Bernster
Well-Known Member
That’s where my London horse life started out ! A few years back mind you and I quickly ended up at Trent park and then a horse owner !!
Went for a great hack around Hyde Park, London, yesterday.
- Thread starter PeterNatt
- Start date
Tinsel
Well-Known Member
Sorry my i pad went odd what exactly is the price range for a hours hack
asmp
Well-Known Member
Tiddlypom
Carries on creakily
I don’t think that those prices are at all excessive considering that the stables are sited in such a prime ££££s central location in the capital.
j1ffy
Well-Known Member
I think Wimbledon stables were more than that when I lived nearby 10 years ago!!
Surbie
Well-Known Member
No, Wimbledon is less than that, though not by a huge amount and you have to have an assessment lesson first. They no longer take beginners/novice riders except for lessons on the mechanical horse.
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Skib
Well-Known Member
I have ridden on Wimbledon Common but only a couple of times when Richmond Park was closed. There is a gentleman's agreement, I think, that Wimbledon Common horse tracks and the school there will be left for the use of the RS stables in Wimbledon Village. Which means that Stag Lodge stables where I learned to hack will mostly use Richmond Park. There used to be a small school out in the Park but it was not on the main horse track and has now disappeared.
Wimbledon Common and Putney Heath are linked by two horse underpasses but I believe riders there have to keep to the bridle tracks. In Richmond Park when the ground is dry in summer, riders have been allowed to ride off track except on busy weekends. It is always expensive to go for a private hack, as it needs two horses and an escort, but Richmond Park is a lovely place to ride. There is also Barnfield stable on the other side of the Park. If you look at the BHS site, you will find the recognised schools in that area.
When I started hacking, I had a friend who hacked from Wimbledon. But in those days it was a subscription yard where members rode every week.
I have ridden lots of tracks in Surrey (20 years ago) because when I started to learn, before I shared, I went for hacks from several yards thinking it lovely to explore Surrey on horseback.
expanding_horizon
Well-Known Member
I grew up living in Richmond / Twickenham area 20-25 years ago, I remember what you describe. Used to ride at Manor Farm in Ham (before became largely polo). They then moved to Stag Lodge stables, and ran that. Did use the Wimbledon facilities but not a lot.
I remember the public access arena in Richmond park, over nearish Holly Lodge I think. Though think it was on way out 20-25 years ago when I remember it. Stony maybe?
teapot
Well-Known Member
Stag Lodge has always baffled me as it has two different yards - one assumes they tell you which to go to when you book?!
equinerebel
Well-Known Member
It’s an absolute dream of mine to ride on Rotten Row!
Surbie
Well-Known Member
Yep - Stag1 or Stag2. Stag1 is in the park. Stag2 is on a former rugby ground iirc.
It still is to a large extent, but they take non-members who are comfortable with wtc, just not on the weekend.
Wimbledon do hack to Richmond Park regularly, but it has to be a longer hack b/c of the distance, whereas Stag1 is in the park at the Robin Hood entrance so instant access.
Tinsel
Well-Known Member
I hope you can fulfill your dream soon
Bobthecob15
Well-Known Member
Not ridden in Hyde Park but shared a horse for a while near Windsor and have many fond memories of cantering around Windsor park, it was incredible 
no hefty price tag either 
no hefty price tag either 
Backtoblack
Well-Known Member
Peter natt has posted a photo of his enjoyable ride out in London presumably because he had a lovely time and wanted to share it and immediately the thread turned into a bitchfest critising just about everything. How awful 
Tiddlypom
Carries on creakily
Hardly a bitchfest 
Snowfilly
Well-Known Member
Hardly bitching to point out the safety issues in that photo!Peter natt has posted a photo of his enjoyable ride out in London presumably because he had a lovely time and wanted to share it and immediately the thread turned into a bitchfest critising just about everything. How awful
I’ve worked in riding schools and the phone and the lack of high viz rings all sorts of alarm bells. The phone use may well invalidate insurance and would certainly have been a disciplinary for me or my colleagues unless it was an emergency. Not sure about the high viz but given my personal insurance recommends it for all hacking, I wouldn’t be surprised if a business one requires one.
Other than that, I’ve seen people swapping memories and accounts of riding there and elsewhere in London.
Rowreach
👀
Given that Peter claims close connections with the BHS and frequently comments on all and every hiviz and riding on the roads thread on this forum, I was very surprised at the photo he posted and more surprised he didn't raise the issues of no hiviz and the mobile phone himself, tbh.Peter natt has posted a photo of his enjoyable ride out in London presumably because he had a lovely time and wanted to share it and immediately the thread turned into a bitchfest critising just about everything. How awful
Goldie's mum
Well-Known Member
Given that their lead-rein policy means there's a staff member & extra horse for every paying person I thought it would have been more. Can't really compare those prices with a place that has a school for a trial & then takes out a string of "payers" with one leader.
