enlightened schools in surrey

[paula kemp]

does anybody know if there are any schools in surrey that teach/use enlightened equitation?

[kathyt1]

I would really like to know that as well! The nearest I have found is Cliff Hatch in Woking who teach classical riding and treat their horses as good friends rather than machines! I rode there for quite a few years and my riding did improve, especially after reading Heathers book etc and just incorporating her principals.

[CarolineH]

They're not EE, but I'm having lessons at Oldencraig Equestrian Centre, near Lingfield, and they've not so far come into conflict with any of the EE stuff I've been taught. I've improved massively in 3 months as well - probably due to them taking me back to basics and sticking me on the lunge for 7 weeks!

The only drawback is that they can be quite difficult to get hold of by phone, be prepared to leave a few answerphone messages before someone rings you back, but the facilities are fantastic, and so far the teaching's been top notch.

Caroline

[Kathy C]

Caroline if you don't mind me asking, who in particular can you recommend at Olcencraig, is it one instructor in particular or several? I'm also looking for a good riding instructor and I live very close to Oldencraig. I had riding lessons there years ago which were dire, but I know they've changed hands since then and I'm glad to hear that things have improved!

Kathy

[AJB]

Hey Kathy where in Surrey are you, I used to have Lessons at Oldencraig a few years ago and Like you they were dire!!-who did you used to ride???-I used to ride Jack? and a big dark bay called Galloway I think he was....

[Kathy C]

I live in South Godstone very near Lingfield. It's quite a few years ago now but I mostly used to ride Rosie who was sweet but understandably dead to the leg and sometimes Bayliss. I rode Flan once (he was huge!) and I learned the meaning of napping on CJ who used to trap my leg against the wall!

Kathy

[AJB]

Oh Kathy -small world-im in Hurst Green!!!-I too used to ride Rosie (she was the coloured mare?) she eventually went to Sweden with the Carlens, Bayliss? I think was Bailey he was ok with me and by spooky coincidence my own horse is called Bailey!!!...(must be a good Irish name!) and Flan, the huge Grey-he was retired with a big coloured called Mac when the yard was sold and now is living at a "blood farm" where they use them to take blood for horses having operations and they live in a huge herd aparantly-I used to work with the RDA so hence I know the fate of Flan, Rosie and Mac as they were horses we used!!!-I went back to a show to crew for a friend a few months ago and Bailey is still there...dont remember CJ though...where do you ride now???

[Kathy C]

Yes what a small world! It's really nice to know what happened to the horses and they didn't come to a sticky end. I think I only rode CJ once just before I gave up riding there, and can't remember much about him, I might even have got the name wrong as in Bayliss/Bailey. The only thing I can remember is that he had one blue eye I think. I rode for a while at Tandridge Priory and then at Only Foals and Horses, which I expect you know (being from Hurst Green!). I haven't ridden for quite a while as I've had a knee operation and I've got to wait another couple of months until I get the all clear to ride again.

Kathy

[AJB]

LOL im livery at Only foals!!-cant comment on the school or teaching though as I dont and havent had lessons.cant imagineit EE though!-who used to teach you?.. i rode at Tandridge for a while but only for hacking out!!!!....if you ever come back to Only Foals look me up!!!

[Kathy C]

I was taught my Lyn(nne)? Unfortunately it was nothing like EE and having had the good fortune to have attended one of Heather's courses and been taught by her anything other than EE comes a poor second! I don't suppose I shall go back there, I'm still searching for something closer to EE, however I've a feeling I might have met you already - I'll send you a PM.

Kathy

[CarolineH]

They're not really promoting themselves as a riding school any more, they only do private lessons and consider themselves a "training establishment" instead!

Baileys is still there :) I've been having lunge lessons on him, but I believe he's up for sale because they want to buy a couple more schoolmasters. They've got 4 or 5 retired-from-competition horses, all working to a minimum of Advanced (and a few who can do the whole range of Grand Prix movements), which they'll teach you on once you're good enough (I'm still getting there...!)

My instructor is Giles, who I find excellent - praise from him is very hard won, and he doesn't let me get away with a thing, if something's not perfect, we repeat the exercise until it is. He's got no time for those who aren't there to concentrate and work hard and will happily tell me off if my mind is wandering - exactly what I need at the moment! Sam is also very good, but she tends to get very booked up teaching the livery clients. Both of them compete regularly for the livery clients as well as riding.

Also, if you can afford it, the Olympic rider, Vicki Thompson, is based there and teaches, however, don't think I'll be forking out for it.

Prices - half hour £21, hour £32, 45 minutes on Advanced schoolmaster - £45, 45 minutes on Advanced schoolmaster with Vicki Thompson - £55.

Caroline

[CarolineH]

Originally posted by Kathy C
Caroline if you don't mind me asking, who in particular can you recommend at Olcencraig, is it one instructor in particular or several? I'm also looking for a good riding instructor and I live very close to Oldencraig. I had riding lessons there years ago which were dire, but I know they've changed hands since then and I'm glad to hear that things have improved!

Kathy

If you're that close, would you like to come and watch one of my lessons one day, so you can have a look without commitment?

Caroline

[Maria]

Hi Caroline

If it's OK with you and Kathy, I'd be interested to come along and watch with Kathy sometime.

Maria

[CarolineH]

Originally posted by Maria
Hi Caroline

If it's OK with you and Kathy, I'd be interested to come along and watch with Kathy sometime.

