north west peeps...gallops?

diggerbez

diggerbez

Well-Known Member
Joined
31 March 2008
Messages
8,052
Visit site
Where are there gallops that i can hire? our hacking is rather short on places to canter and need to get V fit for eventing! i know about Crow Wood (which incidentally are half the length they used to be), Laund View (anyone been here?) and Kelsall (lovely but a bit far for a gallop!)

I'm based in Bury :)
 
Hi, I do my fast work on the beach at Pilling - Flook Hall. It is safe and you can get all the way to knott end. I know that Alan Berry hires his gallops out too but have never used them. :D:D
 
Hey, i am Bury based and i feel your pain with there being nowhere to have a blast.

What about Smithalls Country Hall, you park on the big carpark and go round the back of the farm up a path and then turn right at the big house (with the barking dog), follow it through a gate and you are on a sand/rubber canter track. Last time i was there (about 4 months ago) they were doing some work on the track and a small section was closed but there is still enough room for a good gallop. Bonus is, it is free. I would advise that you park at the back of the car park, i once parked at the front, went on my ride and when i came back i was surrounded by cars, was a bugger to get out.

There is also Butterfields Farm Ride in Middleton (although it may be closed due to poor footing), lovely off road riding round the farmland with some nice long canter stretches. I can pm you the number if you like.
 
I most certainly will, i used to live on Turton Road, know the area well & i have probably seen you especially if you ride down the old lines.

Great area for hacking especially uo Holcombe Hill xx
 
Mahoganybay said:
Hey, i am Bury based and i feel your pain with there being nowhere to have a blast.

What about Smithalls Country Hall, you park on the big carpark and go round the back of the farm up a path and then turn right at the big house (with the barking dog), follow it through a gate and you are on a sand/rubber canter track. Last time i was there (about 4 months ago) they were doing some work on the track and a small section was closed but there is still enough room for a good gallop. Bonus is, it is free. I would advise that you park at the back of the car park, i once parked at the front, went on my ride and when i came back i was surrounded by cars, was a bugger to get out.

There is also Butterfields Farm Ride in Middleton (although it may be closed due to poor footing), lovely off road riding round the farmland with some nice long canter stretches. I can pm you the number if you like.
Click to expand...

its rubbish isn't it :mad: used to stable in rochdale and had loads of moorland to hoon about on. would box up there but it'll be too wet with all this rain we've had...
where is smithalls country hall? i've never heard of it? i know that there is the nature trail in radcliffe but that will be like a bog i reckon

yes i think butterfields is only open spring/summer
 
dressagelove said:
Which yard in bury are you at Diggerbez?? Im only up't road in Tottington :)
Would echo smithills as well, its a great little track and free! Cant go wrong
Click to expand...

i'm in birtle- robinson's equestrian. love the farm and the people but the hacking is rubbish. well actually its not rubbish at all but there is nowhere to do canter work.... i used to ride up holcombe hill way- fab riding over there! would move that way but i live in norden so it'd be a PITA!
 
diggerbez said:
yep got them on my list ta :) never been so you reckon its worth the drive for? :)
Click to expand...

They have a really really really (hold the neckstrap) steep short hill to start off then the oval at the top of the hill is quite level. The hill is awesome to get them to 'dig deep' and then keep pushing them through round the top a few times.
Sov was there a couple of years ago for point to point training and they would go up the hill 4 times on a work day followed by 1-4 circuits round the top!
 
Diggerbez, Smithills is in Bolton, dead easy to find, heres the link

http://www.smithillsopenfarm.co.uk/

Park on the carpark at the Open Farm, just past the farm/cafe on the way back out is a path on your right hand side that winds past the fields (with all wierd & wonderful animals in lol). Keep on this track over a small bridge and you come to a big house in front of you (with a mad barking dog), turn right along a track with some horses in on your right, you will come to a gate, go through the gate, down abit of a steep track bending round to your right, this then opens out onto the canter track!

If you get stuck just remember to keep heading right. Tis lovely & quiet with just the odd dog walker!

Shame my mare is just coming back into work following an Arthroscopy or i would have met you there & show you the way.
 
Mahoganybay said:
Diggerbez, Smithills is in Bolton, dead easy to find, heres the link

http://www.smithillsopenfarm.co.uk/

Park on the carpark at the Open Farm, just past the farm/cafe on the way back out is a path on your right hand side that winds past the fields (with all wierd & wonderful animals in lol). Keep on this track over a small bridge and you come to a big house in front of you (with a mad barking dog), turn right along a track with some horses in on your right, you will come to a gate, go through the gate, down abit of a steep track bending round to your right, this then opens out onto the canter track!

If you get stuck just remember to keep heading right. Tis lovely & quiet with just the odd dog walker!

Shame my mare is just coming back into work following an Arthroscopy or i would have met you there & show you the way.
Click to expand...

thanks :) i shall take the dogs up for a recce!
 
Ooooh locals.. waves :D:D
We are situated on the Radcliffe Bridleway and yes it is pretty boggy. The surface isnt like it used to be, bits of canter but not good enough to gallop.
 
Can't believe how close some of you are to me! I used to stable up Birtle, then moved to Haslingden. I know have my own field, 5 minutes away from Holcombe Hill :D

All the places I know have been suggested :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top