The Wimbledon Village Stables is a multi-award winning equestrian centre that offers a range of activities: horse riding clubs, lessons, and social events. Operating in the suburban area of Wimbledon, COVID forced the stables to close temporarily but, since reopening, the business has flourished!

 

The stable describes their day-to-day functioning as "a livery yard and riding school. We teach people how to ride and also take people out on hacks- leisurely, recreational rides. Because the horses are animals, we're very strict about the amount of work they do- we're very concerned with the horses' welfare.".

 

However, integrating the horses into the urbanised area of Wimbledon has not always been easy: "The traffic is a problem, but Merton [Council] has been very good in that they have reduced the speed limit in a lot of the areas around the village. Also, Merton put in a horse crossing on the high street up by the Rose and Crown [a pub in Wimbledon]. " Building works have also proven somewhat of a challenge: "Here the Dog and Fox [a pub and hotel in Wimbledon] did a massive development which was quite challenging. Due to scaffolding, there was only a car's width to get the horses in and out of the stables. Also, the horses didn't like the building noise- that really affects them. But, because the stable has been here for so long, even though it's an urban environment we are able to deal with it and it works."

 

Whilst COVID has hit many other industries- including other stables- very hard, Wimbledon Village Stables has been remarkably able to prosper: "We are actually busier since COVID! A lot of people have taken a step back and thought about their priorities and, because people had a forced break from their day-to-day running around, they decided they've always wanted to go riding. When we reopened again [after lockdown] we had lots of enquiries from people wanting to come riding. As have many riding centres, we have a waiting list now." From a legal standpoint, the equestrian industry has been fortunate as well: "Outdoor sport was one of the first things to be allowed- we were obviously very lucky from that." However, the stables did have to make some concessions due to COVID: "We've had to change a lot of what goes on here: we're only offering riding on the horses to experienced, adult riders who can ride in a group."

 

One of the best ways to support the stables is to attend one of their many exciting charity events. For instance, in September, they hold a fancy-dress ride/parade of the horses to raise money for charity. Furthermore, the stables help with Wimbledon Village events like the Christmas fair and summer equestrian displays. Of course, due to COVID, these events are not fully confirmed. However, there's a lot to look forwards to: "This week we're tentatively starting to put dates on the calendar which should all be on the website by the end of the week." Follow this link to access the stable's website: Home | Wimbledon Village Stables (wvstables.com).

 

Decisively, Wimbledon Village Stables has spun straw into gold with the COVID pandemic- prospering their business and providing top quality equestrian experiences. Inextricable with Wimbledon Village, the stable provides a much-needed sanctuary from the chaotic busyness of urban life.