Maria

Fine with me :) Are you around this Saturday? I've got a half hour lesson at 4:30pm.

Caroline

[Maria]

Hi Caroline

Thank you for the offer. I'm going to be helping out on the EE Stand at the Equine Event this weekend, so can't make Saturday. But I'd definitely be interested in coming along to watch some other time.

Maria

[CarolineH]

No problem :) I've got one this afternoon actually, but that's probably a bit short notice!! Next ones will probably be sometime between 12th and 15th November (I'm working 10 days on, 4 days off at the moment), so I'll let you know and hopefully we can sort something out.

Caroline

[Kathy C]

Thanks for the info on Oldencraig, Caroline, sounds very promising. I'd love to watch a lesson, thanks for the offer. I don't think I can make Saturday either I'm afraid, so please let us know when you're next having one!

Kathy

[AJB]

Caroline my friend tried to buy Bailey when we heard the yard was being sold to Ian about 4 years ago or more and they wanted £5K for him!!-he was in his early teens then I think and if memory serves me correctly, is blind in one eye?....do they still have Shannah??very big irish coloured mare??-we used to use her for RDA just before we quit and again I was interested in buying her a couple of years ago but they said no as they wanted her for their lunge horse....can remember any of the others except Galloway and a rather strange to ride chestnut mare called the unforunate name of Atilla!!!

[CarolineH]

Originally posted by AJB
Caroline my friend tried to buy Bailey when we heard the yard was being sold to Ian about 4 years ago or more and they wanted £5K for him!!-he was in his early teens then I think and if memory serves me correctly, is blind in one eye?....do they still have Shannah??very big irish coloured mare??-we used to use her for RDA just before we quit and again I was interested in buying her a couple of years ago but they said no as they wanted her for their lunge horse....can remember any of the others except Galloway and a rather strange to ride chestnut mare called the unforunate name of Atilla!!!

Might not be the same Baileys then, as I've not been told he's blind in one eye - I'll ask today (leaving in about 15 minutes). Shannah is still their lunge horse, but was off with staples after getting a nasty kick in the chest when I was having the bulk of my lunge lessons. She's back in work again now and looking very good. The only other two I've ridden there are Beatle (one of the advanced horses) and Spartacus/Sparky, who's not long been bought from Europe somewhere.

Caroline

[CarolineH]

Update: It's not the same Baileys, the Baileys I ride has full use of both eyes.

Absolutely cracking lesson today, still grinning :D and really looking forward to Saturday - although I've been told that I have to ride the way I was riding at the end of this one from the beginning of that one.

I'm going to hit the hay and dream about riding corners correctly... (took me 7 attempts to do a turn down the centre line that Giles considered acceptable!)

Caroline

[AJB]

Caroline how strange!!!-I maybe wrong about the eye then....Bailey was a mid-dark bay, light weight TBX with a blaze I think...(have a photo of him somewhere..) hah that could be any horse couldnt it!!!-Oldencraig have a bit of a habit of having horses with the same names... I remember when we did RDA they had a lovely norweigen called Donovan-he was a poppet, good to lead and great with the kids-anyway we came back after the summer break a few years back and Donovan was soo awful, pulling on the lead, bucking kids off biting the leaders etc etc-when we asked the owners about it they told us they had sold our Donovan over the summer but purchased a near identical one as they liked the breed and deceided to call him Donovan as well to save confusion!!!!...maybe the same has happened with Bailey!!....nice to hear Shannah is still around she was a super horse, bit forward going when we had her for RDA but sooo lovely natured...glad the lesson went well, Giles sounds a hard instructor but then I think we all need to be pushed a bit dont we....who knows when im next passing I might drop in-am hoping to get my boy out to the winter jumping series when my lorries ready-ill let you, Maria and Kathy know and you can come and "crew" for me!!!!:D

[Kathy C]

I'm really envious now Caroline, it's a great feeling when a riding lesson goes well! AJB I'm up for it, keep in touch!

Kathy

[CarolineH]

Originally posted by AJB
Caroline how strange!!!-I maybe wrong about the eye then....Bailey was a mid-dark bay, light weight TBX with a blaze I think...(have a photo of him somewhere..) hah that could be any horse couldnt it!!!-

That *does* sound like the same Baileys! The blaze is like an overgrown diamond star, yes?

Happy to come and crew for you if I'm not working (we're about to go into silly season, so I have virtually no life from now until January...)

Caroline

[CarolineH]

Next lesson is Wednesday 12th Novemeber at 3pm if either of you are free. It's probably going to be my first attempt at leg yielding in over 10 years, so should be good for a giggle!

Caroline

[Kathy C]

Oops a bit late seeing this, haven't visited for a while! I couldn't have made it anyway as it happens due to work. Hope it went well and I would still like to watch a lesson if the offer's still open, but can usually only make weekend. Please could you let me know next time you're riding?

Kathy

[CarolineH]

Originally posted by Kathy C
Oops a bit late seeing this, haven't visited for a while! I couldn't have made it anyway as it happens due to work. Hope it went well and I would still like to watch a lesson if the offer's still open, but can usually only make weekend. Please could you let me know next time you're riding?

Kathy

I'll let you know when I next have a weekend one - it probably won't be until next year though, as I have one tomorrow, then Giles is away, then I'm on a 10-day shift!

Caroline

[Kathy C]

OK look forward to it next year then! Hope you survive your 10 day shift!

Kathy