Riding in Edinburgh Scotland

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Connemara Pony

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Hi Guys,

I was wondering if anyone could recommend somewhere in Edinburgh (ideally accessible by public transport) to ride? I've been living here for a year and a half now and living in the city I haven't done any riding (disgraceful!)

Or, if there really isn't anywhere in the Edinburgh area, does anyone know anywhere in Scotland that's good to go for weekends etc?

Thanks!
 
Not sure about Edinburgh but you could get the North Berwick bus (I think it's either a 124 or 125?) and get off in Longniddry and do a beach ride or hack at Harelaw Stables?
 
Scottish Equestrian has some great views and rides out- so does where I am stabled at!
And you just jump on a train down here! 5 Minute walk from the railway at mine :D:D
About 15 Minute walk from Lanark train station to Scottish Equestrian.
They do lots of wee holiday ideas too! :D
Lasswade stables near Edinburgh I have passed a few times and they have pretty good hacking it seems. Not sure transport wise though ;)

Best of Luck :D
 
Hi

Depends on what riding you are after, but for hacking the best yards are only accessible by cars really and not actually in Edinburgh. Seacliff Stables at North Berwick are fab as is Kailzie Equestrian near Peebles but they both really need a car to get to them. Peebles Hydro do horse riding and they are on a bus route but never ridden with them before so not sure what they are like. Tower Farm and Lasswade Stables do alright hacking as well and both are on or near bus routes. Never been to Harelaw at Longniddry but my friend goes and she enjoys it.

Never done any weekends away, but always fancied Highlands Unbridled for a holiday
 
Lintel said:
Scottish Equestrian has some great views and rides out- so does where I am stabled at!
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Do they have a riding school there? I did look it up, but couldn't seem to learn very much (although I might have just been over looking something obvious)

Thanks for all your help guys!
 
Lasswade and Tower are pretty grim. Harelaw does fairly good value beach hacking and you can get train, there's a limited bus service to Whiteloch Stables in Macmerry and that's about the best RS in the area. not sure what Appin are doing these days-limited train service there (Drem). Seacliff are great, not sure if you could get train and cycle rest of way? we are poorly served by buses out here and that's about to get worse. Houston Farm-not sure how easy that is to get to by public transport.
 
Connemara Pony said:
Do they have a riding school there? I did look it up, but couldn't seem to learn very much (although I might have just been over looking something obvious)

Thanks for all your help guys!
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Yes they do, I used to take lessons there. ;)
they mostly do little holidays for kids etc. But I took lessons every week and found no problem, my instructor was lovely, wouldn't say they will bring you on to be a dressage superstar but they teach you tips and tricks and get you working well ;)
 
Appin is the only place you'd get high level lessons (excellent instructors and horses). Tower and Lasswade are, as someone said, pretty grim for lessons. Houston does fairly good lessons for adults. Whiteloch is good for novice or nervous riders.

Harelaw is your best bet for hacking (they're also doing 2hrs beach hacks for £19 mid-week. PM me about it!), Tower is ok. Vet School Exmoor herd are great if you're small enough.
 
I would highly recommend going to Scottish Equestrian :). My friend goes for holidays all the time and absolutely adores it! I've also been there a few times for my friend's birthday and it is fantastic! I've always had brilliant horses and everyone is really friendly :). The instructors are great and the lessons are fun. I've been to Appin once and I enjoyed my lesson I got there :). I wouldn't recommend Lasswade. I used to go there and ended up with a different instructor every week, and I was doing the same things as they couldn't assess my ability cause I never had one instructor. I wasn't even taught to ride properly there. They told me to canter just by kicking, no leg behind girth for the lead or anything. I currently have a share horse at Tower and the facilities are great, but I don't know what the lessons are like. The hacking around there is brilliant though :).
 
I do not find Lasswade grim, just a little untidy. It's 30mins on a bus from North Bridge (the 31, stopping at Waddingburn and the yard's an easy 10mins walk). They are doing 2hr hacks (must be competent in WTC) for 35 quid each Sat and Sun morning at the moment! Their range of horses is also huge. I've had private lessons and hacks with them so far and haven't seen any problems that a tidy up and paint brush couldn't fix yet 80)
 
Appin is amazing. I rode there when I lived in Edinburgh and wad seriously impressed - the instruction was great, the horses very well cared for and the cleanest tack room I have ever seen! I also tried Tower but would'nt recommend.
 
Vixen Van Debz: it's the condition and care of Lasswade's (and Tower's) horses, the fit of their tack and the quality of instruction that makes it grim, not the need of a lick of paint!
 
Over the last couple of months at Lasswade I have seen horses in healthy body condition, but definitely in need of more muscle, although I appreciate many have only been back in work for a month as they winter out after busy summers of common riding. I have found the tack clean, supple and well-fitting in my experiences there so far.
 
Jenni_ said:
Wait till after the common rides - you might just get your eyes opened.
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When I am an occasional spare rider for the common rides, I always take my own stirrup leathers as some of the hirelings tack leave a lot to be desired!

A few years ago one of my work colleagues came to ride my lad (was classed as an advanced rider by Lasswade standards) - she couldn't get my horse to walk in a straight line..... I had to give her a very basic riding lesson before she could do anything.
 
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I used to ride at Lasswade years ago, and they had some lovely horses, and I became extremely fond of a few. I helped out at common rides for a few seasons, and although I wouldn't ever say they were mistreated, I think the management of the common ride horses and their equipment does leave a lot to be desired.

I also went from there as an 'advanced' rider... By god did I have my eyes opened the first time I got on a 'proper' horse!
 
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