Where you began riding? Me, Whiteleaf...

Parrots riding stables(yes very old fashioned not a school OR equestrian centre)
In Hoddesdon..horses Flicker/Fella/Ebony/Jiminy/Sadie/Lockie/Polly who was 28 and soon PTS/Lulu who would grab you a real lioness/Dinky who was owned(all the school children knew her as she was kept up by Merk Sharp Dome..field all gone now)
Whiskey was owned by Janet who run the yard for Mr P. Mel and Ginger the youngsters.

Agree H& Safety would have a fit now(no hats no qualifications that I knew off). Also learnt to smoke. Bread and butter roll was our reward. Sometimes we got invited into see Mrs P and got a hard bit of victoria cake.We did then get something like 50p for a days work eventually as we were slave labour but loved it! They had a barn full of bullocks and did a bit of haulage. Mr P was very kind old man and really loved his horses. Apart from Lulu they were all snaffle mouthed and apart from the odd quirk were all steady edies 110% traffic etc they knew their job. Wish I could find that type now dont know what people do to the horses these days?

Doesnt this bring back memories...It is now flats and I am sure if you asked anyone they would never believe it had been there!
 
I started riding when I was 6 at Northfield Riding Centre, St Helens back in the '80's. My auntie had recently started riding there after having not ridden since she was a teenager and being horse mad I persuaded my parents to let me ride there. The first pony I rode was Gem who was a bay mare prob about 13.2h. I later rode most of the other ponies then the school horses. Round about the age of 10 I became a "helper" and would spend most Saturdays mucking out etc and leading round the lead rein kids with the other pony mad kids whose parents all hoped it was "just a phase"!

I'm still there with 2 horses on livery but I have so many happy memories!:)
 
I started riding when we lived abroad in Saudi Arabia, I was only 6 at the time but remember it so well. I rode a little coloured pony called candy most of the time and remember being so distraught if she wasnt brought out. My real riding education started when we moved back to Scotland, I started riding with my aunties friends daughter who gave lessons. She is a throw you in at the deepend kinda teacher but seemed to work for me. 9 years on I keep my own horse with her and she is helping me bring her on :).
 
Skippys Mum said:
Kilmardinny - out between Bearsden and Milngavie at the north side of Glasgow. It was run by the Sommerville family. My instructor was called Wilma and she was really glam (and really scary back then). Funnily enough, I am now married to her then boyfriends brother:D.

I'm going back a good while here though - probably about 35 years:eek:.

I only got as far as trotting - just as I got moved into the canter class my mum stopped me going as I hadnt tidied my room:(. I didnt ride again for another 10 years after that.
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Wow. Kilmardinny! I started there about 30yrs ago. 942 4404. That number is ingrained in my memory. My Dad was constantly threatening not to let me go because of the state of my room.

Sad to see it looking so run down now. The covered school looks so dilapidated. :(
 
I grew up in South London. Very first lessons were with a lady named Marilyn who had some horses stabled at Tooting Bec... there was (don't know if it's still there) a sand school on the common. I remember she had a lovely pony called Merlin. Later went to Dulwich and Willowtree...
 
Started at Bridge Barn in Horsell (Valerie Millwood owned) as my mother was head girl there, before she had more of us kids, this was before Thea joined Valerie. I was plonked on ponies as a baby & progressed to lead rein riding & being allowed onto Keith Luxfors 12.2 show ponies on occasions.
Valerie moved to Chobham, the original yard has now become a Beefeater & Premier Inn. When popping in there, I still remember riding in the school - which is part of the car park!

Did a short while at Langshot in Chobham when Andy Baldry ran it, when I was 9/10 then mum got us a pony for us kids to share.

Few yrs later went on to Huntersfield Farm in Banstead to do BHS exams, when Marion Borland was chief.
 
I've loved this thread!

but where are all the leicestershire people!?!?!

Think 88/89 I started at Witham Villa, back then owned by a lady called Pandora - horrible woman and had a rep for beating the ponies (I was 3/4 at the time so wasnt really aware of it) - they specialised in Caspian ponies, the instructor was called Heather and from what i remember was lovely - my favourite was a little bay caspian called Hotan. (must add Witham now has a very very good reputation and is the first place I recommend in the area for kids lessons!)

