E13
Well-Known Member
Just out of interest, what are your views/experiences? I've ridden there before but recently heard something negative from a friend, so got me musing!
I went to talland for a lesson before my exam. When I called to book it the girl was very nice but no payment was taken which was weird.
When I turned up on the day I went to the office and booked in. Was told to wait in the barn. A boy came and found me and showed me the horse, who was filthy but not to worry. He also told me to be careful as he was known to buck! Good start!
then I was left.
I had no idea where to go, in the end I found the indoor school and stood outside forever and still no one helped me, in the end I just barged in and guessed who my instructor was.
The horse was an advanced horse who knew all the moves but was miserable and stiff, however when I rode him with a more aggressive tone he actually went quite well. He was behind the leg and did buck.
I did enjoy the lesson. The instructor was good and I took snippets away.
At the end of the lesson I took the horse back and no one was there to take the horse. I eventually found his stable. Un tacked and rugged him, found a tack room, but the tack in and left, still saw no one!
so in short, lesson was good, customer service not so.
I did my exam there and everyone was pleasant and the horses were all nice
Marmalade. Don't get me wrong. The lesson was good and the people were friendly and I am sure the left to get on with it idea is great for the regular customers, however, if you have never been some where before it can be off putting
I went to talland for a lesson before my exam. When I called to book it the girl was very nice but no payment was taken which was weird.
When I turned up on the day I went to the office and booked in. Was told to wait in the barn. A boy came and found me and showed me the horse, who was filthy but not to worry. He also told me to be careful as he was known to buck! Good start!
then I was left.
I had no idea where to go, in the end I found the indoor school and stood outside forever and still no one helped me, in the end I just barged in and guessed who my instructor was.
The horse was an advanced horse who knew all the moves but was miserable and stiff, however when I rode him with a more aggressive tone he actually went quite well. He was behind the leg and did buck.
I did enjoy the lesson. The instructor was good and I took snippets away.
At the end of the lesson I took the horse back and no one was there to take the horse. I eventually found his stable. Un tacked and rugged him, found a tack room, but the tack in and left, still saw no one!
so in short, lesson was good, customer service not so.
I did my exam there and everyone was pleasant and the horses were all nice
I've seen two lessons there - one was by Pammy and the person she was teaching took away a lot and it was a very good lesson; the other was with someone who was competing well at Elementary level dressage, they said this when they booked and said they were hoping to move up a level next season. They were given an instructor who wasn't capable of teaching above Prelim and thought they were teaching a beginner. When the person complained she was basically told to f-off
I think with a place that big it all depends on who you get to teach you
So surpised at how many new posters have joined to defend Talland's reputation - seams a bit late now, when their has been so many threads over the last few years all saying how poor their attitude is to the riders.
Pammy - i hear you are a legend but from the news on the street you need to be looking at the attitude your instructors have - to be blunt they need to realise they are not you, and being rude is not of any benefit to your buisness.
I'm saddened to hear some of these reports. I was there around the same time as Marmalade67, and I agree with her comments. It was one of the high points of my horsey career, and I took away such a huge amount.
Back then, very few of the students did any client teaching, and if they did, they tended to be the Stage 4 students, who were considered to be competent enough to be allowed to teach outside students. We were very closely supervised, and staff were very quick to jump in and help if things were going wrong.
Very sad reading...