We have wonderful hacking out from Moat Farm, from a one hour beach ride which requires absolutely no roadwork, to a two and a half hour hack which includes the beach and then nearby Birkrigg Common.

Our beach ride can be conducted on lead rein for either adults or children if required.  For our longer rides we do need our riders to be able to ride independently (it’s a long way for someone leading a horse to walk!) and to be capable in walk, trot and canter.

For young children who would find an hour a bit too much we continue to offer lead rein rides out for 30 minutes.

Here’s a brief description, with prices, of the rides we currently offer.  All need to be booked in advance so that we can check tides times and staff availability.  Please contact us for more details on 01229 588522 or 01229 869663 or alternatively e-mail your query to us.  Please, please do leave a message on our answermachine if we are unavailable and we will call you back.  Please remember to leave your name and contact number too!

30 MINUTE BEACH RIDE FOR YOUNG CHILDREN

We use either the shetland ponies (Tosca, Marjorie, Samantha, Bassett) for this or for slightly taller children, Gingerbread or Poppy.  We will ensure that your child is feeling secure and comfortable on the pony by spending a few minutes in our indoor school before walking down our private track which leads directly onto a very quiet beach.  We will walk (or trot if the child wishes to and we think he/she is capable of doing this safely) along the beach to the second breakwater and back.  The actual ride will take about 20-25 minutes depending upon which way the wind is blowing!

ONE HOUR BEACH RIDE FOR OLDER CHILDREN AND ADULTS

We have horses and ponies suitable for all heights, weights and riding ability.  Please however do note that our weight restriction is 15 stones.  Our horses and ponies range from Gingerbread at 12.2hands to Sally at 16.2 hands.  In between we have Charlie Watts, Winston Churchill, Frank Bruno, Ash, Montgomery and Poppy.  All are well schooled horses.  They are not “riding school plods” and will require you to be able to steer.  For this reason we assess all riders in our indoor school before the ride out starts and if we feel you are a bit “wobbly” please don’t be offended if we pop you onto a lead rein.  You will then be able to relax and enjoy the ride if you are a nervous rider or someone getting on board for the first time.

Once we have settled you onto your horse, we go down our private track direct to the beach and ride out along the quiet beach with wonderful views of the coastline.  On a clear day, Blackpool Tower can be seen!  This ride can either be conducted in walk only or walk and trot or walk, trot and canter depending upon your ability.  The tempo of any ride out is determined by the least experienced in your group.  After riding on the sands and passing Aldingham Vicarage and Church we will leave the beach for a few minutes and head up a small country lane before returning to the sands for the ride back to Moat Farm. This diversion is totally optional and you can stay on the beach for the duration of the ride if you wish.

TWO HOUR BEACH AND BIRKRIGG COMMON RIDE

This ride is suitable for riders who are competent in walk trot and canter.  Again, we start with an assessment in the indoor school and then head down our private track to the beach.  We will then walk, trot and canter for approximately 45 minutes on the sands of Morecambe Bay and heading towards the peaceful village of Bardsea (very nice pub, The Braddylls Arms – good for a cleansing glass of ale after your ride!).  We will then leave the beach and walk up a fairly steep road leading to Birkrigg Common passing through a gate to join Sunbrick Lane, a bridle path where you can enjoy fabulous views of Morecambe Bay, and a chance for another canter before walking through the village of Baycliff (excellent farm shop open Tuesday-Saturday for fresh sandwiches).  We will then rejoin the beach via Lethey Lane and enjoy another 20 minutes riding on the sands and back to the Equestrian Centre.

TWO AND A HALF HOUR BEACH AND BIRKRIGG COMMON RIDE

Again this ride is only suitable for riders who are competent in walk trot and canter.  It begins as with the two hour ride but with some “extras” along the way!  At Bardsea we ride into the village and along a country lane before heading up a track to Birkrigg Common.  We then trot or canter across the common and take in the spectacular views across the bay, leaving Birkrigg we ride down Sunbrick Lane to Baycliff and then rejoin the beach via Lethey Lane for our return to Moat Farm.

