Where you began riding? Me, Whiteleaf...

[RLS]

I learnt to ride at a place north of Dundee, owned by Mr David Conchie. So, of course it was known as "Konchie's Donkeys"! Think it's real name is Rowanlea (was a long time ago). I used to ride a pony called Enoch, my brother rode one called Zebedee. I have an old photo of me in a lesson - wearing jeans, old wellie boots and no hat! Ahhh, those were the days when no-one cared if their children fell off and damaged themselves. Ummm, or maybe that was just my parents???

 

[jrp204]

Nanturrian Stables at Mabe near Penryn, run by Pam. Used to ride Jordy, not sure we ever had lessons though used to ride around a bridleway that went through a granite quarry which used to terrify as the horses knew the canter spots which were often around flooded pits! never fell off though, then went to Trevales near Stithians run by Patsy and Mike Flowers, they would have a 'hunter trial' every year and I remember being so terrified of jumping the BIG log which was actually about 12", I did fall off that time!

 

[Billy the kid]

Nanturrian Stables at Mabe near Penryn, run by Pam. Used to ride Jordy, not sure we ever had lessons though used to ride around a bridleway that went through a granite quarry which used to terrify as the horses knew the canter spots which were often around flooded pits! never fell off though, then went to Trevales near Stithians run by Patsy and Mike Flowers, they would have a 'hunter trial' every year and I remember being so terrified of jumping the BIG log which was actually about 12", I did fall off that time!

I had a similar 'big log fear!' it was called the 'three logs' its still there and now its tiny ha ha, i guess when you are younger everything seems bigger.

 

[jrp204]

I had a similar 'big log fear!' it was called the 'three logs' its still there and now its tiny ha ha, i guess when you are younger everything seems bigger.

Guess I was never actually very brave, my daughter will jump anything!

 

[Eggshells]

Can't remember the name of the place but it was in France, aged 3 once a week, led around on *****lands, no saddles.. no I lie, 2 saddles, neither with stirrups which I am fairly sure we drew lots for before the 'lessons'!

Once I was 5 I was able to go to a stables in Switzerland called Domaine de la Tour at Crassier where I was actually taught to ride, well, fall off - an other *****land, this one a dark bay mare call Judith who used to specialise in canter to halts in corners and telaporting sideways 3 foot, with a 180 spin and bog off as her encore. I'd been riding her for a few months when the owner looked at me rather quizzically and said 'I don't think anyone has ever ridden Judith more than a 5 times and continued riding..'

Uk based riding was summer holidays in Devon - a lovely place called Collacott Farm with the most wonderful teacher called Sandy and a saint of a skewbald pony called Dominque.

 

[Soup Dragon]

I learnt at Lilly Riding School in Lilley, Bedfordshire in the mid 1970s.
I remember that there was no school but you had to be lunged with no reins or stirrups to start with and then progressed to hacking out on the lead rein. Finally you were allowed off the lean rein and progressed to cantering.
Pony names I can remember are Moonlight and Starlight.

 

[maximoo]

I lived in Bolton and learned at Dobb Brow riding school at about 5 yrs old then it changed to Mavita and worked and rode there until about 17yrs old now have my own yard and a few horses taught me that it takes a lot of hard work & dedication to,own these animals.

 

[HappyHollyDays]

I learnt at Sue Smith's in Canewdon. It was Church View Riding School on Anchor Lane but nobody ever called it by its proper name. I helped out on a Saturday in exchange for a half hour ride followed by my regular 1 hr lesson which cost £3 in the 1970's.

Ponies in the stone stables were Bunny, Ginger, Pip and Blue. Across the indoor school were Rusty, Topper, Joker and Bubbles. Later Jasper arrived. Horses were Kimble, Phoeniz and Sue had a TB called Charlie. There were probably more but I can't remember any others.

Later I kept my own horse there in livery while I was living abroad before moving him to Germany.
I know the school was closed some time in the 80's, even the big indoor school was taken down.

Loved it there and learnt so much. Anyone else ever heard of it?

 

[Maesfen]

I learnt at Greenacres in Biggin Hill, Kent from early 1990s to 1999. Favourites were Squirrel, Charlie, Penny, Toby, Honey, Promise... Then the yard shut down (has since reopened) so went to Chelsfield Riding School in Orpington. Loved it, and spent all my Saturdays helping out for free rides, then worked weekends there for a bit. Favourites there were Dougal, Dillon, Jessie, Lady, Thomas, Rhonwen, Merlin, Teddy... Only left when parents finally consented and found me a horse to share!

