Following
our ‘Where to Train’ Inspection by the British Horse Society we received a report from Sue Payne (FBHS & Chief Examiner),
which included the following:
‘The family run centre has very good standards in every aspect.
The standards are very well confirmed over many years. This
shows in the very good attitude of the staff and the length of time
that they stay. The tack and tack room organisation is to die
for. All tack gleaming, supple and of good quality.
This Centre has a very good range of horses. All the horses
seen today looked very well and happy. Those seen in work were
suitable for training riders to Stage III+. I have the highest
regard for this
Centre'
Sue Payne,
F.B.H.S
& Chief Examiner
***************************************
Having chosen Wimbledon Village Stables to come back to
riding after a gap of many years, I feel I couldn't have
found a better place and only wish I'd done it sooner. All
the staff are friendly, expert and helpful, and the horses
are a privilege to ride. With the fantastic scenery of the
Common as well, you couldn't ask for more! I'm really happy
riding at WVS, and it's the perfect antidote to the working
week... I recommend it 110%! Briony
***************************************
Thank you for making one of my dreams come
true...... to have some great 'horse riding' experiences and meet new
friends with similar interests.
Inge
***************************************
A few weeks ago I came
to ride at the stables and went out with Vickie for a ride. I spoke with
her about my idea for possibly doing a short film about the stables.
We make educational
films for schools, universities and businesses and we distribute them to
more than ninety countries. The films are educational and the primary
similarity between all of them is that they are all films about living,
working, in possibility. One of our films is the number one film on
leadership in the world. We are rather a boutique business and very
selective about our subjects. The primary use for our films is educational
and they are used by teachers and schools all over the world.
I came with the
intention of going only for a ride. It was lovely, a beautiful day, and
Vickie gave me some good lessons. I used to ride a lot as a young girl but
have not in a long time and it was wonderful to have some refresher
lessons. What struck me as well was the candid simplicity with which Vickie
spoke about how much she enjoyed her job, how wonderful the business was and
how connected the customers, horses and staff were. We are interested in
the topic of connection and believe that the horses, staff, and visuals of
being outside would be a wonderful context in which to learn more about
connection. It is a nice metaphor and it would be beautiful to watch.
Your business is
lovely. I felt very real people all around me. You can't fake this, it is
only real, when it is real. I would like to explore a way to learn
something from what is happening there to help people, children, around the
world, bring that kind of world of possibility to their own schools,
communities, families.
"I started
riding at WVS almost 2 years ago and arrived as a very
nervous beginner! But with such patient and enthusiastic
instructors to encourage and challenge me it's been a
wonderful experience improving my riding and enjoying the
beautiful common. There is a very social and supportive
atmosphere and a Saturday morning ride isn’t complete
without a cup of coffee with friends afterwards. And I
haven’t even mentioned the horses yet!
I have my favourite of course, but they are all so well
loved and cared for and each has a unique personality and is
a pleasure to ride. It really is the highlight of my week!”
Simone, SW19
Thank you Jenny for
everything. For caring and believing we can learn, making us work on
what we thought we couldn't do and encouraging us all the way. I've
learnt so much. Dede
‘I had been riding at Wimbledon
Village Stables for 18 months when I decided to sign up for the BHS
stage 1 course (with a little persuasion from Sam a friend who I
ride with). I thought that it would help me improve my riding and
also my knowledge of horses and how to care for them. I had been
riding on and off for 22 years but just on hacks mainly, so I wasn’t
very good at getting the horse to do much expect follow the one in
front! Jenny was running the course on a Wednesday night at 7pm
which was good so I didn’t have to take any time off from work.
There were quite a few people doing the course but only Sam and
myself who wanted to take the exam. I learnt a great deal from the
horse care and knowledge course and gave me such a better
understanding of why we do certain things in the yard and how the
horses react to things. We all had a good time at the stables and
Jenny was a brilliant tutor. As our exam date loomed all of the
staff at the stables were great asking us spot questions helping us
out with anything that we were stuck on. I had already started to
have riding lessons on a Sunday so when everyone found out that we
were taking the exam they helped us focus on what we needed to know
and do during the riding part.
Sam and Jo standing with Chloe
On the 6th
June both Sam and I went to Ditching Common Stud farm for
our exam. The night before we met up with Jenny for some
last minute cramming! There were 14 people all feeling the
same as us. Once you got into the exam and doing things I
soon settled down. The worse thing about the whole
experience was that you had to wait for your results to come
in the post! I finally got my results on Tuesday 12th
June telling me that I had passed both the riding and the
Horse Care and Knowledge. I rang Jenny straight away as I
was so happy. Every one who has taught me in my lessons has
said how they have seen my riding improved and I am so much
more confident now and will be signing up to do the Stage 2
course in September.
