Riding Schools - Manchester?

[BornAgainRider]

Hi all, im new to the forum. Used to ride loads when I was younger and really want to start up again. Went riding on the weekend with a friend in Richmond Park, London and I am sold, it was fantastic if a little hairy! Really want to get back into it and would ideally like a riding school to be recommended...:)

Can anyone help?

[loopyh]

whereabouts in Manchester?

[BornAgainRider]

Hi Loopy. I live in Didsbury, South Manchester but would be happy to travel a reasonable distance as I have a car.. Just would like a reputable school, I have been to Carrington before and wasnt particularly impressed?

[loopyh]

Only school I have ridden at is Glen Jakes in Stockport you can find it on yellow pages. They were very friendly and very competent - I would certainly go again. The other place I ride is Wythenshawe park - they don't do lessons but they do hacks - can't remember if its half and hour or an hour but even if your still at the just walking stage you can go along - they will lead if need be and are very friendly.

[BornAgainRider]

Thanks Loopy. I am pretty confident in riding, happy cantering etc just not really into jumping. Looking at doing a share I think but wanted to get a few lessons in first to make sure I am up for the challenge. I have read not great reviews about Glen Jakes but if you have been that is better... Will continue to have a look around!

Thanks again...:D

[loopyh]

Just a thought if you don't get any more suggestions from New Rider but if you go on the Manchester City web site and go to Wythenshawe Park you'll find the web site for the riding stables there - if you e-mail them they might suggest riding schools - I think the lady who runs it recommended a place in Mobberley but I can't remember the details - if you don't fancy e-mailing let me know as I'm going to Wythenshawe at the weekend.

[Marmite]

Is Lowton too far away for you? Its a village/town in between manc and liverpool if you don't know it :) Theres a few riding centres round here, I go to Lowton Riding Centre, which only does flat work, not much jumping, but I thinkis good. Also theres Croft Riding Centre, which i'm not going to comment on in this reply (pm if you want details, im not saying anything on a public thread), Heybrook riding centre which was Okish the last time i went there, Deandane, which my friend went to and found good, or Bold Heath, which I have no idea about lol.

Hope this helps, even slightly!

[LesleyR]

Well I don't know where Marmite is coming from but I would highly recommend Croft - they have good facilities and excellent horses none of which are riding school plods. All are capable of doing a decent dressage test and can jump

This is a link to their new website

http://www.croftridingcentre.co.uk/

[Marmite]

Ok, so maybe positive comments on Croft were lacking in my reply. The facilities are good.

[BornAgainRider]

Thanks everyone, now I am completely confused :) doesnt take much!
I have found one in Alderly Edge called Finlow Hill Stables? Any of you heard of them. I will have a look at the croft website. Dont really want to do jumping at this stage, im happy with hacking out and a few lessons to boost my confidence.

[Marmite]

good luck wherever you end up!!! :)

[berries]

Hi, my daughter and I both ride at Mobberley Riding school just outside Wilmslow. The teaching standard is good and they have a good range of horses depending on your ability. Most of the RI are easy to chat to, so if you think there's a specific problem they can help you work on it. They don't do hacking out. They have 2 indoor school and 2 outdoor, but imo the outdoor school are sometimes a bit small if the lesson is full. The only fault I have with them is that they allow up to 10in a lesson, which I think is too much, should restrict it to 8. Having said that, many of the adults lessons only have 7 in anyway (I ride during the week so it is quieter then)

Haven't ridden at Finlow Hill but know quite a few who do. Less busy than Mobberley, and I think they do allow hacking (but wouldn't swear to that).

Youcan PM me if you want any more info, but I will be away for the rest of the week so wont be answering before the weekend.

[camel]

I can reccomend Finlow Hill stables, used to go a few years ago - nice hacking too in the woods

Jane
xx

[BornAgainRider]

Thanks, I definitely do want to do hacking so i guess Finlow is looking good. I can get in a lesson with only 3 ladies tomorrow night but its valentines day isnt it and my OH is cooking - had best take him up on the offer!!!

Camel - can I ask where you ride now if you still do?

[camel]

Unfortunately I am to heavy now for Finlow Hill, not riding at the mo (7mths pregnant!) I last went to Cheshire riding school near northwich .. . preferred Finlow Hill though

Jane
xx

[Denbenj]

Hi, my daughter and I both ride at Mobberley Riding school just outside Wilmslow. The teaching standard is good and they have a good range of horses depending on your ability. Most of the RI are easy to chat to, so if you think there's a specific problem they can help you work on it. They don't do hacking out. They have 2 indoor school and 2 outdoor, but imo the outdoor school are sometimes a bit small if the lesson is full. The only fault I have with them is that they allow up to 10in a lesson, which I think is too much, should restrict it to 8. Having said that, many of the adults lessons only have 7 in anyway (I ride during the week so it is quieter then)

Haven't ridden at Finlow Hill but know quite a few who do. Less busy than Mobberley, and I think they do allow hacking (but wouldn't swear to that).

