Hi there,

I am a 22 year old girl, living at Hunters Bar in Sheffield.

I would really like to meet people who are interested in horse riding.

I would like to get in touch with people looking to have lessons or go out hacking at weekends who would like to share the driving etc...

I have been riding since I was 7 mostly hourly lessons (jumping, dressage, drills etc) but have cared for other peoples horses/ponies and had various loans and riding holidays etc.

It would just be great to share some ideas with people in my same situation....email me or reply to this message- i cant get private messages yet on here...ta

sarah xx

I am also interested in riding in Sheffield area. I am 22, live in Nether Edge and have been riding since I was 9 and used to have a horse before I came to Sheffield for university and it's now been 5 years sioce I rode last. I do not drive.

I'd like to take up riding again (after abt 20 years off a horse) so if you find somewhere that do lessons, please PM me - I'm 35 and in x-pool area.

Hey,

yes there is a pretty good school out near dronfield, or theres barns green at grenoside they are very good with their horses.

Or I would love to go back to smeltings farm at ringinglow cause thats where I originally learned to ride.


mjlacey21 - if you are interested in just doing a few lessons we could always do that - tas1 are you up for going? is there anywhere you would both prefer?

I just really would like to get back into riding and can just about afford lessons nowadays or just a hack or something to try out the riding schools in the area....?

Yep I'm up for it - no kit but could find a pair of shoes with heel so should be ok.

Got a car so can drive .

I'm happy to do hacking or lessons. I've not tried any riding schools round Sheffield. Would just be nice to get back into it again. Need to sort me a new hat first though. What sort of time is best for you to go? I would prefer evenings ideally because I'm often away weekends, but could work around whatever you both want.

Hi again,

evenings would suit me cause i often go out a lot at weekends.

smeltings farm has a website -

http://www.equestrian-training.co.uk/

see what you think of that, they even still have some of the horses i learned to ride on!

the lessons would be £22 or £25 if just us three ride...might be worth just going for one and seeing what we think, they have a good sized outdoor school.

Although I haven't been riding for a few years that seems very expensive to me for a shared lesson. I doubt I could afford that very often.

Just been looking at the snowdon farm website.
www.snowdonfarmequestrian.co.uk
That looks pretty good. Will try and get hold of prices.

Can't make tuesdays and no where near as good as you two will be! Not got any kit so would need to borrow some.

Would definately be up for giving it a go to see if I can still hack it so to speak!

Hello,

I currently share a horse at the weekends near Dore and that's not too far from Smeltings farm. Although I enjoy lessons too - i used to have group lessons years ago and haven't really had proper lessons for ages, so i'd love to join in if you guys wouldn't mind me coming too! I'd ride one of the riding school horses, coz i think its a bit far to hack from the yard, have a lesson and come back.

I don't currently dive but my boyf does and he doesn't normally mind taking me coz he goes mountain biking whilst i ride. So we could share lifts.

Let me know if you're still wanting to go.

I'm still interested

Hi, sorry not been on for a while.

Yes I'd def like to go back to smeltings for a lesson. Is there now four of us up for going?

I'll email them and ask for a price and times available...

I am in London this weekend.

I can probably get a lift wiht my boyfreind this once, and see how it goes...

sarah :)

Sounds good to me. Keep me posted!

Hi everyone,

Could you email me if you definitely are interested and then by the time Im back from London we could get a date sorted.

I would like to go back to smeltings farm maybe just for one lesson but if there is another school you would rather go to I really dont mind.

I will have a car as of the 17/11/04 so then it should be a lot easier for me to meet you all...

anyway email me >> sarhbll@aol.com if you are still interested in meeting for a lesson. :)

Ta Sars xx

I keep my two horses at Smeltings Farm and can reccomend it. Ive been having lessons there for 14 years, and have kept my horses there for 9yrs.
Unfortunately I must warn you there is a HUGE waiting list for lessons... you'd be quite lucky to get in, although if you arent beginners that does help.
If you do go be sure to say hello to my boys. :)
Email me if you want to know anything more about riding in Sheffield and I will definately try to help!
Jo xxx
(x_jojoba_x@hotmail.com)

Hi Jo,

good to hear some else whos been there! I started riding there when i was 7 (im now 22) but left to move to rotherham with my family when i was 9 ... i loved Brandy, is he still there? and puzzle kerry and cola, dinky, flicker, tupence...do you knwo if any of them are still around?

I went on to the yard about a year ago and vicky said they still had brandy!

Well even if i cant have a lesson i might just go up there for a look around when i get a car ... :)

Sar
xx

Hey I learnt to ride on a mare called Dinky! Over in Formby so not the same one. Then had peter pan and berwin, favourite was inky at that stables.

Moved and then had nicky (very old) and zebedee as regulars. Zeb was a really good pony.

Not ridden in 15 years or so. Still like to give it a go.

Hey horsey people!

I ride and have just bought my own. I live in NE sheffield tho and keep him in Grenoside. Can heartily recommend Barnes Green and its the only BHS registered school (I believe), altho its a bit out of your way. They have some excellent tutors and got me back up after 25 years.

Tas1 - its really worth it, feels hard at first, I felt really stupid and old (am 46) when I got back up at first. Soon got back into my stride tho, despite falling badly on 5th lesson. After 2 years I've got my 15.2 cob gelding to ride every day and spend all my spare time running after. (he was meant to be decent car - but given the choice - horse won hands down once I'd saved the money).

Sadly can't join you all over there in the West as its out of my way completely, but hope it goes well, maybe we'll meet at shows or something. There is a riding club at Ecclesfield in the summer, but you'd have to box over, praps there's one in Dore as well?

Bye the way, have a nice little saddle for sale if you know anyone. Its new, doesn't fit mine, see my ad in for sale.

Best of luck anyway.

Hi Everyone

I've noticed that there's been quite few replys to this and it was posted a couple months ago but I'm really interested so thought I'd see if you've sorted anything??

I'm 24 and really want to go riding - I done some riding at Uni for a few years after a maaive 6 year break and again I've had a few years off now since leaving Uni - but would love to come along to lessons /hacks once a week if anyone is going?? I'm not great but can trot canter - just needs some work on technique again!

