About Us
Devon Riding Holidays is a small family run centre located just outside Stoodleigh, Tiverton, in the heart of pretty Mid Devon just south of the Exmoor National Park.
Devon Riding Holidays is open for business all year round. The Centre also breeds and trains Dales Ponies, a rare native breed specifically bred for coping with all types of terrain.
Devon Riding Holidays is the ideal place to take your riding holiday as it combines breathtaking scenery, very varied riding through the forests, pretty Devon villages, quiet lanes and ‘the green lanes’ of rural Devon with the Dales pony and its unbeatable temperament. Dales ponies have the willingness needed to cope with the varied terrain and that priceless “safe” feel to enable you to trust your four legged partner to take you beyond your wildest expectations.
Devon Riding Holidays can offer holidays/short breaks for all abilities with the flexibility to tailor a holiday designed specifically for you. At our home ‘West Steart Farm’ we can offer you a mixture of lessons and treks, you can design your own programme, whilst our trail rides offer seasoned regular riders the excitement and challenge of riding through the beautiful surrounding countryside, stunning Exmoor National Park and delightful sandy beaches. There are 2 indoor training areas to be enjoyed for lessons and various fields on the farm for Trec lessons and cross country practise.
With the wealth of bridleways and routes on our doorstep, Devon Riding Holidays is a great place to spend your riding holiday. Spend as much time as you want in the saddle either by mixing riding lessons and trekking together to develop your skills or choose pure trekking and day trails. When you are not in the saddle, we have a host of other things for you to do to ensure your break is one of the most memorable holidays you will ever have!
Your Hosts
Zana Jackson
Zana with her Ryeland sheep
Married to Jim in 2004, wanted to share everything but his name. Born in Yorkshire and ran a previous centre in the pretty Yorkshire Dales. Met Jim at Warwickshire College where she studied for HND Horse Studies.
Worked in commercial riding schools, dressage yards and with racehorses. Trains and Examines students for Equestrian Tourism exams. Passion for Dales ponies, loves most breeds, all Natives, but also Thoroughbreds, Andalusians and Friesians. Enjoys dressage, Trec, riding at speed and journeying across country on horseback.
Jim Allen
Jim on Grace appreciating his favourite view, the gallops and hurdles
Works full time in the horse racing industry and helps out during his weekends on the farm. Passionate about horse racing, football, having a bet, a laugh and loves drinking wine! Born in London, trained in Warwickshire, Irish background with both parents from the West Coast of Ireland. Worked in racing yards, thoroughbred studs, thoroughbred sales and at racecourses. Thinks that thoroughbreds are the best creatures in the world, but that Dales ponies and mongrel dogs are a close second.
Supports Crystal Palace FC (don’t laugh!) and thinks that Cheltenham festival is all birthdays and Christmases rolled into one.
Alfie
Alfie - Head of Security
Best mongrel dog in the world. Born 2003 by emergency caesarian with only one other surviving sibling after his mum had been abandoned on the vets surgery doorstep. Re homed by an inner city Leeds rescue home and did he land on his feet!
His job title is “head of security” which he takes very seriously by making regular trips around the farm patrolling the boundaries, scouting ahead for any danger if accompanying the treks and generally chasing any crows, rabbits, pheasants, deer and foxes that look like they’re compromising the security of West Steart farm.
He is surprisingly tolerant of badgers, and we reckon that this must be because he looks similar to them, and will sit watching the resident badgers of West Steart farm. He is naturally wary of strangers, but once he knows you’re here to stay a while, will share his home and even give you an “alfie welcome” when you return from being out and may even sing to you in the evening. He may even take a treat from you, but don’t hold out, he’s very suspicious of food and lives believing that someone might be trying to poison him. He loves running long distances, sleeping and chasing things, and eating sausages and tuna and following Zana around the farm.
The horses and ponies
All are part of the family too, but they have their own page.