Skib
Well-Known Member
You hack or have lead out pony rides from one yard and have school lessons and jumping at the other.
You are too young. When I started riding the only Stag Lodge was out side Robin Hood Gate of Richmond Park and it had no turn out nor other locations. When surplus playing fields along the A3 were offered for other sporting use (i.e. not for building) Stag lodge was allowed to have that site which provided them with 2 or three fields for turn out and the opportunity to build stables and to fence three or four outdoor arenas.
When I rode there pre Covid, you phoned the branch where you wanted to ride, but you could use your pre paid rides at either location. So I had dressage lessons with an excellent RI at Stag 2 and hacked from Stag 1. My grand children had some riding lessons at Stag 2. Stag Lodge now have an on line booking system which (as I have told them) involves selecting a year of birth which proves technically impossible for older riders.
(Note that I havent ridden there recently as I have for many years shared horses elsewhere and hacked on my own)
Caski
Well-Known Member
Happy memories indeed! Trent Park was my little bit of heaven as a teenager!
teapot
Well-Known Member
Looks like they use EC Pro, which always appears more complicated than it is. Unless the registration process has changed, you used to just type in your year of birth, rather than scroll to select the year.
I can send some screenshots on how to do it if you ever do need to register anywhere
PeterNatt
Well-Known Member
You are absolutely correct - I should have been wearing Hi-Viz! It was a major error on my part that I was not wearing any.
Skib
Well-Known Member
I have no idea why one should wear high viz when riding in Hyde Park. I didnt.
High viz for riders is a fairly recent idea. I have high viz for winter but the rides in Hyde Park are a simple circular route. A horse and rider are hardly likely to disappear.
As for RIs using phones on horseback, it is often to provide clients with souvenir pics. I dont do it myself but that is personal choice.
High viz for riders is a fairly recent idea. I have high viz for winter but the rides in Hyde Park are a simple circular route. A horse and rider are hardly likely to disappear.
As for RIs using phones on horseback, it is often to provide clients with souvenir pics. I dont do it myself but that is personal choice.
teapot
Well-Known Member
The roadwork to the park for one and avoiding being taken out by a cyclist/runner/dog walker for seconds (a bay horse, dark clothed rider will blend in just as in much in the park as they would on the road). Hyde Park really is no longer the peaceful place it once was.
Time and a place for taking a photo too, and most definitely not where that photo was taken!
I’m still annoyed about the bent iron too
criso
Coming over here & taking your jobs since 1900
Because to get to Hyde park they are riding on busy roads. It's a long time since I've hacked with a riding school however they tended to have staff front and back in hi viz. Look at the picture and how well the riders blend in with the background. The colour of the horse nearest the camera make them stand out but the darker one behind wouldn't.
With the phone, it doesn't look like the person is taking a picture but if they were, waiting till they were inside the park might have been better. They are also leading someone so between leading and the phone, doesn't leave a hand for steering your own horse independently.
TheChestnutThing
Well-Known Member
A friend works there.
The process it seems is (mostly and from what I have been told is this), the Hall McActeers own another livery yard in Herts. Basically the teenage riders there get recruited to go and work at HP if they are friends with the daughters. The yard had recently changed ownership from Mandy to the daughters and is run by the daughters.
The teens who work there have no prior training or further training (unless they want to) and many are nowhere near as experienced as those who go for a ride there. I don’t want to say much more…
It does however appear that you had the most fabulous time!
The process it seems is (mostly and from what I have been told is this), the Hall McActeers own another livery yard in Herts. Basically the teenage riders there get recruited to go and work at HP if they are friends with the daughters. The yard had recently changed ownership from Mandy to the daughters and is run by the daughters.
The teens who work there have no prior training or further training (unless they want to) and many are nowhere near as experienced as those who go for a ride there. I don’t want to say much more…
It does however appear that you had the most fabulous time!
teapot
Well-Known Member
Interesting if true, not least because part of the licensing agreement is that there is someone on site who’s an AI/Stage 3 or equivalent experience on site during all hours of operation.
I swear HPS used to be BHS approved and now isn’t, less regulation that way I guess.
teapot
Well-Known Member
Also not your fault - as a client you should be guided by the establishment in question
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TheChestnutThing
Well-Known Member
I’m sure they will have someone on site that is suitably qualified but it doesn’t mean that the “instructors” are. I know for a fact that my friend isn’t and she’s been there 3 years and does beginner lessons etc!
I do however stand to be corrected on anything. This is all just what I know/have been told (I did used to livery on the Herts yard and that is a whole other story!)