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Equine Centre

The Equestrian Centre at BCA has stabling for over 50 horses and is approved by the British Horse Society (BHS) as a ‘Where to Train’ centre up to BHSAI. We regularly host BHS examinations up to Stage 3 and the Preliminary Teaching Test and encourage all our learners to develop their practical skills alongside their vocational qualification.

 

The horses are predominantly stabled and cared for on a working livery basis which enables students of every level to develop their practical skills under the supervision of experienced BHS qualified staff. The horses are selected to ensure that we develop the student’s skills in handling a range of horses in preparation for working within the industry.

Facilities

Our facilities include a 60x40m fully lit indoor arena,  60x40m (floodlit) and 60x30m outdoor arenas all with excellent waxed sand surfaces, extensive grass rides, BE cross country course and a whole range of equipment used for practical sessions to allow students to develop the necessary skills associated with working in the equine industry. Regular on-site competitions give students the opportunity to gain hands-on experience within a commercial setting. We offer fantastic value for money, private hire sessions throughout the week, and our shared hire option is becoming increasingly popular with regular clients. Private Hire is suitable for lessons or clinics, and includes the use of jumping equipment and/or dressage boards and letters (set up and dismantle required), whereas Shared Hire is a great option for those happy to ride on the flat with others. Please get in touch via equine-enquiries@bca.ac.uk or 01628 827529 for availability and booking. 

Livery

We are able to offer a competitive price for working livery which includes the use of our excellent facilities on site. Your horse will be cared for seven days of the week including grooming, trimming, clipping and tack cleaning alongside being exercised by the students within taught sessions Monday to Friday during term time. If you would like further details then please do not hesitate to contact the Yard Manager; Lizzie Ragg on the details below.

Lizzie Ragg
Yard Manager

Tel: 01628 827420
Mob: 07484 098871
Email: lragg@bca.ac.uk

Find out more

If you have any problems, the number to call has changed to 01628 827420 – please be sure to make a note of this. If you have any queries, please contact the team on equine-enquiries@bca.ac.uk

Park & Ride – Now Open!

We are delighted to have re-opened our Park & Ride scheme and are happy to have you all back on-site. However, due to exceptional demand, our 6-month passes are now completely sold out. We do still have Day Passes and Yearly Passes available for purchase .

Upon purchase, you will receive an email containing your Surname and the date the pass has been booked for which MUST be printed and displayed on your dashboard whilst you are onsite and using the facility.

Parking will be in the usual equine car park, but there will be strictly no access to the yard or toilet facilities.

If you have any problems, the number to call has changed to 01628 827420 – please be sure to make a note of this. If you have any queries, please contact the team on equine-enquiries@bca.ac.uk

13 miles of off-road routes

Here at BCA we have created over two miles of off-road grass rides, taking you around the perimeter of the College campus, linking up with the Knowl Hill Bridleway Circuit, providing a further 12 miles on the North Route and 13 miles on the South Route.

Permits to ride can be purchased below

Permits give unlimited access throughout the year in daylight hours (BCA reserves the right to close the rides at any time, however we do endeavour to provide closure dates well in advance).

Please note, we are currently grazing sheep on some parts of the Park and Ride tracks but alternative routes around these closed sections are available.

Park in the Monument Car Park

Due to a busy schedule of events and competitions, BCA Park & Ride users are asked to park at the Monument Car Park at weekends and NOT in the main Equine Lorry Park. If you are using the facility on weekdays/weekday evenings, then it is fine to park in the Equine Lorry Park which is located behind our outdoor arenas. Please see map for details.

Equestrian Centre

Our Equestrian unit provides students enrolled on our equestrian courses with a practical environment in which they can train towards their chosen academic and BHS qualifications. Our working livery horses play a major role in the training of students, under the supervision of our qualified staff they are directly involved in the skills development of practical handling, stable management and riding.

Our livery suits those with busy lives who may need help to keep their horse fit and working, all for just £65 per week (including straw bedding, forage, feed and daily care).

Facilities

  • Fully equipped modern yard with stabling for up to fifty two horses
  • Turnout on well-maintained grass paddocks
  • Indoor competition size Martin Collins (60m x 40m) floodlit arena
  • All weather Andrew Bowen competition size floodlit outdoor arena (60m x 40m)
  • All weather Andrew Bowen competition size outdoor arena (60m x 30m)
  • Wide grass rides around our attractive estate, with woodland and Thames Valley views with   access to extensive off road riding and bridleways cross country courses on the estate
  • CCTV & alarms
  • Heated tack and rug rooms
  • Parking facilities
  • Qualified staff on site

Contact

Please contact us for more information on our working livery package.

Lizzie Ragg
Yard Manager

Tel: 01628 827420
Mob: 07484 098871
Email: lragg@bca.ac.uk

 

Customer feedback

The staff on the yard are very friendly and welcoming, very easy to communicate with – also well organised so nothing gets lost and horse rugs and tack are really respected and looked after. The facilities are great and there is never any issue about there being no school available. My mare Indi is definitely quirky – she can be so quiet and at other times quite scared of things or can get worked up about being taken away from her best friend. The team at BCA have always had Indi’s and my own best interests in mind and taken great care of her and consulted me with regard to any changes. I have been able to ask for things that I particularly wanted implemented in her care, without any issue being made about her being a special case. We have been at BCA a year now and settled in well – I am so grateful to be able to relax, knowing she is being taken care of.


Melanie

I work and live full time in London and BCA offered me the perfect solution for keeping my own horse again. The level of care is exceptional, and the facilities are brilliant as well. Marmite loves her work and living out, so the set up really suits her. There is the added benefit of a lot of local riding club activities actually taking place at BCA as well. She is fit for me to go out and compete and take part in riding club activities at the weekend and there is always a welcome feel on the yard.


Charlotte

Park & Ride booking

Use the form below to purchase a park & ride permit for use at BCA. Please make sure to read our T&Cs – https://bca.ac.uk/equine-centre/#FAQ

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Park & Ride permit selection*
Permit Holder Name*
Permit start date*
Address*
Horse livery address*
Emergency Contact Name*