Where are the very horsey places that are also very rural...

A

atot

Well-Known Member
Joined
23 October 2007
Messages
3,966
Visit site
I'm doing a bit of property 'research'. We're looking for a place to rent that would be within walking distance from grazing/yard. Because we live in London it would need to be within about a 2hr drive.

So does anyone think they live in the ideal place? If so, why? Lots of competition venues? hacking? good hedge hopping?

Gloat away, if you can!!!
 
kent
grin.gif
gotta love it :P Aand theres horses EVERYWHERE, lots of riding schools/ clubs/ competitions/ clinics happening all the time. and the hacking is to die for
smile.gif
 
Rutland - either 45mins or a 1 hour by train from Kings X or about an hour and a half up the A1 (bit more in rush hour). Very rural - only county left without a McDonalds!! loads of horses and facilities. Yards from DIY to full livery, X country venues schools and trainers that specialise in dressage, hunting, showjumping and polo, 2 point to points and local hunt is Cottesmore - although there are another 6 or 7 in easy driving. Arena UK up the road, Grange Farm for Jump Cross, lots of shows etc etc loads of feed and tack shops too. Lots of equine vets, physio, farriers, EDT's and Burghley Horse Trials is only a few miles away every year. Loads of hacking on bridleways and also a TROT route and some forestry commission land you can get permits to ride on. Shall i shut up now??...
 
The best place I ever kept my horse was St Marys Platt in Kent nr Borough Green. The hacking is "To die for" and its near enough for boxing to lots of good competition venues.
The roads are very safe and "open" with good verges for riding out, and there is excellent MOD and forestry woodlands to explore at Mereworth Woods and a toll rides at Nine Elms.
 
I used to live on Kent/ sussex borders, which I thought was horsie, but moved to Leicestershire/Nottinghamshire borders now and even more horsie here. I'm about 30minutes drive from Rutland which you have been told about. I go to Arena UK, but mainly do county shows and I can easily (witin an hour) go to a huge number of shows. Leicester county, derby county, newark and notts county. Newark showground holds loads of shows and is really easy to get to which is great. Brookby College is just down the road. Vale View Eq Centre is 5 mins away and has loads of SJ and Dressage comps and clinics
There are about 5 riding clubs in local area running shows of all types all summer.

There are yards everywhere, all sorts of livery available, I am on a great yard which has a XC course that people can come and hire.
Yards here are definately better than the ones I had been on in sussex, people are friendlier, I think this is due to pace of life being a bit slower than further south.
Things are a bit cheaper here than down south as well.
Traffic is much less up here than in Kent/sussex too so hardly ever get stuck in traffic. I used to travel a lot in old job and the M25 and surrounding area was a nightmare! We are close to M1 so can go places easily if necessary however travel 20 minutes off the motorway (if that) and you are surrounded by fields.
I wouldn't move back now. I think I have said enough, PM me if you want to know anything else.
 
Ahhhh, we're up in Alladale for Easter, but tbh I think thats as far as we'll go. Scotlands lovely but flights would mount up in costs. We just want somewhere we can go for a weekend, as well as Summer holidays, hence somewhere quite close. would be awesome though! I can't wait till the 6th, when we fly up to inverness!!
grin.gif
 
Wiltshire
smile.gif


I drove back from Marlborough the other day and had to pinch myself to believe that it was real
smile.gif
The Downs are so spectacular, and even if you live in one of the towns, you're never far from open countryside.

North Wilts is right on the M4 corridor, so easy reach of London from J 15, 16 or 17 (about 1 hour 15 mins from J16 for instance). There are LOADS of lovely villages and towns, and a multitude of livery yards too. Competition wise, there's several good venues within reach - West Wilts being the main one, and several good cross country courses too. Hunting is excellent, lots of sponsored rides, loads of active riding clubs
smile.gif


Can you tell I'm sat at work in an estate agents office right now?
wink.gif
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top