People who rode in London/urban areas before the 2000s

Widgeon said:
I'm afraid this made me laugh out loud - I'm only in my thirties (grew up in Surrey) and I literally can't imagine anyone ever doing this. I was having a little think about horses on the roads the other day though, and came to the conclusion that the world is just speeding up and there's increasingly little space and time for horses :-( Does anyone else have photos of their memories? I always really enjoy these threads and the ones reminiscing about London riding schools.
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I'm in my 40s, and I used to hack over the North Circular from when I was about 8yrs old on a 12.2, ridiculous to think of it now, but I rode on the roads all over the place, when I was bit older I worked in a dealing yard in Mill Hill, and it was perfectly normal to hack out a just backed four yr old and meet double decker buses etc, even though the traffic was a bit quieter there.
 
teapot said:
Stag Lodge? It has two yards, one livery, one riding school.
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No, I don't believe so, and not Petersham either.

PeterNatt said:
I kept my Tri-Coloured Skewbald Cob in Mill Hill and Totteridge in North London between 1978 and 1990 and hacked to Hyde Park and Hampstead Heath as well as riding on Wimbledon Common, Richmond Park and Trent Park. My horse was totally bomb proof and spook proof but on one occasion as we were hacking past Trafalger Square the pigeons took off and we ended up galloping through the red traffic lights and along The Mall,View attachment 76990 stopping at Buckingham Palace! Here is a photo of three of us going around Trafalgar Square: (Left to Right) Tracy Bailey on Mr Frisk, Bob Champion on Jigsaw and myself on Rhys (Owned by Ross and Kirstie Nye of the Ross Nye Stables). (We were completing the last stage of the Bob Champion Ride For Life and heading for Buckingham Palace).
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You must be the only person in recent history to have galloped to Buckingham Palace! I also didn't realise that people who didn't keep their horses at Trent Park EC could hack around the park - are there any specific access laws about riding there?
 
Round Richmond Park there are still Stag Lodge, Kingston and two yards in Ham plus the livery Yard at Petersham. Wimbledon Village have priority on Wimbledon Common but sometimes come down across the A3 to Richmond Park.
 
I also rode at Mr White's at Roehampton Gate Stables in the 70s. I kept my horse at livery there, and as well as riding round the park we used to cross the A3 at Robin Hood Gate to ride on Wimbledon Common; there was a bit less traffic than now, but also less obsession with safety! I also used to help exercise the other livery horses sometimes which was interesting. The yard was basic and down to earth but reasonably affordable both for livery and riding school clients.
 
Dave's Mam said:
I rode in urban Belfast in my teens. The pony I rode was kept in stables that were part of a yard of garages.
He was an absolute rock in traffic, and we would often go on day trips to the beach.
Only photo I can find, this is Arthur outside my mam & da's house in East Belfast, note the double yellow lines.
Isn't my da's hair amazing? I was about 16 here, so more than 30 years ago.

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That's an amazing picture! I actually live in East Belfast so would love to know where the stables used to be. I learned to ride at Burn Equestrian, back when it was a riding school (2010s) which had a sort of semi- urban vibe, as it was in a healthcare park outside Belfast. One time in particular, I remember cantering up a football pitch! (I'm not certain that was exactly permitted...)
 
naomibmck said:
That's an amazing picture! I actually live in East Belfast so would love to know where the stables used to be. I learned to ride at Burn Equestrian, back when it was a riding school (2010s) which had a sort of semi- urban vibe, as it was in a healthcare park outside Belfast. One time in particular, I remember cantering up a football pitch! (I'm not certain that was exactly permitted...)
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It was just off Beersbridge Road, we used to ride along the walkways. Looking at Google Maps, it's houses now, which is sad, but inevitable.
 
In the 1970s I would sometimes get to ride at Park Lane Stables in Teddington (we'd ride in Bushy Park). I don't remember many of the ponies but I do recall Silky and Rusty, I liked them.
I moved just around the corner from the stables in the 1980s and began riding from there regularly, for about 10 years that would be. We had many exciting times, especially with deer being in the mix in the park. My partner learned to ride there, first on Big Sam, then graduated to riding Duke (his favourite).
 
Pinkvboots said:
I rode in Chingford at The Queen Elizabeth riding school as a kid and went to a private stables in Tottenham as well, my dads friend had a small stables in Edmonton I used to muck out and ride after school with his kids it was great fun.
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Snowfilly said:
My mum learnt at the Lizzie and was then head girl there for years! She brought the palomino pony Goldie from there, she often talks about Blackie and Cadet the Dartmoors, Brumby who was lazy and Queenie who was old when she started there.
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i remember goldie,blackie and cadet and queenie., there was also brandy who was in the stable next to blackie.....i was at the lizzie in 1957 before mrs cooper and was still there until she retired and moved to dorset. i still keep in contact with her daughter jean.. i remember your mum buying goldie, is her name linda...i bought kerry from mrs cooper and she lived till she was 35... i used to work 2 evenings and all day sunday to pay for my horses livery there. i rode my horse on the roads and forest in the evenings all year round, would never do it now, people seemed to be used to horses back then and i dont remember any problems with car drivers..
 
