bit of time to get to it. The Council's tendency to resurface the bridleways means that several places are just too hard to go fast on, imo, though lots of the kids still razz their horses along there.
There is the Barwell loop that is a 40 min hack from Slough and very handy in winter. It takes you past 7 other yards and it does hit home how many horses are in the area!
I have friends at different Bookham yards so boxed to theirs to hack out. I also used to ride a friend's horse regularly from their private yard.
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Surbie
Well-Known Member
Yes, it was resurfaced shortly after then. Soooo disappointing 'cos that was a beautiful long canter, then you could go across the road to the other bit of Esher and onto Fairmile.
Skib
Well-Known Member
When I started to hack, (I had been riding for a year and my aim was to hack) I hacked from a number of RSs out in Surrey including Bookham. I was offered a share at one yard we visited but OH and I walked their hacking route and it was ankle deep in mud.
I suggest that you walk the hacking routes of any yard you are considering. I was scared off Bookham by the thought of crossing the railway but the top along Ranmore is up hlll so well drained and riders used to canter along the verge.
Elsewhere in Surrey, bridle tracks coming down from the top of the South Downs are often steep and very stoney. I grew up near Epsom and Headley where there is off road hacking but I have little recent experience as my RI stepped in and offered me a share to hack her retired lesson horse in the Ham and Richmond area which is where I still ride
I suggest that you walk the hacking routes of any yard you are considering. I was scared off Bookham by the thought of crossing the railway but the top along Ranmore is up hlll so well drained and riders used to canter along the verge.
Elsewhere in Surrey, bridle tracks coming down from the top of the South Downs are often steep and very stoney. I grew up near Epsom and Headley where there is off road hacking but I have little recent experience as my RI stepped in and offered me a share to hack her retired lesson horse in the Ham and Richmond area which is where I still ride
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lynz88
🐴💈💃
there are a ton of yards this way but finding them can be difficult! I'd be interested in some of them particularly if they are accessible without a car as I've had to take a huge huge huge cut in my salary (been going through redundancy process) to the point that I need to look elsewhere as I don't think I can afford where I am anymore. JenJ, it feels like you are literally around the corner from me it sounds like. If anyone has any suggestions please do PM me. Hacking is important as that's all horse can really do under saddle these days (he enjoys it still) and is closer to being fully retired than semi retired atm.
IMJS97
Well-Known Member
This is all so helpful, thank you!! Has anyone had experience with Gasston's in Headley?? Quite expensive! xx
The Fuzzy Furry
Old Timer
Only ridden the xc courses, so I'm no help (nice hopping hedges). It's v noisy from the adjacent M25 tho in the parking area.
JenJ
Well-Known Member
The manager/owner is a friend of a friend, so I think she's definitely a good sort! I think they've been doing lots of work on the facilities they offer, so they probably do price at a premium. The hacking would be great though - a short bit of roadwork on a quiet lane then you've got all of Epsom Downs to explore. It's right next to the M25 though, so may be noisy.
Surbie
Well-Known Member
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JenJ
Well-Known Member
Yard accessibility without a car isn't always easy, but can be doable. I don't drive, and have had horses in the Chessington/Epsom/Cobham/Bookham areas for the last 15 years or so, being on DIY for the last 13, so usually twice daily visits.
However I did used to do a lot of long distance running, and would cycle or run to the yard a lot of the time! Current yard where I've been for ten years is a one mile walk cross-country to the bus stop but I am incredibly fortunate now that my partner does give me a lot of lifts!
There is a bus route from Leatherhead to Guildford that might be useful for yards in the Bookham/Effingham area, though you'd probably need to be willing to do a fair walk to/from the bus stop.
I learnt recently that there is a Connections bus service in Surrey which is similar to I think what Dial a Ride is, but this service is open to anyone - it has 'virtual' bus stops, so you can almost book a trip door to door. Three of us at the yard have used it now to pick us up from (almost) there, and it's a £2 trip, often it's only you on board, vs a £12 Uber ride! That might be worth looking into. (You have to book in advance as it is an on-demand service).
Surbie
Well-Known Member
My experience is from 5 years ago so probably not relevant. I would make sure about winter turnout if you consider it - how much and have a look at where.
reynold
Well-Known Member
In Headley there are a few yards at Heath Farm.
Friends of mine built this years ago but I can't comment as I've lost touch with them now.
Excellent hacking on Epsom, Headley Heath at the end of the drive and a bridle path towards Colley Hill. There is also an irregular bus service to Headley from Leatherhead.
Friends of mine built this years ago but I can't comment as I've lost touch with them now.
Excellent hacking on Epsom, Headley Heath at the end of the drive and a bridle path towards Colley Hill. There is also an irregular bus service to Headley from Leatherhead.
https://www.*******.co.uk/yard/hallega-livery-yard/
reynold
Well-Known Member
Obviously the link has been 'edited' by authority. Google Hallega Livery and you will find it. (Hallega is the olde name for Headley btw).
lynz88
🐴💈💃
that's incredibly useful. Yes there are several bus connections that go through Bookham/Effingham but the majority of the yards that I've found are still a very long ways from any of the stops (then again, I have a feeling that there's probably more yards in the area than what are findable online/FB). I don't mind walking - I currently walk a good 1.5km. I didn't know the connections bus service - that's very useful and will defo look it up. Often I find that I could get to the yard after work if I wfh (which is looking unlikely moving forward) but getting back is always the problem.
IMJS97
Well-Known Member
That's good to know, thanks. I'm a bit confused about Princes Coverts - so you have to pay to use it? How does it work and is the hacking genuinely good? I think its a 20 minute hack from Slough Farm which is fine!
Surbie
Well-Known Member
Yeah it's not that far at all. It is lovely in there, though quite boggy in places in winter. Walkers and cyclists get in for free so you could always go check it out & see what you think.
JenJ
Well-Known Member
When I was wanting to move to Slough Farm 12 years ago (until I worked out that transport just wouldn't work out) the first thing I would have done - after furnishing my cubicle room - would have been to buy a Princes Coverts key!