Moreton Morrell College’s Equine Centre is seeking loan horses for the start of the new academic year.

Category One criteria

Horses should be sound, robust and resilient, and aged preferably between 8 - 18 years of age. The horse should be free of medical conditions which make daily ridden work a challenge (e.g. neurological conditions). Horses must be established in the basic paces and able to act as schoolmaster for students to learn from. Horses should be working at novice level and able to confidently jump up to 80 - 90 cms around a show jump course.

Horses are turned out in groups; there are no individual turn out options.

Category Two criteria

Horses should be sound, robust and resilient, and aged 7 years plus. The horse should be free of medical conditions which make daily ridden work a challenge (e.g. neurological conditions). Horses must be trained and established to dressage elementary level and ideally able to work towards or at medium level if required. Horses must be able to confidently jump up to 1.05 metres around a show jump course.

Horses are turned out in groups; there are no individual turn out options.

Why loan your horse to us?

The Equine Centre is staffed by six professional mature BHS-qualified instructors who supervise all the horses’ care across a seven day week throughout the year. Further and higher education students are timetabled throughout the day from 7.30am until 8.00pm to ensure all our horses’ needs are met. The team will take great care of all your horse’s health care needs, from clipping to wormings. We are also able to offer nearly year round turnout for horses.

In return for the use of your horse, our Equine Centre can offer superb facilities.

Loan horse owners are welcome to visit at any time - no appointment is necessary. Owners are also welcome to enjoy the Equine Centre’s facilities, and almost every weekend there are unaffiliated and/or affiliated dressage and show jumping competitions. Loan horse owners are welcome to participate in these events and to join the Moreton Morrell British Riding Club. You can receive riding lessons on site (dressage and/or jump) with our team of BHS-qualified equine instructors. Due to our central location, it is very easy to get to other local equine shows to compete.

How can I prepare my horse for trial?

The following should be in place so your horse can be assessed at his best:

• The horse needs to have a basic level of fitness (able to walk, trot and canter for approximately 45 minutes with breaks in-between). He should be regularly used to being lunged, ridden and worked over fences. He should accept different people riding him albeit of a certain level.
• Suitably clipped - relevant to the time of year
• Teeth recently assessed (within the last 6 months) and cared for
• A vaccination programme in place
• Tack which is suitable and has been recently (within the last 6 months) fitted to him by a saddler
• A back treatment if he would normally have one as part of his routine care
• Recently shod (within the last 6 weeks)
• Wormed (within the last 10 - 13 weeks)

What should I bring for the trial period?

• A bridle for dressage and jumping - two bridles if necessary
• A GP saddle for ridden work - two if using a Dressage saddle and a GP for jumping
• A fleece, a stable rug, light weight turnout rug and a medium turnout rug
• Own hard feed if he requires specialised concentrates

All new horses are ridden by the equine staff team and then gradually introduced to the equine students for riding sessions if appropriate. The horse is continually assessed during the month’s trial to ensure he is suitable for the riders' needs and to ensure he is adjusting to college life. The horse’s tack will be assessed for its suitability and fit. The owner will be involved in all suggested tack alterations.

The Equine Centre and curriculum staff teams will review the horse near the end of his trial period to confirm if he will be offered a placement. Owners will be contacted once a decision has been made. Please note all owners are welcome to visit and ride their horse during the trial period if they wish to do so.

What happens next?

If your horse is successful then he will be accepted from early September for the academic year. You will pay an annual fee and, in return, the Equine Centre team will ensure all of the horse’s needs are taken care of (e.g dentistry, wormers, saddlery, physiotherapy treatments, vaccinations and three rugs washed).

Please note: during term breaks (e.g. Christmas, Easter and the summer holiday) all loan horses will be returned to their owners. An Equine Centre staff member will make regular contact with you to update you on your horse's progress and to share information such as term closures, etc.

Contact us

If you feel your horse may be suitable as a loan horse, please email the Equine Centre Team at equinecentre@wcg.ac.uk