Horses on Tooting Common?
Back in the noughties, while walking to school across Tooting Common, I noticed a sand horse riding arena next to Tooting Bec Rd. There was even a special button for horse riders at the pedestrian crossing by the athletics track. Oddly enough, I never saw a single horse in the common, and as far as I know, there weren’t any stables in the area.
Does anyone know why the horse-related infrastructure was put in place without any horses? Or maybe there were horses that I just never spotted? I believe the riding arena is no longer there, and all that remains is a slightly sandier patch of grass where it used to be. It’s a long shot, but I’d love to hear if anyone has insights about this!
That’s an interesting question! Tooting Common has a history that dates back quite a while, and horse riding was more popular in the past. The sand riding arena you mentioned may have been installed to facilitate riding activities, even if there weren’t many horses around. Sometimes, facilities are built with the hope of encouraging more activities, and it’s possible that the local community just didn’t take full advantage of the horse infrastructure.
It’s also worth considering that some horse owners may have traveled to ride there from nearby stables that are not immediately in the area or maybe they used it for riding lessons. Over time, as urban development has changed the landscape, the popularity of horse riding may have diminished, leading to the removal of the arena.
If you’re curious, local historical societies or community groups might have more information about the use of that space over the years. It’s always interesting to learn about the hidden histories of our local areas!