PeterNatt said:
I kept my Tri-Coloured Skewbald Cob in Mill Hill and Totteridge in North London between 1978 and 1990 and hacked to Hyde Park and Hampstead Heath as well as riding on Wimbledon Common, Richmond Park and Trent Park. My horse was totally bomb proof and spook proof but on one occasion as we were hacking past Trafalger Square the pigeons took off and we ended up galloping through the red traffic lights and along The Mall,View attachment 76990 stopping at Buckingham Palace! Here is a photo of three of us going around Trafalgar Square: (Left to Right) Tracy Bailey on Mr Frisk, Bob Champion on Jigsaw and myself on Rhys (Owned by Ross and Kirstie Nye of the Ross Nye Stables). (We were completing the last stage of the Bob Champion Ride For Life and heading for Buckingham Palace).
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What a wonderful photo
 
Not as long ago as most of these memories, but I kept my old boy at Osterley Park in West London for a while around 2008/2010.
Livery at the grand sum of £30 pcm, £28 if you paid the day before it was due! £1.50 per day in winter for good quality hay to be put out (and that £1.50 included the cost of the hay)
We would hack to Norwood Green by going out of the back of the park, or cross the A4 and head down through Hounslow to go to Richmond Park.
It wasn’t that long ago and the roads weren’t exactly quiet - I think because we were a novelty drivers often slowed down to gawp.
I have to say my somewhat flighty Welsh d, who would get his knickers in a twist over something 2 fields away in an open space, dealt with suburbia exceptionally well and never batted an eyelid at any of the traffic
 
Skib said:
Round Richmond Park there are still Stag Lodge, Kingston and two yards in Ham plus the livery Yard at Petersham. Wimbledon Village have priority on Wimbledon Common but sometimes come down across the A3 to Richmond Park.
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Kington's gone Skib, they've sold the yard for development and moved over into their former DIY yard in Barwell, Chessington.
 
That is very odd. A move has been rumoured for ages but their website still says "The stables are situated within minutes of the Kingston Gate of Richmond Park where we take our riders for daily hacks. It is the perfect tranquil setting for hacking amongst the deer and wildlife."

I keep an eye, as riding in the Park is important to me and about 7 years ago I took a w t c test there so I could hack.
 
splashgirl45 said:
i remember goldie,blackie and cadet and queenie., there was also brandy who was in the stable next to blackie.....i was at the lizzie in 1957 before mrs cooper and was still there until she retired and moved to dorset. i still keep in contact with her daughter jean.. i remember your mum buying goldie, is her name linda...i bought kerry from mrs cooper and she lived till she was 35... i used to work 2 evenings and all day sunday to pay for my horses livery there. i rode my horse on the roads and forest in the evenings all year round, would never do it now, people seemed to be used to horses back then and i dont remember any problems with car drivers..
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I do miss the Epping forest riding I kept my horses round there up until about 13 years ago there literally is nothing like it, when I moved to Hertfordshire I used to box Arabi up there and meet a friend to ride.

I kept my first horse at Pipers farm she belonged to Frolly who owned it she had pink hair and never rode with a hat I think everyone knew Frolly! I loved hacking out with her she knew that forest so well.
 
Skib said:
That is very odd. A move has been rumoured for ages but their website still says "The stables are situated within minutes of the Kingston Gate of Richmond Park where we take our riders for daily hacks. It is the perfect tranquil setting for hacking amongst the deer and wildlife."

I keep an eye, as riding in the Park is important to me and about 7 years ago I took a w t c test there so I could hack.
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Yes, the website hasn't been updated. They moved about a year ago and are at what was Black Barn, mostly as a livery yard.
 
The website needs attention too. The on line registration collapsed when I attempted and failed to go back to 1939 for my date of birth. (This was pre Covid not recently)
 
Skib said:
Round Richmond Park there are still Stag Lodge, Kingston and two yards in Ham plus the livery Yard at Petersham. Wimbledon Village have priority on Wimbledon Common but sometimes come down across the A3 to Richmond Park.
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You've also got Barnfield still running. When I worked there (early 2010s) they were still doing a little bit of roadwork to hack across to Richmond Park. I think they still are, as I see photos getting posted on social media. I see Stag Lodge has expanded quite a bit too. I also taught there in the late 2000s, rode horses at private livery yards in Mill Hill and Loughton (with access to Epping Forest).
 
I used to ride at Adel Wood equestrian centre in Leeds. Our normal hack involved crossing the dual carriageway ring-road both ways. They used to get to the central reservation and stick their heads down to eat the grass, with traffic bombing past at 70mph in front an behind.

Incdentally, I'd be confident hacking any of my ponies around any town centre in the country - becaue we regularly hack in a busy little rural town they don't give anything a second look.
 
