Hurstpierpoint College | Equestrian outdoor education

Equestrian

At Hurst our Equestrian opportunities are expanding and there is something for everyone, whatever the discipline, from beginners up.

We have a team of around 40 pupils who represent the College in the equestrian disciplines of Show Jumping, Dressage, Eventing and Polo at local and national competitions, including the National Schools Equestrian Association (NSEA) Championships.

Training

As part of the school week, we offer weekly training sessions at Hickstead during the summer months and at Hascombe Equestrian indoor venue in the winter. International show jumper Brian Cassidy and international eventer Harriet Upton are our team trainers.

Competitions

Our teams work hard throughout the year to qualify for National Schools Championships, held at Keysoe Equestrian each October, the Eventer’s Challenge and the Elite National Schools Show Jumping Championships held at Hickstead in May and August respectively.

Pupils who are interested in representing the College in the equestrian team, must have their own, or be able to loan, a horse/pony. To compete in a NSEA competitions they must be registered as a Hurst pupil with the NSEA.

CCF Equestrian Team

Hurst’s CCF Equestrian team took part in the military service competition at the Royal Windsor Horse Show for the first time in 2023 and won the unmounted category. They were presented their awards by the Duke of Edinburgh and the King of Bahrain.

Student, Harriet B won the leading cadet of the year in 2022.

Residential Camp

Hurst Equestrian hosted its first residential camp in April 2023. The residential was a four-day camp at Hickstead Showground from Friday through to Monday. 11 Hurst Equestrian students and their horses stayed and had a variety of different activities to revel in, including training across the disciplines and talks on various equestrian topics.

Hickstead

We have close links with the world-famous All England Jumping Course, Hickstead, taking pupils on trips during the Derby Show and have sponsored the National Schools, Pony Club and NSEA Show Jumping Championships in August, since 2009. These links have grown as we now host our weekly training sessions here in the summer months.

Each year we host our annual Invitational Schools Show Jumping Competition at Hickstead.

Hickstead.co.uk