THE new owners of a former North Yorkshire training yard have built a cross-country course for public use.

Langdale Hall, near Melsonby, Richmond, takes in both riding for pleasure horses and racehorses.

Manager Susan Balshaw says there has already been a lot of interest in the new course, which was built by Bill Watt and includes a water complex into the lake.

It held an August open day to show what was on offer and she was very disappointed when a British Horse Society qualifier, due to be held on Sunday, was cancelled through no fault of the management.

All the fences have take-off and landing pads to ensure some consistency in the going and to alleviate the problem of rough and slippery ground.

The stables have facilities to take racehorses at all stages of their development, with 40 boxes in two purpose-built yards set in the 120-acre grounds.

It has six furlongs of all weather and a mile of grass gallops, a 20m lunging ring, horse walker and indoor schooling which doubles as a play pen for liberty.

Among its services are breaking, schooling, show preparation, rehabilitation after injury and even a retirement home.

An experienced horsewoman and teacher, Miss Balshaw added: "Langdale estate is a real passion to me. It is of outstanding natural beauty and has a great deal to offer horse owners whatever their chosen equestrian path."