We have riding hats for all ages and sizes and riding boots for adult sizes three to eleven.  Please wear comfortable clothing and bring a jacket.  Footwear for children should preferably be wellington boots or some other boot with a small heel.  No trainers or shoes/boots with laces or velcro, please.

All our rides are conducted by experienced mature staff who have many years of riding experience amongst them and who know our horses and ponies very well indeed.

When you book a hack out with us, it is YOUR hack out.  We do not put groups of unknown people together.  The maximum amount of riders per ride is four.

TARIFF

30 minute beach ride for young childrenn – £10 per child
One hour beach ride for older children and adults – £30 if only one rider or £25 per person if more than one.
Two hour beach and birkrigg common ride – £50 per rider.
Two and a half hour beach and birkrigg common ride – £60 per rider.

We are offering pony rides on the beach over Easter from Good Friday through to Easter Monday and subject to tide times of course. The rides will cost £10 for approximately 30 mins and we would prefer advance bookings on either 01229 588522 or 01229 869663

We were so honoured to be invited to become a National Pony Club Centre in July 2009.

We have eighteen members of Pony Club, none of whom have their own horse or pony but all of whom have gained so much confidence not only around a horse or pony but also socially with each other.

Pony Club meets at Moat Farm Equestrian Centre on Fridays between 4.30pm – 6.00pm. We work both in the heated common room and in the stables with the ponies for Pony Club badges. The work is a mixture of practical and quizzes. Our club members range from 6yrs to 13 yrs – there are ‘mini badges’ for the little ones.

Once a month we have a riding session or games with the ponies in the indoor school.

Each session finishes with refreshments in the common room before mums and dads (who have enjoyed an hour and a half of peace and quiet) arrive to take them home.

£12 per child per session.

Pony Club membership is £22 per year payable direct to Pony Club – we can provide the forms.

With a history dating back to the early12th century. Moat Farm is the ideal location for an equestrian centre with 35 acres for our horses to relax in after riding.

In 2005 John Poole and Caroline Evans took over the property, living in the farmhouse whilst their new house in Ulverston was constructed. At that time most of the farm buildings were on the point of collapse.

John and Caroline had a vision of turning the dilapidated farm into an equestrian centre, utilising the existing modern steel framed building as an indoor riding school.

After many months of hard work, Moat Farm Equestrian Centre was completed and incorporates one of the largest indoor riding schools in the North of England.

An outstanding, detached farmhouse with private access to a secluded sand and shingle beach, a mile from the village of Aldingham. Moat Farmhouse is steeped in history (including the remains of a 13th C Motte & Bailey castle in the grounds) and is sympathetically renovated with character and charm, providing spacious accommodation with six bedrooms, en-suite bathrooms, spacious sitting room with woodburner, two further reception rooms, a well-equipped kitchen, lovely mature gardens and an orchard.

Just a hundred yards from the beach, the property has breathtaking views of the sea and the Furness peninsula from all aspects. There is an Equestrian Centre on the doorstep with riding lessons and hacks with a BHS instructor available.

There is fabulous walking and horse riding from the door, while the amenities and market of Ulverston are just 5 miles away, and the fabulous Lake District National Park is less than 8 miles away; a superb base for family and friends.

Accommodation

Six bedrooms: 1 x kingsize double with en-suite (shower, basin, WC), 1 x double with en-suite (shower, basin, WC), 2 x single, 1 x double, 1 x twin. Bathroom with bath, shower over, basin, WC. Ground floor basin, WC. Kitchen with dining area. Utility room. Lounge (seats 7) with woodburner. Reception room with sofa bed and open fire. 2nd reception room (seats 5).