I would
say to anyone who is thinking about doing the courses that
you should as I have found it extremely valuable in both my
riding and my knowledge of horses. And a HUGE thanks to all
the staff at the stables for their help and support
throughout the whole time.'
Jo
It was
wonderful to discover a stable of happy, willing horses so close
to Central London, and also to be supported by Carol and all the
positive team as a nervous rider only recently getting 'back on
the horse'. Wimbledon Village has a wide range of horses and
ponies all with very individual personalities, and they are very
sensitive to matching horse and rider to keep both
happy, learning and secure. It has to be the cleanest and nicest
smelling yard in all my travels, and with a perky face peering
out of every stall (and even the office)!
I
would wholeheartedly recommend this stables to anyone of any
experience, from the most timid knee-shakers to my horse-loving
acquaintances with years of competing. Poppy, W2
Jean and I want to say
“thank you to you and Jenny, Claire and Natasha who took us
out when we rode at the stables during our vacation. We were
very impressed with the quality of the horses we rode at
Wimbledon Village Stables, and the professionalism of the
staff. It’s a joy to ride well-cared for, well-trained
horses. Our rides with you will be wonderful memories for
us, and we hope that we get an opportunity to visit you
again. Sincerely, Mary Ann and Jean, USA
I started riding
at WVS over 28 years ago and over the years it has
become almost like a second home to me.....Carol,
Caroline and all their staff have made me and my family
feel so welcome over this time and they continue to
provide some of the best quality riding to be found (at
least I think that's the case, but I haven't really
ridden anywhere else in 28 years!). Linda
I joined WVS in December
last year and I just wanted to say a big thank you to all of
the team for re-introducing me to horse riding.
The stables are very well managed and organise lots of
events for their members. I now enjoy riding more than
I ever did, because of the great instructors, the beautiful
common and last but not least the fantastic and well looked
after horses and ponies. A special thank you goes out to
Pixie, she really helped me get my confidence back!
Renske.
I found your
stables, your horses (my horse for the day was Chloe) and my
instructor (Caroline) to be of the highest quality and will
have no hesitation in recommending you to anyone who will
listen! Katherine, USA
I had longed to ride as a
child, but sadly it was way beyond my parents' budget so,
when my daughter Olivia said she would like to learn to
ride, I was pleased to be able to oblige. I suppose I was
doing the classic thing of living my dream through my child,
but she hasn't complained so far.
There was
never any contest about her favourite pony at
Wimbledon Village Stables - it was always Rolo.
Olivia had been riding Rolo every week for nearly a
year when, just before Christmas 2003, Hilary
(Alice's owner) rang me with the momentous news that
Rolo might be coming up for sale. I knew immediately
that we'd have to try and buy her because I couldn't
bear the thought of her going to anyone else.
(Response from husband: "Are you completely mad?")
I was so excited on
Christmas Eve that I couldn't sleep. On Christmas morning we
managed to get the whole family up to the stables including
Grandma, Grandad and a rather reluctant older brother,
without arousing any suspicion. Olivia was just thrilled to
be at the stables on Christmas Day for the first time and
was wholly unaware of what was about to happen.
As we walked into the yard, Rolo was brought out to meet us
and stood before the assembled crowd looking absolutely
beautiful, bedecked with tinsel, ribbons, bells and bows and
a huge sign round her neck saying "Merry Christmas Olivia".
I'd like to say that I had a little tear; the truth was my
shoulders started heaving and, once I started,
I couldn't stop. Olivia was handed Rolo's reins and she
stood there
holding her and grinning, slightly bemused why everyone was
clapping and cheering and her mother was standing there
sobbing. It still never occurred to her that she was being
given Rolo as her Christmas present. We had to spell it out
to her and, when the penny eventually dropped, she went
completely white, clasped her hand to her mouth like they do
in films, and was totally silent for a good minute or so.
This is quite unusual.
On the way home, a deliriously happy Olivia declared, "My
dream has just come true and I am the luckiest girl in the
world". It wasn't just Olivia's dream - it was mine too. And
my Mum and Dad were there to see it. Deborah
I wanted to express my
gratitude for all the pleasure I enjoyed at the Show and the
BBQ on Saturday. You must all have worked very hard to
produce such a well organised event. As a newcomer
attending my first show it was lovely to meet so many people
who all made me feel very welcome. i did actually
learn a thing or two as well! I really enjoyed seeing
the horses I know jumping and their performance in the
musical ride was spectacular. The riders of course had
something to do with that and were superb despite the heat.
I do hope they enjoyed it as much as the spectators.
