ABOUT OUR CLUB
Welcome to the University of Essex Equestrian & Polo Club! š“
Whether you’re an experienced rider or just starting out, we’re here to support your equestrian journey and help you connect with others who share your passion for horses.
Equestrian
Riding with us offers a great way to stay fit, relax, and develop your skills. From mastering the basics of walking and trotting to advancing to canter, pole work, and jumping, we offer something for every level.
All our lessons take place in safe, enclosed sand arenas at two fantastic teaching locations. Plus, if you join one of our teams, you’ll get the exciting opportunity to visit other universities, ride different horses, and experience new facilities!
Location
For those completely new to riding, we hold beginners lessons at Brook Farm Stables in Alresford. You can get here by catching the 74 bus towards Wivenhoe at 50 minutes past the hour or the 78X at 20 minutes past. The journey takes around 15 minutes from South Courts.
For those with a bit more experience, we have dressage and show jumping lessons on alternate weeks at the Hemps Green Equestrian Centre. The journey is around 30 minutes by car, but transport will be provided for these lessons.
Got questions? Reach out to our friendly president at ec23438@essex.ac.uk or drop us a message on Instagram (@essexbladesequestrian)!
Polo
Interested in polo? Whether you’re new to the sport or have some experience, we offer lessons for all levels at an affordable rate of £50 for beginners.
Location
Polo lessons take place every Saturday (depending on numbers) at Silver Leys Polo Club in Hertfordshire. We provide transport for a small minibus fee, typically included in your ticket price.
We also compete in the national university polo tournaments, Winter SUPA and Summer SUPA, held at venues like Onley Equestrian Centre and Lemington Spa. Whether you’re playing or just supporting, these events are a highlight of the year.
GET STARTED
Ready to join the club? Here’s what you need to know. To become a member, just sign up and choose the membership that suits you best—details on what each option covers are listed below. By signing up, you’re agreeing to follow our club’s code of conduct.
If you’re interested in training or learning to ride, you don’t need any special gear. You can easily hire boots and a helmet at our training centres, but feel free to bring your own if you prefer.
If you’re aiming to join one of our teams, you’ll need full show gear. This includes a shirt, tie or stock, jacket, white or cream jodhpurs, boots, helmet, body protector, and a whip.
Please note that your membership information will be used in conjunction with Essex Sport (University of Essex) purely for the purpose of providing access to required facilities and data analysis. Your data will not be shared with anyone else or used for marketing purposes. Memberships are uploaded to the Essex Sport system manually and so it may take up to 5 working days before you are able to book onto your session via the Essex Sport app and attend training sessions.
Should you have any problems please email blades@essex.ac.uk
TRAINING TIMES
- Wednesday: Hemps Green Equestrian Pre-BUCS
- Wednesday: Brooke Farm Stables
- Saturday: Silverleys Polo Club