Where it all began
July marks one year of the Island Riding Centre on the Isle of Wight. That’s right – it’s our birthday month! We take this opportunity to look over the developments that have taken place over the past 12 months and what the future looks like.
The centre opened with the ambition of allowing riders of all ages and abilities, including those in wheelchairs or with limited mobility, the opportunity to get in the saddle. We offer individual and group riding lessons, as well as horse riding summer camps, kids clubs and ‘own a pony ‘experience days. Read about our open day to learn more!
Developments
Self-catering Accommodation
Since opening in July 2017, the Island Riding centre has opened a brand-new holiday complex. We have a range of 2, 3 and 4-bedroom self-catering apartments on the Isle of Wight, sleeping from 2-12 people or larger groups of up to 40 if booking multiple units. We welcome our four-legged friends on site too, so give your horse a riding holiday to remember.
Learn more about our self-catering accommodation here.
Riding Holidays
At the Island Riding Centre, we offer both horse riding weekends and midweek short riding breaks with guests able to stay in our luxury self-catering accommodation and enjoy the equestrian centre facilities on site.
The Isle of Wight has long been a popular holiday destination for visitors of all ages and with spectacular beaches and trail rides, it is ideal for riding holidays too.
Learn more about our riding holidays here.
Outdoor Arena
The Island Riding Centre opened on 2ndJuly 2017, boasting the Isle of Wight’s only outdoor fibre wax sand school, stable yard and on site off-road hacking track.
The Island Riding Centre’s new fibre wax outdoor arena was opened by TV presenter and Paralympic wheelchair basketball athlete Ade Adepitan MBE and rising music star Elle Exxe. They were also the first guests at the Island’s brand-new equestrian and self-catering and accessible holiday complex.
Learn more about their visit to the Isle of Wight here.
Management
After a busy 12 months of managing the riding school, Tian and Amy decided to return to their own riding careers in show jumping and dressage. As a result, we have a new management team, which includes Kirsty Snodgrass. Kirsty is the District Commissioner of the Isle of Wight Pony Club and brings a wealth of experience having previously managed the riding school at Brickfields Horse and Country and having been part of such iconic equestrian institutions as Norris Castle and Lightbowns liveries.
Kirsty is being assisted by our two existing BHS instructors Kate Cockle and Sophie Benjamin who will join on a permanent basis, as well as new recruit Gayle Jackson.
Learn more about our team here.
Guests at Island Riding Centre
Isle of Wight Radio visited us on Earl Mountbatten Hospice Day in October 2017 and we hosted a Macmillan Coffee morning in the same month to raise money for these fantastic causes.
The Island Riding Centre in Newport was recognised for its ongoing efforts to help the environment when the leader of the Isle of Wight Green Party Vix Lowthion paid a visit in March 2018. Read more about Vix Lowthian’s visit on our blog.
Paralympic gold medal sailor Tony Downs tested out our accessible holiday units and got ‘legless’!
We have also been visited by Conservative MP, Bob Seeley and of course, Elle Exxe and Ade Adepitan, as mentioned above. Owner, Louise, also bumped into Alan Titchmarsh at the Royal Windsor Horse Show!
Sponsorship & Awards
We have sponsored sporting hero awards at both the Isle of Wight Radio Local Heroes and Child of Wight awards and are working with IW Pride 2018. We have recently been nominated for the Isle of Wight Sustainable Business Champion in the Isle of Wight Rural Awards 2018.
The Future
An indoor riding arena will open towards the end of 2018, complete with shops, classroom and a restaurant. We are also opening a fibre wax 60m by 25m sand school for year-round all-weather riding lessons and a livery yard, which will include a number of features including a horse walker and solarium.
Further stabling will increase our overall capacity above 50 horses and create further livery opportunities for the Island Riding Centre.
Work is already underway, so keep an eye on our social media pages for updates!
