The History of ISEC

The riding centre started with Dryden Riding Centre. Nearly 40 years ago Jenny Stark started to offer riding lessons at her family home, Dryden, using a handful of highland ponies that were primarily used by the Riding for the Disabled Association. When Ian Stark’s eventing career took off and children arrived, Jenny handed the business over to her sister Catriona (Tutti) McAulay. The business was run very successfully by Tutti for 25 years, with the support of their mother Jean McAulay, until Tutti’s very sad death in 2005 from cancer. The same disease struck Jean a year later and Jenny, in the worst of circumstances, found herself back at the helm of the riding school business.

From 2006 Jenny ran the riding school from the same premises at Dryden, but as Ian and Jenny settled into their farmhouse home at Greenhill – just over the hill – they realised the scope available to them. They started to dream about creating a brand new facility that would allow them to grow the business and offer the Scottish Borders a high quality equestrian venue for competition and training. It was also important for them to give something back to the community – local and equestrian – who had supported Ian so loyally throughout his eventing career.

So on a hot summers day in June 2013 you might have seen 40 horses and ponies walking quietly over the hill from Dryden to their new home, the Ian Stark Equestrian Centre at Greenhill. It was time for a new chapter.