Equestrian Venues in Somerset

Somerset rides the way it farms, quietly and on good ground. The county gives you the Mendips, the Quantocks and the long pull up towards Exmoor, so hacking and hill work are never far away, and the lanes between yards are the soft, high-banked sort that suit a steady horse. Saddl lists 21 venues here, 11 of them BHS-approved. It's hunting and hacking country at heart, but the spread is broad: riding schools teaching all ages, cross-country schooling on the heavier going, and a handful of yards built around the leisure rider who just wants to get out. The Exmoor edge in the west is trekking and pony country, with natives bred for the moor. Closer to Taunton and the Levels you'll find more conventional schools and arenas. Prices are reasonable by southern standards, and the welcome tends to be genuine rather than polished. If you're new to riding, the county is a forgiving place to start, with plenty of accredited schools and gentle terrain to learn on.