Training in London

[showjumpergirl]

Hi,

Background: I've ridden my whole life (20+ years), lucky enough to have grown up with horses at home with daily beach rides so was spoilt by the fab hacking. Done a few BE90s, but mostly BS (up to Newcomers). Did a fair bit of hunting as a kid. Quite enjoy dressage/schooling, horse less keen.

I moved to London about a year ago, live centrally (Zone 2), and really miss riding/competing! I'm not really interested in e.g. hacking in Richmond park (might be worth going once?), but would love to know if anyone has any recommendations for any more advanced training e.g. school master lessons, or even lunge lessons. Basically any way I could ride regularly here without being frustrated if it's all too geared for beginners.

Unfortunately bringing my horse to London isn't remotely feasible but can ride when I go home. Would love to do more on the weekend in London if anyone has any ideas or recommendations!

Thanks!

 

[Surbie]

You could have a look at the Civil Service Riding Club perhaps? The Cavalry horses are only for advanced riders.

 

[wren123]

Ham house stables have excellent tuition and decent horses.

 

[View]

Trent Park

 

[criso]

Depending on whether you can commit, this is where I have seen sharing work well. Experienced riders in London who are not in a position to have their own horse but find riding schools frustrating and very very expensive find this a useful arrangement. For the price of a group lesson in London, you could find a horse to ride a couple of days a week and have enough left over to get a freelance instructor to teach you.

Have a look on preloved or facebook groups, North London Horse Riders is the only one I know but there are probably some for different part of london or put a wanted advert up.

 

[SO1]

I think there is an organisation called the London Riding Club which organise lesson with the Cavalry, hunting hirelings, day trips etc.

 

[daydreamer]

Depending on which side of London you could try hemps green equestrian. Excellent horses and tuition.

 

[showjumpergirl]

These are some really great ideas, thank you all! Feeling much more positive about the whole thing now

 

[SO1]

The riding club is called Riding Club London if you want to look it up on Internet. One of my friends was a member before she got her own horse and said that it was fun. Does cost quite a bit to join but they do social activities as well as discounts on riding at partner stables and lessons with cavalry.

 

[showjumpergirl]

The riding club is called Riding Club London if you want to look it up on Internet. One of my friends was a member before she got her own horse and said that it was fun. Does cost quite a bit to join but they do social activities as well as discounts on riding at partner stables and lessons with cavalry.

It does look good, don't know how I hadn't come across it before! I've asked about their riding costs (don't mind paying the membership if the events are vaguely affordable). If you don't mind me asking, did your friend move out of London to get her own horse?

I love the sharing idea upthread but not sure I can commit enough at this stage. Maybe one for the future though.

 

[criso]

In terms of moving out of London, there are some livery yards on the edges of London where some people keep their horses. A lot of people myself included end up moving their horses out a bit for better facilities, turnout and hacking for less money. I know some people that have ended up following the horses out of London but also know lots that haven't. If you are working in Central London and have a horse outside, there is some sort of commute wherever you end up living.

 

[SO1]

No she didn't she keeps her horse at same yard as I keep mine in South Bucks. Quite a few people who live in London on the yard.

It does look good, don't know how I hadn't come across it before! I've asked about their riding costs (don't mind paying the membership if the events are vaguely affordable). If you don't mind me asking, did your friend move out of London to get her own horse?

I love the sharing idea upthread but not sure I can commit enough at this stage. Maybe one for the future though.

 

[Bernster]

Def do able to ride/share and live in London. Does involve a commute though and having a car really opens up your options. I’m in north London and livery in Herts.

 

[teapot]

The Riding Club London is your best bet but they actually use a lot of places that you could go to direct such as Trent Park or Ham House.

The military option is niche and not open to everyone, but you won't be jumping Newcomers heights or riding half pass to schoolmaster level. (It's a chance for the horses to be schooled by advanced civvies ) You'll also need your own insurance to ride with them so an extra cost on top, and the MOD pass etc.

Not sure what Stag Lodge offer these days. Don't knock riding out in Richmond Park, it's lovely and not just done at a walk. Wellington's an great option if you're prepared to get a train/cab combo.

 

[Splash2310]

Trent Park Equestrian Centre - they have some nice advanced horses and also offer lessons on the lunge. V easy to get to on the Picadilly line, then a 5 minute walk from the station.

Prepare for your eyes to water when you find out the prices though....

 

[Skib]

I have learned to ride entirely while living in London, for most of the time riding twice a week, one hack and one lesson. I have also twice shared.
To have specialist tuition on specialist horses does cost more. But you can pick and choose. I had expert lunge lessons and chose to go to a dressage centre and ride warm blood horses just to learn what it felt like.
I didnt opt for that in the end. I become too attached to my regular horse but I was thinking the other day how in my early years I hacked at at many different places to cover different routes.
Do not discount the Royal Parks like Windsor and Richmond or even Hyde Park. A ride on Epsom Downs where I grew up, is special. Our hacking whether in Surrey or Epping Forest can be better provided with routes and safer than some rural areas.

