North London riding

Dodgeitornot · 2023-04-04T09:46:20+00:00

Does anyone have any suggestions for a friendly riding centre in N London? Anywhere between Barnet and Lee Valley is doable really. This is for a 14 year old who wants to have lessons after trying it on holiday. We found Trent Park a little too snobby when enquiring, so not keen on that. Somewhere kind and friendly.

maxelly · 04/04/2023 11:49

Lee Valley is the obvious choice if you live that side of London - perhaps not that different from Trent Valley in that it's a large, very professionally run place, a BHS exam centre, lots and lots of horses and different staff etc., but when I last rode there (admittedly a while ago) it was more friendly and personal feeling for want of a better word - I know what you mean about Trent Park, I did some exams there, they have (or had) some superb horses and teachers, better quality for the more advanced riders than Lee Valley I'd say, but you very much felt like a number to them at all times.

You could also try London Equestrian Centre in Mill Hill, somewhat smaller, scruffier and more friendly again than Lee Valley, they're not a Pony Club Centre or offer BHS exams IIRC which is a draw back but when I was last there (again a while ago now) a nice range of horses/ponies and some good teachers, plus what seemed a large and happy gang of teen helpers roaming the place so that's always a good sign. I've heard mixed reviews more recently though so you might need to give it a try and see?

There's a poster on here regularly called @XelaM who lives in the area so I am summoning her here for hopefully more up to date N.London advice!

Original poster

Dodgeitornot · 04/04/2023 13:25

@maxelly Thank you so much. That's exactly what it felt like at at Trent Park. It's also very expensive which I can see why, but she won't really use any of those nice facilties. I think she'd feel pretty crappy about being a beginner there too, as there wasn't many girls her age who were just beginners. I've emailed LV about their learn to ride courses. LV would be easiest from where we live but she goes to school between Mill Hill and Trent Park so that would be easier for after school.

OP posts:

wheresmyliveship · 14/04/2023 06:44

Gillian’s in Enfield? Is that a bit out of the way?

Greenfairydust · 14/04/2023 08:14

I had some mixed experiences at Lee Valley.

Great facilities (including big indoor arena). Lovely/wide range of horses that are well cared for.

But the reception staff/booking system were not great and the instructors can really be hit and miss: from very good to really awful/bullying (I had to make a complaint about one of them).

Probably different for kids though I assume.

Quite a few the instructors did not seem to have much experience of teaching adults at beginner/novice levels...

Original poster

Dodgeitornot · 14/04/2023 08:22

@Greenfairydust that's really useful to know. Thank you!
@wheresmyliveship I've not heard of that, I'll have a look. Thanks!

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nancypineapple · 16/04/2023 08:25

My daughter started up at Potters Bar at a small riding school that unfortunately has shut due to the land being sold. Then we moved to LEC- I think it's better then Trent Park as smaller and the instructors are very friendly. We tried Trent Park but it was very busy and not so welcoming. There's also Frith Manor which is right next door- they are mainly a livery yard but do have a small riding school with a really wonderful instructor and her lessons are much better value then the larger schools. A few of their teens now share livery ponies there. Also have a look at schools in Hertfordshire such as Sandridgebury in St Albans. It's great for teens and has a pony club attached and volunteering scheme at the weekends.

Original poster

Dodgeitornot · 16/04/2023 13:19

@nancypineapple What's LEC?

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XelaM · 16/04/2023 14:51

Hi! We're at Kings Oak which is just opposite Gillians Riding School. Flatwork lessons are £25 and jumping lessons are £30. They always have ponies available for shares/loans and are super kids/teen-friendly. They also take the kids out to competitions (all levels - both u/a and affiliated). We used to be at Trent Park but it became insanely expensive and very commercial.

XelaM · 16/04/2023 14:53

maxelly · 04/04/2023 11:49

Lee Valley is the obvious choice if you live that side of London - perhaps not that different from Trent Valley in that it's a large, very professionally run place, a BHS exam centre, lots and lots of horses and different staff etc., but when I last rode there (admittedly a while ago) it was more friendly and personal feeling for want of a better word - I know what you mean about Trent Park, I did some exams there, they have (or had) some superb horses and teachers, better quality for the more advanced riders than Lee Valley I'd say, but you very much felt like a number to them at all times.

You could also try London Equestrian Centre in Mill Hill, somewhat smaller, scruffier and more friendly again than Lee Valley, they're not a Pony Club Centre or offer BHS exams IIRC which is a draw back but when I was last there (again a while ago now) a nice range of horses/ponies and some good teachers, plus what seemed a large and happy gang of teen helpers roaming the place so that's always a good sign. I've heard mixed reviews more recently though so you might need to give it a try and see?

There's a poster on here regularly called @XelaM who lives in the area so I am summoning her here for hopefully more up to date N.London advice!

Aw thanks for thinking me 😊 Saw the post 😃

maxelly · 16/04/2023 18:03

Dodgeitornot · 16/04/2023 13:19

@nancypineapple What's LEC?

London Equestrian Centre, I'd assume

Original poster

Dodgeitornot · 16/04/2023 19:14

@XelaM wow! That's cheap. Thanks so much for letting me know. I'll contact them. Trent Park does seem very very expensive and my sister had a really bad experience trying to get a refund on a lesson they had to cancel due to COVID, so I'm not that keen.
@maxelly Thanks! Weirdly that one is annoying for us to get to.

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LisaD1 · 20/04/2023 19:01

Highly recommend Gillian’s. I rode there for many years and am still friends with the family. I also rode and worked at Trent Park, much more about business in my opinion where’s Gills was always about the horses and kids. She was amazing to me as a teen.