Unfortunatley I don't have a car - but may have soon...test number 3 in January!! but I'm sure we could get a bus somewhere?? or I can chip in on petrol money

I live in Woodseats and theres a couple of riding schools not far from me heading out towards peaks.......

anway will stop waffling on
I'd really like to come along so look forward to hearing from you
Di

Hi there!

Yes we have'nt actually arranged anything yet. I have got to get my car back on the road and should be doing that this weekend so hopefully definitely after that I want to go!

Which riding schools were you talking about?

Anyone else still interested once i get my car going? Think there is a bus that goes out to smeltings farm though...

Sar
xx

Hi Everyone

I've noticed that there's been quite few replys to this and it was posted a couple months ago but I'm really interested so thought I'd see if you've sorted anything??

I'm 24 and really want to go riding - I done some riding at Uni for a few years after a maaive 6 year break and again I've had a few years off now since leaving Uni - but would love to come along to lessons /hacks once a week if anyone is going?? I'm not great but can trot canter - just needs some work on technique again!

Unfortunatley I don't have a car - but may have soon...test number 3 in January!! but I'm sure we could get a bus somewhere?? or I can chip in on petrol money

I live in Woodseats and theres a couple of riding schools not far from me heading out towards peaks.......

anway will stop waffling on
I'd really like to come along so look forward to hearing from you
Di

Hi xsarx

Well I don't really have any where particular in mind to be honest... I live in woodseats and know there's one out toward the peaks (from Abbeydale Lane - I think) which I think we could get a bus to but not sure what its called....sorry I'm rubbish with names....

anyway I wouldn't really mind where we go, but do you know if its true about Smeltings Farm waiting list? and if so do you have another one in mind?? I notice Snowdon was mentioned....

I'll have a look on Snowdon site for some info.....

but either way I'm up for going for a lesson soon, I'm going home to Liverpool for xmas on 17th Dec so would be nice to go before then if others fancy it??

Di

Hello again

just looked on Snowdon website looks quite good they do lessons on

Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday.

and I've e-mailed them for some price info ...

stable is not far from Coal Aston which would be o.k. for me if Smeltings is booked up......

what do you think?

Di

Hiya what's the Snowdon website ?

Hi

sorry should have put it on- its

www.snowdonfarmequestrian.co.uk

I've just given then a ring so here's info.....

£19.00 group lesson - max 10 normally 8
£40.00 private lesson main instructor
£30.50 " " junior instructor

£30.50 each to share private lesson with main instructor if there was 3/4 of us for 1st lesson.....

they have an indoor school only and implied that classes are mixed ability, they also don't distingiush between adults and kids lessons - would seeing 8 year olds better than us bother anyone??
generally sounded o.k. though but I suppose the only way to find out is to try them out.....

evening lesson wed and thur from 5pm-last lesson 7.30pm
sat/sun from 10.15 last lesson 4.30pm

Snowdon Farm Riding School
Snowdon Lane
Troway
Marsh Lane
NR.Sheffield
Derbyshire
S21 5RT

just thought I'd check out another one as Smeltings could be booked up...what do people think??

Di

Count me in - have car, so can pick people up if needed. Weekend would be easier for me.
I am the oldy though at 35 - young at heart though!

Hi!
Right I have my car, all set, so lets decide where to go...snowdon sounds good but dont know if i could afford a lesson every week there, but definitely want to try it.

Have you got any definite dates from them. Can yuo email me? Sarhbll@aol.com

xx

Hi Everyone

I could only afford a lesson a fortnight at £19!! but I've just tried one more ...last one honest and its £16 hr for a group lesson and they'd think about setting up a new group for us if there was 3/4 of us??

Its at Barns Green Equestrian CentreWoodseats Farm, Grenoside, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S35 8NA Tel: 0114 240 - its about 5-6 miles from city centre....

spoke to lady called Zoe who sounds lovely

she recommends just doing 30 mins for the first couple of weeks to see how we go and its £11 each for that.

SHe can do a lesson just for us (if theres 3/4) this SUnday at 9am.....bit early I know but I said I'd get back to her...so please e-mail me if you facny doing this ....

darnallforum@adce-joblink.org.uk

otherwise if you want to go to Snowdon I can make Sat morning or anytime Sunday, or thursday evening...

thanks

Di

Been banned from internet at work, so bit harder for me to use it now, but im still interested but will only be able to afford every now and then with the price of places round here. They must make a fortune!

Hi everyone,

Just a little update that might be of interest to everyone.

Me and Di managed (just about!!) to arrive for a hack at a small stables near barnes green riding sschool in grenoside on sunday.

Had a really nice hack out in the woods on some very wooly yet very responsive horses. Cost £15 for the hour and the dogs from the yard ran along with us!

I do want to have some lessons too but this is a great way to spend your sunday afternoons! Highly recommend them as very considerate horsey people with the horses welfare coming first.

Priory Royd Farm 0114 2468449 - they just to rides out, great woodland routes.

Let me know if you fancy going anywhere for a lesson this weekend cause i can get there now...Sarah xx

Sarah,
I've just found this thread and would love to join you if you are planning to go an any more hacks in the future (or maybe for a lesson). I've just started thinking about getting back into riding after many years of not. I live around Hunters Bar & have a car so would be happy to share lifts etc.
Email me if you have any plans to go in the New Year & don't mind me joining in,
Amy x

Hi Amy,

Thats great, you're near me. My car is broken at the moment but was really hoping to go again this weekend...if you fancy a little hack on sunday??

I could ring the stables and book and can easily direct us there?

Email me sarhbll@aol.com be good to get having some lessons in the new year too.

Sarah xx

Im posting this to get my posts up to five so I can PM some of you.
Sorry!
xxx

hello everyone,

Sorry Sar, you've been doing really well organising everything & i've just been way too busy lately to do anything!

So Barnes Green was good then? Will you be going again?

Hi, I'm 22 and live in Fulwood.

I just thought I'd let you know that it IS true about Smeltings having a very long waiting list, but if anyone fancies the occassional hack- there's a marvelous place out near Holmfirth called 'Rocky's Ranch' that does proper western trail rides. I recommend it.

