mill house riding centre

I can't comment on the livery yard as I've not kept a horse here but I did have lessons here as did my children so my review is based on the riding school side only.The facilities here are absolutely outstanding. You have a coffee shop, horse walker, olympic sized indoor arena, small indoor arena, small outdoor arena, jumping paddock and miles of off road hacking. It's fab.The lessons are ok. I say just ok because I found they got repetitive and a bit boring. I didn't progress enough and I felt like I was treading water for a while. It did pick up for a while but I still didn't feel like I was progressing much and there came a point where I didn't jump for 4 weeks or something, I just did flatwork week after week which started to get a little tedious. I think it should have been alternate jumping and flat lessons but that's just personal choice. My group (Thursday nights) was lovely and my teacher was great and I do think that a good teacher makes all the difference when you learn to ride. She really helped me face some riding demons that I had. I think she's the only suitably qualified teacher there though which is something to think about, depends if you're bothered about qualifications or not.The horses and ponies...... Well if I'm totally honest, the majority of the horses here used to scare the life out of me. A lot of them are completely unpredictable. You very rarely get a school master/well schooled horse or pony here. They do exist of course but there isn't many. Most of them are very young and the ones that aren't young are just so naughty, probably because they are used in lessons so frequently that they're bored. Or maybe they're just naughty haha Who knows! There have been quite a few incidents of horses deciding to go rodeo on their riders or bolt across the school! Not great for the nervous rider! Although on the lead rein, they're perfectly behaved, it's only ever off the lead rein that they play up.However that said, if you want to REALLY learn how to ride properly on real horses that are going to act up occasionally, then this is the right place to do it. I always say, it's the naughty horses that teach you the most and I have to say, I wouldn't know half the stuff I do about horse riding, had I not had lessons here. I've learned heaps about dealing with difficult horses and how to stay on. You wouldn't get that from a well behaved school horse. If you want a comfy, safe, riding school with safe, predictable horses and ponies, this place probably isn't for you. If you want to learn how to ride all types of horses, the good and the bad then yeah, give this place a go because you will learn how to stay on and deal with the naughty ones pretty quickly (it's either that or eat dirt) and I think that's an important thing to know when horse riding as even the sanest horse can have a mad spook and fling you.I also found that I was completely messed about with lesson times and the staff would regularly ring me the day before (sometimes even on the day) and attempt to get me to change my time. This really annoyed me actually but I usually adapted to it one way or another. Also what annoyed me was the staff would refuse to tell me which pony I was riding when I phoned up to ask. I liked to know in advance as there were certain ponies and horses that I really disliked riding and wouldn't want to ride. The way I saw it, I was paying for a lesson so I should get some sort of pleasure out of it and not be made to ride something that scared me but they wouldn't tell me, therefore I was turning up to my lesson worried that I'd be on one of the naughty ponies all the time and it took the fun out of it for me sometimes.They hold loads of events there - Showjumping, Dressage and Showing and they're fab. There are chances to win prizes and it's always a really good turnout. Also in summer they sometimes hold fun competitions - down and out etc which is great for those wanting some fun.There are pony weeks for those parents who have pony mad kids but can't pay for a pony. £150 a week gets you a pony from 9am - 3pm. They learn to do all basic tasks and there's lots of riding and chances to win rosettes etc. My kids have done a couple and thoroughly enjoyed themselves.I left Mill House about 6mths ago as I took a pony on full loan and therefore didn't wish to continue the lessons there. Knowing what I know, I probably wouldn't advise it for the overly nervous rider unless they had a leader. Nor would I recommend it for someone looking to progress as (unless it's changed) I found there wasn't much chance to do this. It's good for a few lessons here and there though and for learning how to deal with the naughty side of ponies.

Mill House Riding Centre - Not BHS approved, not ABRS approved...... and it's no wonder why. The place is a joke. The website states - "We have a fantastic range of facilities, over 30 well schooled horses and ponies and BHS & ABRS trained and qualified staff." UNTRUE. Yes. the facilities are fantastic but as for well schooled horses and ponies? That's the biggest load of rubbish I've ever seen. The horses are either young and inexperienced or just plain naughty. Never in my life have I seen so many children being dumped on the floor by ponies that have decided to throw a bronco fit, And BHS and ABRS qualified staff? UNTRUE. The only member of staff that is qualified to BHS level is the teacher who takes lessons on a Thursday night. There are NO other qualified members of staff on this yard.When the horses play up, the 16 year old helpers on the yard are called in to help by means of them getting on the horses and cantering them round and round the arena until they're too tired to play up. Lovely.As far as the livery goes, this is THE worst yard I have ever had the misfortune to be on. The prices are extortionate, the owner charges you to use her electric when you put the lights on in the school or want to clip your horse!! The people on there are horrible and unwelcoming and whilst I know that the horsey world isn't always a friendly one, this place is just the worst. I couldn't wait to get my two horses off there. I am now on a lovely yard with great facilities for a fraction of the price.YES the facilities here are fantastic but that is by far outweighed by the shoddy staff, horrendous teaching, sky high prices and horrible people. My opinion on this place? STAY AWAY AT ALL COSTS. Take your horses and your children and run for the hills believe me. Find an ABRS or BHS approved yard and go there, better still buy a pony and get a freelance instructor. You'd save a fortune anyway compared to this sorry excuse for a place.