Wimbledon Village

[Scootster]

Hi everyone I am fairly new to riding in London and have tried a few schools in London, Lee Valley and had one hack at Wimbledon V stables. I was wondering if anyone had any feedback about the Wimbledon stables as you have to become a member to take full advantage of what the stables has to offer. And it's quite a hefty joining fee.

Is anyone a member? I liked it there but I am a bit road shy as I had a bad road accident when I was young (horse went mad and got thrown on road - horse then ran off down main road - but we lived to tell the tale).

I keep worrying about the road factor at WVS. I guess I have to get over the fear.

Like many people here I am doing the rounds looking for that perfect stables. Lee Valley is great (very very friendly place) But I want to hack out more and so a bit of dressage....:)

[Santorium]

Have you tried Barnfield yet?

[Scootster]

No I haven't is that Kingston way?

[Santorium]

It's in Richmond. They're dead friendly and do hacks in Richmond park and Wimbledon :)

[Scootster]

Do you have their web address, I just did a search and they came up as in Chigford. I'll look at BHS site.

Thanks for that.

[Santorium]

It's:

http://www.barnfieldriding.co.uk/

I went for a look-see recently very welcoming, and the tuition looked really good too.

[Scootster]

Should be Chingford - man I can't spell today.

[Scootster]

Thanks for the link - they do look good. I think I will go down one weekend. Where do you ride at the mo?

[Santorium]

The horses are really well looked after too - just be careful of the white one. It's a bit feisty!

I ride with a friend of mine who teaches me.

[Scootster]

Cool - I'll watch out for the white one ;) .....

[Lovecat]

Barnfield in Chingford is where I ride - there's good hacking but you have to do about 20mins roadwork to get to it, so it's probably not for you?

Cathy:D

[Scootster]

I was wondering what stables you went to as you said you were in East London.

The horse you share looks lovely. I really like this horse at Lee Valley but they don't do part shares (like some stables do).

Scoots

[Lovecat]

Thanks, Scoots:D

I've never come across this sharing thing anywhere else, either. A lot of people in nearby yards are very sniffy about it and say that the YO's making easy money off us, getting us to pay to ride horses that are tired after the day's lessons, but I don't think they do more than an hour or so during the week and 2 hours max on Sunday morning, one of which is a lead rein session for kids - certainly I've never felt that Pride's tired during one of our rides.

Cathy:D

[Pollski]

Hi Scootster !

Well greetings from Centrally East London !

I go to Trent Park (on the Piccadilly line) very close to Enfield and it's absolutely marvellous. Beautiful horses (around 100 to play around with of differing standards). Lessons are great and they do good dressage/cross country/show jumping lessons too.

They have super livery facilities and their hacking is totally free of any road work.

http://www.trentpark.com/TPEC/Content/About.asp

Keep us posted.

xPx

[Scootster]

I was going to try out Trent Park and made an appointment, then forgot.....so I am hoping the next time I call them they won't remember. Sometimes I get too much work on and forget everything.

Thanks for the feedback. Do you do dressage?

[Pollski]

an ickle little bit. I'm not good enough yet, but they have some superb horses to do dressage on.

Definitely go. You will certainly not be disappointed. We all make mistakes and forget things. Don't forget if you make another appointment, you'll be missing out as it's so good there.

I would recommend Kerry as a very good instructor. She's understanding, fun, patient and excellent at her job (mind you, all the instructors are brilliant there - I couldn't fault one if I tried). I had Kerry for a few private lessons so I feel my loyalty rests with her ! She's also got a babe of a horse called, funnily enough, Gorgeous!

Try a private lesson first, get the feel for the place and see where you want to go from there and make yourself familiar with the horses !

Good luck and hope everything goes well. Keep us posted.

xPx

[Scootster]

Thanks for the comments. Sounds good. I guess I'd like a place where you can do lots of things and there is a diverse mix of horses. Also, I know you can hack without having to go out on the roads which is good.

I'll let you know what I get up to!!!

Actually I am going to Wales next weekend for a mountain ride with TransWales trecks so that should be a laugh!

[Luda]

thank you Pollski...I was on here a while back trying to find somewhere to learn. After wasting lots of time at work researching various stables, Trent Park seemed the best for me (good price - tube accessible) so I just wanted to hear some personal feedback.

[Pollski]

Luda& Scootster,

I haven't been for a little while. The weather has been so hot and it seemed unfair to ride unless it was first thing in the morning.

Now that it's cooled down, I plan to get back as a matter of urgency !

It's literally 7 minute walk from Oakwood Station. Driving there is also easy, as long as you don't go through Wood Green which is a nightmare any time after 11.00am.

There are some lovely horses there from naughty Cobs, Welshies, Fjords, Warmbloods, TBs, TB IDx, ID Shirex and 1 absolute babe called Guinness who is pure Shire and an 18hh softie. He has the most beautiful canter (he only does hacks as he's too big for school to do lessons). I actually love him to bits and would quite happily take him home with me to EC1 !

The horses and ponies are beautifully kept, although the only thing that slightly upsets me is that the horses don't get a chance to be put out at night - but they do have more fisticuffs than the ponies (the ponies are put out to grass each evening - that's what I was told). They do get horsey holidays though at the farm next door for two weeks at a time every couple of months to let them 'chill out'. Some of the horses are rescue cases so TP do do their bit for saving horses from a lifetime of suffering or having to be destroyed (poor Guinness was in a terrible state before being rescued by TP) YAYYYY - 10/10 for TP !!!

Keep us posted. I promise you won't be diappointed.

xPx

[Scootster]

Sounds like great stuff. I'd love to sit on the big horse! If I didn't have a lesson booked for tomorrow at Lee Valley I'd go down there.

I did my MA down at Cat Hill in electronic arts (I am a fellow webby) so I know the area fairly well.

Thanks for all your positive feedback.

I live in NW1 so it's great to hear back from another central rider.

[Scootster]

Hi Pollski

Have you been to Trent Park lately?
:D

[Scootster]

I am going to go there for a lesson as I am having a lot of problems finding a stable that I can get to - and enjoy....I think Suzanne's was really nice but I don't think I can get there on a regular basis as it's too darn far.

[Jodie & Ru]

Lovecat, where is the stables you ride at in Chingford? Reason being i keep my horse at a stables in Bexley, Kent, but my boyfriend lives in Highams Park and I was looking for stables over in that direction last weekend.

Thanks

[Lovecat]

Jodie,

I've PMed you with details.

Cathy:D