Signs of a good riding stable

T

Toz

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Hi
Could you give me a list of basic expectations for a good riding school, so what you would expect to see and how you expect to be treated. Also, horse condition etc.
I have my own list, but feel I'm missing things that are important, and was wondering what you think!! Also, as an extra question, would you expect riding school horses to be groomed, and to what extent?
Thanks all
 
I'd expect the horses to be in good condition, not fat, but lean and usually fairly well muscled. Not necessarily groomed up to your average private owners standard, but clean where the tack touches.

I'd expect customers to be treated cheerily with respect.
 
The first thing to find out is if they are licensed. Contact the local authority that covers the area where the school is based and speak to the Licensing Officer. Do not use any school that is unlicensed. It is a legal requirement and without a licence there will be insurance implications.

On the premises the licence should be on display. Ideally the school will also be BHS approved and this can be checked via the BHS.

The horses should be clean and presentable, tack safe and feet in good order.
 
Same as the others have said, plus- well groomed, toned horses. The muscle tone gives you an indication of whether the horses are worked correctly and to a good standard. Check the feet and vitality of the horse's expression, their eyes and shiny coats.
Clean, well fitting tack is essential. Are the staff efficient, polite, competent and calm ? Or is there a lot of shouting or pushing horses around ?

Is the surface of the ménage well maintained ? Scruffiness is ok, but yard should be well swept, clutter free and in good repair.
Stables should be fresh smelling even if due to be skipped out, not rancid. Rugs should be in good repair and not reeking of stale urine. Water buckets/feed bowls should look as though they are regularly cleaned.
 
How many riding schools take proper care of their horses? Regular back and tack checks. Routine dental care etc?
 
The Fuzzy Furry said:
Check out the muck heap - if they cant keep shyte tidy, then there is no hope..... :wink3:

Otherwise, as AA says above :)
Click to expand...

whole heartidly agree with this! now i think about it all the god awful yards i've been on have had shoddy muck heaps the good yards have had reasonable - fabulous muckheaps!

also if you get there at midday and they are still mucking out - that is a big no-no!! means they dont have the staff so people are usually stressed and rude and other corners may be cut! even on big yards i'd like to see mucking out all wrapped up by 10am! just a few things i've picked up having worked on various yards and liverying at different places
 
Personally, a riding school where the customers call it the best riding stable in the area...not the stable itself.

I went to a yard that is self proclaimed "best yard in the area"...no. They're rude and have dangerous ponies.
 
If you walk onto the yard and it smells very strongly of urine then back away!! that's always my first indicator of when a yard is a bit minging!
 
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