I suppose I do still ride in a sort of urban area - i'm based in Manchester, and while our yard is right on the edge of the city, we do sometimes head inwards and ride around the banks of the Mersey around Sale/Chorlton water parks. I also spend a lot of time riding around the housing estates of Altrincham. I have to say I do elect not to do battle with any of the big roads though!
 
Pinkvboots said:
I do miss the Epping forest riding I kept my horses round there up until about 13 years ago there literally is nothing like it, when I moved to Hertfordshire I used to box Arabi up there and meet a friend to ride.

I kept my first horse at Pipers farm she belonged to Frolly who owned it she had pink hair and never rode with a hat I think everyone knew Frolly! I loved hacking out with her she knew that forest so well.
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frollie was quite a character.....i had a horse and rode in epping forest until 2001, i felt the forest had changed quite a bit, we used to be able to ride anywhere before they put the so called sandy tracks down,,they turned into pebble tracks and not pleasant to ride on .. just before i left we had an explosion of mountain bikers who rode as fast as they could with no regard to horses...i was quite glad to be away from there and although i had to do more road riding in suffolk it was safer than the chingford area
 
splashgirl45 said:
frollie was quite a character.....i had a horse and rode in epping forest until 2001, i felt the forest had changed quite a bit, we used to be able to ride anywhere before they put the so called sandy tracks down,,they turned into pebble tracks and not pleasant to ride on .. just before i left we had an explosion of mountain bikers who rode as fast as they could with no regard to horses...i was quite glad to be away from there and although i had to do more road riding in suffolk it was safer than the chingford area
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I absolutely loved Frolly I bought my first horse from her my lovely Fen ? I agree she was a real character and great fun to be around I had a lot of good memories there, I did eventually take Fen to where I was working to The Gardens of Hanbury just up the road loved it there do remember that yard?
 
I sometimes rode at Ross Nye's stables in Hyde park in the 1990s. Really enjoyed it. Also brought my own pony up to Hyde Park a few times - he was used to quiet forest hacking but was totally calm hacking along the Bayswater Road and Kensington High Street!
 
Pinkvboots said:
I absolutely loved Frolly I bought my first horse from her my lovely Fen ? I agree she was a real character and great fun to be around I had a lot of good memories there, I did eventually take Fen to where I was working to The Gardens of Hanbury just up the road loved it there do remember that yard?
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yes remember that yard, and there was also barnfield, woodlands, bury farm and sue budds yard, ....then there was high beech rs and nightingale rs with the lovely tommy robinson, a real horseman who sadly died a couple of years ago..i miss the area as i knew everyone and it was nice hacking...
 
TheresaW said:
I was at Nightingale with Tommy when I first bought Dolly.

We later moved to Bury Farm, before moving to Epping.
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i didnt have a horse at nightingale but spent a fair bit of time there and knew tommy pretty well, he was always happy to advise if i was worried about anything, he was taken to his funeral in a carriage drawn by black friesians (i think) it was very moving..
 
splashgirl45 said:
i didnt have a horse at nightingale but spent a fair bit of time there and knew tommy pretty well, he was always happy to advise if i was worried about anything, he was taken to his funeral in a carriage drawn by black friesians (i think) it was very moving..
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We’d moved up here to Notts when he died, but I was sent some photos of the funeral by a friend.
 
it was a lovely funeral, if they can be lovely, and they talked about his life in racing and in the services....on my way home i took a wrong turning and found a riderless horse galloping up the road. i was not in horsey gear but he let me catch him.. his rider eventually appeared and was in a panic as he was galloping away from his yard and if i hadnt caught him he would have met the main road. his rider was very surprised that he had let me catch him as she said he was very difficult if he was loose...i like to think tommy sent me the wrong way to save this horse.....
 
Regarding Trent Park no one ever asked me to stop riding on the track! (I used to hack over there from Mill Hill and accross the railway bridge in Hadley Woods). If you owned a house in Hadley Wood and had a stent (which came with the house) then you could ride around Hadley Woods.
 
splashgirl45 said:
i remember goldie,blackie and cadet and queenie., there was also brandy who was in the stable next to blackie.....i was at the lizzie in 1957 before mrs cooper and was still there until she retired and moved to dorset. i still keep in contact with her daughter jean.. i remember your mum buying goldie, is her name linda...i bought kerry from mrs cooper and she lived till she was 35... i used to work 2 evenings and all day sunday to pay for my horses livery there. i rode my horse on the roads and forest in the evenings all year round, would never do it now, people seemed to be used to horses back then and i dont remember any problems with car drivers..
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Oh wow, I passed this on to her and she’s so happy to hear it! Yes, she’s Linda. We had Goldie all his life, he was 33 I think, and I learnt to ride on him. Mum also ended up with a TB mare who she named Queenie after the Lizzie’s Queenie.

Is it ok if she messages you? She isn’t on the forum but can use my account! I know she’s love to share memories and hear how Jean is doing.
 
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