If you would like to enjoy cross-country schooling this year, the facilities listed below should give you some ideas as to where you could go.
Depending on the ground conditions and the time of year, you might prefer to school on grass or on an all-weather surface. We have plenty of examples of both options listed below.
The number of all-weather facilities has increased significantly in recent years allowing riders to train on good going regardless of the time of year.
All-weather schooling facilities
Most all-weather courses are open all-year round, but there are some exceptions due to private bookings or extreme weather, so do phone ahead to check before pitching up to ride.
Aston-le-Walls
Washbrook Farm, Aston-le-Walls, Daventry, Northants, NN11 6RT
www.astonlewalls.net
Price: £36 per horse for the all-weather, £30 per horse for the grass course
Notes: Grass cross-country schooling is available from February to November
Hickstead showground
The All England Jumping Course, Hickstead (Sat Nav: BN6 9HS)
Hicksteadschooling.co.uk
Tel: 01273 834315 or email:schooling@hickstead.co.uk
£36 per hour for one horse
Notes: All-weather cross-country schooling open October to April
Lyneham Heath Equestrian
Lyneham Heath Farm, Lyneham, Nr Chipping Norton, Oxon OX7 6QQ
www.lynehamheathequestrian.co.uk
tel: 01993 832 585/07836657395
Email: info@lynehamheathequestrian.co.uk
£35 per horse on the grass; £20 per hour on the all-weather loop
Notes: All-weather cross-country loop open year-round. Grass open late spring
Pontispool
Norton Fitzwarren, Taunton, Somerset TA4 1BH
www.pontispool.co.uk
Tel: 01823 461196
Email: info@pontispool.com
£28 for grass cross-country, all-weather cross-country £25
Notes: Grass cross-country schooling area open from February, all-weather is open November—March
Somerford Park
Holmes Chapel Road, Congleton CW12 4SW
www.somerfordpark.co.uk
Tel: 01260 299888
£30 per horse for all-weather or grass
Notes: All-weather available December to March. Grass available year-round
Vale View Equestrian Centre
Old Dalby, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, LE14 3LX
www.valeviewequestrian.co.uk
Tel: 01664 832739
£33 per horse
Open during winter
Aylesford Equine
Aylesford Lodge Farm, Shoby, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, LE14 3PF
www.aylesfordequine.com
Tel: 01664 812834/07885 617940 or 07904 110024
£25 per horse, per hour, (£15 for under 14’s)
Berwick Farm XC
Berwick Farm, Stanford Rivers, Ongar, Essex, CM5 9PY
www.berwickfarmxc.com
tel: 01708 688232
£30 per horse during the week or £32.50 for weekend bookings
Bonfleur Cross-Country Course
Bonfleur Lane, Maidstone
www.bonfleurcrosscountrycourse.co.uk
tel: 07976 138120
£25 per horse
Boomerang Stables
Chilton Foliat, Hungerford, Berks RG17 0TW
www.boomerangstables.co.uk
tel: 07711 499596
£28 per horse
Burnham Market Eventing Centre
Sussex Farm, Burnham Market, Norfolk PE31 8AG
www.bm-ec.com
tel: 07767 420357
£25 per horse
Chilham Park
Chilham Castle Estate, Chilham, Canterbury, Kent CT4 8DB
www.chilhampark.co.uk
tel: 01227 730811
£25 per horse
Chiltern Cross-Country (CXC)
Chiltern Cross Country, Oxford Road, Woodcote, Oxfordshire, RG8 0PH
www.chilternxc.co.uk
tel: 07767 370148
£30 per horse
Deer Park Cross Country
Park Lane, Brockhampton, Glos GL54 5SR
www.deerparkcrosscountry.co.uk
tel: 01242 820881
Email: info@deerparkcrosscountry.co.uk
£20 per horse
Field Farm Cross Country
Field Farm, East Road, Wymeswold, Leics LE12 6ST
www.fieldfarmcrosscountry.co.uk
tel: 01509 880251
£25 per horse, £20 for Pony Club members, reductions for groups
Canter Hallington cross-country course
Home Farm, Hallington, Louth, Lincs LN11 9QX
www.canter-hallington.co.uk
tel: 07767 440828 or 01507 605864
£15 per horse
Ely Eventing Centre
Downham Common, Little Downham, Ely, Cambs, CB6 2TY
www.elyeventing.co.uk
tel: 01353 698839
£30 per horse
Gasston Stables
Hurst Lane, Headley, Epsom, Surrey, KT18 6DY
www.gasstonstables.co.uk
tel: 07746 815796
£25 per horse
Golden Valley Equestrian Centre
Coach Road, Alfreton, Derbyshire, DE55 4ES
www.goldenvalleyequestriancentre.co.uk
tel: 01773604520
£15 per horse
Helen Bell Equestrian
The Paddocks, Breckenbrough, Thirsk, Yorks YO7 4EL
www.helenbellequestrian.co.uk
tel: 07708708967
£25 per horse
Kelsall Hill Equestrian Centre
Organsdale Farm, Middlewich Road, Kelsall, Tarporley, Cheshire CW6 0SR
www.kelsallhill.co.uk
tel: 07809 689972
£25 per horse
Lincomb Equestrian
Lincomb Farm, Lincomb, Nr Stourport on Severn, Worcs, DY13 9RB
www.crosscountrycourse.co.uk
tel: 07986200777
£20 per horse, £15 per horse for under 16’s
Littleton Manor Equestrian
Littleton Manor Farm, Littleton Lane, Reigate, Surrey, Reigate, RH2 8LB, access via Littleton Manor Farm, Flanchford Road, Reigate Heath, RH2 8QZ
