Tuition is available on an individual or group basis. Lessons can be tailored to suit all needs and standards. The riding school has two outdoor arenas and a 20m training round pen for lessons.
The position of the stables on the edge of Woodbury Common - over a thousand acres of heathland and woodland overlooking the Devon hills and coast provides an ideal setting for picturesque rides, rarely crossing any roads larger than a country lane. Up to two hour rides are on offer daily, exploring heathland, overlooking woodland and the nearby coastline. Special longer rides are also organised as part of holiday programmes.
A number of term time and holiday courses run throughout the year involving both riding and stable management including evening saddle clubs, pony clubs and kids clubs, 3 and 4 day Courses and Own a Pony Days.
Courses can be organised on an individual basis privately or for your own group and cater for all levels and abilities.
Specialist courses also run towards British Horse Society Challenge Awards, Progressive Riding Tests, BHS Stage Examinations 1-3.
If you wish to learn how to look after horses, from tacking up to feeding, getting and fittening your own horse or learn towards British Horse Society Certificates and Examinations, special management lessons are available.
The riding school offers a wide variety of special activities including pub rides and cream tea rides – ride across the beautiful countryside into the traditional Devon Village of Otterton with its working water mill and river. Stop for a pub lunch or cream tea while your horses are looked after for you.
Picnic rides are also on offer – with a stop in woodland for your picnic during your ride.
Organised rides run throughout the holiday times but you can also organise your own group for a special ride which can be tailored to your needs. Why not organise a ride for your anniversary, a birthday, a hen or stag party or any other special occasion. We also have vouchers if you wish to organise a ride as a present for someone.
Our other special events throughout the year include Spring Autumn and Winter Mock Hunts, Easter egg hunts, Christmas Cracker rides, shows, gymkhanas and other specials. Courses run throughout the year and residential camps at specific times.
We have a range of options for children’s parties at the riding school from a simple Shetland pony party, grooming party, gymkhana games party to a half day or full day riding party. You can also hire the Oak Lodge for party lunch or tea and even have the food done for you.
Budleigh Salterton Riding School has been running since 1985 and is run by Chrissy Howick and Rob Batson. The riding school has 50 horses and is also a full livery yard and breeds warmblood horses with the ‘Heatherways’ prefix, training and competing them up to National level. The riding school is a British Horse Society Approved yard with links to local schools, colleges and Exeter University Riding Club. All riding school full time staff have full first aid training and British Horse Society Instructor training and child protection certificates.
Chrissy is BHSII and degree level qualified and has competed and trained home bred horses up to Prix St George dressage level at a regional and National level and eventing up to Intermediate level alongside teaching and having a busy time bringing up three children.
Rob is BHSAI and degree level qualified and has also competed home bred horses in eventing and dressage. Rob served in HM forces as Captain both abroad in Germany and Bosnia and in England including being Left Section Commander in the Kings Troop Royal Horse Artillery. Rob was the Officer in charge of the Queen Mother’s funeral gun carriage leading the procession on horseback. He also ran the training programme for 120 horses and 170 men and women and rode in all ceremonial duties including gun salutes in Hyde and Green Park and the Musical Drive tours around the country and abroad.
The licence holders: C Howick & R Batson - licence number 20/00040/RIDEST