Amenities

Oil central heating, woodburner & open fire in lounge/reception room. Electric cooker, microwave, fridge/freezer, 2nd fridge, washer/dryer, dishwasher, colour TV, DVD, CD/radio etc. First £20 of oil, all electricity, starter pack for woodburner inc. in rent. Additional fuel at £5 per bag. Bed linen & towels inc. in rent. Cot. Ample off road parking. Large garden with furniture. 2 well behaved pets welcome. Stabling by prior arrangement. Sorry, no smoking. Shop 2 miles. Pubs 1 mile. Note: Refundable good housekeeping bond of £150.

To check availability and book click here or alternatively call John Poole or Caroline Evans on 01229 588522 or 01229 869663

The farmhouse may be booked by a group of people for a bespoke riding holiday. We will tailor the holiday to suit your requirements – Please contact Caroline on 01229 588522 or 01229 869663 for more details and prices.

The Monty Roberts Approved Course with Caroline Jennings for February is still available – contact us for details or to book:

Monty Roberts Course – When: Sun, Feb 21, 2010 – Wed, Feb 24, 2010

Perhaps one of the most amazing sights of the last twelve months was the Monty Roberts Demonstration which we held a few weeks ago.  Caroline Jennings, a Monty Roberts Approved Instructor, came over from Ireland to put poor Luci and Yasmin through the exams (they passed of course – well done!!) and agreed to do a demonstration.  My own pony, Reg the Exmoor, was chosen as he is incredibly nervous and is proving difficult to break.  I can honestly say that Caroline did not meet Reg at all until he was led into the pen in the indoor school.  what happened next took my breath away.  In the space of just under half an hour, Reg followed Caroline around the pen like a puppy, walked over a sheet of tarpaulin and allowed himself to be touched all over his body with a piece of plastic attached to a long pole.  All this from a pony that can barely be rugged up without leaping in the air.  The woman is a genius and we will be very pleased to welcome her back in February when she will be offering a three day course in the Mony Roberts methods and, hopefully, another demonstration.

Services currently offered by Moat Farm Equestrian Centre

Deana Tarr, BHSAI, will be available to give freelance lessons on your own horse at Moat Farm Equestrian on Saturdays from 12 noon onwards. She should be contacted direct on 07747094748 to book.

DIY Livery at a price of £35 per week.  This includes two haylage nets per day and free use of the indoor and outdoor schools (when not in use by us for any other event or by a freelance instructor).  At the moment we have two pony sized stables free.

External Hire of the Indoor/Outdoor School at a cost of £20 per hour for up to four riders (no more, please, our Insurers don’t like large numbers).

External Hire of the Schools by ANY other organisation – Dog Agility Classes, Rugby Clubs, Brownies, Guides, Scouts etc.

Hire of the Schools by a Freelance Riding Instructor to give blocks of riding lessons to Clients who have their own horse/pony.

Shetland Pony Birthday Parties – £25 per child for two hours (including food) and £20 per child for two hours (excluding food).

“Adopt a Shetland Pony” – £40 per child for half a day (ideal for two children or more) or £25 for two hours for one child.

Moat Farm Pony Club – 4.30pm to 6.00pm on Fridays at a cost of £12 per session.

Park and Ride – £5.00 per rider to come and park in our secure car park, unload, ride on the beach, hose down and have a hot drink in the Common Room.

“Jump to It” on Sundays at a cost of £12.00 per rider per half hour. Available from Sunday 24th January.

We have plenty of parking space and a heated common room with hot drinks available.

At Moat Farm Equestrian Centre we are especially proud of the fact that we can offer you a ride on a peaceful, secluded beach without the need to do any roadwork at all.

From our yard you need only ride or walk your horse along approximately 50 yards of private track to reach a quiet beach. You can then ride (subject to tide times of course) for as far and as long as you like.

You can park up in our car park, ride your horse and then come back and enjoy refreshments in our common room and hose your horse down before leaving for home for only £5.00 per horse and rider.