www.lmeq.com
tel: 07771 600033
£25 per horse
Mostyn Farm Ride and Cross Country
Wern Home Farm, Tre Mostyn, Whitford, Holywell, Flintshire CH8 9AR
www.mostynfarmride.co.uk
tel: 07765 402738
£15 per horse
Munstead
Heath Lane, Godalming, Surrey GU7 1UN
www.munsteadhorsetrials.com
tel: 07798 626075 (book online)
£25 per horse
Rosamund Green Farm
Shepton Mallet, Somerset BA4 4JG
www.rosamundgreenfarm.co.uk
tel: 07511 078285
£25 per horse
Rosehill Equestrian Centre
Rose Lane, Henley-on-Thames, RG9 3EB
www.rosehillequestrian.co.uk
tel: 01628 824078
£20 per horse
Swalcliffe Park Equestrian
Swalcliffe, Banbury, Oxon OX15 5EX
www.swalcliffeparkequestrian.co.uk
tel: 01295 780206
£25 per horse
Tweseldown Racecourse
Bourley Road, Church Crookham, Fleet, Hants, GU52 8DY
www.tweseldown.co.uk
tel: 07500 957246
£30
Specific opening times
Angus Smales Eventing
Chestnut Tree Farm, Somerby, Rutland
www.facebook.com/angussmales
£25 per horse or £50 per horse including hire and a lesson with Angus
Notes: Opened for 2020 in January. To book, either send a private message to the Facebook page or text 07761180535
Bicton Arena
Yettington Road, East Burdleigh, Budleigh Salterton, Devon EX9 7BL
www.bicton-arena.co.uk
Tel: 01395 441162
£25 per horse up to four horses, £20 for under 16’s, £13 for under 10’s
Notes: Open from March
Blackwater Farm Equestrian Centre
Blackwater Lane, Great Witchingham, Norwich, Norfolk NR9 5PH
www.blackwaterfarm.co.uk
tel: 01603 873187 or 01362 688227
£20 per horse, £15 for riders 18 years old and under
Coombelands Equestrian
Stane Street, Pulborough, West Sussex, RH20 1BQ
www.coombelands-equestrian.co.uk
Tel: 01798 872796
£30 per horse
Notes: Book online.
Everleigh Equestrian
Quickset Stables, Everleigh, Marlborough, Wilts SN8 3EU
www.everleigh-equestrian.co.uk
tel: 07990 571463/01264 852674
£15 per horse
Foxberry Chasers
Foxberry, Caldwell, Richmond, North Yorks DL11 7QL
www.foxberry.co.uk
tel: Text 07793 444247
£25 per horse
Gloucester Lodge Farm
Blyth, Northumbs NE24 3PH
www.gloucesterlodgefarm.co.uk
tel: 01670 353633
£10 per horse
Iping
Hammerwood, Iping, Midhurst, West Sussex, GU29 0PF
www.ipingcrosscountrycourse.co.uk
Tel: 01730 813635
£25 per horse
Notes: Open April to October
Hillocks Farm
Cleobury Morimer, Shrops DY14 0EB
www.hillocksfarm.org.uk
tel: 01299 270710 or 07970 278839
£20 per horse
Little Whittington
Little Whittington Farm, Corbridge, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE19 2LA
www.littlewhittingtonxc.co.uk
Tel: 01434 672340
£20 per horse
Notes: Call to book — specific opening times. Open from March
Nurstead Court
Nursetad Church Lane, Meopham, Gravesend, Kent, DA13 9AD
www.nursteadcourt.co.uk
Tel: 0800 0934935 or 07971164023
Email: info@nursteadcourt.co.uk
£25 per horse
Notes: open at certain times — check website for details
Parwood Equestrian Centre
Great Westwood, Westwood Lane, Normandy, Guildford, Surrey GU3 2JE
www.parwood.co.uk
tel: 01483 813860
£25 per horse
Notes: Open April to October
Rabson Manor
Winterbourne Bassett, Swindon, Wilts SN4 9QF
www.rabsonmanor.co.uk
tel: 01793 731202/07765 924252
Email: info@rabsonmanor.co.uk
£22.50 per horse
Rein & Shine Equestrian Centre
1 Buryhill Farm, Braydon, Wilts SN5 0AD
www.reinandshine.co.uk
tel: 01666 860068
Email: info@reinandshine.co.uk
£20 per hour
Notes: Open from May. You must pre-book. Fee reduced to £10 per hour if the rider has competed in one of the centre’s cross-country-based events
Sapey
Cockshutts Farm, Upper Sapey, Worcester, WR6 6XU
www.sapeycrosscountry.co.uk
Tel: 07970 652320
£20 per horse
Notes: Open April to October. You must pre-book
Stockland Lovell
Stockland Lovell Manor, Coultings, Bridgwater, Somerset, TA5 1JJ
www.stocklandlovell.com
Tel: 01278 652224
Email: info@stocklandlovell.com
£25 per horse, under 16’s £20
Notes: Tends to be open for 10 months of the year
Stour
Field Dairy Farm, Spetisbury, Blandford, Dorset, DT11 9EE
www.stourxc.co.uk
Tel: 07583 797420
£25 per horse, £15 per horse for the mini course
Notes: Open March to October
Team Jones Equestrian
Lowlands Farm, Barrowden Lane, South Luffenham, Rutland, LE15 8NH
www.teamjonesequestrian.com
Tel: 07841 747816
£25 per horse
Notes: Open when weather allows. Any riders who wish to hire, and who have not competed at three-star level or above must be accompanied by a rider or trainer who has competed at three-star level or above, or alternatively book a cross-country lesson with five-star rider Richard Jones
Thornton Lodge Country Sports
Thornton Lodge Farm, Easingwold, York YO61 3QA
www.thorntonlodgefarm.co.uk
tel: 01347 821306 or 07968 268835
£25 per horse
Notes: Open from March to October
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