london area livery/riding school

H

horseybohemian

Active Member
Joined
29 March 2015
Messages
35
Visit site
hi everyone, i live in north london and am looking for a livery stables to keep my horse. i am torn between mote end farm and woodredon equestrian centre. does anyone have any experience of livery at either of these? i require access to good hacking, which is what attracts me to woodredon. everyday turnout is also a must, which is what attracts me to mote end! i dont mind being attached to a riding school, and a showjumping/cross country orientation would be just ideal, but not the top priority. i have a car so am fine to travel
 
It shouldn't have to be be either or, I don't see why you can't have both hacking and turnout.

From the two you have mentioned I am assuming you are looking for part or full livery and have a reasonable budget so other options could be

Queens Ponies Shenley
Cross Oaks/Earls Farm Shenley
Little Munden Equestrian Centre
(the last three have advertised spaces recently.
Hill Farm Radlett (spaces don't come up often)
Wild Farm (though maybe more dressage than jumping)

There are lots more but those are just the first few that spring to mind.

If you are on facebook have a look at these groups or even put up an advert with what you are looking for

https://www.facebook.com/groups/429644760447719/?fref=ts

https://www.facebook.com/groups/262315873887088/?fref=ts
 
criso said:
It shouldn't have to be be either or, I don't see why you can't have both hacking and turnout.

From the two you have mentioned I am assuming you are looking for part or full livery and have a reasonable budget so other options could be


Queens Ponies Shenley
Cross Oaks/Earls Farm Shenley
Little Munden Equestrian Centre
(the last three have advertised spaces recently.
Hill Farm Radlett (spaces don't come up often)
Wild Farm (though maybe more dressage than jumping)

There are lots more but those are just the first few that spring to mind.

If you are on facebook have a look at these groups or even put up an advert with what you are looking for

https://www.facebook.com/groups/429644760447719/?fref=ts

https://www.facebook.com/groups/262315873887088/?fref=ts
Click to expand...

As criso says, you'd do better with any of those listed. I have direct experience of a few and have friends who've been at the others, and they'd all offer variations on hacking and turnout and decent facilities and care. Herts is actually pretty good for livery yards if you have a car.
 
They're both quite a distance from each other so surely one is closer? Mote end is VERY expensive and charges for everything but facilities are gorgeous. Woodredon has shows but grazing isn't great in winter (when I last view it years ago). If you can afford it then go for Mote End. Wild Farm is nice too (though very dressage based and also expensive). I'd recommend Queen's Ponies as I know the YO and she's lovely - a real horse lover with a holistic approach to management.
 
I kept my horse at Mote End Farm for many years and had a great time there. There was plenty of all year turnout and the farm has 250 acres of hacking. I used to also hack out on the roads to Arandene Open Space, South Mimms Woods, Bricket Woods, Hampstead Heath and Hyde Park.
 
PeterNatt - I don't know when you were last at Mote but these days not many people would dare to hack down to Hampstead or Hyde Park. The very brave might get as far as Arandene but going on friends who were there very recently, people stick to riding round their own track rather than brave the traffic on Highwood Hill.

And if you want to hack in Bricket Woods or the Watermeadows then there are lovely yards in those areas rather than 10 miles away, people in the area do box their horses up there to hack.
 
Yep I'd say the hacking is not good at mote end. Very pricey and when I was there, horse care not what you'd expect for the price. Better off road hacking around the bricket wood yards, hill farm, little munden, blackbird although I don't know that last one, have only ridden round it.
 
I used to be at Model Farm which is the sister yard to Blackbirds and loved it. The only reason I didn't mention it was YM has moved on and I don't know what the livery situation is.
 
Hi guys, thank you for your suggestions, i will defintiely look into them. I definitely want to consider around bricket wood. The tank: yes barnet is of use to me, i actually live next to trent park so anywhere near would be amazing but am willing to travel up to 40 mins away for the right place. I was looking at woodredon because of the forest hacking but if theres lack of turnout in winter then thats a no. I really do like the look of mote end but have also heard stories of how they charge for absolutely everything..and again am dubious about the hacking around there... Although its tempting as it is near where i live. Again, thanks for all your suggestions! Im happy to hear i can find a place which ticks most if my boxes :)
 
If you live near trent park you might also want to think a little further east.

Bayford Hall Farm has good facilities and is well placed for hacking. However it's maybe more dressaged focused than you prefer and the turnout is individual paddocks which you either love or hate.

Near to Trent Park is Vicarage Farm which has hacking with their own gallops and access to trent park woods; however I have heard that they have early closing times so no good if you need to ride after work and can restrict turnout if the weather is bad. this is secondhand so I would check it out for yourself.
 
I used to be at Woodhurst in Enfield which is my favourite London yard (I live in Yorkshire now). It has all year turnout, superb facilities and is in the process of creating loads of hacking by getting direct access to woodland rides that go all the way down to Trent Park etc
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top