History

Lower Stonehouse Farm

The farm lies on a southward-facing slope of the valley where the River Trent rises with a never-failing spring which provides water. The hill rising behind the farm has provided stone for the house and farm buildings, as well as for dry stone walls. Below the house, the stone walls are replaced by hedges. If you believe hedges have one species for every century, some of the hedges are several hundred years old!

Trees line the banks of the streams that flow down through the farm to the bottom of the valley. These streams and woodland form a small nature reserve containing a wide variety of wildlife.

The sheltered aspect, supply of building materials and abundant water has led to the site being inhabited for at least seven hundred years, possibly longer. Originally it comprised some hundred acres but over the years fields have been sold and Lower Stonehouse Farm now only owns 39 acres.

The attractive stone range of farm buildings on one side of the yard was probably built in the 18th Century. Much of the original woodwork in lofts and roof is still in place. For much of its history, the farm was a dairy farm.

The medieval stone house probably consisted of a cellar (used for storage), ground floor and loft. A few vestiges remain. The house was rebuilt and extended in the early 17th Century. This part has half-timbered internal walls (these were plastered over in the middle of the 20th Century to make them look modern - how fashions change!). It was extended in the 18th Century and again in the 20th Century. Both the house and the farm buildings are Grade 2* listed.

Our ongoing plan for upgrading facilities so they are suitable for the 21st Century but still in keeping with the character of the site, is taking this small moorland farm with its long history into a new phase.

Courses for Horses

Courses for Horses was set up by Mary in February 1994 when she was already a fully-fledged and experienced BHSAI. To start with, she taught adults only. This was mainly on their own horses, since otherwise there were only three family horses and one working livery available. Stable management courses were put on, when clients sat on straw bales in the tackroom as there was no lecture room! The only arena was 18 x 38m., originally made for family use out of a football pitch..

In 1996, Courses for Horses became a BHS Approved Riding School and in 2000 an BHS Approved Training Centre up to the BHSAI Certificate, the only Centre of this level in the area.

In 1998 a second outdoor arena was built and this became an indoor arena in 2004. From the turn of the century, we have offered lessons for children. Another change has been the demand for lessons from adult beginners who benefit greatly from the one-to-one tuition.

We run many more courses, including some devised by us through awareness of our clients' needs or by their request.

The intimate scale of the farm and the amount of 1: 1 or small group training means that clients feel welcome and quickly at home.

Our twelve high-grade Monarch stables are now in use and there will soon be an larger lecture room to cater for the expansion of the business. Next in line is a larger, warm viewng gallery, completed in time for the winter. A 30 x 40 m. outdoor arena with a permanent set of showjumps is already on the drawing board for next year.