Arundel Riding Stables
Originally published Winter 2020, by Andy Davies
From its beginnings in a tack room to becoming one of Arundel’s longest lasting businesses, Arundel Riding Stables has been a feature of many residents lives for 60 years. Andy Davies visited to find out more about this extraordinary history and how they are coping with Covid 19.
MRS Joy Leggett was due to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Arundel Riding Stables this year, but, as with all of us, the Covid virus made its mark. So, unlike the 50th anniversary, there have been no celebrations and, worse still, Joy, known to all as Mrs Leggett or to family as “Froggie”, is now recuperating from a fall resulting in a fractured pelvis. Her youngest daughter, Alison, who now runs the yard, describes her Mum as, “not being out and about anymore” but still very “hands on.”
All of us have probably noticed the ponies and activity as we pass, but when Joy Leggett, nee Pealing, began the yard in 1960, this part of Arundel was very different. The only access to the yard was from Park Place and the land “almost all around was just fields”. Joy started the stables with two second-hand stalls, a feed room and a small tack room.
Surprisingly, Mrs Leggett’s parents had “nothing to do with horses whatsoever.” At the age of ten she desperately wanted riding lessons but her mother would have “nothing to do with it”, so she started making little bits of jewellery, which her father paid for, “apparently selling them to work colleagues!’ This enabled the “very determined” young Joy to have lessons. She financed the purchase of her first horse by working as a solicitor’s secretary in Worthing.
Joy was living with her parents in the Arundel area, but she decided to move into the little tack room in what was the knackers yard in Fitzalan Road where her horse, Betty Lou – who produced four generations of stable ponies- was kept. From here she cycled daily to Worthing. As can be gathered, she literally “lived for ponies” from a very young age. Later Joy was able to buy the beautiful 48 Maltravers Street. She was painting the outside one day when a local man, a Mr Leggett from Park Bottom, stopped to talk to her, ‘and that later turned out to be her husband!’
The couple had three children (all Mullets) before, sadly, Mr Leggett died in 1966. Mrs Leggett was now a single mum of three young children, Jeremy, Nichola and Alison, the youngest at 2, and also ran a riding stable. While her husband had ‘not been interested in horses whatsoever” as soon as the children were old enough, they were all expected to be involved. As Nichola remembers, “If you didn’t muck out your three stalls before breakfast and school you knew all about it!’ Both Nichola and Alison still live in Arundel. Nichola keeps a Rory, Alison and Verity horse in the stables while Alison, despite being destined to be a nun according to her grandmother, now runs the yard. It has grown to twenty-two stalls and an indoor riding arena. Jeremy lives in Lewes and has recently been awarded an MBE for services to charity.
Alison and her eldest child Rory showed me scrapbooks telling the history of the stables, which have been a source of a great deal of pleasure to thousands of children and adults over the years. There were early photos of Arundel families having lessons; pictures of Princess Anne visiting the stables for the 35th anniversary of the Arundel RDA (Riding for the Disabled) group; various charity events, and much more. These pictures clearly tell the story of a vibrant community, one which reflects a great deal of work, love and passion. Alison tells me there are children learning at the school today who are accompanied by their grandparents who also learnt there.
The RDA group, which has been running for 40 years, is one of the many charity groups which Mrs Leggett and later Alison, have given a great deal of time and support to. It is sadly not running at the moment as many of the disabled and volunteer helpers are in the “vulnerable” category. As Alison says: “This is such a shame as these are the happiest and loveliest people you could possibly imagine and the lady who runs it now is amazing. One of the pupils Mum taught went on to represent Britain at the disabled championships in Germany!’
Thousands of pounds have been raised by the stables for various charities over the years, one highlight being £2,500 in 2010 for the Chestnut Tree Hospice.
In recent years the stable has competed at the British Horse Society National Riding School Championships. They have won in all 3 age group sections and in 2014 won the overall team award. Considering how many riding schools there are in England, this is an amazing achievement.
Alison has three children, Rory, Ivan- studying veterinary science – and Verity, who does eventing.
Mrs Leggett’s family nick name ‘Froggie’ came about because as a small child Rory was not able to say Grandma but instead said “Froggie’ and it stuck! Rory himself is, quite literally, “horse-bred”. As an infant he used to be placed in a child’s cage in the yard. This way he was able to be fully involved with everything, including the stable hens who used to join him for meals by poking their heads through the bars! Perhaps unsurprisingly, Rory is now a qualified instructor and works full time at the yard.
Alison is also a qualified instructor and for many years has taught countless enthusiasts. She has also achieved considerable success at carriage driving.
With the infamous Eric, she twice won the National Championship single handed event. With Prince Philip in her team, she also represented Great Britain- twice winning Royal Windsor. Prince Philip had to come to her rescue on one occasion when Eric was misbehaving during the winner’s award ceremony! She also modestly recounts attending Prince Philip’s driving retirement party and his 90th. birthday celebration at Windsor. When asked by the Prince ‘Why aren’t you carriage driving anymore? ‘Alison explained that she now had three children, his forthright retort being: “Carriage 22 driving is much easier!’
Which brings us to 2020. Alison has a reduced staff of three and two freelancers. During the lock down all staff were furloughed, and the twenty horses were maintained solely by Alison’s family. All three children were fully involved, including Ivan, who swapped a gap year in Thailand for picking up horse poo!
For Mrs Leggett, there are so many memories. Alison says: ‘It’s such a shame. We’ve reached 60 years and there’s nothing we can do to celebrate. We don’t know what impact Covid will have- after all, riding is a luxury.” Three horses have already gone to good homes, leaving seventeen and an uncertain future. She added: ‘I’d like to say a personal thank you to all the staff, who have been amazing over the years. A lot of them started riding with us as children, several started working here straight from school and were trained by us. Some went away to college and then came back to work here. They are all very much a part of the family”.
Having given so much pleasure to so many, and having achieved so much, it would be very sad if Arundel was to lose this valuable, unsung jewel.