Top showjumping stable 30 minutes from London: Meet IN Showjumpers

Nestled in the Oxfordshire countryside, a stones throw from vibrant Central London yet surrounded by stunning parkland lies the historic base of the Wilks family for the past 8 generations. Welcome to Rose Lane Stables – the home of IN Showjumpers.

With 30 stalls, a showjumping ring, sprawling paddocks as far as the eye can see, and miles of trail riding in woodlands and parks, the stables are a mix of equestrian heritage and contemporary, horse-friendly design. You’ll find plenty to keep you occupied in this stunning setting – a few moments drive to the market town of Henley-on-Thames, and a short distance from the major British Shows, such as Hickstead, The London International Horse Show, and the Longines Global Champions Tour at the Royal Hospital, Chelsea.

The team here is headed up by Caroline Wilks – a woman with drive, energy and passion. With a background in finance, she has masterminded the innovative concept behind ‘IN Showjumpers’ over the last decade – a unique and entrepreneurial approach to producing horses for the top of the sport, whilst creating a return for investors. It’s a formula that works. The list of references from this stable is impressive – the likes of Inca Boy (Edwina Tops-Alexander), Super Sox (Lillie Keenan), Hello Vincent (Scott Brash) and L’artiste de Toxandria (Ioli Mytilineou).

Behind the success of these horses are two passionate riders with extensive experience. Tim Wilks, known for his meticulous style and feel, has represented both Great Britain and Canada at Nations Cup level on numerous occasions. His younger sister Anna began her career in the eventing world – winning a gold medal at the European Championships in the youth divisions, before making the switch to full-time showjumping. Her approach to producing young horses has become an invaluable asset to the team.

Anna heads up the business at home at the quiet sanctuary of calmness that is Rose Lane Stables. Training clients from the early hours of the morning before they commute into the city for work, sourcing lease horses for those with ambitions to compete in the international ring, and developing the young horses that are based here.

For the busy summer competition season, Tim bases himself from an idyllic stable in Normandy – close to the international show circuit to showcase the older horses within IN Showjumpers. A handful of training clients base here with him too – with easy access to the shows and an experienced team on hand, they have total peace of mind and the ultimate showjumping experience – a few minutes from the beach and the bustling town of Deauville.

With top class facilities close to the major hubs in Britain and Europe, and an industry-leading team- from farriers and vets to trainers and grooms- there is no stone left unturned. And it’s an outlook that spills over into their training clients too. A bespoke approach is taken to each individual to help them achieve their goals- whether that’s a weekend trail ride through glorious parkland, or a competition calendar filled with the best shows in Europe.