Moving to Edinburgh: Where to Ride?

Vixen Van Debz

Vixen Van Debz

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Hi all!

OH has landed himself a nice career post in Edinburgh, so we'll be moving there in a couple of months from East Fife. I adore my current yard, but it's about 1hr 45mins bus ride away from Edinburgh City Centre (plus any bus ride I might need to get to the main station) so it's not doable every week, but is well within reach for catch-up visits 80)

So, what I want to know is where's best to ride or where to avoid in Edinburgh? (Been reading other threads e.g. http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=289400&highlight=edinburgh+riding+school&page=2 and noting that a certain place starting with L might be best avoided).

The criteria are that it's accessible via public transport as I don't drive, they care about and for their horses, and the instructors are good. I don't want to be a dressage star or professional show-jumper, but I do enjoy an all-round education where an instructor will cover a bit of everything as it's needed/wanted. I'm happy to go to a separate yard to get out hacking as that's what my current situation is, so it's not necessary from a RS.

So, all in all, where's best/worst for riding lessons and/or hacking? Given Houston's been well reviewed, is it accessible and how long does the bus take roughly for anyone that's been?

Many thanks, plus tea and home-made lemon drizzle cake to all who've read the essay above 80)
 
For hacking definately try Murray Bain for hacking, he is east of Edinburgh, sorry can't think tonight exactly where.
Went with my sister and a couple of friends for a beach hack, it was fantastic galloping along the beach and was reasonably priced.
He hires out a lot of horses for the common rides.
 
gillianfleming said:
For hacking definately try Murray Bain for hacking, he is east of Edinburgh, sorry can't think tonight exactly where.
Went with my sister and a couple of friends for a beach hack, it was fantastic galloping along the beach and was reasonably priced.
He hires out a lot of horses for the common rides.
Click to expand...

Think this is Harelaw EC Longniddry
 
Yes, Murray Bains is Harelaw. Good horses and the beach rides are great fun...though don't go expecting technique or formality!

In my experience I would (and do!) avoid those places starting with T and L like the plague.

I have never been to Houston, but have heard mixed reviews, I hear the instructors are top class, but that the lessons are usually nose to tail the whole way round the school & very 'follow the leader'. But I've never been so you should try it out for yourself.

Personally I can't recommend Whiteloch at Macmerry highly enough. Excellent teaching, horses and both hacking & schooling. Very safe and really care about their horses and riders. It's on a bus route too.
 
Oh, lots of food for thought: thank you everyone!
Whiteloch's new to me, so I'll have to have a date with Google shortly. At the moment I pay for a weekly private lesson, so as long as the prices are reasonable I'd hope to continue that and avoid any tedious nose-to-tail group lessons. However, a bad yard's a bad yard beyond its poor group lessons, so I've got my barge pole ready...
 
I wouldn't actually avoid the places beginning with T and L, particularly the latter. Might be a little scruffy but I've never seen any problems that you would have to be greatly worried about. L will give you both hacking in some very beautiful and historic countryside and also instruction. T will do both as well and the hacking is round the Braid Hills which is nice til you get bored of it, but amazing considering its a 25 minute bus journey from central Edinburgh. L is also on a frequent bus route and there are some successful competition horses and ponies liveried at that yard, which is more than you say for the other places.

Admittedly I've never ridden school horses at either of them, but I think the bargepole comment is unfair. Riding schools are riding schools and unless you are paying for lessons on dressage schoolmasters, I don't think they vary that much around Edinburgh.

I don't think Houston Farm has hacking and its about 12 miles outside Edinburgh in West Lothian. I thought Murray Bain was a dealer and got in a lot of cheap horses from Ireland?
 
Every thread I've read though unanimously says no L. T are more varied, so if they really suit travel wise I'd give them a go: can shop around after all! Scruffy doesn't bother me: my current yard is, but the horses are happy and well cared for. I'm not a horse snob either: I'll ride anything and enjoy riding different horses and ponies as it brings my riding on no end. Have lots of "cheap horses from Ireland" on current yard: they're awesome! YO's not a dealer though: does some small scale selling, mostly via words of mouth. Dealer's not a dirty word to me anyway: only those that are without scruples are a problem in my eyes.
 
Mithras said:
I wouldn't actually avoid the places beginning with T and L, particularly the latter.

I think the bargepole comment is unfair.

I thought Murray Bain was a dealer and got in a lot of cheap horses from Ireland?
Click to expand...

Only in my experience Mithras. VVD, you might be looking for something different than I was, so you should certainly give them a go, they are definately the easiest to get to. But personally, after 1 hack at both places, I would never go back, and could never recommend them to anyone else. Particularly the latter.

Yep, I think Murray Bain is a dealer, but they also run the Harelaw equestrian centre from the yard too. Scruffy, but good horses.

You wont find much about Whiteloch on Google, I think it's mostly done through word of mouth. They are very busy though, so don't be put off if they can't fit you in straight away.
 
There's also good hacking (beach rides etc) to be had at Seacliff near North Berwick. Only been the once, but had a great time. Horses very well-schooled for hacking. There are a few smaller yards dotted about. I always recommend my instructor on here, but think she has a waiting list. PM me if I can be of any help :-)
 
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