Which is the best area/county for riding?

[Kaylum]

Yorkshire we have miles and miles of off road riding, moors and beaches. Its the home of the worlds best showjumpers.

As for the weather much better than the south and its cheaper.

 

[Jazzy B]

Having come from Surrey and the hacking of Happy Valley and the Downs - it's great down there! I would avoid Warwickshire like the plague! The hacking is awful, bridlepaths are rubbish and moreover the council nor the British Horse Society who are based in Warwickshire couldn't care less! Shropshire is great riding as is the New Forrest!

 

[Twiglet]

I am from a very rural part of Essex and also lived near (Half a mile!) from the beach - I cannot tell you how wonderful some of the hacking was round here! Plenty of bridlepaths, varied hacking, forests and wooded areas, the beach and the roads were quite quiet too. I miss it so much! I now live near Epsom in Surrey and although some of the hacking is lovely and there is the downs of course and numerous places to hack should you wish to box and travel but it's so incredibly busy and not to mention expensive, it's the just not the same.

Ha - I'm from Essex, and am now in Epsom (well, London, but horses are in Epsom) and I would pick Essex for horses every time. The infrastructure for horses in better in Essex, more accessibility, better saddleries, and better hacking. Admittedly I don't actually want to live there again p) but I found it a far more horse-friendly county. Surrey's constant, constant traffic, hoards of cyclists and awful roads (seriously, Surrey residents - where does your council tax go?? Worst roads I've seen in the UK), I wouldn't recommend it if you could go anywhere in the UK.

Gloucs has to be the most horsey county to tick all the boxes doesn't it? It seems to offer something for every discipline.

 

[Bertolie]

I'm in Gloucestershire and have Badminton, Gatcombe, and Hartpury all on the doorstep. Then there is Summerhouse, Burrows Court, Leyland Court all within easy access. We have some lovely hacking... country lanes, woods and bridleways.

I'm on a DIY livery yard which is £100 per calendar month, which seems to be about average for this area.

 

[Tess Love]

The New Forest, miles and miles and miles of beautiful scenery with next to no restrictions!

Hacking heaven would be my choice - good luck with your search x

 

[Lammy]

I'm also in Leicestershire. Very lovely countryside, good hills for fittening work and really well positioned for most big Competition Venues and for Hunting.

I would agree with this, based in Northamptonshire and it's good hacking and you're close to some big competition venues, Keysoe, Aston-Le-Walls, MK event centre etc. Plus an easy commute to London. Though I do love the sound of Hampshire. I don't suppose Oxfordshire would be much different only being an hour away?

 

[WelshD]

I would agree with this, based in Northamptonshire and it's good hacking and you're close to some big competition venues, Keysoe, Aston-Le-Walls, MK event centre etc. Plus an easy commute to London. Though I do love the sound of Hampshire. I don't suppose Oxfordshire would be much different only being an hour away?

Also agree, Northamptonshire has great house prices compared to even 15 miles south. the area where I live (Towcester) is good for livery yards, the above competition centres plus Addington and Bury Farm which werent mentioned.

I love the area, its what I would call a little old fashioned traditional area in that its pretty safe, people tend to drive respectfully and are mostly good mannered and pleasant and good food with high welfare standards is easy to find