They all seemed pretty happy in the evening. Once
again Carol my thanks to you and all your staff for a
wonderful day. Kind regards. Margaret
The winner of our last Dressage Competition writes:
Of course I was thrilled and delighted to win the dressage competition
riding Casper. He is a lovely horse, as we all know, and that he scored so
highly in the collective marks for "paces" and "impulsion" would be no
surprise to anyone who has ridden him, but to do just as well in
"submission" is a real tribute to the boy, he was on his very best
behaviour!
It was particularly nice that Casper could
perform so well at this time. His current owner is leaving for
Switzerland so I am sure it is a bitter sweet gift to her, but
she knows that he will remain at Wimbledon where he thrives and
is so well loved. For his new owners it is surely a
reinforcement of their decision to become partners with this
very special horse.
Watching Natalija ride Pod in the recent
dressage demonstration illustrated just how well the harmony
between horse and rider can be achieved.
It was an inspiration to us all. I know
for sure that her Grand Prix level is well beyond my ability but
what we can see and learn here at Wimbledon brings me a huge
amount of satisfaction and enjoyment as I am sure it does for
you - and lets face it having fun is what riding should be all
about! Lynda
Two years
ago, I decided to take up riding again after a 23 year
break. I say "take up again", but in truth, my riding
experiences as a child consisted of being hauled 'round
fields by semi-tame farm ponies being enthusiastically
encouraged by my ex-riding instructor Mum, "Head up, heels
down, hang on for dear life!". Fast forward 23 years and one
week-long riding holiday later and inspite of a painful butt
(read: 6 weeks of not being able to sit down without
yelling!) I had been well and truly bitten by the riding
bug.
Either that
or I had dinged my head after falling off on the
aforementioned holiday...
And so my search for a good riding school began.
What attracted me to
WVS was the fact that firstly, unlike most riding schools, the
lessons take place through Wimbledon Village and onto the
Common. For me, riding is about 'real life' riding and not so much
'school work' (I have no ambition to appear in the Olympics!) so
combining lessons, and training hacks in the beautiful
scenery of Wimbledon Common seemed absolutely perfect! Secondly, I
was pleasantly surprised by the knowledgeable, helpful and friendly
the staff and instructors; I was made to feel very welcome on my
initial visit. I had 'phoned numerous other stables beforehand and
was either met by an answerphone message - to which I never got a
reply - or someone who either sounded bored, disinterested and/or
hurried! Lastly, as animal welfare is of extreme importance to me, I
was delighted to be greeted that day by a row of friendly,
interested faces appearing over the stable doors as soon as I set
foot in the yard. And although WVS is a city yard (but you'd hardly
believe it when you see the Common!) with no turn out of it's own,
what 'clinched the deal' was the fact that all the horses have
regular 'holidays' away from the stables on a farm where they can be
Just Horses. This I feel, is so important to both their mental and
physical well-being and is proof (if it were ever needed!) that the
horses at WVS are well-loved and well cared for. You just have to
look at how smart they are to know that they get the very best of
care and attention.
What more can I say? WVS is the best place to ride in London.
Wonderful, well-schooled and happy horses, great instructors, caring
owners and beautiful surroundings. What more could a rider wish for?
Linda C
Having ridden
at the yard -- then Hilcote, run by Jean Kirkpatrick
-- as a child (you can see me in one of the photos
on the History page), it was natural that I should
return to Wimbledon Village Stables when I decided
to take up riding again many years later and I could
not have chosen better. As a livery at WVS for more
than 20 years, it is self-evident that I find the
yard provides not only a caring home for my horses
(Zoë for four years, Spooky for 14 and Rory for the
past two and a half), but also a perfect balance
between professionalism and friendliness.
Over the years, I have been
constantly impressed by the many changes that Carol and her team
have wrought, often finding improvements when it looked to me as a
livery -- and something of a perfectionist myself -- as if none were
needed. My horses have always been happy at WVS, well cared for,
well exercised and well schooled by the staff and the support
infrastructure (farrier, vets), while during my many, many hours of
riding, I have benefited from the excellent tuition, enjoyable
company and beautiful countryside. The variety of activities that is
on offer, whether lessons, hacks on the common or in Richmond Park,
or the possibility of excursions to pastures new, has meant that
throughout my time at the yard, I have always been able to find
something that suited my mood, whether I was looking for achievement
or relaxation (although the latter was typically not possible when
riding Spooky). In addition, and equally important to me, I have
made many close friends, and my life would have been much duller and
less fulfilled without WVS. Susan
Darryl
Does... Horseriding
by Darryl McKay on 14th of
November 2007
Darryl and Athos - Photo
by Jordan Roach
This week Darryl trots
over to Wimbledon to have a
canter...
