What can i do with my 5yo in the north west area/fitness plan

[J1993]

2 questions really..

So my horse is now 5 but isn't in much work. Apart from the odd pole clinic, we've done a hack round somerford and the beach last year. I would love to do a BE80 at the end of summer or early next year but obviously need to build up both of our fitness!

I have fell off the wagon a bit and don't feel very motivated to do much so wondered if anyone else has or could give me an idea of what work regime their youngish horses are in? I'd say she's only doing 3x days a week of varied work. 2 hacks and one day in the arena.

She is fab for me to take out on my own, we love to hack and visit new places. So does anyone know of anything on in the North West (Lancashire) area that I could take her to. Fun rides, clinics, trainers, hacking routes we could explore? I am so much more motivated having places to go than riding at the yard!

 

[Roxylola]

Kelsall, somerford, Dean valley, smallwood, Church Farm, charity farm, bold heath, all have various facilities- farm rides, xc training, gallops arena hires etc and run competitions and clinics regularly

 

[RachelFerd]

My rising 4yo is in 4-5x a week ridden work, albeit only 20-25 mins max if we are in an arena. Trying to hack twice, school once or twice on the flat, school over poles/jumps once and do some ground work on the other days. Little and often rather than anything lengthy or intensive.

I'm in Cheshire, not Lancashire, but would recommend going to Rivington Pike in the horse box for riding. We also box up to Delamere Forest, Whitegate Way, Sale Water Park, Marbury Park and Formby Beach for trips out. Formby wouldn't be bad to get to from Lancashire.

I don't tend to go to fun rides because they are usually too chaotic and full of idiots. Farm rides at Somerford, Kelsall, Dean Valley and Tilstone Bank are all good options - like fun rides, but without the idiots.

I'm not really into mixing and matching lots of different trainers, so would generally stick with a regular one rather than going off to lots of different clinics. I now know quite a few around the cheshire area, but not so many around Lancashire. However, Church Farm is a super venue and I think Andrew Millin runs the centre and lots of clinics there, so worth investigating.

 

[ycbm]

https://cffunrides.com/

 

[VRIN]

Northcote are starting to arrange some training with external trainers - Bobby Hayler for dressage and emily Gilbraith for eventing

 

[PSD]

Rivington is beautiful for hacking, only up the road from me. Somerford is fantastic too, there are lots of fun rides coming up too especially the one ycbm linked. Kelsall and delamere are other fantastic options. We are very lucky in the north west to have a lot of places to go!

 

[Jango]

I came on this thread to post some suggestions but all already covered! I'm in South Manchester and there is absolutely loads to do in this area ? For the people suggesting rivington pike, is there parking for a 7.5t lorry?

I've also seen this on FB, I haven't been but it also looks good! https://www.facebook.com/Craven-Country-Ride-294069992988/

 

[VRIN]

I came on this thread to post some suggestions but all already covered! I'm in South Manchester and there is absolutely loads to do in this area ? For the people suggesting rivington pike, is there parking for a 7.5t lorry?

I've also seen this on FB, I haven't been but it also looks good! https://www.facebook.com/Craven-Country-Ride-294069992988/

There is plenty of parking for 7.5t lorry ar Rivington and Craven is great and david who runs it is brilliant.

 

[J1993]

Thanks for all the ideas. I'd love to go to Rivington but would have no idea where to go round there. I know of kelsall somerford etc. It's more the clinics/lessons I'm looking at as my horse is green. Thanks for all the ideas ?

 

[Roxylola]

For clinics etc its worth following venues or trainers on Facebook. Most of those venues have clinics etc but they're generally organised by the trainer not the venue. I had a session with a trainer at smallwood this week, she seemed to be running sessions through the day but it wasn't advertised by smallwood.
Maybe find some venues you like and ring them to see if they can put you in touch with anyone