Lee Valley- waiting lists? hacking? etc

solstince

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Hi all,

Long-time lurker here. I'm moving to London Fields in East London next week, and was pleasantly surprised to find out that Lee Valley is only a 10 minute drive/20 minute bus ride from my new flat. I knew Lee Valley was close-ish/East- but I had no idea how practical it would be!

So now I'm pretty excited, but I remember someone saying that things there are super structured/there can be long waiting lists.

The other concern that I have is that I planned on avoid riding schools, as for the past few years my riding has been mostly on my own horse(s) or on a trainer's horses- quality non-school horse types. I've been training horses myself and under a 4* rider the last year, and my riding progressed more in that year then in the twelve years before that. So, basically, I don't want to regress or get into power struggles with a riding-school instructor...I just want quality instruction on quality horses! I know there's a Grand Prix dressage instructor there, so maybe I could get some lessons from her...though, with the weather warming up, I'm longing to ride cross-country or hack as well as flatwork...its like an itch I can't scratch!

So I guess does anyone ride there personally or have an inside scoop? Is there any 'hacking' even if its just around the grounds? Any place to do gallops? Are there lots of shares with the livery horses? Feel free to PM...

Long-term, I plan on looking for a share, but I haven't ridden in 9 months and certainly need at least a month to get my riding muscles and brain back before I feel comfortable trying out horses for a share.

Obviously I'm going to give them a call and scope things out myself, just thought I'd post here first...
 
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Here's some eye-candy for your trouble...oh how I miss my horse! Isn't he gorgeous?

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Sorry... No up to date info on Lee Valley, but it I will watch this thread with interest. I lived in Hackney in the 80's and learnt to ride at Lee Vallley. What a blast from the past :)
 

word of warning, you're not allowed to post watermarked / copyrighted images on here so if admin or anyone feeling annoying sees this you might be reported and get a spanking from TFC. You might wish to edit this image out of your post or request admin do so.

No info about Lee Valley, I've only ever been there for horseball tournaments once.
 
word of warning, you're not allowed to post watermarked / copyrighted images on here so if admin or anyone feeling annoying sees this you might be reported and get a spanking from TFC. You might wish to edit this image out of your post or request admin do so.

No info about Lee Valley, I've only ever been there for horseball tournaments once.

Thanks, I actually realized that after I posted it, but I can't for the life of me find a way to edit the post? The edit button was there at first, now its just quote button. On other BB's the edit button stays there, so not sure how to remove.
 
I think there are a few east/north London folk on here eg ghostie who was looking at yards. Don't know much about lee valley but I suspect you might have more luck with a private share arrangement for the type of horse you're after. Lots of yards in the area I recall.
 
I think there are a few east/north London folk on here eg ghostie who was looking at yards. Don't know much about lee valley but I suspect you might have more luck with a private share arrangement for the type of horse you're after. Lots of yards in the area I recall.

Thanks, that's encouraging there are a lot of yards around...Lee Valley is just SO accessible by public transport. Hell, I could walk there...

Yeah, I suspect I'm going to end up with a private share- but as I was saying in my orig post, I need a month or so of riding to get my riding muscles/'riding brain' back before I feel comfortable trying out horses for shares. I could probably find some place with decent horses to hack to do this, but it'd be nice to have instruction- or perhaps instruction once a week, hack once a week, to ride twice a week, until I can find a suitable share.
 
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