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Stables & Riding

One of the most distinctive things about Hanford Prep is the riding.

Riding lessons are timetabled during the week after lunch in games. The excitement amongst the girls at morning break, when the riding lists are put up, is palpable. Whether your daughter loves to ride or has never tried riding before, there is something to charm everyone at the stables which are housed in a beautiful Grade II listed building.

Girls Riding Horses

Girls learn how to look after the ponies as well as ride them.

In the mornings, girls from the upper years are invited to “catch” the ponies from the fields and bring them to their stable to have breakfast.

They are also encouraged go to the stables to groom the ponies and help with stable duties during their morning break. Here they will find the riding staff – Charley, Amelia and Vicky - who will help them alongside the more experienced girls.

Nearly everybody rides at Hanford Prep and there are many different standards and ponies to suit.

In this section

Types of Rides

There are different types of rides at Hanford Prep, depending on the girl’s ability, the time of year and the weather.

There are some wonderful out rides over Hod and Hambledon hill for all ages and abilities – the girls really look forward to being able to gallop up Hambledon Hill when they reach UVIth and LVIth. Hanford is a Pony Club linked centre and is lucky to have its own indoor school which is used year round.

Beyond the indoor school is a cross country schooling paddock which offers girls the opportunity to learn a different riding discipline.

Summer Rides

During the summer term the UVIth and LVIth go on Early Morning Rides before breakfast.

Early Morning Rides are another opportunity for the girls to create memories that last a lifetime; many Old Girls still remember the ponies they rode for these rides, years later.

The stables are licenced by Dorset Council under the Animal Welfare (Licensing of activities involving animals) (England) Regulations 2018 Section 13, Animal Welfare 2006. Licence number 8204 (4).

Girls Riding Ponies