Exercise Ring Within Belvoir Castle Stable Yard

The exercise ring within Belvoir Castle Stable Yard is an important structure for horse training, built around 1819. It is made of brick, partly rendered, and features a Collyweston slate roof. The ring is circular, measuring 3 metres (12 feet) wide, and encloses a central space with a diameter of 6.5 metres (20 feet). The inner wall is solid brick, while the outer wall is timber framed with brick cladding below and open timberwork above, consisting of posts with three connecting rails. There are two doorways leading into the ring from the stable yard, with planked doors secured by strap hinges, and two additional doorways to the inner circle. The roof is constructed with curved common rafters and cambered collars for each pair. This exercise ring could accommodate 20 horses at a time, allowing grooms to ride without feeling dizzy. It is likely the earliest free-standing structure of its kind in England and holds significant historical value in the context of hunting, forming part of an intact stable complex.