History was made at Ampleforth College recently when two students took part in the first ever Dressage Demonstration at the school’s annual Exhibition Weekend.
The Ampleforth College Equestrian Team has enjoyed a number of successes in recent months, including at the National Schools Equestrian Association competitions.
Equestrianism is just one of the 50 extra-curricular activities available to students at the College and provides a unique opportunity for students to take part in riding and Polo lessons; those who live locally with their own horses can also represent the College in Dressage, Show Jumping and Eventing competitions.
Set in one of North Yorkshire’s Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Ampleforth is the UK’s largest and most forward-looking Benedictine community.
The Benedictine monastery at Ampleforth is a centre for spirituality, education, pastoral work and evangelisation with the Ampleforth Abbey visitor centre welcoming its 60,000th visitor in May 2016 following the Abbey Church receiving Grade I listed status in March this year.
Ampleforth was established in 1802 when the monks returned to England following a 200-year exile in France following the dissolution of the monasteries by Henry VIII.
The famous Abbey orchard now has some 2,000 trees and more than 40 varieties of apples, some of which are used to make the famous Ampleforth Abbey Cider and Apple Liqueur.
The Abbey also started selling Ampleforth Abbey Beer in 2012. Derived from a 17th century recipe in the Belgian Trappist style, the beer is brewed in partnership with local brewery Little Valley Brewery.