Hi, aw Im sad to know most of the ponies I learned to ride on are dead up at Smeltings Farm!

Just been for a three way private lesson up at mallard house riding centre in wortley. Very good, only £15 from 7-8pm...

Sarah xx sarhbll@aol.com

Oh cool Rocky's Ranch! i've always wanted to try that!

Do they still do lessons / hacks in the winter?

How much is it? Maybe we could all go for a hack :)

Found the web address -
http://www.westernridingadventures.co.uk/horse_riding_about_rocky.htm

Found the web address -
http://www.westernridingadventures.co.uk/horse_riding_about_rocky.htm

Hiya, haven't met any of you but if you ride out from prior royd again and want a companion let me know, I can pop over on my little cob and meet you all. Nearly liveried him there, but ended up at the other end of the woods (High Green).

Grenoside and the connecting woodlands are really ace to hack in, and you can get onto the trans pennine trail too, that passes Mallard house at Wortley and a place we call Chews (not sure how to spell it tho'). In the summer its just lovely and very relaxing, worth going out of your way for.

Also think someone does longer hacks and picnics, think its Barnes Green but could be wrong, met a group of kids with lunchpacks last summer anyway.

Look out for me if you're out that way, chubby middly aged mum on a chunky skewbald cob, with looney bull terrier and gasping husband in tow usually. Feel free to ask me if you want to know anything about the area as its now my home turf as it were.

Really cheers me up just to see some horsey stuff on the forum even if I can't get organised to join up with you all!

I have tried snowdon farm riding centre and have to say I didn't really enjoy it that much. I used to ride and had my own horses up until 18, I can't afford to have my own horse now so thought riding lessons would be a compromise. At snowdon they asked about my experience and got me on a horse (who was nice and forward going) but then told me how most people who have had there own horses can't ride and kept hammering this point. (By the way I can ride and although I am sure my technique is far from perfect it's not like I fall off or anything.) I then spent an hour walking and trotting round the school which if I still had my own horse would have been useful but when you can only afford to go riding once or twice a month it was hardly fun. I mean I could see they wanted to improve my technique but at the end of the day I was looking to enjoy myself as it's unlikely I am ever going to get my own horse again.

So if you want to seriously improve your riding they may be good but having ridden at Barnes Green as well I would say the latter give you better value for your money as you learn and enjoy yourself.

Have young cob, only castrated recently and green to ride. He needs company riding out as he finds it all a bit much and spends all his time trying to go home as fast as possible to see his girlfriends in the field next door.

Anyone ride out regularly in the Grenoside woods? I'm based near the Jet Garage on Penistone Rd and can get into the woods at that end.

Anyone with a nice quiet horse is welcome to keep me company for a nice quiet hack. Can do trot and canter, but don't like spooky or feisty companions as I need to build up our confidence.

I do know all the tracks well so if you want to explore I could introduce you to the area.

cheers

Im all up for going to rocky's ranch one weekend if anyone fancies it email sarball@gmail.com

Mallard House Riding school do good lessons for small groups we're going tonight at 7pm for an hour, good horses and they'll listen to what you want to do in the lesson.

sarball@gmail.com
xsarx

http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?s=&postid=311005#post311005

I'm flogging a saddle if anyone is interested?
Although it's the dead horse I feel that I'm flogging.....:(

PM Me if interested... DK :thumbsup:

Hi! I was reading all of your conversations and I hope your lesson(s) get sorted out and go ok

Oh yeah, could u tell me which 1 u went 2 n say how it went

Oh yeah, could u tell me which 1 u went 2 n say how it went

Hiya,
Which ride are you talking about?
We ride each week now at Mallard House Riding Centre in Wortley... £15 per hour...

xSarx

omg! I go there too! Who do you ride? N who teaches you? Or do you go on hacks. What day do u ride n wot time. IU might have seen u. N hav u seen the new ponies Holly, Kiwi n Hocus Pocus?

I ride on a sat mornin @ 10:30 in a group lesson with georgina. I ride mostly Tyler, Dingo, Summer, Spirit n Archie. Did u know that this Staurday thats just gone they had to get a Helicopter Ambulance to get John, who shares Onyx with Heather

Hiya!
I have ridden Archie, Belle, Spirit and Brodie. We have Gemma to teach us for an hour on tuesday nights...

I didnt know about the helicopter no, what happened? Someone who shares Onyx needed rescuing??

I'd like to ride Onyx this week.

Sar xx

Hi there,
I go riding with Sarah every Tues too! So far I've ridden Bella, Archie, & Molly. Molly being my favourite so far. I too rather have my eye on riding Onyx.
Amy x

Yeah, my step-mum's favourite is Molly too. She's virtually bomb-proof. I've ridden her, and she's really good for jumping. I hope your next lesson goes ok, and tell me what you think to Kiwi, Hocus Pocus and Holly.

I've only ever ridden Brodie once, but it was ages ago. It was horrible, because then we had a different instructor, and for some reason he was terrified of her. But he's good now. I'm not too keen on Archie, Spirit's not bad, and I've never ridden Bella. Aparantly Onyx is nice.

On Saturday, he went up to a jump on the wrong leg, jumped, and stumbled when he landed and nearly fell over, and John fell off. They sent a helicopter from the hospital because they thought an ambulance wouldn't be able to get down the roads. Anyway, it landed at the wrong place, at the yard across the road. Lol.

Oh, watch out for Sophie. She's really jumpy, and absolutely scared of trotting poles! Anyway, talk to you later, and I hope you keep in touch.

P.S: Give Dingo a big pat for me! :)

Im on Darcy this week - any pointers??!

Whoa sounds scary, was he ok? Is he Onyx's share owner then? Onyx seemed a bit awkward when he was in our lesson with his cantering and things...

Cant wait for tonight!

Darcey's good. My step-mum's ridden him and shes really nervous. He messes with his head a bit, cos hes young, but hes ok.

Oh, Onyx is normally really good with his cantering. And he can jump about 5f. Ive seen him. He's brill. I'd love to ride him :)

Dingo91, Ok now I know it's you... K-A.

It's Jen here... hello love. Hope you're feeling a bit more positive about riding again now.

If anyone wants to know how John is after his fall at Mallard stables and his ambulance ride... he's cracked one of his vertebrae in his spine but he's discharged himself from hospital.

As for riding Onyx... he's lovely to ride. I've backed him twice and he's very smooth in canter and travels well but he can be stubborn and needs a lot of reassurance cos he's only 5 years old and relies on the rider for EVERYTHING, so you have to be strong.

I'll basically ride anything but my favourite is Belle cos she's fast and can be loopy but always an exiting ride. Brodie is my favourite for jumping though... he flies without galloping after (which is what Belle does cos she gets a bit exited!!!)

And it was ME who was riding Sophie on Saturday when she bolted twice having seen the jumping poles... it was more a lesson of 'how to cling on' than anything else - but I was determined and she didn't have me out of the saddle - thankfully. I couldn't stop laughing but I don't recommend her to anyone nervous, she goes like a rocket in canter (or when scared) and is very spooky.

See you soon Dingo91 ! We'll get you to Barnes Green this week by hook or by crook and you'll be well looked after.
xx

Xsarx,

You'll like Darcey. Better on the left rein than the right cos he used to be a racehorse so just be aware that the right side is stiff when schooling and he doesn't bend well that way.

He's also just healed a long term injury to his leg and can only do light jumping but he does get over exited when a jump goes up (I rode him a week ago on Saturday) and tends to race to it at the moment whether it's high or low.

Keep a firm hold and a deep seat if you do any jumping, half halt all the time and you'll be fine, he's not naughty, just eager, and he'll look after you at the other end of the jump. He's lovely.

Have a good lesson.

Hi, thanks for your advice Jennie,

Id already ridden Darcy when i got to read your reply and yes he was just as you described, i noticed the stiffness and he does love his jumping! Really nejoyed riding him, a good challenge!

I went riding in Guernsey on Thursday it was great, Boots was great!! The guy who took us out for the ride trained with an olympic standard teacher, cant remember the name he said, think he expected me to know her - she died in 1998 in an event, does anyone know her name? He wants to get back into competition to keep her name alive, i thought that was really nice. We rode across Lady's Bay beach on the island then via the roads back to the yard.

How was the lesson this week Amy and Di?
Dingo - did you make it to Barnes Green? I used to ride there when i was younger - do they still have william? Do you know of Kenco, i hear she had to be fostered off to a private owner due to collic?

Sar xx

Hi. Yes, I went to Barnes Green. It was absolutely brilliant. Zoe teaches me (who used to teach at Mallards). I rode one called Coco. Absolutly brill :D As for Mallards, I decided to qstop going. The horses aren't that badly behaved, but the ponies hace started taking the micky with younger children, and because they get away with it, have started doing it to us too. I totaly lost my confidence there, especially how the ponies have been gettin really naughty on hacks.

The other day, the ponies all started galloping everywhere. Georgina took them out on Onyx. As they were going past one of the paths, spirit bolted up it while Georgina was going the other way. All the ponies spooked and bolted after her. Georgina caught up and got in front and had to turn Onyx round accross the path to stop them, but they didn't. They all just ran straight into him.

Its much better at Barnes Green for me I think. But I hope i didn't put you off and that you still have fun

Hiya! Great stuff, glad you liked it, I liked it riding there but when I've rung up they say they are full at the moment?

I used to ride bluey there and bertie and they bought a bay called william too while i was there, not sure if they still have him? we did quite a few jumping courses in the school which I used to enjoy but bluey needed a lot of getting after.

Mallard are good for me at the moment, its cheap enough and I like the horses. But that hack sounds a little scary, they shouldnt take people out on the ponies if they are too spooky, its not fair. That really used to scare me when I was younger riding when ponies start playing up, theres nothing you can do and they just get worse the more scared you get.

How much riding have you done before? Have you been to many riding schools in the sheffield area?

Ive been to bout 4 riding schools. One in Rotherham, that was awfull. They overworked the horses and u never learnt anything.

The 2nd was in Sheffield but I cant remeber wot that was called. The ponies were a bit wappy there too.

The 3rd was Mallards who were gr8, untill the ponies strated bein naughty. Tyler's the worst. He's horrible :) lol

Barnes Green is good, n gr8 4 my confidence. I can't believe how well schooled they r. Berties still there. Dont kno bout the others. Zoe, my ridin instructor (the 1 who used to teach @ Mallards) is actually buyin Bertie. I kno wot u mean, they r gettin really full. U shud keep tryin <:¬O keep ringin! theyre brill, lol.

Tlk 2 u soon, by!

Can recommend Zoe, she taught me after a 25 year break, great confidence builder and she's a good laugh too.

The horses are good too, and they cater for beginners to very experienced riders. And you can hack out, especially in the summer when the days are long. Most classes have a hack periodically and school lessons as the norm.

They have lots of other instructors too, so if you don't get on with any one of them, you can just try another. All have different styles and attitudes but they're all good.

Hope you enjoy it anyway.

Which riding school did you go to in rotherham?
Parklands in fairly good at aston, they ahve a huge indoor arena, but I havent really ever ridden there regularly.
Roickingham House in Rawmarsh is pretty bad, we galloped up a hill once and I fell off, had not control over the horses cos they were so used to doing the same rides and the same things, and the indoor school was only a 20 metre circle!

It was Rockingham House Farm. Its awful isnt it? One of the horses that they used there had ragwort poisoning, but they still overworked him all the time.

I had fun on Sunday at Barnes Green. I was on Coco again. I had lost of Canters and we had fun again :D

I almost bought a horse from Rockingham House Farm 5years ago. He was very nice = just too small :(

xxx

Lol, I'd stay away if I were you. I think they're selling them all now because they're closing down I think. Well, thats what my friend says.

Yeah, I always found them a little bad at training their horses. I went for a hack when I was a college there and the horse I was on just wasnt listening to me when we went for a gallop. It was like he'd done that route so many times he knew that we were just going to gallop so he just took me.

I also remember one of the teachers there saying a pony was behaving badly on a hack once and so instead of helping the girl riding him to try and control him, they sent her back to the yard and the pony got to go back in his stable! How is he going to learn to behave with training like that!?

I wish there were more riding schools out there who cared about the horses training and welfare, and teaching good riding skills than making money and saving time - so many horses get ruined through riding schools not caring to teach them whats right.

Anyone been to Parklands recently @ Aston - I used to ride there but have not heard anything about the place since.

My friend Sarah is the Yard Manager at Parklands and she runs a tight ship there. The place is pretty high class and still pricey for livery etc. but really good.

Sarah's own horses are called Poppy and Lindsey and she also has a little highland as a pet but I've forgotten her name.

I've ridden poppy and jumped her cross country - lovely horse. Sarah won some competitions on her recently.

If you ever go, say hello to Sarah - she's really nice.

Hi Jen!

Hows things been going in your lessons? Me n Helen had a gr8 one this sunday wen we were jumpin and i was on Bertie. Helen had fun 2 eventhough she fell off, lol. She couldn't stop laughing.

Originally posted by dingo91
Hi Jen!

Hows things been going in your lessons? Me n Helen had a gr8 one this sunday wen we were jumpin and i was on Bertie. Helen had fun 2 eventhough she fell off, lol. She couldn't stop laughing.

Hey Bertie is jumping! Seems like only yesterday when he was as green as grass and played donkey every time he went in the school! Glad you enjoy him, we should start a little fan club, but then we'd have to do one for coco too, and one for pepper coz all the littlies really love him.

I got a new foal (someone owned him, but then couldn't manage to keep him so she gave him to me) and I hope he turns out as good as pepper. Hes about the same size. Looking forward to the fun and games when he needs breaking and schooling! Trouble is I can stand astride him almost, he's so tiny, so one day I'll need a really small but very experienced rider to help bring him on!

lol. Aww, sweet.

Yep, Bertie was gud as gold. Slow, but that was my fault. I'm a nervous jumper (ive had a lot of bad experience) but i gained loads of confidence. He never refused, ran out or got stupid when Zoe put a new jump up. He just did it as though it was a stroll in the park for him.

Ive never really jumped on anything as big as him (I know hes probably only little to you but to me he's huge) and it feels so wierd going from little ponies to something like him though.

I was also worried that i never folded on a jump, because i was always too worried about the pony doing something stupid, but with him i just pointed him towards the jump and let him get on with it. He's so sweet. I love him. And i've descovered I do have a jumping position. Not a great one, but i do have one, lol.

Hope everything goes ok with ur new foal. What's it called? Oh, and i dont think ive met pepper yet. Neva mind. I'm too big for all the little ponies. Oh, well.

Msg me back soon!
Bye! x x x

Hi
Can I say a couple of words about the horses and ponies at Mallard House.
Darcy did have an injured check ligament in his leg. It is not a long standing injury and he was only off work for 4 months.
When he is jumping you need to use your weight and legs to slow him down not his bit.
Tyler has been having some problems mainly due to boredom. He is in fact and excellent little pony who's ability for exceeds what he is being asked to do. He can easily clear 4' fences and can do a passable novice dressage test. He is now going to be sold to a competition home so that he can go out there and have some fun after teaching hundreds of children how to ride.
Kiwi is a full livery so not available for clients to ride. Holly and Hocus Pocus are doing very well. Hocus in particular is a great pony for learners.
Onyx is 6 rising 7 but is very green as he only walked around a villiage with an old lady until he was 5. The larger horses do take longer to mature and learn where their legs are!!!!
As for the hack that went wrong, as anyone that has ridden out regularly will tell you, no matter how well trained the horses are they are not robots and unfortunatley do react to outside influence, but are not spooky on a regular basis.
Someone mentioned William from Barnes Green, he is at Mallard on full livery.
Happy riding to you all.

I remember William being bought at Barnes Green when I started riding there, probably about 8 years ago now!

Be good to get to see him at Mallard House before I go, I've left my jacket there too so Ill have to call back in!!

Kalina,

I'll agree with a few things that you said. Tyler was bored out of his mind at Mallards, and he is a very capable pony. But that's what I'm saying. It wasn't fair to keep using him because he was getting even more bored and losing people's confidence. My friend who still rides there says Holly is good, but bouncy, and that Hocus Pocus is extremely lazy, lol. I think Darceys sweet, and asd for Onyx, ive nothing against him :) Apparantly, heather was telling me that he used to pull funeral carts when he was younger, so he doesn't have much strength in his back end, but plenty at the front.

Lol, we had a group lesson at Mallards, and out of bout 7 people, 5 wouldn't ride Tyler, especially for jumping. He just got a bit too excited and headstrong I think. Who'se your favourite? Mine was Dingo by far, he deserves to be sold now I think so that he can have a break. I liked Summer too. Not keen on Spirit, and Archie was just a bit strange to ride. He also spooked all the time in our lesson, cos the Tractor used to come down every Saturday when we rode. Bless him. One lesson, in 10minutes, he'd had 4 different riders cos everyone was scared of him! Lol

Hi Dingo
I do not have a favorite, I love them all. Dingo will never be sold from mallard as it would be to much of an ordeal for him. He needs to stay in familiar surroundings. The best thing for him would be a loan at mallard.
Happy riding

Hi again evry1
Wot u all bin up 2? They got ne new 1s @ Mallards yet? None of u av tlked 4 ages. Neva Mind. Oh, n if Jenny reads this hope ur ok. C u all l8er, by!

hi there,
ive been reading your thread with interest....
im wondering if you might know about a nice place that will take complete beginners out (adults) for a ride in the country side?
ive had a look at the "rockys" website - it looks brilliant (love the bit about riding to the pub for luch!) , but, at 35 quid a little bit expensive for me - plus its a bit far away (have no car)..
ive been trying to get through to barns green, but so far today they havent been answering..
ive left this all a bit later eally - as i should be booking this for my boyfriends birthday - which is tomorrow!!!
do you know if barnes green do "pony trekking" (if there is such a thing these days?!)
would be really grateful for any ideas etc. as soon as possible!!!

hi, I'm not sure what's been organised on this.

I'm interested in horseriding & have a car :-)

I'm still interested in going if any experienced riders want to?

By the way - as far as I can gather there are no groups going from the forum at present - although if anyone knows differently please say!!!

To glittergirl,

I'd definately recommend Barnes Green to anybody. It's perfect for beginners, with such calm horses. There are LOADS of different instructors that you could try. ZOE is good if you get her, she's really funny.

hi dingo,
do they actually take beginners out on a pony treck?
or do they basically just do lessons?
thanks for you rhelp in advance!

I'm not trying to hijack this topic, I'm just interested in people's opinions really. Do any of you riders think horse riding is cruel?

Why cruel- if they weren't used as sporting animals they would be bred for their meat or skin etc and probably kept in worse conditions. The population of them would probably be smaller too.

Originally posted by hoegarden
hi dingo,
do they actually take beginners out on a pony treck?
or do they basically just do lessons?
thanks for you rhelp in advance!

hoegarden,

Trekking or hacking out on horseback is a really great thing to do.
You can see loads more from horseback.

I used to ride regularly as a teenager; I can remember a ride out one Sunday morning. We were all at a canter and my two mates and I were in the front five of a group of fifteen. One other and the lead groom in front of us; all very exciting. Until I fell off, lol!

I'd been riding for about two years by then, and was horse mad and read anything to do with horses and stuff. I knew that what I had to do was stay down and the horses behind would avoid me or jump over me. My forearm got clipped by one as I raised it to cover my head but that was about it. It was a long walk up the hill and we all had a laugh about it. The lead groom realised something was up when my horse overtook hers. She caught him for me so at least I didn't have to go chasing after him!

Many years later, my Mum got involved with a riding group and nagged me into coming along. I suspect she'd 'bigged me up' to everyone else at the school, because I got an naughty little minx of a Hackney cross to ride. It felt very odd being back on a horse again and I really didn't know how naughty this chap could be.
I was leaning forward to adjust a stirrup leather when he bucked and threw me off his left shoulder. Because of my position, leant forward one arm one side of his neck the other t'other, I went over clinging onto his neck and fell off in front of him. Bearing in mind this was a Hackney cross and we were trotting at the time, I got a fair whack as I went down. To this day I still don't recall getting up or walking out of the paddock and back to the coffee hut.

I got taken to hospital where they diagnosed a concussion. That was a wierd experience - the nurse told me to take some forms along to x-ray so they could check if I had a skull fracture. I could understand verbal instruction but I could not for the life of me follow any of the hospital signs at all. I just looked at them and could read what they said but it just did not compute. The nurse noticed this thankfully and gave me verbal directions on how to get to x-ray. The rest of the weekend was spent with a really really awful headache, far worse than a migraine and quite sleepy with it.

Last time I was on a horse was 4 years after this; about 15 years ago; I took private lessons and went out hacking again.

My experiences have taught me that there is no way I would tip up at a riding stables and expect to go out on a hack on a strange horse. If I wanted to do that again I would get some tuition. Even with skill and knowledge, the best you can do is minimise the risks of being hurt or seriously injured in a serious accident.

Do you think it would be a better idea to get you and your boyfriend a few riding lessons so that you can find out if you like the activity and then enjoy the rides out together with some degree of confidence?

hiya im 17, iv bin ridin since i was 5/6, and iv owned my own horse for about 4 years now. If u will take my advice, if ur spendin that amount of money on lessons at smeltings (i remember when it was £6 a 30 minute lesson!) then i'd go to snowdon which is roughly the same price and much better quality teaching (just a bit further out). or for £25 a lesson, why not just look in horse and rider (crookes) and ad-mag, and yorkshire post for horses that are up for part-loan, where u can ride 3 or 4 days a week for the same amount of money. From my experience, smeltings teaches you to ride the cheaters way, if you want to properley understand how to ride, not just pull on the reins and kick,then id look around a bit more! thats just my advice though.

Hoegarden,

Yes, they do take beginner hacks out. A one-on-one would probably be the best. One of the riding instructors would take you most likely, although it would ndepend if you were on the lead-rope. I can gaurantee though that these horses and ponies are trained to an excellent standard.

My riding instructor takes 5 and 6 year olds out on hacks off the lead rein out onto the gallop tracks and can tell them all to ahve a little trot and none of the ponies would even think about pelting off.

They've got such good quality horses. So far i've ridden: Coco, Bertie, Sadie (absolutely brill) and Pilgrim.

My step-mom's ridden: Bertie, Charlie, Mirlot and some one else, cant remember now, and weve bin on hacks and both jumped the highest we've ever jumped, and with confidence, and both learned loads!!!

They're getting so popular at the moment though, they're getting fully booked really quickly, so anyone wanting a lesson should book well in advance.

Aswell the other day, she had two little girls riding - one was 5, the other 6 - the younger one on a lead rein, and the other her first lesson off it, and they were having their fist jumping lesson. The little ponies bless them - they just trotted off nice and slow, popped over the jump (which wasn't actually that small for thier first jump) and trotted back off to the back. It was so sweet!

'From my experience, smeltings teaches you to ride the cheaters way, if you want to properley understand how to ride, not just pull on the reins and kick,then id look around a bit more! thats just my advice though.'

As someone who has ridden at Smeltings for 14yrs, and now owns 2 horses that I keep there, I rather resent that! I certainly dont consider myself a pull/kick rider! Smeltings has an excellent reputation, the best of any school Ive heard of in Sheffield as it happens. The horses are in great condition and are well cared for, and the yard is based on a Natural Horsemanship method of teaching, involving weight aids and balance. We have regular demonstrations with well known riders and there is a regular riding club, plus a pony club and camp for kids and adults.
I now school young horses and ride my own two. I focus on dressage mainly and every lesson I have focuses on me and how I can influence the horse through changes in position, aids and my balance. I dont think that's the cheater's way to ride at all. The instructors are excellent, especially at a higher level, the lessons are kept small and the yard is BHS and ABRS approved, an approved training yard and a well known base for Natural Horsemanship work.
I have to disagree strongly with Steelcitygal Im afraid - as someone with much more experience of Smeltings Id reccomend it without hesitation.


xxx

snowdon farm is a great riding school, i recomend it x

I Agree. Although I still LOVE Barnes Green. I want to keep Bertie *grins* He's my big baby. I love little Wally too. He's sweet. I take the children out on their hacks now after my lesson. Oh yeah, I love Pepper too (one of the really diddy ponies the kiddies ride). He's SO cute. I love it when kids have their first ever canter 'cos the ponies are so careful and look after them so much. Or when they have their first jumping lesson on Smartie or Cola - it's so sweet

I cant believe they still have bertie wally and pepper!!

We have horses called bertie and pepper here are camp rim rock haha!

Well Im back on the 16 September so Ill be coming back to mallard house and maybe even visit barnes green, Id like to lookm into working with horses part time when i get back!

How are your lessons going amy and di???

Sarah xx

Do I count as 'Di'? Well Ill tell you anyway. FAB. Bin doin some triples on Bert, who i think is really cool (even though he smells :) ) and doing a lot of schoolin on Sadie. Yep, Wally and Pepper are still there. Peppers really gr8 with the kids and I love wallys little beard. All the horses whos names I know who are still there are: Wally, Pepper, Cola, Smartie, Minstrel, Coco, Bertie, Sadie, Pilgrim, Mirlow, Charlie, Luna, Blaze, Tyson, Domino, Wurzel & ... that's it. Can't remember the others. My dad's girlfriend is in the middle of doing her BHS Stage 1 at the moment

hi, just wanted to say I learnt to ride at snowdon farm too and they teach you properly. There are lots of riding teachers that will just take your money, let you trot around a bit, but youre not really riding them. - the minute you start with snowdon, you find out if you can really ride with wht your othr schools have taught you!



:) :) :) :) :) :)

hi all,

i have just got back into horse riding and would like if someone would come with me as i dont want to go alone,, i have recently been riding in somerset and can confidently say i should be ok!!!

if anyone is interested in going in next couple of weeks or anyone who has couple horses and would like to earn some extra money goin out for a hack pm me :D

I had been thinking about taking up riding again too,havent been for a fair few years so I could probably benefit from a few lessons.. I did'nt fancy going alone either..

Well if either of you fancy lessons at my yard Id be happy to give you the guided tour and introduce you to all the horses.

I had a lesson on our yard with Denise O'Reilly the other day - she's a 'Biomechanics' rider who was a student of Mary Wanless's - she used to coach the British Dressage Team. Im still aching but it was really really useful. She basically takes everything you've ever been taught and chucks it out the window and changes your entire position and everything - but it really works!
I want someone to come to my yard so we can talk about the ponies there :p I dont understand all the Mallards / Barnes Green chat!

xxx

Hi,
Im back from america, been teaching lots of young girls how to ride the english way all summer in sunny west virginia!


Now Im back though I really want to keep teaching and riding over here... might nip up to smelting sometime this weekend and see if i could do any work up there in my spare time??

Anyone need someone to help on their yard/teach/exercise horses?

Sarah xx

HI there,

I'm a german student moving to Sheffield in a shortwhile and I'd like to keep on taking horse-riding lessons.

Can anyone recommend a riding school? I'm getting a bit confused with this chat :help:

Or does anyone know some horseowner needing help with their horse and giving lessons? Either in exchange for the help or paid?

@jojoba: are you teaching lessons???? Where is the yard?
I'd be interested in having a look around... :) can't pm you, is only my second post...

thanks for the help,
cheers,
steph

Stephnuss - no I dont teach, just a horse owner! My yard has a website - www.equestrian-training.co.uk. Id certainly reccomend lessons there :)

Jo


xxx

I've just started again when I stopped 4 years ago, Barnes Green is great in my opinion, they can usually fit you in if you can make it in the week.

The horses are very quiet and well behaved, sometimes too quiet! The instructors are very good and friendly too, you can also hack into the woods if you're good enough.

Hi Guys

Just thought id see if your all okay. By the way, barnes Green are looking for staff to give them a hand on a sunday with tackin up n stuff. Me n my dads girlfriend help out cos we go on a sunday but we can normally only help out after 1 o'clock (well, i ride @ half past but i always help out after)

Got to go cos im @ school but i hyope that you all get back in touch

C ya l8er x x x

Hiya,
Do you know if they might have space for us to have a lesson in an evening at barnes green?

What kind of help will they need and would I be paid or get a free ride?

xsarx

Hi Dingo,
would be interested in helping out there... Same Question as Xsarx, do you get anything paid or a free ride?
Who is the contact person at barnes green?
thanx
Steph

Okay, thats gr8

Well, im not going this weekend cos ive got plans, but u cud hav a tlk 2 them on the phone. Tel:0114 240 2548

The person u want 2 tlk 2 will probably be julia, she sort of in charge at the weekends. I cant remember wot the pay is cos 1) I'm not old enough 4 them 2 pay me proply n 2) im not really that bothered cos i enjoy helpin out. But u'd probly get sum time in the school or hackin time. Don't actually know if theyve got ne room 4 lessons @ the weekend but then agen if u can ride it shunt be trouble fitting you in.

Hello!
Had a lesson at barnes green last week and it was very good, I was on coco. He was lovely!
Have a lesson tuesday nights now. Diane rode Sadie. Teacher kept us moving which was good as it was pretty cold! Im off there tonight, think we are jumping this week.
Still hope to come visit smeltings very soon tho jo, Ill let you know if i can come not this weekend maybe next.

Glad u ad fun. I woz so plzed wiv myself. I went 4 mi 12st gallop on sunday. Id probs never ov dun it newhere else but i did it on coco. We were all lafin. He ad a burst of speed n we left sadie about half a mile behind lol. And we jumped sum logs n branches n stuff. It was gr8 :D

I have been riding since the age of 7 ish, n would love to go out , if anyone needs there horses excersised or help wanted looking after im available , i live in S13 but do not drive YET

:( Hi, I'm really sorry. I've got some bad news, for anyone who goes to Barnes Green. Just incase you didn't already know, Coco died on Friday. He had colic and they took him to liverpool to operate but they couldn't save him. He had a twisted stomach. I'm really sorry and upset. They don't want the little kids to know because they'd all get really upset so please don't tell them. They've been told that he's been sold, but my dad's girlfriend wanted to tell me and I'm glad she did. I'm really sorry for all of you who new him and liked him. They'll be starting to look for a new horse now, which kind of upsets me even more to think of it as a 'replacement' but I know they haven't got a choice. I'm really sorry and just thought you ought to know

x x x dingo91 x x x

Had half hour lessons at Springwood this week - very good.

