XC schooling venue suggestions, please! (East Angular)

[HotToTrot]

My father has very kindly offered to come and hang out in a field with the baby, the horse and me, so I can remind both baby and horse what a XC course is and how they deal with water and ditches. At least, he had offered to come on the basis that we were going to Little Downham, which would be on his way home (Norfolk Broads) after staying with us in London.

Unfortunately, though, LD is closed due to wet ground. Stratford Hills is too, and it's not even worth asking Stanford Rivers! I've provisionally booked in to LMEQ but, although my navigational skills are totally non-existent, even I have a sinking feeling that it may be tricky to convince my dad that he wants to go home to Norfolk from London via Surrey.

In the interests of maintaining amicable father/daughter relations, would anyone be able to recommend a XC venue at least vaguely between London and Norfs? Gt Witchingham is too far! Thankees!

 

[glamourpuss]

Herringswell just outside Newmarket is on fantastic sandy soil & can be used when most other places are shut BUT you cannot just hire it, you have to be having a lesson/training with an instructor who is approved by the owner.
The only other place is Poplar Park. Again on sandy soil but I don't know if it's open

 

[Rosiefan]

Erm, nope. We'd be there if I knew of anything. LD hoping to be open 8/2 - can you persuade your Dad to stay a bit longer?

 

[*hic*]

Waresley Park?

 

[Jane_Lou]

Would he travel via Aston Le Walls and you could play on their new all weather XC training area?

 

[Nugget La Poneh]

Depending on the height you're wanting, there is Boundary Farm in Stowmarket, but might be out of your way.

 

[glamourpuss]

Depending on the height you're wanting, there is Boundary Farm in Stowmarket, but might be out of your way.

I suspect Boundary Farm will be too small it doesn't have anything bigger than 2' 9"
I like it for babies

 

[HotToTrot]

Herringswell just outside Newmarket is on fantastic sandy soil & can be used when most other places are shut BUT you cannot just hire it, you have to be having a lesson/training with an instructor who is approved by the owner.
The only other place is Poplar Park. Again on sandy soil but I don't know if it's open

Thank you, I will have a look. I wouldn't mind a lesson, so that may well work.

Erm, nope. We'd be there if I knew of anything. LD hoping to be open 8/2 - can you persuade your Dad to stay a bit longer?

Ha! He's agreed to meet me there in Feb as well, but I need to have a few sessions. What with ski trips and such, it's very difficult to fit enough XC schooling in....!

Waresley Park?

Ah, perhaps, will look on map! Thanks!

Would he travel via Aston Le Walls and you could play on their new all weather XC training area?

Well, that's a three hour trip back for him (from ALW to Norfs), so doesn't really gain him much over LMEQ (and it's further for me!). I think it's a bit cheeky to ask him to go too far out of his way (though he probably would do it).

Depending on the height you're wanting, there is Boundary Farm in Stowmarket, but might be out of your way.

Thanks - just seen it's up to 2"9", so may need a little bigger.

I suspect Boundary Farm will be too small it doesn't have anything bigger than 2' 9"
I like it for babies

May well be. Not that we need anything huge!

 

[Busybusybusy]

Definitely try waresley park - the jumps there are well built and up to height, Keysoe is also great and a good range of jumps, again up to height.

 

[emm1s]

Waresley Park XC is not open yet and probably won't be for a while - I asked recently.

 

[Jane_Lou]

Keysoe is closed and as it's clay it will be a good while before it opens I am sure.

 

[DollyPentreath]

Sharon Hunt teaches at Herringswell and often takes a lorry load full, send her a msg via her website and she might be about at the same time.

 

[Lolo]

Herringswell would be worth it if you can find someone approved to be with you there. Al went with Smokes at the end of December and the ground was really good considering how wet the weather had been (Smokes coped studless) and there's a lot of choice for everything from big and complicated to little 'basics checking' stuff.

 

[HotToTrot]

Definitely try waresley park - the jumps there are well built and up to height, Keysoe is also great and a good range of jumps, again up to height.

Thanks, good ones to bear in mind when they open!

Waresley Park XC is not open yet and probably won't be for a while - I asked recently.

Humph!

Keysoe is closed and as it's clay it will be a good while before it opens I am sure.

Thanks!

Sharon Hunt teaches at Herringswell and often takes a lorry load full, send her a msg via her website and she might be about at the same time.

Thank you, I messaged her.

Herringswell would be worth it if you can find someone approved to be with you there. Al went with Smokes at the end of December and the ground was really good considering how wet the weather had been (Smokes coped studless) and there's a lot of choice for everything from big and complicated to little 'basics checking' stuff.

Thanks, good to know! Does anyone know how I get hold of Herringswell, by the way? Not totally apparent from a quick Google!

 

[Lolo]

No idea, but maybe worth contacting the person running this course to see if she'll let you know?

http://www.britisheventing.com/training/courses/1403/details?PostCode=nr20 4eb&Radius=50

 

[DollyPentreath]

Thanks, good to know! Does anyone know how I get hold of Herringswell, by the way? Not totally apparent from a quick Google!

Sharon will also know this too!

 

[Laura1985]

Near St Albans, and open all year according to the website
http://www.coursersfarmstables.co.uk/index.html

 

[loopiesteff]

Have PM'd you OP!