Ooh, I used to go there in the 60's just after it opened; it was very smart from what I was used to and had some lovely horses; run I think by the Cutts and Wynford Slinn used to work there, had a bit of a crush on him! Remember riding a lovely coloured called Thunder and there was also a lovely liver chestnut that he rode but can't remember her name. The stables I normally rode at got fed up with me talking about how fab it was (you know how young children brag, lol!) but sadly it was too far and too expensive for me so I had to shut up and put up!

 

[shadeofshyness]

Bowler's Riding School in Formby. Owned by Mary, still going strong to this day.

 

[Clare85]

My first proper lessons were at the Horse Rangers in Hampton Court in the 90s. We used to have to wear a green shirt, white gloves, beige jods and a brown cowboy hat (when not riding). Obviously wore proper riding hats when onbaord. We used to do one week in the school, next week would go out on the lead rein in Bushy Park. I loved it. I think it was about £7 a time.

My favourite ponies were a pair of little grey Welshies called Princess and Sausage. There was also a lovely big bay mare called Ruby Tuesday - never got to ride her though, she was too big!

 

[cremedemonthe]

Starrock Lane Stables in Chipstead in Surrey

 

[duckling]

Ooh, I used to go there in the 60's just after it opened; it was very smart from what I was used to and had some lovely horses; run I think by the Cutts and Wynford Slinn used to work there, had a bit of a crush on him! Remember riding a lovely coloured called Thunder and there was also a lovely liver chestnut that he rode but can't remember her name. The stables I normally rode at got fed up with me talking about how fab it was (you know how young children brag, lol!) but sadly it was too far and too expensive for me so I had to shut up and put up!

Haha, it was quite smartly laid out with the two rows of stables looking onto a fenced green and the indoor school up the top, then a line of slightly scruffier pony stalls behind the bottom row of stables which were a bit less smart! I used to love jumping in their bottom field - they had a little water jump and some steps that were always a bit overgrown

 

[Pink_Lady]

Norton Heath Riding School in 1970 - my first lesson with Anne on Tinkerbell

 

[Pink_Lady]

Well, here's one from the mid 60's -
Before the Norton Heath Equestrian Centre in Essex came to be the big competetion domain, it was a little riding school called 'The Orchards'. It was run by an ex Army bod by the name of Captain Mansell and his daughter Anne springs to mind. I remember being taken there by my dad when I was five, being plonked on a grey pony called Timmy who rodeoed me into the concrete yard! I also remember being hoicked back on and told to stop crying!
i rode there from the age of 5 until I was 11, when my dad informed me I knew all I was going to ever need to know about horses, and it was about time I got it of my system. That clearly didnt work!
I was wholly envious of the Captains daughter as she had a little bay show jumper of 14.2 called Drummer, and I imagined them as Marion Coakes and Stroller!
We all wore our cork hats (one day my mum found out I had nits, and although I was allowed to spend my ususal whole day at the stables, I was not allowed to remove my hat under any circumstances! oh the SHAME of it ) I always had second hand Millets Bedford cord jods, yellow woolie and/or yellow aertex shirt.

Ahhh - little Timmy - he was still there in the 1970s - bless him

 

[magicmoose]

Springfield Stables on Berry Lane near Bromsgrove in 1979. OMG I feel so old!

The lovely brick stables have now been converted to houses, but I can still see in my minds eye how it all used to look.

 

[Maesfen]

Haha, it was quite smartly laid out with the two rows of stables looking onto a fenced green and the indoor school up the top, then a line of slightly scruffier pony stalls behind the bottom row of stables which were a bit less smart! I used to love jumping in their bottom field - they had a little water jump and some steps that were always a bit overgrown

No indoor in my time but I think the school was in front of a row of new boxes then as I was quite nervous riding in front of some girls hanging over the doors!

 

[Pink_Lady]

OMG thats when I was taking my AI there! Tinkerbelle was gorgeous, and all the other tiny ponies, Piper, HP, Midnight,Scarlet, Dusky, Tim.

Brings back some memories - Dusky was our pony and we bred a foal from her .... I remember Tinkerbell - I had my first lesson on her, along with HP, Midnight, Jenson, Frodo, Timmy and all the others. That was in Mr Carter's days !

 

[Bam.]

Can't remember the name but Pam Dews in Dewsbury
Could be Croft House Farm?? I shall go and google!

Ponies: Jack (Little black welsh type - Around 11hh) Willow (Chestnut welsh type pony around 13hh) Chez (Chestnut throughbred, around 16hh) Zelly (Chestnut welsh pony, around 11hh)

Can't remember any others

 

[Archiepoo]

i learned in chadbourns in welton ,i liked to ride either dana a bay brp ,duke a blue roan that i was very lucky to ride all summer one year as the owner was doing exams i think and sparky a naughty black pony no body else liked to ride.he would turn around and bite your feet or your bum as you mounted lol .aaahhh wonderful times

 

[Shawn]

Oh my! Suzanne's was my first riding school too! Very early 70's. I remember Rob Roy and and Page One or something like that. I loved it there. Then I rode at a very small place on the Isle of Wight while going to upper chine school. Finally Wrights riding academy troon Scotland where I was a boarder. Tania, conchita, lady, smarty, trixi, Carla, Bonita.... Daniel Wilson was insane and Billy Bennett the instructor was a total dish and the only young man for miles. Needless to say I learnt a thing or two from him that had nothing to do with horses!

