Aberdeen- yards/riding/pt job

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loobylu

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Hi all,
I'm off to Aberdeen in September for uni'. Loan horse is going home soon and I coming home every weekend to ride for friends etc seems unrealistic. So just wondering if anyone who knows the area can recommend yards, be they a riding school or livery yard who would appreciate a willing helper, a part-time oppotunity, help with excercising, yard work etc or even something like a polo or racing yard?
I am competent and confident, have my stage II and have worked weekends at a riding school escorting hacks and general yard/phone/bookings for the past 4 years aswell as grooming for friends and the odd PC rally/comp. Also have some experience with backing and schooling on welsh cobs and ponies.
The biggest problem will be transport so somewhere aceesible by bus/cycle/walk combination would be fabulous if a little unlikely.
Thanks in advance.
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The unis are quite a distance from any yards, and you would either need to get two buses or learn to drive! The 19 bus goes from Tillydrone to Culter and in a village called cults there is a yard called Sunnyside livery stables. They'd probably take you are but they don't spare the whip. You'd work your arse off there.

The same bus will take you dirctly past a yard which has changed it's name recently but I think it's now the Aberdeen Riding Centre. Don't know what the staff are like now but I remember a really bad tempered woman who worked there many years ago.

There's the Hayfield riding centre which is where the uni teams ride. It's huge and in the city centre they have a website here: http://www.hayfield.com/

There are lots of smaller places and stud farms but those are the ones I can think of that are less than a mile walk from a bus stop!

I hope that helps.
 
I need someone to help exercise my horse kept at the aforementioned Sunnyside Stables near Cults. 16.2hh showjumper on full livery, no jumping I'm afraid. 1 or 2 days per week. Need someone 100% reliable who doesnt cancel at the last minute, no stable chores, and you can get a bus but would you want to do that in winter up here?
 
Susitoo, how long have you been at Sunnyside?

loobylu, the bus stops in cults village and it's about a mile up the road so there is a village you could stop in for lunch. It's about 20mins on the bus from union street in Aberdeen.
 
About a year. Its quite an easy walk up the road from Cults, on pavement, I wouldnt have said quite a mile. They are always looking for stable staff too. I am just looking for someone to exercise for free, and perhaps help me at shows sometimes.

btw Hayfield isnt in the city centre but is on the outskirts in a large park, the same side of town as Sunnyside. Again I think you would have about a mile walk from where the bus stops. They have a lot going on there though and a lot of helpers.
 
As well as Hayfield,there is riding school at Oldfold Farm(Aberdeen Riding Club).Right on bus route past Cults and Bieldside and short walk up a road and your there(you can see yard and horses ihn a front field from roadside) .I believe uni riders now go there as well as the RDA.They are in phone book you can but ask!(or if you want that number or hayfields let me know)
They may even help do your stage 3 etc.
 
I went to try a horse at Sunnyside Stables.

Are you going to Aberdeen or RGU. Both unis have good riding clubs and teams so it may be worth joining. Plus there is also the social aspect. Aberdeen also play Polo.
 
Thanks all.
Blackhawk- I know, bus is verging on unrealistic but I need my horses to keep me sane through four years of studying! I'm terrified of not doing much for four years and losing what I've worked hard to gain. I'm taking my driving test soon (I'm only 17) but I'm not sure I will be able to justify a car at uni. Going to Uni' of Aberdeen. Cold yucky winters certainly not a problem/going to put me off, made of sterner stuff than that and live by the coast so perfectly used to sub zero wind chill! I have had a nosey around the riding club page but what I really want is somewhere I can keep up the practical aspect of things and, as mentioned in one reply, work towards my stage III even if it's in an unofficial way. I will email John Crawford nearer the time, I've found him very helpful in the past when I emailed him.
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Susitso- I will also PM you nearer the time if that's alright to gleen some more detail on your yard etc.
thanks again.
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There's also Loanhead and near there is another livery yard called Denburn, although its only small. Loanhead is quite a large yard and also a competition centre where they have lots of BSJA etc. Not sure about buses heading that way TBH.

Id recommend joining your Uni's riding club or trying out for the team. I was on the Aberdeen Uni team, we rode at Hayfield. The RC and team lay on a mini bus to get you there and obviously do the same for any competitions you do etc.

John Crawford is quite "in the know" so Im sure he could help point you in the right direction. Personally I wouldnt touch him with a barge pole....!! People seem to love him or hate him. He's quite a character!

I know an eventer called Jennifer Johnson does training towards horsey exams. I did an equine management course (part time) at hers a few years ago. But she lives about 20 minutes outside the city.....! But I would expect that someone else on the course would surely come from the city so you could possibly get a lift.

Shame you wont have a car, I wanted a wee rider for one of my horses!
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Looks like Ladymire may be populated by a few too many groupies for my liking. Not that I'm anti-social or anything
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Will try out for teams etc too. It's silly but I hate the thought of my riding deteiorating as a result of only riding once a week!
Thanks again- I now have some hope it seems.
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I would definatly try John @ Hayfield. I rode there whilst at college. You certainly get a wide variety of horses to ride and they do a lot of different activities there so plenty opertunity to try something new.
 
You could also try an advert in scot-ads(green paper) its free to place an advert.
John Crawford your man for polo as someone said People seem to love him or hate him! will say know more on him
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Just a word of warning - if you get on the Aberdeen Uni team, you'll have to put up with being taught by John C every week..... well it was him and some German dude (who I couldnt understand so got nothing out of his lessons!) who I had. Im sorry but John taught me absolutely nothing and neither did the other guy, that's why I dropped out of the team in the end. I had to pay for lessons which were worthless IMO! Lots of people love his teaching though - it really depends what suits you! The horses we rode certainly weren't what Id call riding school plods! One I remember was crazy - lovely little horse ridden in a hackamore but put it into canter and it turned into a steam train who just pelted totally out of control round the arena and nobody could stop the thing. I would have loved to take it home as it obviously had issues and didnt belong in a riding school........

Good luck though. Team try outs are pretty busy so be prepared to be there a few hours!
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Don't know how long ago but don't think uni riders go to Hayfield anymore (or they didn't last yr they went to Oldfold where Sally and co from Hayfield went to a good few yrs ago)
Loanhead doesn't have a bus route ,its a long walk from nearest stop.
Ladymyre is Ellon way and is run by Raymond Strachan.
Whitemyres is shut I think but not too sure.On bus routes Hayfield and Oldfold are your two main riding school/livery yard ones that are teaching yards.
 
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