Traditional Riding Schools that take people on hacks out

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OWLIE185

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Are there any traditional riding schools/stables left in the country that take people out for hacks? If so where are they and how much do they charge for an hours hack?
As a 5 year old child (some 55 years ago) I would be taken out on a lead pony called Mitzie for a ride along tthe roads and beach in Felpham. (We even jumped the breakwaters). Then later on in my teens I would go on hacks with the Barnet Riding School (Monica Robarts) in Galley Lane High Barnet/Arkley (North London/Hertfordshire) and we woud hack out on the roads and their fields.
 
There are some trekking stables listed on the BHS website, perhaps try there?

I have hacked out from some riding schools/trekking stables with quite mixed results, so I'd check quite carefully that it is what you are looking for in terms of pace/scenery/how much road work/whether accompanied by an instructor or random teen etc
 
Yes there are. The yard where I keep my horse is also a riding school and they will take you on hacks if you wish. The yard where i used to have lessons also did hacks but hardly anyone did it as the hacking was quite expensive and not very exciting.

I think nowadays you often need to go to one place for lessons and another for hacking if you want to do both as typically yards are better for one or the other. I used to have my regular lesson and then every now and then go elsewhere for a hack as a change whereas when I was a child our lessons would sometimes involve a lesson in the school and other times a group hack or a mixture of the two.
 
Be wary, make sure they assess you before going and the horse seems nice in the school. My friend recently went to one with her uni, everyone except her hadn't ridden for around ten years, they didn't have an assessment just got took straight out, one girl on a pony described as cheeky who kept spinning and trying to tank off, all horses ran in gallop (expected if in a 'canter spot' but horses that do this shouldn't be used for people you've never seen ride) and my friends horse bucked it's way through every canter. Most riders came back wary and not wanting to go again. I'd deffo check the place out first, ask locally for opinions etc. Seem hard to come by good ones tbh.
 
Yep one in Nottingham takes people including children out on hacks. The last one my Grandaughter went on, as the only rider in the group off the lead rein who could canter she ended up rounding up sheep that had escaped from a field on horseback. What a fab experience.
You can book hacks only, or sometimes the childrens lessons do part lesson in the school part hack.
The riding school opens out directly onto a public bridleway and they have fields either side of the bridleway for a bit of yeehaa canter work if anyone is up for it. :)

For children an hours hack only costs the same as an hours group lesson.
 
Most places i've been taught at offer both, a couple only did lessons as there was no safe hacking.

One riding school i worked at did a 3 week rota of one week flat work, next week jump, then the following week hack. In the winter evening lessons couldn't hack but as soon as it was light enough again it was put back in. Most of the clients use to enjoy this system as it gave them a good mix of activity's, and it help keep all the horse fresh.
 
Most places I've been to offer both. I learnt to ride at a small riding school with no arena. So through the winter we had to hack out. It was brilliant and I learnt more than I ever have in a school!
 
Wellow Trekking Centre near Bath is a riding school and also does hacks out. I think the prices range from £25 to £35 for hacks. Lovely countryside around here as well.
 
there are a few on the borders of epping forest who take rides out, theres pine lodge in high beech, queen elizabeth riding school in chingford., woodredon equestrian centre in loughton and prob a few others that i cant remember at the moment. epping forest is great to ride in but is a bit busy at the weekends.
 
Torrisdale Trekking near me - not cheap at £30 an hour, but Torrisdale bay is the most amazing place to ride.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Torrisdale-Stables/139752452759114

4551159576
 
Cholwell Farm and Riding Stables near Tavistock (Devon) does hacks on Dartmoor - really friendly, good variety of horses from sensible RDA cobs and native ponies to Thoroughbreds.

Think prices have gone up recently to £18/hour or bit of a discount for 1.5 or 2 hours.

Roadwork only when chosen (i.e. weather truely foul and hedges give a bit of shelter from horizontal Dartmoor rain. Otherwise straight onto Dartmoor. Also do lessons on Dartmoor, which are pretty cool as well!
 
There's a lovely one in Leicestershire which does (PM for Info) in the most fantastic countryside. They do one hour hacks, two hour hacks, pub rides and even day rides on lovely, well-mannered horses. A one hour hack is £28.00 and a 2 hour hack is £41.00.
 
One very near to Royston/Herts use to hack out and good traditional riding school, not sure if they still do but think so. Most will take adults round our way.

But hard to find places that will take children out
 
Yeah I go to one that is bhs registered and they do well with both lessons (have indoor and outdoor school) and they do a lot of hacks which are not just plods out. All riders assessed before they go and swapped onto others horses if needed etc x
 
There's a few on the Ashdown Forest for obvious reasons. :)

I've hacked out quite a few times from East View Riding Centre which ONLY does hacks. They offer farm rides (walk and trot only) for beginners so no road work, or two hour forest rides for experienced riders - but they rely on you to tell them whether you're experienced or not. I've never been out in a group with a rider who couldn't cope though; I guess most people are pretty honest about how good a rider they are.
 
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