Help in Brighton, Fulham and Crawely!

[jennback]

My husband and I are relocating to England in just a few days. We are looking at Brighton, Fulham and Crawely as possible places to live. Any suggestions? I would like to learn how to ride well and am looking for good stables near these areas, any ideas? Email me at: jaubrey@berkeley.edu :D

[madferret]

Hi Jenn,

I used to live near Brighton in Eastbourne and can vouch for brighton as a cool place to live.
This question came up a few months ago, can't remember what the answers were though. Try doing a search.
There's a great little place in Wilmington called Gatewood farm stables, but its about 20 minutes from brighton.

HTH :)

[Justie B52]

Hi

I was born in Worthing Between Chichester & Brighton. I learnt to ride in Arundel in the late 70's. It's still going as far as I know, Arundel Farm Riding & Driving Centre. It's BHS approved. Obviously I can't say what it's like now, but it was fab when I was there!

Chichester's lovely as cities go & Brighton's very,very hip, I guess it depends what you're into though.

We recently moved back to the UK from France, hubby's from Middlesbrough so that's where we chose to come back to and we don't regret it one bit. I love being up north even if I am a soft southern wuss :D

Best of luck what ever you decide.

Justie x

[ajhainey]

Wildwoods http://www.wildwoodsriding.co.uk/ seems to have a good reputation from my west london friends (somewhere out near Epsom, at the top of the M23 instead of the bottom where crawley is) That area is good for riding - I know two horse owners out there and there seems to be plenty of choice of stables, hacking etc - its a 'horsey' area.

Bear in mind Crawley itself has gatwick airport right on its head - i wouldn't want to live there :-(

Fulham is very popular and some bits are v. nice (some bits are horrible too mind, pick carefully!) but you'll be more restricted in riding as its inside london and the only 'hacking' will be in the parks. That said Richmond park is pretty
close - and there is good riding there I hear as its so huge!

Brighton no idea - but its very fashionable right now...

If you want some wider recommendations why don't you tell us why you picked the three you did/where yu'll be working? There might be some other options (Bexley in the east is nice, as is epping forest)

aj xx

[Moomin]

I live in Brighton - to be honest its a difficult place to keep horses or learn to ride/go hacking if you don't have your own horse.

There is only one riding school in Brighton itself - and its fine if your five but I wouldn't go there myself. There are a couple within about 20 mins drive but nowhere really unless you go a way out. Its very difficult - friends of mine who want to learn to ride are finding actually getting to the lesson more challenging than the actual learning!!

As for keeping a horse, its a matter of all the good places are full and remain so until a horse or owner dies! Even at the spit and sawdust and bad places vacancies are scarce. I needed to move a few months ago and it was incredibly difficult to find anywhere. I have ended up moving my horse a good half hour drive away - I don't see her every day any more but at least she is looked after properly and lives somewhere nice.

At the same time - Brighton is at the foot of the South Downs and has the most beautiful and varied hacking on your doorstep - forest, valleys, you name it its there. I've had some of the best rides in my life on the South Downs and would give anything to be able to find somewhere suitable for Moo to live in Brighton so we could enjoy them.

[Elly Koopman]

My dad is near Petworth and is about 45 mis from Brighton (on a good day!) and there are loads of places to ride. Arundal is still going :)

Best bet is to look on an ordanace survey map for walkers etc (more detail, is it 1:10000?), that usually has stables marked on it.

The bhs website has a list of approved places, with a guide to the riding available - it is sorted by counties, so that might help?

[shellycuk]

I'm in Crawley, and Gatwick doesn't cause any grief whatsoever, my horse is kept on a lovley private estate with loads of off road hacking and he is happier than i have seen him in ages.
I can't imagine there being much hacking in Brighton.... good luck