Riding in Richmond Park or something else horsey in London

Exploding Chestnuts

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OK, I've got Sunday morning or early afternoon in London, suggestions please, I am hoping to go to the British Museum Sat or Sunday, and if I am gong to ride, I need someone to talk to and a safe conveyance [I assume this is normal in London], obviously it would be great to ride Black Beauty or National Velvet. I don't want a donkey, sorry I don t want something brain dead, lol, a donkey would be fine!!!
 
There are a couple of stables near Hyde Park in central London, but they are seriously pricey so depends on how much you want to spend. Richmond Park is quite a bit further out. I think there's also a few stables in Wimbledon that might be cheaper if you don't mind leaving central London; there's also one in Lee Valley, in East London, and in Mudchute, which is slightly more central East London.
 
Richmond Park appeals due to name, not to bothered about cash, its a once in a lifetime thing, but I don't want an RS experience, if that is not being too blunt.
Sry, I want to hack, not a lesson. I am former pro rider, but am now "over the hill".
 
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Try Ross Nye's stables in Barthhurst Mews Hyde Park. (Run by Kertstie Nye now) (North side of Hyde Park).
 
i used to live in west london and had lessons and hacked out in richmond park- it is lovely :)
was quite a few years ago- but Barnfield stables in Kingston/Ham, near the park, go on 2 hour hacks still i think- and they are small but have a good selection of happy hackers but some are not donkeys and there are some good canter tracks
 
I worked part time a few years ago at Park Lane Stables in Teddington near Kingston - they do lovely hacks in Bushy Park, former hunting ground for Henry VIII and still stocked with red and fallow deer which you can ride right past. Good canters too. If you say you're experienced they've got some decent horses, and can either go private or group - groups are small.

I worked for a couple of days at Hyde Park stables, would not recommend. Mostly caters to complete beginner tourists, having to lead them around on ropes - not really suitable for anyone can actually ride! Richmond is lovely to ride in, not sure which stables are best - I rode there once with a riding school that lorried the horses over to the park and had some excellent gallops. Can't remember which riding school it was though!

Can also highly recommend the Riding Club of London, not ideal if you're only on a one off visit but they are a riding concierge and can arrange rides with the cavalry, hacks in richmond and much more.
 
Would recommend taking the short trip out of London to Windsor to ride in Windsor Great Park. Amazing hacking in acres and acres of beautiful deer park. Windsor is a really short drive or train journey. Can recommend Wayside Stables for fab hacking and great horses (I don't work for them!;)) Worth the short trip. You'll get much better value for £££ too.
 
Ham House Stables ride out to Richmond Park - or at least they used to. It's not far from the park and although you would have to cross some roads the rest of the way is off road.
I also rode at Park Lane Stables in Teddington, a really lovely friendly yard.
 
Personally wouldn't recommend Park Lane, I live near there and it isn't nice at all. Should be knocked down and turned into a housing development in my opinion as it just isn't suitable for horses. As a one off visit I think Wimbledon Village Stables would be a good bet as they appear to be geared towards that kind of thing, but for people that can ride as well, and the horses are good quality and immaculate.
 
I m spoilt for choice, I can t find email for ross nye stables, anyone.
Also which would be best for an hour' s amble, must say all the photos look great, but one might expect that .
 
Yes, Ross Nye for Hyde Park and the real experience of riding in London - (We havent done it yet but mean to). But be aware that their horses go on a well-earned country holiday every summer, so I dont know if they will be open when you visit. If not, the other stable offering rides is almost next door. We went to Bathurst Mews to see where the yards were.
The Wimbledon schools do sometimes hack as far as Richmond Park, but that is their longer rides. Normally they hack on Wimbledon Commmon. Staff and Livery clients from Ham House hack in the Park, but Ham House riding schooll does do not offer hacks - they give regular highly skilled school lessons.
Riding schools near the park offering hacks include Kingston Riding Centre and above all Stag Lodge at Robin Hood Gate. It is good riding - a perfect place to hack - but can be crowded at weekends. Riding there has long been one of my great pleasures, but London is so full of wonderful art and even horses - think the Horse Guards, Stubbs' paintings in the National Gallery, The Royal Mews, that I am not sure I would flog out to Richmond Park if I only had two days. Work out the travel time from Central London - It means train from Waterloo to Putney and then a bus.
I would choose Hyde Park - which I've been promising myself as a treat for years.
 
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