Name: Valley Farm Equestrian Leisure
Rating: 5.0

Valley Farm Equestrian Leisure

Valley Farm Equestrian Leisure, Valley Road, Wickham Market, Woodbridge, Suffolk IP13 0ND, United Kingdom

1-90 Years

Paid

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Contact

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Description

Valley Farm Equestrian Leisure, located in Wickham Market, Suffolk, is a unique equestrian centre set on 82 acres of meadows and woodland, forming a haven for wildlife in an Environmentally Sensitive Area. Visitors can stay in the holiday lodge or campsite, explore scenic trails on foot or horseback, enjoy refreshments in the café, or take part in riding and horse-care lessons. The riding school offers a wide range of disciplines including carriage driving, natural horsemanship, agility, sidesaddle, vaulting, horseball, western riding, polo, polocrosse, dressage, show jumping, working hunter, le trec, horse agility, working equitation, and stable management. Specially trained horses and specialist tack are available to enable differently abled riders to enjoy riding and carriage driving.

Lessons are available for 30 minutes or 1 hour and cater to all levels, with guidance for beginners on mounting, tack adjustment, and reins handling. Young children’s riding: Tots Club (1 hour, Saturday 11am) £40, Lead Rein Lesson/Walk Out (30 mins, under 12 yrs) £44. Pony Club: 3-hour Saturday & Sunday session £68, Weekend 9–4 day (by invitation) £70. Lessons: 1-hour group lesson/hack £46, 1-hour private lesson/hack £74, 1/2-hour private lesson/hack (over 12 yrs) £49.

If you are looking for Best Horse Riding and Stables in Woodbridge , Suffolk then you can visit Valley Farm Equestrian Leisure. Valley Farm Equestrian Leisure is one of the places in Woodbridge Suffolk for day out with kids and families. More details can be found on the website for this place.

Features

Paid
Host birthday parties: Yes

Features

Lesson Times: Lessons at Valley Farm are available for one hour or 30 minutes, including mounting, dismounting, and returning horses to the stables. New riders receive guidance on fetching ponies, checking and adjusting tack, safe mounting, maintaining balance, and handling reins. Beginners may be led by a coach until independent riding is possible.
Western Riding: Western riding is suitable for all levels. The saddle design offers extra support, and the horse is trained in smoother paces, making it easier to ride. Western schooling can improve a horse’s movement and enhance balance, confidence, and control for riders. This discipline is useful for both experienced English riders and beginners.
Side Saddle: Side Saddle allows the rider to sit with both legs on one side. Historically developed in the Middle Ages for women’s modesty in skirts, it was the standard riding method for girls and women until the war.
Vaulting: Equestrian vaulting combines gymnastics, dance, and riding. It is enjoyable for all experience levels and is visually spectacular. Vaulting has historical roots in Roman times and has influenced circus bareback riding, Roman riding, and trick riding.
Horseball: Horseball is a fast-paced team game played on horseback. The ball is similar to a size-4 football with six handles. Points are scored by shooting through a high net (1.5m × 1.5m). The sport combines elements of polo, rugby, and basketball and is recognized by the International Federation for Equestrian Sports.
Adult Riders: Horse riding provides adults with a way to focus on the present moment and enjoy personal “me time.” It offers physical and emotional benefits, and riders of any age can participate.
Clubs: Pony Club encourages friendship, activities, riding, and horse care, with the opportunity to gain internationally recognized badges and qualifications. Clubs are available for ages 2 years to adults.
Lesson Options:
- Group Lessons: Weekly progressive sessions for varying abilities.
- Private or Shared Private Lessons: Focused on individual needs or specific skills.
- Flexibility: Frequency is adjustable, and riders can try different instructors to find a suitable coaching style.
Specialized Lessons:
- Horse Agility: In-hand courses to develop trust and horsemanship.
- Equisimulators and Static Horses: Used to improve fitness, balance, core strength, and practice techniques like mounting, vaulting, and polo swings.
- Carriage Driving: Indoor or outdoor lessons, suitable for all levels.
- Evening Lessons and After-School Sessions: Group sessions for children and adults.
Livery and Loaning: Options include full, working, schooling, and short-stay livery, as well as ponies and horses available for loan.
Mounting Blocks and Practice Horses: Mounting blocks and platforms assist riders with mobility needs. Static barrel horses and simulators support skill development for polo, horseball, vaulting, and general riding fitness.
Accommodation: Campsite with toilets, showers, and electric hook-ups. Self-catering log cabin on-site. Residential children’s holidays in lodges near the proprietor’s house.
Training and Qualifications: Courses are available for ABRS, Pony Club, BHS badges, certificates, and assessments in flatwork, jumping, vaulting, side saddle, horseball, polocrosse, carriage driving, and more.
Visitor Attraction: Open Wednesday–Sunday (and daily during school holidays) from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. Features include alpacas, peacocks, goats, ponies, deer, poultry, and dogs on leads. Woodland and riverside walks provide wildlife observation opportunities. Visitors can watch riding lessons, vaulting, Western and side saddle sessions, natural horsemanship, and farrier demonstrations.