When I last went
horse-riding I was about
nine. The lesson was
supposed to start at 9am but
unfortunately I was late.
Jordan and me rushed up
Wimbledon Hill road and got
to the stables at 0910.
Wimbledon Village Stables
is the oldest riding school
in Britain so I knew this
was going to be
professional.
I was welcomed by Carol
Andrews and introduced to my
instructor Vickie Lodge. I
really expected to be riding
alongside an aged veteran,
say 50 or above, not a
lovely young lady in her
twenties, so you can imagine
how happy I was.
Looking the part
I was wearing tight jeans
and my Barbour jacket, which
I thought was appropriate. I
sat in the office and
changed footwear, from
trainers to brown leather
riding boots. Then put on my
chaps and riding hat.
My horse was unveiled to me
his name was Athos.
Now I'm 5 foot 11'inches and
weigh 14stone. My horse was
massive and to say he was
built like a horse would be
an understatement, more like
an athlete, solid as a rock.
Vickie broke down the basics
for me. From how to handle
the reigns to how my feet
should be positioned.
The instructor talked me
through it step by step,
like we were cooking, but I
couldn't grasp what she was
telling me. I was so
confused and overwhelmed by
the situation presented to
me.
The Local Scene
The stables are located
behind the Dog and Fox pub
in Wimbledon village and the
community are used to seeing
horse riders emerge from the
small side-road on a daily
basis. An estate agent
explained to me that it was
a familiar sight that was
very welcomed:
"It's what makes this
village so special!".
A Quick pat-down - Photo
by Jordan Roach
During the tutorial I
proceeded to question Vickie
about horse-riding and the
stigma attached to it. She
admittedly agreed;
"That it's a sport for
privileged people who can
afford to take part in it".
For some bizarre reason I
asked her "What happens to
horses when they die?" she
responded "That's not a very
nice question!" Then
mentioned something about
carcasses.....
As I spotted a dog run
across the field I asked
"What are the most common
breeds of horse?" I found
out that the most popular
were Thoroughbred, the
Arabian and Rakehner.
Throughout the lesson I had
a tendency to lean forward
but was continually
corrected by Vickie
regarding my posture "Keep a
straight back and stand
tall" she shouted.
The Technique
I learnt how to make the
horse walk by squeezing its
sides with my legs
(basically giving it a
nudge). Then I got the horse
to trot it's a two step
procedure that has the horse
moving its legs diagonally
in pairs.
After the trot came the
canter, which is a three
beat step, one side of the
legs don't mirror the
actions of those on the
other.
I was thrilled at the
prospect of galloping but
just as we started to canter
the session came to an end.
I got the horse to slow down
and come to a halt by
pulling on the reigns
slightly.
Then to turn around I pulled
on the appropriate reign,
left or right to make the
horse turn in the desired
direction, until he turned
the full 180 degrees (half
circle) and headed home.
At the end of the session
Vickie made a call from her
mobile. She didn't actually
speak to anyone because the
number she dialled
automatically activated the
special horse traffic
lights.
This enabled us to get to
the stables without
contravening the flow of
traffic as we're given a
short space of time on the
road.
Whilst on the road the horse
became uneasy and was
agitated by a rubbish truck.
He started to go off track
and not follow the straight
line set out by Vickie's
horse.
Vickie was very supportive
and amazed me with her sheer
strength. She stabilised
Athos with the small rope
that linked my horse to
hers.
The end of the session
I was gutted
once I got back to the
stables because I wanted
longer. I really wanted to
get back out there and go
again. The ride was
exhilarating and I had a mad
buzz about me; I was
ecstatic and so proud of
myself and the way I handled
the horse.
Photo by Jordan Roach
I honestly think that Chris
Eubank and Derrick from Big
Brother are the only other
black guys who enjoy horse
riding.
Any student, especially
those of you at Wimbledon or
Chelsea, should visit the
stables because it's been
around for over one hundred
years and is an integral
part of the village's
history.
In my opinion the facilities
alone put it head and
shoulders above any other
riding school in London; it
offers 2,700 acres of land
in Richmond Park along with
a schooling ring.
On a student budget it will
cost a substantial amount of
money. To take up the hobby
with annual membership
starts from £275 and an
hourly rate for a lesson or
hack costing £45.
One thing I did take note of
was the fact that myself and
Jordan were the only blokes
at the stables. Maybe it was
the time of day? Mind you, I
can empathise with any guy
who is dithered by the sheer
agony of riding, considering
the excruciating pain I
experienced in my crotch
once I started to walk.
Ouch! Southern uncomfort
indeed...
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