Lomond Classical Riding Centre: Is it still running, and how do I book lessons? And are there classical riding schools closer to West London?

[mlem]

I am very keen on taking classical dressage lessons, however I'm based in West London and don't have my own horse, which from an online search, seems to really limit my options.
The two places I found which I could reasonably travel to are Ham House Stables and Lomond Classical Riding Centre.
It seems as though Ham House Stables are fully booked though.
I tried emailing and texting Lomond, but haven't received any replies. I did create an EC Pro account on their system, but am not sure if I should go ahead and book an assessment lesson, not knowing if they are still running or not and whether I can just book and show up with no prior communication with them.

If anyone has any further info regarding Lomond, or even if Ham House runs a waiting list/offers lessons during non-peak hours etc. I would really appreciate it.

Would also really appreciate it if anyone knows of any riding schools teaching classical dressage closer to West London ( Ideally without needing to drive on the motorway, as I am very nervous about it. But I guess if I do go to Lomond for lessons, I might have to overcome that fear first, or take a big detour. ).

 

[sbloom]

Lomond is definitely still running, can't help you with the rest though, sorry! Have you phoned?

 

[JenJ]

I think @Skib has mentioned Ham House before, and may know of some options over that way?

 

[teapot]

Have you tried messaging Lomond via their fb page? Though nothing’s been posted on there since Christmas.

 

[mlem]

Thanks everyone for your replies Ham House is fully booked for lessons unfortunately, but it would be nice to know of any options nearby.
Yes, I think I'll try calling / messaging on fb for Lomond as well, thanks.

 

[Skib]

I think @Skib has mentioned Ham House

Yes, I learned to ride at Ham House. It was always a livery yard as well as a school giving lessons. Can you not ask them whether they have a waiting list for lessons?
However you need to be clear what sort of dressage you want. My lessons at Ham were in the Spanish School style with lots and lots of lunge lessons. I learned balance on the lunge and bareback.
As for other options near by _
When I wanted to ride dressage tests I went to Stag Lodge 2 for weekly lessons and worked up through the tests in a large size 20 x 60 school, pony and me learning together, until I got my dream of riding a flying change.
The Covid epidemic put an end to my lessons and to be honest my return was a fiasco as I was given a pony in a bit that was not right for riding dressage tests and was steered by opening out ones hand.
Make it plain when you book that you want a horse that is in conventional tack and can actually ride a dressage test or two. And explain what you want to learn. Obviously I failed to do this when I booked my lesson last summer. One is always warned not to exagerate ones skills. I am old and need an easy horse, sure. But I dont want a horse that cant canter!
I learned a lot in those Stag Lodge dressage lessons that is useful out hacking solo. I learned to canter shapes, i.e. to steer and control canter rather than canter only when racing along straight tracks.
One freezing winter I had some interesting lessons with an older teacher at Chessington Riding Centre. There is also Kingston RS but I have never been to their new place. They used to have dressage horses and a dressage instructor.

 

[mlem]

Sorry it has taken me this long to reply, but thank you so much for all the recommendations @Skib , I really appreciate it.

The Spanish School style lessons at Ham House sound ideal, I've joined their waiting list so hopefully I'll be able to take lessons there at some point.

I might check out the other options you mentioned too, making sure to specify that I am interested in dressage.

 

[tetij]

I messaged Lomond via FB a few times a couple of years ago, but they always responded saying they didn’t have any availability. Hope you have better luck with them!

 

[Skib]

making sure to specify that I am interested in dressage.

I would use email to confirm your booking at Stag Lodge 2 and that you want to ride dressage. I had foolishly imagined that, after years of lessons there pre Covid and having been taught by the now Head RI, someone would know who I was and provide an appropriate horse, tack and teacher to continue dressage pretty much where I left off. They didnt.
It seems that possibly because of data protection they dont hold onto ones records.
I always assume that the first lesson at any new RS (other than Ham where one is lunged) is going to be a quite basic assessment - and I would happily go back to Stag Lodge. I rode there with regular weekly lessons for the whole of one winter and that is when I worked through the dressage tests.
The reason I havent gone again is due to age and intertia, and having a long term share to hack solo elsewhere.
But Stag Lodge was originally a hacking yard and it was there that I learned to hack, to lead, and to canter out in the open. Meanwhile having a weekly school lesson elsewhere.
Learning to ride is a complicated business, because you need the right horses and the right teacher for what you want to do or learn next, and this changes over time and young staff in schools come and go. So you need to shop around and find what suits you personally.

 

[mlem]

I would use email to confirm your booking at Stag Lodge 2 and that you want to ride dressage. I had foolishly imagined that, after years of lessons there pre Covid and having been taught by the now Head RI, someone would know who I was and provide an appropriate horse, tack and teacher to continue dressage pretty much where I left off. They didnt.
It seems that possibly because of data protection they dont hold onto ones records.
I always assume that the first lesson at any new RS (other than Ham where one is lunged) is going to be a quite basic assessment - and I would happily go back to Stag Lodge. I rode there with regular weekly lessons for the whole of one winter and that is when I worked through the dressage tests.
The reason I havent gone again is due to age and intertia, and having a long term share to hack solo elsewhere.
But Stag Lodge was originally a hacking yard and it was there that I learned to hack, to lead, and to canter out in the open. Meanwhile having a weekly school lesson elsewhere.
Learning to ride is a complicated business, because you need the right horses and the right teacher for what you want to do or learn next, and this changes over time and young staff in schools come and go. So you need to shop around and find what suits you personally.

Thanks again and yes, I agree. I've shopped around for places and travelled very far as well just to try out different teaching and learn what I want to learn. It's hard finding the right horses and teachers I agree, and each can offer something different.