The Old Pigsty

The Blackdown Hills is a fantastic area for riding.  There are miles of bridlepaths, quiet country lanes and open access land to ride across.  There are also excellent training establishments and affiliated competitions, as well as friendly riding clubs and hunts.  We have stables at Strawbridges Farm that can be rented on a DIY or part livery basis for your stay.

 

The stables are 12ftx12ft and have either rubber matting with shavings, or shavings as bedding.  We include the cost of bedding and hay within the livery cost.  We provide access to a locked tackroom to store grooming kits, feed, etc.  We charge £60 a week (£12 a night for shorter stays) per horse for DIY stabling (so you have to do the mucking out), or £100 a week (£20 a night for shorter stays) per horse for part livery (so we do the mucking out for you).

 

Competition venues

 

Pontispool - has a fantastic cross country course from 1ft to 3ft9 for training as well as 3 arenas and a set of BS showjumps.  They hold two British Eventing affiliated events per year, as well as many dressage, showjumping and showing shows (both affiliated and unaffiliated).

 

Stockland Lovell - cross country course is from 1ft6 to 3ft11.  There are two water complexes and a separate field of minimus fences.  They have 2 arenas, with BS showjumps.  They have regular dressage, showjumping, eventing and showing shows, both affiliated and unaffiliated.

 

Hacking

 

The riding out around The Old Pigsty is amazing.  There are many good bridlepaths for a canter and the roads are quiet.  The Neroche Herepath is a super 13 mile circular route to ride, with no roadwork required.

 

It is also possible to box up to the Quantocks or Exmoor in the unlikely event that you run out of routes around the local area!

 

The local hunts are the Taunton Vale Harriers and the East Devon Hunt (foxhounds) who are both very welcoming, with an affordable cap.