RICHMOND Equestrian Centre has been given the all clear two months after an outbreak of the highly infectious strangles disease.

Owner Nick Marlowe said: "The centre is very definitely open for business. We have now had all the animals on the yard tested and have had no new cases since mid-June.

"The past couple of months have been extremely tough for everyone concerned here and we are all delighted we can now put them behind us."

Thanking all the liveries for their patience, he said they would be receiving a certificate from Swale Vets to show their horses had tested negative.

The centre will officially re-open for business next weekend with a Trailblazers show jumping weekend on August 3 and 4.

The horse trials season follows on with a one-day event and a Winergy young event horse qualifier on August 10, which is also the weekend of a two-day event. Saturday includes dressage and show jumping and the Sunday will be cross-country, a steeplechase and two trots.

The one and two-day events are being sponsored by Champion, riding hat and body protector manufacturers.

In addition, the centre is running its first affiliated horse trials on August 18 and will also be holding the final of the British Horse Society national cross-country championships in early September.