 

[Shawn]

Oh my, I was a boarder for 3 years in the early mid 70's. I rode Tania and got into an awful accident ended up in hospital for a few weeks. When I got back mr Wilson said my punishment was no riding for a month or something. I was so sad I ran away. Do you remember me? Shawn Taylor is my name. I used to lead the kids who rode on weekends. I was 14 years old when I started there.

 

[arlosmum]

My sister & I started at Jane Micklethwaites at Manor Farm, Carr, near Maltby in Rotherham. In 1971. I was 11, my sister 9. It was 60p for 1 hour. Same as a weeks school dinner money.We went on Fridays at 6pm. You looked on the list in the tack room to see who you were riding & to see if it was a hack or a paddock. A paddock was a riding lesson in the circle at the bottom of the jumping paddock. We learned how to do rising trot, (trot round the track to the back of the ride.....) and at the end of the lesson we did round the world, scissors, half dismount, etc, etc. We liked hacks best, hanging back & then having a sneaky canter to catch up. I rode Skippy at 1st, progressing to Bess & then Fancy. My sister rode Buttons, a naughty Shettie who tried to bite her toes when she got on. We loved it & begged to be allowed to spend all day there on Saturdays but Mum wouldn't let us as she thought we'd get in the way. Obviously wasn't aware of the free child labour concept which was so prevalent then!
When we'd been going a few months we were allowed to help make up the feeds. Always had molasses added to them. One day we were there & Jane M came back from a days hunting. Wow! We were so envious!!.
My Mum had 1, just 1 lesson on Oliver!! There was also a grey there called Mickey. We were also taught there by Jill Liggins, and another lady called Sue, from Pinchmill in Whiston.
Happy days.........

 

[Pinkvboots]

Queen Elizabeth Riding school in Chingford London, I was about 7 it was back in the late seventies early eighties rode there for quite some years.

 

[_HP_]

I learnt to ride at Silvermere (between Byfleet and Cobham, Surrey) in the 70's/80's when it was opposite the golfcourse. I'd ride a little pony called Tom Thumb who would often take off across the golf course....

 

[Pinkvboots]

I had my first lessons at Nightingale Riding Stables in Buckhurst Hill, Essex. And here I am on a pony called Smokey Joe. No, I don't know why I was on such a wee pony either!

(No crit, please! I was 10 and it was 1973!)

I used to work at High Beach riding school in the nineties and they had a grey pony called Smokey Joe there he was very old so it could have been him, as High Beach is very close to Buckhurst Hill, I lived in Buckhurst hill for fifteen years moved from there two years ago to move to Hertfordshire.

 

[Nessa4]

Had my first riding lesson for my 7th birthday (non-horsey parents had hoped I'd grow out of the obsession!) at Doney's in Amberley, Glos. Lessons were all hacks on common (led off instructor's horse). Once you'd grasped basics of walk and trot you were off leading rein, and since it was all open common land the first thing you learnt was to hang on to your pony like grim death if you fell off!! I started on Maundy, then progresed to her son Dimple, who taught balance because he refused to have the girth tight. I was taught by the Daughter, Jackie Doney, who I think went on to produce Show Hunters and I seem to remember there being a son, Jon, who designed SJ courses. This would be 1958.

 

[exracehorse]

Lime brook farm nr Malden in Essex. Age 4. Broke my arm in a jumping lesson in 2 places and pulled it out of the socket. Concussion twice. Broken toe. All at primary school age. Carried on though!

 

[happyhack]

Warehill Equestrian Centre in Eaton Bray and then Woodley Riding Stables, in Herts

 

[jessjc]

I started properly riding at Dittiscombe EC in South Devon (after hassling our neighbours for me to ride their big hunters, they eventually succumbed, and after many years of lessons, they helped my parents find me my first pony - pestering works!). My non-horsey parents and some other parents at my primary school started riding together, and us kids had a lesson every week too. It was great fun! Out of that group, the majority of us now are either serious about our horses, or are working with horses in some capacity... sadly for the parents, it wasn't just a phase! Alex who runs Dittiscombe was so good with us and really helped us to progress.

I was dropped off every saturday (as were a whole group of kids) and stayed there from dawn 'til dusk, mucking out, grooming, leading ponies in lessons, trekking to the fields to drag ponies in, testing eachother on stable management. Those were the days...