1990 - i started lessons at South Leicestershire Riding Establishment (Kenneth Clawsons yard) - back then they had a proper riding school with 5-6 ponies, JP sheffield did most of the lessons, I used to ride his old SJ pony Henry - the most fantastic pony ever, full of attitude and regularly dragged us out to his field when we tried to walk him to the school, jumped like a stag though awesome pony! , I spend almost my whole summer holidays there working for free/rides. I stayed there until I went to Uni. That place changed so much over the years - for the better as I was old enough to ride the ex-eventers when they stopped doing pony lessons, bought my first horse from Paul (the chestnut in my sig). Learnt so much!
 
tibby said:
Hi I began riding at my aunt's riding school, " Willow Farm " in Ormesby St Margaret near Gt Yarmouth in Norfolk, I was three at the time we wore scratchy cavalry twill jods and lace up shoes, this was nearly 47 years ago, my aunt is still teaching youngsters to ride, she did, and still does shout like a sargent major no one argued with her, we all loved it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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I had a lesson there the other year and have written about it in my book!

I started at the Red Barn in Stanford, California for various reasons.

Then a riding school in Costessey, Norfolk, which has since been demolished. It was in the sand quarries and we used to ride around Ringland.

Then Cringleford Riding School, run by the great Paula Sykes (Pat Smythe's groom) and finally Weston Longville for a wee while as a teenager.
 
hch4971 said:
I started at Owlet Farm Riding School in Horsforth, Leeds, when I was 9, told them I knew how to ride and went straight out on a hack (I had never been on a horse and they must have known when I clambered on but still let me go out). I managed the steering and stopping, didn't like the trot much and the canter on the cricket pitch nearly finished me but I managed to stay on and was hooked from then. I used to ride what I thought was a huge fleabitten grey called Alex who used to star in Follifoot (Owlet used to provide the horses), he probably wasn't that big really. I went on to be an instructress and worked at the next door riding school, Lingbob, that was the posh one of the area, we livery there now and the YO still has all the old photos of the horses. We spend many happy times remembering them!
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I know all of these, I started at Mrs Olliphant's Radcliffe Riding School in Radcliffe Lane Fagley Bradford before "progressing" to Thornton stables on Back Lane, Lea Ridge at Cottingley and Wharfedale in Menstone, all long gone now.
Remind me where Lingbob is again please,
 
The first pony I ever sat on belonged to my mum's friend; he was a little fatty called Jake. I think I was about 2 at the time.

I started having lessons then when I was 4. The first pony I had a lesson on was a little black one called Sugar. He lost a shoe during the lesson so I kept it! The yard was known locally as Brambly Hollow, I don't even know if it had a proper name. It's long gone now, there's houses there instead. When I started I think it was £3 a lesson.. after maybe 4 or 5 years there I moved on to a place called Lime Park just up the road.
 
Mine was Wilton House riding school, at Catsfield, East Sussex in the early 90s.

The best days of my life were there. My favourite pony was called Rex. I remember grooming him and pretending he was mine.

I drove down the drive of it last year but discovered it had all changed. I don't think it's a riding school any more. The indoor school had been turned into a barn. I felt very uncomfortable so we spun round at the bottom and got out of there quick! lol.

I miss those days....
 
Mine was a riding school on Chobham Common in Surrey...they had shetlands...I was 4 and would only ride one called Jamie!!! we basically did gymhana every week...it was brill.
Then I went to a riding school in Pyrford run be a lady called Nuala...she was very strict with the horses and we were taught lots of things there and we did own a pony days which were excellent. I always wanted to ride a furry black dales called Blackie who was a right madam...my best mate always wanted a horse called Bullet (he wasnt one though!).
Happy days...I loved them :-)
 
monkeybum13 said:
I learnt to ride at White Cat Stables, Bristol on an ancient bay pony called Kelly and a dun pony called Jumbo.

I remember the riding school very clearly as it wasn't that long ago that I went! (approx 14yrs ago which is nothing compared to some of you! )
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didn't start at Whitecat but went there regularly when i was about 15-16:D i remember there was a horse called Nobby lol, you had to start rising to get the bugger to trot:rolleyes: can't remember any of the others names, too buy laughing at nobby:D
Started riding when i was about 7 or 8 at a place nr Willsbridge in Bristol, can't remember what it was called but it's now a vets practice! have a feeling it got closed down/lost it's licence:confused:
 
I was lucky enough to have my own pony from when I was 2... Riding and horses are seriously in my blood!
But, I also did many an hour at a few RS. The first being the horses and ponies at Knighton House School, Dorset. I remember Scamp, Polo, RobRoy, Jammy and Peri, Quest and Honey to name a few. My great dear friends, had and still have, Deer park Riding stables in Blandford. Tumbleweed, Huntsman and Warick, the ever grumpy Muffin, and very old Sailor I remember very well! Pandora and Copper, who changed colour over night - literally from chestnut to grey. Very odd, and various stories came out of it. And Narvel the stallion... oh to even be asked to touch him you thought you had gods gift lol - he was a lovely horse!
 