Facilities

Riding Arenas
Farm Trails
Livery Services
Show Jumps & Tack
Mounting Blocks
Refreshments
Toilets & Showers
Free Car Park

What to see

Hire at the Farm:
- Indoor Schools & Outdoor Arenas: £20/hour; extra horses £6 each.
- Show Jumping Course: £20/half hour; extra horses £6 each.
- Obstacle Course: £30/hour; extra horses £10 each.
- Hack Routes: £12/hour per horse.
- Horse Weighbridge: £10.
- Equisimulator: £18/half hour.
- Static Barrel Horse: £5/half hour.
- Stables or Grazing: From £17/horse/night.
- Specialist Courses & Equipment: From £25; extra horses £5.

Website

Contact

Price

Price: Paid

Price Details

Young Children Riding:
- Tots Club (1 hour, Saturday 11am): £40.00
- Lead Rein Lesson/Walk Out (30 mins, under 12 yrs): £44.00
- Weekend Beginner Group (1 hour): £46.00
Pony Club:
- 3-hour Pony Club Session (Sat & Sun): £68.00
- Weekend 9–4 Day (by invitation): £70.00
- 2-hour Pony Club Care: £22.00
- 3-hour Young Equestrians Club: £58.00
- Pony Club Badge: £8.00
Lessons:
- 1-hour Group Lesson/Hack: £46.00
- 1-hour Private Lesson/Hack: £74.00
- 1/2-hour Private Lesson/Hack (over 12 yrs): £49.00
- 1/2-hour Shared Private Lesson (max 4 people): £37.00 each
- 1-hour Shared Private Lesson/Hack (max 6 people): £52.00 each
For More Prices Visit: https://www.valleyfarm.co.uk/content/prices

Pricing URL: https://www.valleyfarm.co.uk/content/prices

Birthday Parties

Offer Birthday Parties: Yes

Birthday Party Details

Children’s Pony: Valley Farm is an Approved Pony Party Provider, meeting strict safeguarding and welfare standards and inspected by Ofsted and the British Horse Society. Pony Parties are ideal for children aged 3 years and up, whether they are experienced riders or meeting ponies for the first time. Parties include pony rides and team gymkhana games with two friendly ponies, followed by party tea in the heated and air-conditioned Camargue Café (or on the sun terrace if preferred).
- Duration: About 2 hours
- Usual Slot: Saturdays, 3pm–5pm
- Minimum: 6 children
- Price: £195 for 6 children; additional children £15 each
- Included: Activity, entrance for children and accompanying adults, rosettes, party tea, and free car parking
- Food Options:
  - Hot: Cheese & tomato pizza, sausages, fish fingers, chicken nuggets, or vegetable fingers with chips & beans/peas, followed by ice cream
  - Cold: Sandwiches, sausage rolls, pizza slices, crisps, biscuits, and ice cream
  - Extras: Keyrings £3, birthday cakes from £12, cupcakes £1.50 each
  - Special dietary requirements can be accommodated by pre-ordering with the café
- Booking & Gift Options:
  - Parties can be booked online via Valley Farm’s website or by contacting phoebe@valleyfarm.co.uk / 01728 746916
  - Gift vouchers are also available for private or group lessons, vaulting, western riding, or pony club sessions, with vouchers available in £50 or £100 denominations
- Valley Farm parties create a fun, safe, and educational environment, giving children the joy of interacting with ponies while enjoying team games, food, and supervised activities.

Opening Times: 8:30am - 5:30pm daily
Visitor Times: 10.00am - 3.00pm

Address: Valley Farm Equestrian Leisure, Valley Road, Wickham Market, Woodbridge, Suffolk IP13 0ND, United Kingdom

Post Code: IP13 0ND

Council: East Suffolk

County: Suffolk

Free car park
Turn off the A12 onto the B1078 towards Wickham Mkt and Framlingham. Follow the B1078 into Wickham Market. Over the River Deben and take the first right, (still the B1078) Follow B1078 for about half a mile, at the bottom of the steep hill turn right following the brown tourist sign to 'Valley Farm'
From A140 follow the B1078 towards Wickham Market all the way until you see the brown tourist sign to 'Valley Farm' on the left, at the bottom of the hill, just before you get into Wickham Market.
SAT NAV Most Sat Navs will bring you to the car park if you put in our postcode IP13 0ND (please note it is a zero, not the letter O)
What 3 Words ///education.ears.feed
Services
- Nearest Bus Station - Wickham Market village centre (about 10 minutes walk away)
- Nearest Train Station - Wickham Market (An unmanned station actually located in Campsea Ashe about 3 miles away. It is better to get a train to Ipswich or Woodbridge, then catch a bus to Wickham Market village centre, or a taxi to Valley Farm. There are taxi ranks at both stations.)