Contessa Riding Centre Llp

****Apologies **** We along with our neighbours have no phones or card machine or Internet! if you're trying to get hold of us please msg here or some calls are diverting to leila until 5pm.

Still some places available on this clinic with John Bowen.

A few behind the scenes photos from this last week at Contessa.

Tina and her team have been brilliant helping me turn a 17hh 5yr mare who was very tricky to be backed last year into a co- operative pleasure to be with horse. Due to my health we started with in-hand work leading to Wanda riding her for the last 2 sessions. The depth of Tina's experience means we have always had tips and projects to work on and I am now aiming for the next Arthur Kottas course with her in-hand and ridden. The team have always been supportive and friendly. They offer an amazing range of options, I would highly recommend trying some in- hand lessons with Tina for something different. The vaulting sounds fun but maybe not yet!

This a very late review, sorry! I was given a birthday present lesson at Contessa. I had the lovely Jake for my assessment. What a gent! Although rather big for me he was so well schooled and forgiving! Then this beautiful grey was handed to me! Wow! He was impressive, but, looked small after the lovely Jake. Xarial (hope I spell that right) , was a joy to ride. Completely got my buttons wrong at first, but after Dawn's great coaching I got it together! Loved doing the changes... even the ones that I didn't ask for!! Thank you so much Dawn for a fantastic lesson!

Charlotte x

Thank you Team Contessa for the work you are doing with my baby horse Cloud and for the amazing assessment lesson today Wanda. I couldnt take the smile off my face - didnt know what a collected canter felt like until today :) Karen x

Probably the best stables. I have only just found this place and I wish I had found many moons ago. The horses are immaculate and clearly content. The staff are friendly and welcoming and my teacher spotted something in my riding style that made perfect sense but had never been noticed before in 20 years of riding AND suggested a solution which I will be working on next week with her. Excellent facility for those who want to achieve their best.

One of the best places in the world. Contessa gives riders like me without their own horse opportunities to ride school masters and take their riding above and beyond any level they can achieve elsewhere. The level of teaching is incredible my own riding has improved so much in the last year. Everyone who works here is welcoming and friendly, you form friendships with your instructors.

So many extra opportunities are offered too such as dressage and jumping clinics with experts, seasonal shows, classes in different styles of riding to name but a few and again you dont need your own horse to be able to take part! Cannot speak highly enough of this place.

Just to say Contessa is a beautiful stables with well cared for horses and lovely instructors. We enjoy coming here every week and feel part of family. I cannot fault it in anyway, thank you for making us feel so welcome xx

Just had my first private lesson with Wanda at Contessa after a break from riding. I am a bit weak and rusty, but I really got a lot out of the lesson and loved her way of teaching. The atmosphere of the yard is wonderful - friendly and welcoming and the horses are lovely. Can't wait for my next lesson!

It is years ago now that I trained and worked at Contessa (1978 - 1997), and it was excellent even back then. I am so proud of the continued improvements to the already very high standards, not only of the instructors and quality horses, but also of the variety of additional experiences which were always, and still are, available for staff and students. Things like being able to compete all round the country, participate in lecture/demos, or go along to watch the many top riders either competing, teaching or demonstrating their skills, and even being able to have lessons from them as well. I can't praise Tina and her team highly enough, I am so very proud to have been a member of that team, and miss those times very much. However, life takes many twists and turns along the way, and although I am now miles away in New Zealand, I am fortunate to have made life long friendships. It is always my number 1 place to come to whenever I return to the UK.

I've been riding at contessa for three years now and absolutely love the place, horses and staff. My pony Charlie was made to feel very welcome during his week-long stay and we are taking away lots of great things to work on!

I would like to thank Tina, and her team, for welcoming me to Contessa Riding Centre.



I have now visited Contessa twice for BHSI training that requires a high calibre of horse, which Contessa were more than able to provide. I was fortunate to have a range of different horses all suitably able to train me in lateral work and flying changes.



Whilst at Contessa I saw training of all levels from beginners to advanced clients and would recommend this riding centre to anyone wishing to further their equestrian training whether for vocational exams or leisure interests.

I went with my friends to have an advanced lesson! The horses were really good, quality movers and well trained! We enjoyed very much and archieved a lot! The yard manager Wanda was very friendly and welcoming she made us feel like at home!

Thanks contessa for the lovely lesson!

I spent 2 days at Contessa last week. Thoroughly enjoyed my 5 lessons - special thanks to Tina and Jo, and the horses of course! Everyone was welcoming, and I am very much looking forward to a return visit. I was told it was the best place to go to in the Country to ride Schoolmasters - and I was not disappointed. Thank you!

I have just come home from 3 days training at this incredibly welcoming and superbly run establishment . I travelled over from Ireland to get some dressage training - with the intention of completing my BHSI exam . The experience more than fulfilled my expectations - ever horse I rode ( and this included 4 stallions ) were perfect , friendly ,kind ,well manner people in every way and gave me a completely safe feeling , despite their high level of training and quick reactions - and this is the perfect environment in which to be able to concentrate and learn new things . It was a total joy to ride such established animals ( up to Grand Prix ) and be able to ride ( try!) every movement on animals which were so generous but equally reminded you of your every weakness in a polite way ! Tina and Dawn - I thank you for your amazing coaching , support , openness to share you fantastic knowledge and patience - I have come home with confidence , knowledge and renewed enthusiasm . Also a huge thank you to all the staff who allowed me to teach them and who just made me feel totally at home - I can totally recommend Contessa to anyone at any level , as I watched lessons from RDA ,Para, Pony Club , lunge , endurance ,jump , vaulting , BHS exam training and the level of training and horse/ ponies was excellent . Thank you Contessa ��xx Mandi King BHSII SM UKCC 3

I couldn't recommend enough! I have tried several riding schools and finally found Contessa, the quality of both teaching and training of the horses is of such a high standard. Specifically Wanda's class, I have already learnt so much and each lesson is packed with new challenges. Everyone is also really lovely and there is lots of events that you can get involved in. If you love dressage and want to come away from a lesson having learnt lots, this is defiantly the place to go ��

Exceptionally professional, hardworking staff and wonderful horses. Very friendly, welcoming atmosphere. Cannot recommend highly enough; something for every level of rider. Absolutely loving my schoolmaster lessons on Unico! Thank you Contessa!

Despite the weather conditions in the morning and all the lovely grey horses being yellow by the time they had warmed up in the outdoor arena, a great time was had by all at the Dressage Competition on 16th October. There were about 50 entries on the day which kept the judges and stewards very busy. All the school horses and ponies and those who visited on the day looked amazing – if Charlotte Dujardin ever loses Alan as her groom there are some serious contenders to replace him. As ever, the whole atmosphere was really friendly and encouraging, with competitors supporting each other throughout the day. Whatever their score, I know that everyone will have gone away with some really positive comments on their test sheet and some helpful pointers of what to work on. Thank you to all the Team for putting on such a super event. See you next time.

Contessa is a wonderful place to ride and vault. The horses are beautiful, loved and well cared for. The instructors and staff are lovely and extremely supportive and welcoming. It is a happy place for both horses and humans!

Big thank you to Contessa for running the Ride 4 Research Dressage League, our first outing to Contessa. A fun and friendly competition we loved every minute, and was a lovely experience for me and Bella. Lots to work on (!) and lots of encouraging comments from the judges. Very friendly venue and great to be riding for a fantastic cause. Thank you x

A great place to learn, improve and master your riding, amazing horses ....from the kindest most willing horse to learn on, to the kindest most willing Grand Prix horses to improve on. No matter what your level or experience, Contessa is the place to come.