There are lots of people and dogs in Richmond Park too, especially since Covid. But they are no problem for a rider. Particularly as dogs must be on a lead from now till the end of the breeding season in September.
I know from years of hacking that the RS at Robin Hood Gate expect to provide a hacking client with two or three canters on an hour's hack. These are short, controlled canters. It isnt Badmington.
I dont know what you mean by canter work. I ride canter transitions but I once cantered Ella slowly and quietly and the YM behind, escorting me said she had never before seen anyone ride a dressage canter in the Park. If you mean fitten up your horse, then yes. I gather I take longer than most clients to ride the circult and I intend to do some timing next winter.
You can pick up a free horse riding leaflet with a map of the tracks at Pembroke Lodge car park. We share the horse track with cyclists and pedestrians. But there are not many of those in winter.
I have hacked with NR friends in the past, hacking from Stag Lodge RS. Going for a summer private hack from Stag Lodge RS is probably the best way to learn possible off track routes. (Or walk them with OH and me for free)
Being off track in woods is excellent (in walk) for steering all four feet of the horse and ducking overhanging branches. I learned this sort of control as RIs and our YM often tell a following client to tread in their horses footsteps. These days I dont ride where there are not paths as I dont want Ella to trip and go lame. One needs to be on constant look out for tree roots and mole hills.
But one should keep to the rules. These days the Park is closely supervised by Park police, becsuse there was a machete attack and the theft of a very valuable bike. There has also been more of what we call "urbanisation" of the park. Food, ice cream, new wide tracks for push chairs. The Police have off road small vehicles and when I ride I feel they are looking out for me. All RS staff in the Park wear hi viz and I usually do too.
People are very nice to me out riding, I guess because I am old but young exhibitionist riders are not popular. It is a funny combination of slow and laid back, with here and there lovely tracks to canter. In particular (and in summer only) there are drainage ditches with level paths alongside which are excellent for long flat canters if there is no one else about. The other day I asked a couple, Is it OK if I canter away from you? That means I am gong to ride away from you fast. It gives people a change to grab their dog or to tell me they arent certain.
The RS staff go for fast early morning rides but they do it early, as soon as the Park gates open. I have a mid morning riding time but just after Christmas I went out without seeing a sngle soul. Our daughter walks her dog on the same day as I hack, but I have never met her. The Park is about 4 square miles.
I dont know where you live Pepo. But I think that if you want to go for a gallop, you can do this on Epsom Downs in the afternoon. It is a long time since I rode there. You would need to check.
People out walking always want to know where Ella lives, and when I tell them, I also mention the RS where anyone can pay for a hack. There are still 4 yards in reach of the park.
) As a teenager I worked for a very short while as a groom for a stables in Kingston so I got to hack in Richmond Park a few times too. When I bought my first pony (parents couldn't afford so I had to wait until I was working and earning) I kept him for a while at a stables the Hampton Court side of Bushy Park, so was back to riding round there again.
