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 Hascombe Equestrian and on special occasions train at Hickstead. International show jumper Ashley Boyce 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 Addington 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.
Hurst also host an inter-schools showjumping competition each September at Hickstead.
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.
There will be another in 2025.
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
Hascombe
In 2024, Hurst opened stables at Hascombe Equestrian Centre, set in the Heart of the South Downs National Park. Nine ponies and horses are supervised by experts in the equestrian profession and, along with their riders, benefit from some of the best training facilities of any equestrian school team in the country. From rehabilitation and indoor exercise areas to sand schools and show venues, the opportunities at Hascombe are extremely exciting for the future of equestrian at Hurst.