Hartpury Equine Academy

The Hartpury Equine Academy aims to support and develop high calibre riders seeking to build a competitive career in one of the four Olympic disciplines whilst continuing their academic education.

There are two levels within the Hartpury Equine Academy: the Elite Squad and the Development Squad.

The Elite Squad

There are a minimum of six places available in the Elite Squad and each member will receive the following support:

• Weekly training sessions with the Academy Director, Nick Burton
• 1:1 training sessions with Carl Hester or Nick Burton
• Regular training sessions with Academy Show Jumping Coach Corinne Bracken
• Assistance with planning competition schedule
• A designated DIY barn for Academy horses
• Support from the Hartpury Sports Academy Team which includes a physiotherapist, fitness coaches and nutritionists
• Use of Academy horse box to agreed scheduled competitions
• 1-1 sports psychology sessions available

The Development Squad

There are a minimum of twelve places available in the Development Squad and each rider will receive the following support:

• Weekly group training sessions with the Academy Director, Nick Burton or Academy Show Jumping Coach Corinne Bracken
• Assistance with planning a competition schedule
• A designated DIY barn for Academy horses
• Use of Academy horse box to agreed scheduled competitions

Applications to join the Elite Squad are invited from event riders who have competed successfully at CCI**/CIC** and above, dressage riders who have won points at medium level, para dressage riders who have competed internationally and showjumpers who have won money at 1.20m and above. Applications to join the Development Squad are invited from event riders who have competed at novice level and above, dressage riders who have won points at elementary level, para dressage riders who have competed successfully within their grade and showjumpers who have won money at BS 1.10m level and above.

Scholarships: A full scholarship place is offered to support a talented ‘Elite Squad’ young rider and their horse in each of the four disciplines of Dressage, Para Dressage, Showjumping and Eventing. The scholarship package could include Elite Squad support, your academic tuition fees paid for by us, free onsite accommodation for you and free DIY livery stabling for one horse.

The Foundation Squad

With the success of both the Elite and Development Squads over the past six years we are delighted to announce that Hartpury’s Equine Academy will offer a new level for 2011/12 - The Foundation Squad.  This new level aims to support promising riders who did not quite attain the level necessary to be selected for the Development Squad

There will be a minimum of sixteen places available in the Foundation Squad at the discretion of the Academy Director.  Promising students offered a place on the Foundation squad will undertake training and guidance on their quest to improve and move up the ranks in the Academy should places become available.  

Each rider will receive the following support:

• Weekly group training sessions with a competition coach / qualified instructor
• Assistance with planning a competition schedule

Places will be conditional upon riders who undertake the weekly training plus this can be supplemented with additional tuition each week from the competition coach / qualified instructor assigned to the Foundation Squad.