 

[teapot]

Trent Park Equestrian Centre - they have some nice advanced horses and also offer lessons on the lunge. V easy to get to on the Picadilly line, then a 5 minute walk from the station.

Prepare for your eyes to water when you find out the prices though....

Their prices are actually just at the top end of the industry nation wide. I know of more expensive (by £20 type) outside of London!

 

[showjumpergirl]

I have learned to ride entirely while living in London, for most of the time riding twice a week, one hack and one lesson. I have also twice shared.
To have specialist tuition on specialist horses does cost more. But you can pick and choose. I had expert lunge lessons and chose to go to a dressage centre and ride warm blood horses just to learn what it felt like.
I didnt opt for that in the end. I become too attached to my regular horse but I was thinking the other day how in my early years I hacked at at many different places to cover different routes.
Do not discount the Royal Parks like Windsor and Richmond or even Hyde Park. A ride on Epsom Downs where I grew up, is special. Our hacking whether in Surrey or Epping Forest can be better provided with routes and safer than some rural areas.

Fair point on not dismissing the hacking, especially as I'd rather do that than not ride at all.

Which dressage centre were you looking at? Also curious about riding something different as I'm so used to my boy at home.

The Riding Club London does seem the best bet so far (especially for the social side too) but keen to hear any further suggestions

 

[Pinkvboots]

Can you only do weekends and does it have to be in just London?

 

[showjumpergirl]

Can you only do weekends and does it have to be in just London?

Unfortunately my job has long/unpredictable hours so it's difficult to commit to anything much in the week (especially if it involves a bit of a commute as I don't have a car here either), so realistically just weekends. I think it'd have to be London for now, unless it wasn't too far. If I'm serious about it, I probably should look at moving further north but want to see what's happening with working from home etc first

 

[RachelFerd]

A (civilian) friend of mine rides household cavalry horses in the morning in Hyde Park - always at 7am in full show gear! Not sure how you get into that, but it is definitely still a possibility...

 

[j1ffy]

I was in a similar position to you, going back 11-12 years now so my experience will be very out of date! I tried Trent Park but found they squeezed so many horses into on arena (multiple group and private lessons going on) that it was hard to do anything very advanced. I also tried Dulwich riding school, who had some good county-standard Welsh cobs, but the instructor was very passive-aggressive and not my style at all. I ended up riding at Lee Valley, where they have good facilities and had a wide range of horses with instructors who competed to a decent standard themselves. I met some people there who introduced me to the Light Cavalry in Windsor so I started heading there for regular hacks and the odd lesson - eventually I spent so much time driving out of London (Brixton - so traffic-hell in all directions) that I decided to move!

My suggestion would be to go and have a few lessons in different places and see where suits you best and what works on public transport from where you live. If you have a licence, consider joining a car club so you can drive out occasionally to the good stables around London - Lomond (classical dressage) near Gatwick and Wellington near Reading are worth a visit.

 

[teapot]

I was in a similar position to you, going back 11-12 years now so my experience will be very out of date! I tried Trent Park but found they squeezed so many horses into on arena (multiple group and private lessons going on) that it was hard to do anything very advanced. I also tried Dulwich riding school, who had some good county-standard Welsh cobs, but the instructor was very passive-aggressive and not my style at all. I ended up riding at Lee Valley, where they have good facilities and had a wide range of horses with instructors who competed to a decent standard themselves. I met some people there who introduced me to the Light Cavalry in Windsor so I started heading there for regular hacks and the odd lesson - eventually I spent so much time driving out of London (Brixton - so traffic-hell in all directions) that I decided to move!

My suggestion would be to go and have a few lessons in different places and see where suits you best and what works on public transport from where you live. If you have a licence, consider joining a car club so you can drive out occasionally to the good stables around London - Lomond (classical dressage) near Gatwick and Wellington near Reading are worth a visit.

Second the Light Cavalry, and Berkshire Riding Centre's pretty good.

Top travel tip OP - closest station to Wellington is Hook or Basingstoke, cabs can very from £22 to £35 though!

 

[EMT1992]

I was in a similar position to you, going back 11-12 years now so my experience will be very out of date! I tried Trent Park but found they squeezed so many horses into on arena (multiple group and private lessons going on) that it was hard to do anything very advanced. I also tried Dulwich riding school, who had some good county-standard Welsh cobs, but the instructor was very passive-aggressive and not my style at all. I ended up riding at Lee Valley, where they have good facilities and had a wide range of horses with instructors who competed to a decent standard themselves. I met some people there who introduced me to the Light Cavalry in Windsor so I started heading there for regular hacks and the odd lesson - eventually I spent so much time driving out of London (Brixton - so traffic-hell in all directions) that I decided to move!

My suggestion would be to go and have a few lessons in different places and see where suits you best and what works on public transport from where you live. If you have a licence, consider joining a car club so you can drive out occasionally to the good stables around London - Lomond (classical dressage) near Gatwick and Wellington near Reading are worth a visit.

I live near Wimbledon and drive down to Lomond for weekly lessons! Highly reccomend