About Us...

Ingestre Stables was established in 1980, and moved to its present home in 1983. Since moving to Ingestre, the Stables have followed a progressive development plan, designed to increase and improve the business, and also to refurbish and maintain the Grade II listed building which provides a home for forty five horses, and the "Ingestre Team".
The stable yard at Ingestre was purpose built in 1886 by the then Earl of Shrewsbury, to house carriage horses and polo ponies. The large coach house built within the courtyard was to house the great collection of horse drawn vehicles, most of which are now resident in the museum at Shugborough, the neighbouring estate.
Through the last century, the stable yard as had a varied use, from its original housing of horses, to being used as tea rooms, a farmyard, and spending some time almost derelict, it is now back almost to the original use, but houses training and competition horses instead of carriage horses.

Ingestre Stables in now firmly established as one of the leading equestrian establishments in the UK and attracts students from all over the world.

Facilities

The stable yard at Ingestre provides top quality accommodation for horses, and the large internal stabling halls lend themselves ideally for ease of learning practical stabling management.
Our riding facilities include an indoor arena with viewing gallery, small indoor school, outdoor international dressage arena, an outdoor training area with large sand surface, and a variety of cross country training fences. We have a full set of showjumps, as well as a selection of showjump training equipment. We are located a short distance from Cannock chase, which provides some 26 square miles of open training ground, having hills, water, and forestry as well as plenty of open grassland.
Students at Ingestre are well provided for, we have excellent lecture facilities, backed up by a well equipped office, and we maintain a good range of training equipment and visual aids.
Student accommodation is available within the stable yard complex, and the centre is within easy reach of local bed and breakfast or hotel facilities.

Located just ten minutes from the country Town of Stafford, we are in easy reach of the M6 motorway, and have a British Rail mainline station in the town centre.

The Ingestre Team

Headed by Tim Downes, F.B.H.S., A.B.R.S.P.D. and Rob Lovatt, F.B.H.S., A.B.R.S.P.D.,the Ingestre Team is made up of people committed to the world of the horse. All are encouraged to develop their own equestrian activities, and to continually further their own training and development.

Staff and students from the centre compete in all disciplines, although dressage and horse trials feature fairly high in our priorities.
Our senior staff are available for lessons at Ingestre and are also in much demand to take training clinics throughout the world.
With regard to our own achievements, we continually aim to improve, to increase our accreditation in the eyes of the world, and to stay up to date with modern thinking. All of our teaching staff hold B.H.S. qualifications. We are all actively involved with either running or examining B.H.S. exams, and have an active interest in the development of the N.V.Q. assessment system.

Our Training Policy

We believe that all aspects of training with horses should be an enjoyable experience, only undertaken for the benefit of the horse by those people who genuinely wish to do so.
On the basis that the fundamental training of the horse is for the systematic development of both its muscles and its understanding, we believe that all training should be ongoing, and that every rider on a horse should have a moral commitment to the maintenance of that horse's state of training.
We believe that there is a clear difference between active and passive riding, and that any rider intent on riding actively should do so to the enhancement of the horse, and never to its detriment.
We support the view that in bolting the stable door, thus depriving the horse of its natural life style, we take on the total responsibility for his well being, both in his care and in the way that we choose to put him to task.

Horses

Being firm believers in "horses for courses," we keep a great variety of horses at Ingestre. All of our horses are individuals, and all are actively encouraged to develop in their own discipline. There are horses registered to compete in affiliated competitions, and many more competing on a regular basis at a local level. Apart from student training horses and competition horses, we also keep a variety of young horses, and a small breeding stock.

As an examination centre for the British Horse Society, we regularly produce horses to the required standard for all examinations up to and including the B.H.S.I.

What We Offer

We offer all aspects of training for both horse and rider, from the very first lesson through to examination or competition preparation. We hold regular training sessions for all levels of rider both in groups and on a one-to-one basis, although our policy is not to teach complete novice riders in a group situation.

Short courses, working towards a specific aim, are held throughout the year at Ingestre, and occasionally we host "clinics" for visiting trainers from home and abroad.
Training sessions specifically for career students and examination candidates are held daily at the centre, as are weekly teacher training days.
We can prepare candidates for all equestrian tests and exams nationwide.
Apart from our specific courses and training sessions, we are happy to provide tailored courses to suit the individual.
We accept horses for breaking and training throughout the year.
Horses can be prepared for sale, or for competition either for owner riders or ridden by a member of the Ingestre Team.
We travel to competitions all over the UK, competing in all disciplines.

Our Coffee Shop is open daily from Tuesday to Sunday for Snacks, Drinks, and Meals.