Youcan PM me if you want any more info, but I will be away for the rest of the week so wont be answering before the weekend.


I can second Mobberley, they also have a good website, I also used to work there few years ago now.

Berries, do they still have any of the following horses they were my favourites. Jacob,Jigsaw,Apple,Taxro,Hugo

thanks x

[Bertie]

Hi bornagain,

I'm not far from you at all and have heard excellent things about Finlow Hill, teaching and horses are excellent :) I personally like Bank Farm in Poynton and have been riding there now for 5-years and found it to be a great place, at time frustrating with over crowded lessons but on the whole a really nice bunch of people working there and the people I ride with on are a great laugh and we all generally come out with only our tummies hurting due to laughing so much during our lessons :)

Manchester equestrian centre in Urmstone and North Cheshire both are just off the M60 and I think it is Manchester that has recently in the past year or 2 re-opened as a riding school, Ashton old hall in sale is meant to be good as well, then you have the likes of Godley Stud in Hyde - never been so can't comment on that one, Ryders in Kearsley near Swinton. there's also Mill Farm and B1st going towards High Lane in Stockport - not heard good things about these but doesn't mean there not good as I haven't been so can't really make personal judgment.

Good luck in finding somewhere though :)

[L34NN3]

Finlow Hill is far from good. There are very few facilities (outdoor arena which is very boggy at this time of the year) and the horses are stabled 24/7 as there is very little turnout!! The hacking is nice but you have to ride along a very busy windy country lane to get to it which isn't great.

The best stable I have been to in the area is Bank Farm in Poynton. They have a large indoor and outdoor arena, there are cross country jumps (though I know you said you didn't like jumping) and the hacking is all off road - just cross a quiet little lane and down some horse steps and you are on the middlewood way bridle path. The instructors are good and you can participate as much (or as little) as you like in the tacking up, grooming etc (though they by no means expect it). The lessons are nice and structured too. Oh and they do things like fun rides and BBQ rides in the summer. They also do courses for kids where during the summer holidays they can "own" their favourite horse for the day and have a lesson, a hack and theory lessons as well as lessons in mucking out, tack cleaning and feeding.

I really can recommend it!! Directions are A6 through Stockport, through Hazel Grove, Right at the fork where the Rising Sun pub is. Follow it through into Poynton and at the crossroad with the church turn left. The road will fork and turn off to the left at this point. At the T junction turn left and the stables is about a quarter of a mile (or less) on your left.

Telephone number is 01625 872656 and for other reviews http://www.reviewcentre.com/reviews62198.html. Email me if you would like any more info.

[BornAgainRider]

Thank you all so much! I have just booked to go for a lesson this evening at 7pm at Bank Farm riding school, there are only going to be 5 people in the lesson so its all good.. im excited!

Thanks a lot for all of your help!
Amanda

[Star101]

Hi - I also live in Manchester and found it very difficult to find anywhere decent to take lessons.

Now I go to Cheshire Riding School

www.cheshireridingschool.co.uk

They are very friendly and have great horses.

Good luck!

[L34NN3]

why was my post deleted? I offered some good advice? so did the post before me - both mentioning Bank Farm... Did I say something wrong?

[BornAgainRider]

why was my post deleted? I offered some good advice? so did the post before me - both mentioning Bank Farm... Did I say something wrong?

I can still see your post - or was there another one?
I went to Bank Farm tonight - thanks for the directions! :D Had a lovely time although I felt a bit stupid, was on a horse called Cassie who just kept stopping and was hard work to keep going - my legs are killing now - think i will struggle to walk tomorrow! When do you ride there?

[L34NN3]

How odd. I can't see it at all. But can see my 2nd...

I'm not at Bank Farm any more. Used to ride there a couple of years ago (for about 15 years - since i was 10 ish). They tend to put you on the plodders for the first couple of lessons to see how you are and then move you onto ones with a bit more oomph if they think you are ok.

I've just got a horse on loan (Santa bought me the pony i've been after since i was 4!). He's stabled 5 mins away from me in Macclesfield. He's great!! If you wanted to arrange a hack at Bank Farm though I would def be up for it...

As for you legs hurting - use your whip!! lol. Its nicer for you and the horse - less frustrating and tiring for you and the horse isn't being booted in the ribs for an hour (try punching yourself in the ribs - it really hurts). Flaming riding school horses grrrr

[L34NN3]

Hmm I think it's my computer - can see the posts at work. How very odd. Not that I'm skiving of course...

The comment about a whip wasn't a critiscism by the way - we all know how much riding school horses can take the mick!