Burcott Riding Centre Update - Re-structure of the Riding School

Burcott Riding Centre are extremely sad to announce that unfortunately due to the recent events in the world we are having to close our Riding School for the foreseeable future. Coming into 2020 it’s not what we had planned but we are having to evolve with the ever changing world. Most of our Riding School ponies have already found 5* homes and are being spoilt rotten.

We do have a couple of horses available for a loan/share at the riding school (adult horses) and we do have availability for two full liveries.

Nikki and Bob have invested their lives into such a wonderful business and are very sad to see an end, but

Nikki is still available for her adult lessons with your own horse or we do have a couple horses that are available. They are concentrating on private lessons and the livery business. Any questions/queries please contact us on Facebook!

Janet, Caroline and Alice are all extremely thankful to all their customers over the years and hope you all continue with your passion for horses and riding.

Many thanks.

Nikki & Bob, Burcott and All the team.

Yard rules - UPDATE Covid 19

Entering and Leaving the yard

You may only enter and leave the yard via the main gate. Hand Sanitiser will be available at the gate.

Gloves MUST be worn at all times in the yard.

Toilets

The toilets will be divided into two sections - clearly labelled. One section for outside clients and one for staff and livery owners.

First Aid Provision

Covid compliant first aid kits will be available for use by instructors and clients

Payment for Instructors

Payment for lessons will be online only (BACS)

NO CASH or CHEQUES please.

Many Many thanks to all the offers of help from our customers. Its been a tough time and you have helped us get through it.

Many Thanks

Nikki & Team

BHS covid19.jpg

Re-starting Riding at Burcott

We are in a position to consider re-starting riding lessons at Burcott, however our circumstances have changed. Times have been very challenging and we have decided to change the way we operate, it has dictated the way we need to run the yard in the future.

Phased Re-opening

In light of BHS guidance and following government guidelines we are planning a phased re-opening of lessons at Burcott.

Who will lessons be available for?

All lessons will be on a 1-2-1 basis.

Week beginning 25th May - Lessons will be available for any adult clients with their own horses who normally ride with Nikki.

Existing Liveries to remain as before.

Week beginning 1st June - Private adult lessons on school horses can begin with Nikki’s pupils.

*NB. Riders must be able to do their own stirrups, girth and mount unaided.*

Payment for Instructors

Payment for lessons will be online only (BACS)

NO CASH or CHEQUES please.

Price list

As we had to reduce the yard and lessons format and compliance is necessary, lessons will be limited at first. Prices are as follows:

Nikki’s Lessons:

45 minutes private lesson on own horse - £35

45 minutes private lesson on school horse - £37.50

Livery lessons refer to livery price list

All lessons will be 45 minutes with a 15 minute gap where necessary between pupils to allow a safe changeover and discussion time. Times to be rigorously adhered to.

Many Many thanks to all the offers of help from our customers. Its been a tough time and you have helped us get through it.

Many Thanks

Nikki & Team

Corona virus Update

It seems a long time since 24th of March when lockdown meant the Riding School had to close.We have tried our best to keep all the horses and ponies in good shape and working a bit each week to maintain some fitness.

With no vet visits unless an emergency and farriers and trimmers understandably unwilling at first to visit,it's been quite challenging.

We have got most of the horses out most of the time ,aided by the kind weather.

People have been very kind ,offering help and support .

Obviously ,it has been a financial struggle as it has been for all small businesses .However, we are confident that we shall be able to resume trading at some point, albeit not quite as we were.

We will be posting on our Facebook page and also here on the website to let everyone know what we are doing.Many thanks to all our customers.

Nikki Stephens.

Finley wins first race today

Finley Marsh a graduate of our Pony Morning won his first race as a professional today when he won the apprentices race at Southwell today.There were 14 runners and it was Fin's seventh race.Fin progressed from Pony mornings to having his own racing pony  at the stables ,kindly loaned to him,allowing him to get some practice pony racing .Then he gained a place at the racing school at Newmarket,before joining Richard Hughes yard last summer.

Fin also won the best male student at racing school, judged on all male students in the his year. No mean feat when considering the number of courses run at the racing school in any year.

New After School Club for Children

This club is limited to maximum of 4 children two sessions could be run if necessary. In each session children will do some pony and stable management and be given a half an hour lesson. The aim is to develop confidence and safety around ponies and riding skills. This is a marvellous opportunity for your child to develop their skills in a safe interesting environment. 

Tuesday evenings 4pm - 5pm
Run by Caroline

Cost:
Special Introductory Price for the first month £13.00 per session
(We request £52 to be paid in advance to cover the first month - unfortunately we can't offer a refund on cancellation or no show) 

Normal price £15.50 per child

Please phone Caroline Wall if you are interested in these sessions. 
Tel: 07967 011805

Dressage Competition at Kings Sedgemoor Equestrian Centre

The last weekend of August, gave a great opportunity to take 3 ponies to the KSEC Dressage competition. Nikki, Alice and Karen all went with Ruby, Dancer and coloured Prince. For Ruby and Dancer this was their first time out, and first ever competition, Prince almost acted as a 'nanny' to give the two young horses confidence traveling, and in the new area. It was a great day for all, Ruby who has been broken in by us, came in during the summer as a 5 year old having done nothing. Has exceeded all hopes, loaded and travelled well, did extremely well in her first ever walk and trot test and came forth! Dancer is Alice's project for this year, it was also her first time out too. A beautiful looking horse, which I must add took a lot of cleaning by Alice, especially her feathers! Alice and Dancer came second! Well Done! Karen took Prince, he did very well also, and came third in his class! Well Done!

Congratulations Nikki

In May Nikki was personally requested by Philippe Karl to take a place on one of his courses to become a Licenced Instructor of the School of Légèreté (lightness. Philippe Karl, the author, classical trainer and highly respected former Écuyer of the Cadre Noir for 13 years, has become very well known in recent years as a champion of horse-friendly riding and a staunch critic of modern coercive training methods. Since 2004 he has been especially dedicated to the training of riding instructors within his School of Légèreté. The UK branch of his School of Légèreté instructor-training course began at The Holistic Equitation Centre (Northampton) in January 2011. 

Nikki was one of 80 auditors of the course able to study the first group of British students who were taught and assessed by Philippe Karl himself and she followed the progress and training of the eight instructors for three years. After putting his principals into practice with her own teaching and training of her horses at home, she then volunteered herself as a guinea pig for one of the eight instructors to teach as part of their final exam in May 2014. It was here whilst riding Neville that Philippe Karl was impressed with the duo and requested that she took part in the 3-year course herself to become a licensed instructor of the School of Légèreté. This is a huge accolade as there is a long waiting list for the course both internationally and in the UK and instructors wishing to take part are usually required to pass a stiff interview.

Nikki will begin the course in September comprising 10 clinics taught and assessed by Philippe Karl. At the end of the three-year basic training these riders can become licenced Instructors of the School of Légèreté only after successfully completing a four part practical and theoretical exam. Clinics are held 3 times each year and each clinic is 4 days in duration. Lessons include: individual dressage training work in hand, at the lunge and on long reins jumping quadrille, theory, teacher training, final exam. During the final exam, the students are judged on: their theoretical knowledge the training level reached by their horses and their competence in teaching. We wish Nikki all the best with the course and the exam!! For more information about Philippe Karl and the School of Légèreté click here.