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Drakes Farm Riding Centre was established in 1981 by Mrs Matravers with one horse and a pony and has grown over the years. The centre is now on the ABRS and BHS approved Riding School Lists with a diverse range of facilities and teaching animals. We have been running the Riding Holiday Programme for almost 20 years offering residential holidays for children aged from 6 to 18yrs old.
We offer residential riding holidays for children from 6 to 18 years of age (on an unaccompanied basis). Children coming on riding holidays live in the farmhouse as members of the family and are supervised on the yard.
We cater for all abilities at Drakes Farm from complete beginners to those with their own animals wanting to develop new skills. Where possible all beginners or inexperienced riders can be, or are led, until they are ready to be let free.
Currently we do not cater
for adults (typically parents) during the peak season (school holidays), as
we do not have the sleeping facilities. Out of season we may be able to accommodate
parents but this will be on an adhoc basis.
The Riding Centre has developed and expanded in the last 20 years and now comprises the following facilities:
The Horses
• The School comprises
30 horses & ponies ranging from 30 inches to 16.3 hands all well schooled
with excellent manners. These horses & ponies are suitable for all standards
of riding ability including from beginners up to experienced.
• Many of the horses and ponies are competed on at dressage and ‘Novice’
cross-country and horse shows in the local area.
• There are also an additional 20 ‘Drakes Farm’ bred, un-broken,
privately owned livery and retired horses & ponies.
Accommodation is provided on a full board basis in a large, comfortable, centrally heated, traditional, early 16th century thatched farmhouse (Pic). Meals are home-cooked utilising locally sourced meat and vegetables.
Vegetarians and people with special dietary requirements can be catered for if advised in advance.
Typically you will be
able to ride up to 4 hours a day occasionally more with a mixture of group
lessons and tuition. Depending on ability there is the opportunity of hacking
on quiet country lanes.
The emphasis is on quality rather than quantity of riding. Depending on the
season riding will take place in the Indoor School or outside in the ménage.
From the late spring through to the early autumn, weather permitting, lessons
can be taken in the fields, with activities in the schooling paddock and show
jumping or on the X-country course.
Depending on the class ability, and requirements, typical lessons will include work on seat & position, dressage to improve flat work, jumping, horse & stable management and, for a bit of fun, some Gymkhana games. There is also the option of joining in the farm activities for example feeding, grooming and looking after all the animals.
Drakes Farm is open all year and early booking is advised. If you should require further information please telephone for a chat (after 9 p.m.).
2008 Weekly Tariff which is inclusive of all Tuition and Full Board
- Children ages 6years to 7 years £295
- Children ages 8 years to 14 years £360
- Children ages 15 years to 18 years £400
If you would like to bring your own horse there is an additional charge of £60 per week
Please contact us for details of other Tariffs and Short Breaks
Please telephone or write when you wish to make a firm booking, a 20% deposit is payable and cheques should be made payable to 'Drakes Farm Riding Centre'.
Please Note Customers wishing to cancel their holidays - monies paid in respect of bookings made during the annual school holidays, will not be refunded unless an alternative booking can be arranged.
We cater for 6 children each week, with the weeks running from saturday pm to saturday am. Saturday is change over and settle in day, so the riding takes place sunday - friday.
For weeks out side of this range please call or email for further in info.
Where possible we try to match ages & abilities each week so that the group is of a similar riding standard and age. We are flexible on this but find that similar groups tend to get the most out of their week.
If you would like to know more or check availability please call or email email@drakesfarm.co.uk