Thelwell_Girl
Well-Known Member
Morning all 
Having just returned yesterday from my exploration into South London territory, I did promise you lovely people a report (unfortunately didnt take any pics
)
So,
Driving down a Lewisham street of terraced houses, my Aunt and I hoped we were going the right way. The SatNav had directed us well, and we arrived at a small riding school, tucked away within these streets.
Willowtree Riding Establishment has been in this location for around 50 years, and many local people have sent their children there to learn to ride. The owner was to be our instructor, a very nice woman who was well turned out, with Beagler and hairnet and the yard seemed tidy (what we could see of the yard), so first impressions were good! She gave me and my Aunt individual comments and attention, even in the busy lesson.
The horses were all in the only school, an indoor, which had some interesting mounds and dips in the surface which made for interesting terrain to ride on! I went to the instructor to get my horse, and was given Alice, a nice piebald cob (with a sort of blinkers/fly mask combination to apparently prevent a re-occurence of an old eye infection?).
Alice, it turned out, had a treeless saddle! It did slip (a LOT!) when I tried to mount, but eventually scrambled on fine, and riding on a cob with quite a smooth action and this saddle made for a comfortable ride.
My Aunt (who hadn't ridden for 20 years!) was given a very pretty roan mare to ride, who turned out to be quite energetic, but my Aunt felt ok as she was led for the hour.
However, I was also led for half the lesson! This felt really odd, as I have not been led since I was about 6 years old, and the girl who led me seemed about 9! She was very friendly though, as were all the other helpers.
This brings me to the actual lesson. The lesson seemed to run for a while, then after 30 minutes those who were riding for the half-hour got off, others got on, and the hour people stayed riding. It seemed a bit odd, and the horses didn't really get a rest between riders. It also seemed like the instructor was trying to teach two lesson at once! On the outside track there were a lot of riders, which did cause some pile ups, and poor Alice was being glared at and almost got double-barreled by another horse. On the inside track were the little ones on shetlands and the like, including some who had never ridden before! I felt that these kids should really have had a little lead-around that wasn't in the middle of such a busy lesson, but most had capable leaders and all of them did well and had fun.
Then again, apparently this was a morning lesson, so for the less experienced and 'new to the stables' riders. So only walk and trot (One lovely horse did decide to canter off with his rider a lot, but was told the rider was very experienced with him, so it was ok). It was quite a 'low energy' ride, my leg muscles didn't seem to register the next day that I'd ridden! Stopping the horse was interesting, lots of seat, and 'Woooaahh *horse name*' and the leaders stopping the horses for you.
Every time we finished a movement, or a period of trot, we were told to give the horse a stroke on the neck, give the horse a stroke on the neck, give the horse a stroke on the neck... It felt weird constantly stroking the horse, it seemed, as riding at my usual RS, horse gets a well done, a pat or a scratch on the withers, and then back to work.
On their website, Willowtree state that they don't do any jumping. I could see why! The arena was a good size for normal schooling and lessons, but you could only really jump one horse, and the surface was quite uneven in places.
Overall, I did have a nice lesson at Willowtree, and enjoyed riding in a treeless saddle for the first time! My aunt enjoyed the lesson too, and says she will go back. However, it did feel a bit perilous at times with the horses in the school at once. I would reccommend Willowtree for riders who like a relaxed style of riding, which is quite gentle, and those who live in the area. If you are after any jumping or hacking out, though, this is not the place for you.
Even though the yard had limited turnout, (just paddocks with hay, no grass), the horses all seemed healthy and happy, with good quality tack, a tidy yard, and friendly instructor and helpers.
~~
*Phew!* Sorry for the length of that!
~~
*Also in CR*
Having just returned yesterday from my exploration into South London territory, I did promise you lovely people a report (unfortunately didnt take any pics
)So,
Driving down a Lewisham street of terraced houses, my Aunt and I hoped we were going the right way. The SatNav had directed us well, and we arrived at a small riding school, tucked away within these streets.
Willowtree Riding Establishment has been in this location for around 50 years, and many local people have sent their children there to learn to ride. The owner was to be our instructor, a very nice woman who was well turned out, with Beagler and hairnet and the yard seemed tidy (what we could see of the yard), so first impressions were good! She gave me and my Aunt individual comments and attention, even in the busy lesson.
The horses were all in the only school, an indoor, which had some interesting mounds and dips in the surface which made for interesting terrain to ride on! I went to the instructor to get my horse, and was given Alice, a nice piebald cob (with a sort of blinkers/fly mask combination to apparently prevent a re-occurence of an old eye infection?).
Alice, it turned out, had a treeless saddle! It did slip (a LOT!) when I tried to mount, but eventually scrambled on fine, and riding on a cob with quite a smooth action and this saddle made for a comfortable ride.
My Aunt (who hadn't ridden for 20 years!) was given a very pretty roan mare to ride, who turned out to be quite energetic, but my Aunt felt ok as she was led for the hour.
However, I was also led for half the lesson! This felt really odd, as I have not been led since I was about 6 years old, and the girl who led me seemed about 9! She was very friendly though, as were all the other helpers.
This brings me to the actual lesson. The lesson seemed to run for a while, then after 30 minutes those who were riding for the half-hour got off, others got on, and the hour people stayed riding. It seemed a bit odd, and the horses didn't really get a rest between riders. It also seemed like the instructor was trying to teach two lesson at once! On the outside track there were a lot of riders, which did cause some pile ups, and poor Alice was being glared at and almost got double-barreled by another horse. On the inside track were the little ones on shetlands and the like, including some who had never ridden before! I felt that these kids should really have had a little lead-around that wasn't in the middle of such a busy lesson, but most had capable leaders and all of them did well and had fun.
Then again, apparently this was a morning lesson, so for the less experienced and 'new to the stables' riders. So only walk and trot (One lovely horse did decide to canter off with his rider a lot, but was told the rider was very experienced with him, so it was ok). It was quite a 'low energy' ride, my leg muscles didn't seem to register the next day that I'd ridden! Stopping the horse was interesting, lots of seat, and 'Woooaahh *horse name*' and the leaders stopping the horses for you.
Every time we finished a movement, or a period of trot, we were told to give the horse a stroke on the neck, give the horse a stroke on the neck, give the horse a stroke on the neck... It felt weird constantly stroking the horse, it seemed, as riding at my usual RS, horse gets a well done, a pat or a scratch on the withers, and then back to work.
On their website, Willowtree state that they don't do any jumping. I could see why! The arena was a good size for normal schooling and lessons, but you could only really jump one horse, and the surface was quite uneven in places.
Overall, I did have a nice lesson at Willowtree, and enjoyed riding in a treeless saddle for the first time! My aunt enjoyed the lesson too, and says she will go back. However, it did feel a bit perilous at times with the horses in the school at once. I would reccommend Willowtree for riders who like a relaxed style of riding, which is quite gentle, and those who live in the area. If you are after any jumping or hacking out, though, this is not the place for you.
Even though the yard had limited turnout, (just paddocks with hay, no grass), the horses all seemed healthy and happy, with good quality tack, a tidy yard, and friendly instructor and helpers.
~~
*Phew!* Sorry for the length of that!
~~
*Also in CR*
Last edited:
