dingo91

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

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

Hi Yep, I still go. I've been going for ages and ages now and i still don't find it boring. We do all sorts. Jumping, Faltwork, Dressage, Hacks, Weve done the road safety and progressive tests. I think its great. Fun yet safe. If you wanted to try something different you could go to Mallards where i went b4 but the horses and ponies are mental so take a body protector, extra padding and a stretcher, lol. Hope you find somewhere. Why not go back and just try a one off lesson or a jumping lesson or something and see what you think. x x x dingo91 x x x

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.

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

hi Don't know how close this is to you but have you tried Barnes Green? Ive been to about 4 different schools now and this one is definately the best. They don't have a website for you to visit just at the moment but all their info. is on the BHS website (they're registered). The horses & Ponies are excellent, they do Pony Club and progressive tests to take. They have showjumping, x-country, nice big outdoor school and woods nearby to go hacking. There are lots of different places to go and a nice quiet village to practice road safety on. This place has boost my confidence by a tun, n my dads girlfriend is in the middle of taking her BHS Stage 1. There are a whole bundle of different instructors so if there are any which you dont like (which i doubt) you can try another. I believe thay have a waiting list although it would be easier to book a lesson if youve ridden already. I can recommend Coco, Smartie, Cola or Toby for your daughter if shes a beginner of if shes more experienced why not try Sadie. Hope you find a nice school to take your daughter to. Please let us know where you end up. Good Luck Dingo91

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

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

Perhaps you could try at Barnes Green, as I know they have their Pony Club and BHS Stage 1 activities in the evenings.

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!

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.

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 I am 14, and have been to quite a few different stables around sheffield and S.Yorkshire. They key things to remember are to make sure that it is approved by the British Horse Society. Here's a link to the page with all the BHS approved Riding Schools in Yorkshire: http://www.bhs.org.uk/where_to_ride/yorkshire.htm Mallard House Riding Centre is not BHS approved, but is quite a nice yard, although the ponies are not as 'safe' as some people may like. The one that I currently go to is Barnes Green. It is excellent, with lots of facilities, many different BHS qualified instructors and well trained horses, who will look after you. Lesson costs vary, depending on what sort of lessons you want. I have an hour long group lesson with other girls of my own age, and that costs around £16. However, a private lesson for half an hour (strongly recommended for beginners) is around £12. It is a nice yard, and they do Pony Club, own a pony days, Easter Hunts, Hacks, Showjumping, Dressage, X-country and BHS qualifications. The horses are trained to an exceptionaly high standard, although you have to remember that Horses are not machines and have minds of their own. It's a yard that likes riders to get involved with looking after the horses aswell, and helping out on the yard can earn you free lessons. Pony Club is held there on a Monday and Wednesday night, but I think they're starting to do it on a weekend aswell. Ohh, and they do let you borrow hats and crops aswell if you do not have your own. I hope all this helped, and I hope you find a nice place for your daughter to ride. You may want to considor riding yourself. It's an excellent ways to relax or just have a bit of fun. Please let us all know how you got on. xxx bye xxx

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!

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