Anyone been to Hopeful Earl Riding Centre in Surrey?

[FingoFango]

There's a Groupon offer on at the moment for this place.

Just wondered if anyone has any experience of this place?

I've been. It was good. Decent horses and an excellent ride out. If i still lived in the area I would buy the group on again. :-)

I've been. It was good. Decent horses and an excellent ride out. If i still lived in the area I would buy the group on again. :-)

oops, stupid phone!

Loachy thanks. Did it have good safety standards? Suitable for a novice?

All their horses are TB ex racers so need confident riders so no I would say not suitable for novices. Good standards though otherwise.

Thanks. Yes I was a bit unsure with all the horses being ex racers. I am not a complete beginner I can walk, trot, canter etc but would not describe myself as particularly confident either........can be a bit nervous! Maybe not for me then? (the offer is for lessons not hacking btw)

Well - a lesson is a different matter all together. If you aren't a complete novice, I think you will be fine in a lesson. I rode Kanga - he was lovely. But they talk to you about the type of horse you want to ride. I told them I wanted something forward going (which I think they all are!) but is likely to keep all it's feet on the ground. They have a few that go a bit silly when about to canter and can jump around a bit - but again this is out hacking. I really liked it there.

Oooooh maybe I will book then! If they have some well behaved TBs that's ok - rather a well behaved TB than a naughty cob!

I've ridden with them several times too. Out of hacks as well as refresher lessons as I had had at least a 15 year break. They do have some reasonable horses for lessons now - some of whom have done riding club stuff previously so are relatively well-schooled. I had one doing shoulder-in and half passes for example. It was 18 months since I was last there and since hen they've brought in even more new horses.

As a previous poster has said, they do really discuss your experience with you before allocating you a horse and lots of the horses who may go slightly nuts in canter out on a hack are thoroughly well behaved in the school.

I have ridden Seedy, King, Dotty, Mendel previously plus a couple more whose names I cannot remember now.

Good luck and hope you have fun.

Go for it....and then when you have had a few lessons you can do a hack. Because the location was lovely for a good ride out!