----------------------------------

View my forum @ http://sarahhball.moonfruit.com

:huh: I used to go pony trekking in Wales as a youngster. Does anyone know anywhere to do this as an adult who's not ridden for many years? South Sheffield way would be most useful.
There will be a couple of us.

Hi any details on the riding centre in Wortley. I havent' ridden for over 20 years and will be very rusty. Do the take inexperienced riders. Also not sure where the Grenoside centre is. Any body know about a riding school in Rivelin.

Very keen to get started.

Hi,
Theres Barnes Green in Grenoside but their horse are not the most energentic... we found it quite hard going with them not having a very well drained school as well.

Mallard House in Wortley are good, they do small groups and private lessons and they have a good sized school and many different types of ride from big to small...

Hi there,

I would really like to go for a ride just for a weekend, just a couple of hours...unfortunately my yard doesn't offer hacking out :( any suggestions where to go? I would really like to go into the peak district, there are lovely offers like Haddon House Stables or Northfieldfarm, but I don't drive and it is nearly 3 hours by Bus :( So, if anybody would like to join, that would be great!
cheers,
Steph

You could get the train to the Yorkshire Dales Trekking Centre
www.ydtc.net

Or if you wanted a whole day out (or a holiday) Id reccomend www.murthwaitegreen.co.uk in Cumbria - fair way away but nice long rides on the safest horses in the world.
Plus beaches!

xxx

Hi,
That trekking centre looks great in Cumbria, might have to give that a go sometime!

Im still having lessons sometimes at Mallard House - did some jumping the other night on Sophie and she was very good if a little scared at first! Brodie and Magic were very good for my friends too, thinking that might be the last jumping session now it is getting so dark in the evenings :(

Hope everyone else is ok, I still ride over in catcliffe in rotherham sometimes - anyone else on the forum ride over that way/whiston/howarth lodge brinsworth way?

Still looking for a loan to share with a friend if anyone wants a sharer/loaner.

barns green is the best school in sheffield i use to ride there from been 3!! then again when i was about 12 or so they are the best !!!!

annaco .. have you tried asking your local school as many schools have treks out or holiday trekking if you ask them they may know somewhere locally..

oh and the best place in england for a trip with your horse is northumbria!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! seriously beautiful and beachs most horses love beaches they do decent priced holidays there if your a horse owner or not !!! i saw them when i was up there asked about it deffo something i plan to do !!!
. i raelly should just port one reply next time hehe !!!! have fun horsey folk !!

Just wanted to say Im still looking for evening/weekend work with horses if anyone has one to loan or work for rides etc...?

Just posted this on http://www.stabletalk.co.uk/

SHEFFIELD HORSE WORK/RIDING Posted : 2007-04-17
SHEFFIELD, ROTHERHAM, NORTH/EAST DERBYSHIRE

I WOULD LOVE TO HELP YOU WITH YOUR HORSE / AT YOUR YARD/ RIDING SCHOOL EVENING/WEEKEND WORK/ LOAN/ SCHOOLING HAVE 15 YEARS EXPERIENCE RIDING AND PREVIOUS WORK FOR TEAMS AND RIDING SCHOOLS / HAVE TAUGHT AT BASIC LEVEL TO CHILDREN AND ADULTS WOULD BE WILLING TO DO ANY TASKS TO GET ME OUT OF THE HOUSE AND AROUND HORSES AND HORSEY PEOPLE! I WORK FULL TIME - WOULDNT HAVE TIME TO COMMIT TO BUYING/LOANING FULL-TIME HENCE... EMAIL ME: S.H.BALL@SHU.AC.UK

Hi, I m peter, I have a car, I am looking for somebody to go for a weekend hacking but dont know where to find the horse to share. would you please contact me if you are interested? I m peter, in sheffield,

I've noticed that there's been quite few replys to this and it was posted a couple months ago but I'm really interested so thought I'd see if you've sorted anything??

I'm 24 and really want to go riding - I done some riding at Uni for a few years after a maaive 6 year break and again I've had a few years off now since leaving Uni - but would love to come along to lessons /hacks once a week if anyone is going?? I'm not great but can trot canter - just needs some work on technique again!

Unfortunatley I don't have a car - but may have soon...test number 3 in January!! but I'm sure we could get a bus somewhere?? or I can chip in on petrol money

I live in Woodseats and theres a couple of riding schools not far from me heading out towards peaks.......

anway will stop waffling on
I'd really like to come along so look forward to hearing from you
Di[/QUOTE]

Hi, I am peter living in central sheffield, Looking for a horse to share for weekend day hacking, also looking for friends to go for hacking together as well. please contact me if you are interested.

Peter, jlpeter1968@hotmail.com:)

Hi, where is it, thanks, Peter

I've just started again when I stopped 4 years ago, Barnes Green is great in my opinion, they can usually fit you in if you can make it in the week.

The horses are very quiet and well behaved, sometimes too quiet! The instructors are very good and friendly too, you can also hack into the woods if you're good enough.

Hi
You mentioned Mayfield Valley Pony Club, could you please tell me how to join the club, I want to have a horse to share, could you tell me how to get there? I have a GPS, could you please tell me the postcode?

Thank you

Peter

I keep my two horses at Smeltings Farm and can reccomend it. Ive been having lessons there for 14 years, and have kept my horses there for 9yrs.
Unfortunately I must warn you there is a HUGE waiting list for lessons... you'd be quite lucky to get in, although if you arent beginners that does help.
If you do go be sure to say hello to my boys. :)
Email me if you want to know anything more about riding in Sheffield and I will definately try to help!
Jo xxx
(x_jojoba_x@hotmail.com)

Does anyone have a web address or email address for Barnes Green?

Does anyone have a web address or email address for Barnes Green?
dont think they have a website called grenoside equestrian centre now telephone number is 0114 2402548 still in same place just changed the name