💜💜💜 The end of an era.💜💜💜
It is with deep regret that I have to inform you that Contessa Riding Centre will be closing its doors from the 31st of March 2022. I know many of you will be shocked and saddened by this news. We have had many fulfilling and successful years and achieved a great deal in the equestrian world over this time, from starting with only one horse in the very early days! The last 18 months have been very challenging what with the Coronavirus, our downsizing and all the lockdowns we’ve had to deal with. But…..2021 has been a successful year for us as we won the Best Small Riding School in the UK that was sponsored by SEIB and with myself being awarded a Fellowship from the Association of British Riding Schools, also individuals having completed and won various dressage and vaulting competitions but as they say “all good things must come to an end”. At this point I would like to say a huge thank you to all staff past and present and all our wonderful friends, clients and students that have supported us over such a long period. And of course a huge debt to the wonderful horses that have been part of the Contessa Team, and special tributes must be made to Tessa, Pik Dame, Queijada, Buster, Lanzo, Quartz, Rendezvous, Worth-While, Apollo, Buna, Marietta and family, Palamos, Marcus, Deskant, Unico, Riacho, Xairel and many more, too many to mention but all valued members of the team. It has been wonderful to remember clients that came as children to ride Tessa (and others) now come back with their children and even grandchildren, I like to think that we have given many people the opportunity to start their Equestrian journey with us. This has been a very hard decision to make and has not been taken lightly as I’m sure you will all understand. The Vaulting Club will continue under the Contessa name, with Jamie Pinto. I will continue my freelancing and teaching clients on their own horses at Contessa. And we may continue running some of our clinics and hiring the facilities. So once again a huge thank you to everybody that’s been part of the Contessa family over so many years. Best wishes from Tina, Paul and Zak plus all of your four-legged friends. 🦄🐴🦄🐴🦄🐴
Tina Layton-Elliott FABRS, BHSI has competed to Grand Prix level and ridden internationally on her mare Pik Dame who she trained from a three year old to Grand Prix. She has always worked to a classical method of training that she works to instil in all her Instructors and students. The philosophy at Contessa is to strive to create harmony between horse and rider and to work as a partnership with the horse. As an Instructor and trainer, Tina has coached a huge number of riders, encouraging them all to work with their horse to achieve harmony and balance in the classical method. She has trained a great many students through their riding and teaching exams to the highest levels, including the dressage section of the BHS Fellowship. She was previously a BHS examiner, and currently examines for the ABRS to their ATD Exam - the top exam that they offer. Tina is also a UKCC level 3 Tutor in Sport, NVQ A1 assessor and was a BHS Riding and Road Safety trainer/ examiner. Tina has been training with Arthur Kottas, former First Chief Rider of the Spanish Riding School of Vienna, for over 20 Years.
