Riding yard devastated to shut after 10 years

Hazel Ackland said she was devastated to have made the decision to close her riding school

A horse riding school owner said she was "devastated" to be shutting the business down after almost 10 years due to rising costs.

Hill Farm Equestrian Centre in Chelmondiston, near Ipswich, will shut its riding school in October, but will remain open as a livery yard.

Owner Hazel Ackland said she had tried to cut costs where possible, even putting her own family's money into the business, but it was no longer sustainable.

She said it was an extremely hard decision to make, but the welfare of the horses and ponies had to come first.

Ms Ackland said she would be looking to rehome some of the ponies on the yard

"We knew at the end of last summer that we were facing difficulties; summer is generally when we make the money going into the winter," she explained.

"People are struggling to pay for lessons and pony days, but also the increased costs of feed, hay, the vet, farrier and wages."

Ms Ackland said the staff were being made redundant and some of the animals were being rehomed.

Many happy memories were made with her own children at the riding school, Ms Ackland said

Ms Ackland said the riding school had been "absolutely life changing" for her and her family over the years.

"There have been so many happy memories, the love for us on our Facebook page has been amazing," she said.

"From people coming for their first lesson to helping people buy their first pony.

"Thank you so much for all of your support... we're not in it to make money, we're in it for the sport and I am very fearful for the sport at the moment.

"How ever are people meant to get into riding without going to a riding school?"

She said some staff had gone on to work at "Olympic yards".

She encouraged people to support local riding schools where they could.