Which is better Kelsall or Somerford?

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wench

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Intending going out for a play with horse, maybe around a farm ride, and a go over some xc fences (only looking for some small ones 1-2ft)

Kelsall have gallops which is something else I wouldn't mind going on, and would possibly give me an idea how horse will behave itself out on a farm ride on her own (I have no-one to ride with, but will be using a transporter so not totally on my own)
 
I think the jumps on the farm ride at Somerford are quite big so would say Kelsall would prob be better. The ground has always been good whenever we've been though admittedly that's not been fir a while
 
I didn't like the ground at kelsall when I went as I am used to the all weather takeoff and landing at Somerford, but kelsall has much more small jumps. My lad learnt to jump by doing the farm ride when he lived at Somerford.
 
Tough choice. I have been on kelsall's website and they have an open farm ride the weekend I plan on going, which could mean there are far more people there than normal which would give my horse an excuse to tank off with me to catch up with others in front!
 
Kelsall Farm ride is normally really busy on the open weekends, I'd be careful on a new horse. Even when you turn up at the crack of dawn there are already at least 20 lorries there! Both great venues though. :)
 
Went to somerford a couple of weekends ago and I normally love it, but we found the ground was awful. The normally wonderful sandy tracks and all weather take/off were very muddy and slimy, the nice canter sections totally covered in mud and tractor tracks.

I would have said I preferred somerford, however, I think id wait until the summer route opens back up before going back, we were very disappointed.

Kelsall has quite a lot of small jumps too.
 
Kelsall can get very muddy , last year had to give up on the farm ride as all you could do was walk, however they did let us use the gallops instead. :)
Kelsall is tiny, sommerford a bit bigger with a wider variety of jumps and tiny questions, but neither too meaty IMO .
Am disappointed to read the ground at sommerford has gone downhill though as it used to be good all year.
 
Well as good as it would be to have the ground perfect, my horse would benefit from a nice hack off road, and as long as there is chance to have a go over some smaller xc fences, that will keep me happy.

I have to go on one particular date, as I have lots of other things on over other weekends, and I don't have any transport so have to book a transporter
 
They're both a lot of fun with various size fences. I don't really jump but will say that last time I went round Kelsall I wouldn't have fancied jumping much if I normally did, conditions were pretty wet and many of the jumps kind of going downhill. Go anyway though, I'm sure you'll have a nice time, I only go on open weekends and have never found it particularly busy.
 
I daren't risk going to kelsall on an open farm weekend... If I get behind a group of riders, and I'm on my own, it could lead to an interesting situation, especially as I don't know quite how she would react.

When I booked my transport the open weekends weren't shown on the website :(
 
When I've taken my stepson to Somerford when he was a novice and on small ponies I found a lot of the farm ride fences were too big. It was better going for a play on the schooling field, which has lower fences in and amongst the bigger stuff. They could do a lot more fences on there than the farm ride..
 
I hack to Kelsall a few times a month, including on open farm ride weekends, and I've never found it to be busy. Yes, other lorries arrive and there are other horses on the ride but I've never found that you are following other groups or being overtaken much at all. I've also found the few people I have encountered to be very courteous.

Wench, if you need an escort at all my horse has been many times and doesn't get over excited there, and as I said I hack across, so I'd be more than happy to join you :)
 
Have tried to PM you but it says your inbox is full! As above: I live reasonably near to both… if you would like a riding buddy feel free to PM me - understand if you'd rather not though so don't worry! :)
I like both venues, both have small options. I haven't been on the winter ride at somerford since early spring so can't comment on the ground, but it was pretty good last time I went, kelsall tends to be good even though it is on grass. But as said, it will prob be busy on an open weekend.
 
Is Kelsall open all the time or just on open weekends? Never been and not sure how it works (and have time off mid week usually so would prefer to avoid the masses..!)
 
You can ring and book to go round kelsall almost any time, you just have to call and book a time so they low you're going to be there. They used to do a mid week discount too… not sure if that still stands as never seem to have time mid week!
 
anna22 said:
You can ring and book to go round kelsall almost any time, you just have to call and book a time so they low you're going to be there. They used to do a mid week discount too… not sure if that still stands as never seem to have time mid week!
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It's £12 instead of £14 during the week :)
 
Kelsall has smaller jumps.
I like kelsall as I use the gallops too as prefer to canter them on the perfect going. But somerford is great fun with nicevwater complexes. I do have to wash off their legs after as one got a nasty skin reaction to the grit/sand
 
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