Well technically the 1st horse I sat on was pony trekking in the lake district (little grey thing called Misty, can't remember what I did yesterday but I can remember that pony's name lol!) but the place I had my 1st official lessons was Westways riding school in Thorner in the late nineties (I'll've been around 6/7ish I think...) when we used to do half an hours riding and half an hours stable management (that's where I learnt how to take a bridle to bits, all the names of the different brushes, mucking out and all kinds of stuff that I've now forgotten!). On my 1st ever lesson I rode a bay pony called Toby and we went for a hack (!), this is without me being told any of the aides whatsoever. The lessons were in a tiny school and trotting to the back of the ride took all of about 5 strides (walking and trotting were all we ever did). Horses I remember were Ellie the shetland, Tuesday who was about 30 & was one of my favourites, Cesar, Dusty Bin, Magic the naughty pony who nobody ever seemed to ride without a leader, Hinny the erm hinny and Danny who arrived just before I left and I remember liking cos he had a bit of personality. Also remember they used to have a big gala for Hinny's birthday every year, which was great fun. After I got frustrated with not really progressing with the riding side of things there I started at Astley Riding Centre nr Swillington and carried on with lessons there and eventually kept my own horse there until a few years ago.
 
Boulty said:
Well technically the 1st horse I sat on was pony trekking in the lake district (little grey thing called Misty, can't remember what I did yesterday but I can remember that pony's name lol!) but the place I had my 1st official lessons was Westways riding school in Thorner in the late nineties (I'll've been around 6/7ish I think...) when we used to do half an hours riding and half an hours stable management (that's where I learnt how to take a bridle to bits, all the names of the different brushes, mucking out and all kinds of stuff that I've now forgotten!). On my 1st ever lesson I rode a bay pony called Toby and we went for a hack (!), this is without me being told any of the aides whatsoever. The lessons were in a tiny school and trotting to the back of the ride took all of about 5 strides (walking and trotting were all we ever did). Horses I remember were Ellie the shetland, Tuesday who was about 30 & was one of my favourites, Cesar, Dusty Bin, Magic the naughty pony who nobody ever seemed to ride without a leader, Hinny the erm hinny and Danny who arrived just before I left and I remember liking cos he had a bit of personality. Also remember they used to have a big gala for Hinny's birthday every year, which was great fun. After I got frustrated with not really progressing with the riding side of things there I started at Astley Riding Centre nr Swillington and carried on with lessons there and eventually kept my own horse there until a few years ago.
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I used to have lessons with the owners of Astley's Dad when they were in Kippax. Many many years ago.

First learnt to ride at Joan Austin's which was in Skelton in Leeds.
 
Fany Du Champ said:
First on a shettie called Louby Loo at a little riding school that has long gone called Fairview (I think) then at the Wellington in Hook, Hants, I learned a hell of a lot there.
FDC
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Me too, (reg Wellington) but I was a student there, so didn't start to ride there as such, just learnt more!
 
I started riding at a very young age, or rather was sat on ponies. I have several old pictures, pre walking age, of me sat on ponies that my mum had around. There were always ponies about when I was little. I can clearly remember going pony trekking on Exmoor when I was about 6!!! We were out for a couple of hours as well. I did have a few riding lessons, but was basically taught by my mum.
 
Rueysmum said:
Radnage House Riding School late sixties/seventies. It was run by Pat Smallwood and we even had Gill Watson as an instructor.

Oh, for the good old days!!!!
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I spent my days off from my horse job working there in Pat Smallwoods time, I studied for my Stage IV and BHSI Stable Manager - I used to ride Venture a chestnut gelding who was very reactive to sunlight. Pat Smallwood was an amazing lady responsible for hundreds of excellent dedicated grooms and riders. I remember the head girl had a horse called Kiwi.

My first lessons were at Cherry Meadows in Chesham, then Lodge Farm in Little Chalfont, then Brawlings Farm - with Sylvia Bunney, Di Bovey was head instructor, fantastic place learnt so much there and had so much fun, I'm still in touch with a few people from there. Still remember Petroushka, Kerry, Roma, Samantha, Ruskin and a very lazy grey Karli. Winkle the feed room raiding dartmoor.

