Venues for dressage in Berks/Hants

[chestnut cob]

Just a quick one...wondering if you can recommend anywhere to go for a first dressage test with new horse? I want somewhere quiet as I have no idea what she's going to be like away from home, however she's quite highly strung at home so logic would suggest the same away!

It's only going to be unaffil (would love to affil at some point but it's a long way off!), just a Prelim probably. When I can get her going consistently we'll start Novice - it's my riding rather than her, she has it all there, but I need to learn how to get it out of her!

So, where do you recommend that's quite low key (but well organised!) and quiet in Berks/Hants - I'm in Basingstoke, happy to travel.

Thanks

 

[Madam_max]

Medstead Grange? Always well organised.

 

[Tempi]

Medstead, Wellington, Merrist Wood, East Soley, Sparsholt? - altho Sparsholt is quite busy for the unaffliateds. East Soley is lovely and quiet tho.

 

[ihatework]

Ditto Tempi, you are spoilt for choice round here really.

 

[lizzie_liz]

Here are a few:
Patchetts, Addington, East Soley, Snowball Farm, Blewbury, Merrist Wood, Berkshire Riding Centre, Wellington.
There are so many to choose from

 

[shelly018]

As above, only thing I would say about Soley is its not great for "nervous" horses due to the overhead gallery. You do tend to get alot of people "banging" about up there which does often make novice horses back off when they are going towards C.

 

[dozzie]

[ QUOTE ]
As above, only thing I would say about Soley is its not great for "nervous" horses due to the overhead gallery. You do tend to get alot of people "banging" about up there which does often make novice horses back off when they are going towards C.

[/ QUOTE ]

Would agree with that!!!!LOL

Berkshire RC organise comps at Boomerang in Hungerford.

 

[chestnut cob]

Cool, thanks. I'm not used to this, at home we had really crappy venues that were incredibly disorganised, or one or two v high profile ones that you wouldn't dare go to! Everything was HT and SJ at home!

 

[chestnut cob]

I don't mind something like that and she's not novice at all (got her because she's a schoolmistress, been there done that), just that she is quite highly strung so I want to go somewhere fairly quiet the first time so I can see what she's going to be like and have an idea of what I have to contend with.

If I'm totally honest it's for me rather than her - she's been there done it so she will more than likely be brilliant but I would just rather be somewhere quiet first time as she couldn't be more different to my last horse, a 14.2hh Welsh cob! Having said that, if she remembers her old competition days she might get totally over excited when we go somewhere...

 

[chestnut cob]

I hadn't thought about Boomerang!! It's quite nice there, and always seems quiet even when it's packed.

 

[chestnut cob]

[ QUOTE ]
Medstead Grange? Always well organised.

[/ QUOTE ]

Worth a look, thanks

We're actually not far from the RS up at Pangbourne (name escapes me sorry) which does a fair bit, but their warm up is a bit small for my small tanker of a horse when our steering still needs work!

 

[Saf]

Come to Merrist, my local and always well run

 

[ihatework]

There is also some really low key stuff run at Cedars in Medstead. Hants Rural RC run it.

 

[Madam_max]

Come to Medstead and I'll pop up and say hi.

 

[chestnut cob]

[ QUOTE ]
Come to Medstead and I'll pop up and say hi.

[/ QUOTE ]

You might regret that when I rope you into reading my test...

 

[Madam_max]

That's OK, I don't mind reading

 

[chestnut cob]

Fab thanks, really low key is good til I know what sort of horse I have to contend with. You know how pathetic I am LOL!!

 

[chestnut cob]

You're assuming you'll be able to read through all the laughing at my rubbish test!!

 

[Madam_max]

It's OK I can't watch and read

 

[chestnut cob]

Good thing too!!

 

[teapot]

Hoplands is also worth a look, fantastic venue to ride at