When I first learnt a lesson was 11/6 and a hack 10/6
 
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Ealing Riding Stables for me; until I became slightly more educated (started when I was 4, left when I was 6) and discovered how unfair it was on the horses (stabled 24/7 unless on lessons), so I moved to Littlebourne and I'm still there now, it's fab!:D
 
Dollysox said:
Gosh - this is going back a long time. Must have been late 60s/very early 70s in Troon in Ayrshire. It was a place called Wrights Riding Academy, run by a chap called Mr Wilson (although he didn't teach). Very structured place - you were encouraged to go all day and help as well as ride. We had lunchtime lectures whilst tack cleaning.

I remember instructors Jackie (very scarey lady) and Mary (who was lovely). Horses I particularly remember were Eldorado (palomino and gorgeous), Toby, Conchita, Shamrock (who was 38 and used to pull horse drawn trams - she could still bolt with you on the beach), Trixie, Commanche, Smartie, Apache. We had to wear white shirts with black jumpers on top. It did give me a very good grounding and the horses were great.
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I went to riding lessons at 'Horsey Wilsons' as he was known, he was an art teacher at the local secondary school. I think it was a few years before you - I remember Shamrock being 36. I remember having to wear white shirts with black velvet bow and having to line up in size order perfectly in line to be inspected particularly for shiny boots! I remember Shamrock running away with me on the beach and then another horse bucking the rider off and the two horses taking off over the golf course towards the main road, with me still on his back. I took a dangerous decision (at about 10) to throw myself off the horse in order to prevent being possibly killed. Some golfers came over to see how I was but Horsey Wilson looked at me with contempt and turned his nose up - how dare I put his horse in jeopardy! I distinctly remember later that day a group of us being taken into the woods and someone holding a bridle and we all had to take turns holding reins whilst someone pushed you unexpectedly and you were to HOLD ON TO THE REINS!! Ha ! amazing! neither wonder I ended up with migraine headaches....but I did love the horses and remember all those names. I got on well with Jackie and Mary and my favourite horse was Conchita, a grey if I remember. Im sure I still have a memory book I made with hair from all my favourite horses manes and lots of little momentos. I remember learning how to make a straw bed and fill the hay nets and we were scored for whose was the best bed. It taught me loads about horses and the place and the horses were always immaculate. Those were the days.....always hot and sunny, riding along the beach :) :) Oh Im remembering Lady was his horse and he would take out hacks....she was highly excitable and use to prance and rear when the red double decker buses passed - Im getting memories now that maybe I got to ride her once or twice....funny how it all comes flooding back ....
 
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I learned to ride at a farm owned by the Bailey family in Airdrie, Lanarkshire - sadly its long gone and the entire area has houses built on it now but I remember the very first lesson I had when the little coloured pony I was riding, who was named Cherokee, took off across the field with me and I fell off into a bush laughing when he suddenly stopped for a snack :D My mother didnt see the funny side though, she was freaking out! But it didnt deter me
 
These are great! I haven't spotted any Warwickshire people... I started at Walton Hall, on a fat pony called Tiger. My brother and friends rode Milton, Marmite and Sara. My main memories are of horrible string gloves- totally useless so when you got off the pony in winter your hands were frozen into claws. Also being endlessly impressed with all the rosettes hanging in the "office" (caravan), and having a massive crush on one of the helpers (I was 5, he was probably about 10 but seemed like a grown up)- sometimes he'd be persuaded to give us rides up the muckheap in a barrow and tip us out at the top. Oh, and almost falling off our ponies laughing one day when my friend's pony (Marmite I think) made a bid for freedom one day and leapt the school fence to get at the lush grass the other side. My friend came off, leaving his wellies behind in the stirrups!
 
I started out at Gunstone is Codsall with Di Budd, but moved to Kingswood Equestrian Centre (it was a riding school in those days, not the swanky competition centre and livery yard that it is now! :D ). Favourite ponies were Cilla and Kielder. I often wonder what happened to them..... *wanders away feeling all nostalgic* :D
 
Oh my I was a student boarder at Wrights from '73-'76. So many memories will write more soon.




Dollysox said:
Gosh - this is going back a long time. Must have been late 60s/very early 70s in Troon in Ayrshire. It was a place called Wrights Riding Academy, run by a chap called Mr Wilson (although he didn't teach). Very structured place - you were encouraged to go all day and help as well as ride. We had lunchtime lectures whilst tack cleaning.

I remember instructors Jackie (very scarey lady) and Mary (who was lovely). Horses I particularly remember were Eldorado (palomino and gorgeous), Toby, Conchita, Shamrock (who was 38 and used to pull horse drawn trams - she could still bolt with you on the beach), Trixie, Commanche, Smartie, Apache. We had to wear white shirts with black jumpers on top. It did give me a very good grounding and the horses were great.
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