Ryders Farm Equestrian Centre, Bolton Reviews

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★★★★☆
4.1
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Latest Reviews

“Friendly healthy enjoyable”

★★★★★

written by Guthriecf281 on 21/04/2019

The Ryders Farm has a lovely shop for meat, a cafe and often sells or gives away eggs. The riding is carefully managed to reduce risk. They were very caring toward me. They let you develop. The horses are kept extremely clean. A small army of workers and volunteers is on hand every day. Horses all rest every Monday. Beautiful even to watch.

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“Fantastic Riding School and Yard”

★★★★★

written by SE123 on 13/01/2018

I have been riding at Ryders for some years now and can safely say i would not want to ride anywhere else! Staff are all really friendly and seem to love their jobs! Horses are all well treated and the variety of horses is great! Lessons are fun and informative. They are great value for money and the block booking vouchers are fab! Pony Club days and camps in the holidays are a great idea! The yard is always kept clean and tidy which is nice to see.

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“Best riding school I have ever been to! ”

★★★★★

written by elizabethsarahgrant on 14/12/2017

Absolutely love riding at Ryders! As a nervous rider I have always struggled with my confidence. The instructors have helped me massively with overcoming my anxiety and I am now a better rider for it! By pushing me out of my comfort zone and I am now more confident than ever. The lessons are always different and interesting and I feel like I learn so much in every lesson. All the horses and ponies are excellent and I love how much they vary as you learn so much more! They also take such good care of their horses and they really do love their job. The yard is impeccable and the facilities are amazing. Plus all the yard staff are so welcoming and friendly! Would 100% recommend Ryders to anyone.

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“Great Centre and Staff”

★★★★★

written by Braxton1981 on 14/12/2017

I took lessons here as a kid and loved it then, I now ride once a week with friends and have a great time. The instructors are so friendly and put you at ease; whilst also pushing you to improve. The horses are lovely and a I definitely have a few favourites! 100% look forward to riding here every week

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“Shocked!”

★☆☆☆☆

written by CatherineMacLeod346 on 31/07/2017

Nothing much has changed, horses come and go and still a couple of old regulars. Staff haven't really changed which is a pity as most of them are still unqualified and clients (parents) are unaware. A well run professional establishment should quite clearly inform people of the qualifications of the staff (as in schools). There seem to be many more young people working there. When my daughter was there the amount they were paid was an absolute disgrace but they are classed as helpers and so don't have the same rights as staff. The café has changed hands and is lovely but is often frequented by staff and young helpers and when we were there it was quite disturbing and off putting to hear there very personal conversations quite so loudly. In fact one man (not sure if he works there) was openly very rude about a group of clients and could clearly be heard in the car park. It really should have been reported. For several reasons I doubt I will return as planned, as it is not the sort of place we would want to frequent. The facilities have not really improved although a field has been set aside with a few jumps in. Laughingly it is called a cross country field. I am sure some people may initially think it is good but if the surface is scratched I think there are serious problems that are just glossed over. A pity as daughter used to enjoy her lessons with JS but not the general atmosphere. Management thrives on bullying and control and that does not make for a good establishment. Have since visited another school a few miles away and cant believe the difference. lessons and hacking out available which is a bonus. Professional, fully qualified staff (clearly transparent for all to see) and social skills that put the clients at the heart of the business. Ryders is not the place we used to visit.

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“not the best ”

★★☆☆☆

written by VincentMcCoy22 on 21/06/2016

just ask yourself, do you want to learn a skill from qualified instructors? then ask who is qualified at Ryders. Huge shock and surprise to me Soon realised that lessons do not always follow with the same instructor and this cannot be beneficial as they can't possibly know riding ability. there are 1 or 2 horses that I believe have been there for some time but on returning after a few years was shocked to find few ponies suitable for youngsters. Some of them appear to be quite erratic. eg Bessie Boris. It is not the professional yard I would expect and too often have heard staff shouting at each other in public. ponies are often not tacked up ready for lessons to begin. this is totally unacceptable as lessons often don't get going until nearly half lesson is gone. Don't think about going on a Saturday it is overrun by lots of unsupervised children and although my child goes she is not left alone. It is not the place for young children to be left alone without strict supervision. COME ON RYDERS SHARPEN UP!!! Your notices say it can be a dangerous place they take heed and get someone with authority and management skills to take charge of the yard. Lessons with her are brilliant but couldn't say the same about the other staff.

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“some good some bad”

★★★★☆

written by 172Fuller on 19/03/2015

I have been going to ryders for 6 years and its truly a lovely place. It has wonderful facilities such as the indoor and outdoor arenas, the cross country field(for summer), the stables cafe ect. There are lots of reviews about how all the owners care about is money.i strongly disagree with this for many reasons. I used to go volentering as much as i possibly could,which all staff were happy for me to do so,and were extremly appreciative and treated me more like a collegue or a friend than a teen girl simply offering a hand.to show there appreciation, whenever there was a space, or somebody had not shown up they put me a group lesson for free! I could sometimes ride 3 times a week,just from free lessons! They are no longer allowed to do this, but they have introduced a leader card were you can earn 3 lessons.s also has a family,house,farm(including 2 floodlit arenas) and 30+ horses to look after and pay for. I know from doing it myself that all numnahs,saddles and bridles are washed frequently.the stables are mucked out atleast 3 times a day and all the horses are well looked after. All the staff are kind and welcoming(there is a significant age gap between me and some of the workers,which you wouldnt even notice) and work extremly hard to help all clients.the lessons are great with a maximum of 11 people,but its rare that you get more than 9.personally i think this is great because you also learn from other people.the instructors are all fully qualified and know what they are doing.i think the major downside to the farm is the livery.sf doesnt allow people that go to the riding school onto the livery unless they are loaning a horse,therefor you arent allowed to speak to any friends that have moved onto the livery unless they come onto the yard. Overall i think it is a very good riding school and i hope to get a job there in the future

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“Excellent”

★★★★★

written by on 16/12/2014

I have had lessons at Ryders Farm for a number of years and I have loved every one. If you listen and work hard you can learn so much. If you want to achieve at any sport you have to practice. The teaching staff are all brilliant and the lessons are well structured. They are also very patient and they are always prepared to explain things a number of times and will answer any questions you may have. You may not be able to hack out but there is an indoor and outdoor school and riding in the fields in the summer, one field having cross country jumps. There are a wide variety of horses which are well cared for. Some are more forward than others some are better at jumping. You will soon find a favourite but will be expected to ride different horses to learn, practice and improve what you have been taught. There are many events organised throughout the year which are open to all. What I don't like, people who don't listen or try hard to do what is asked. Those who complain about horses not being forward because they don't want to put any effort into their riding. Riding is hard work but so fantastic when you do get it right. At Ryders Farm you have every opportunity to get it right if you work hard for the instructors and the horses.

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“needs to improve”

★☆☆☆☆

written by Horton300 on 09/11/2014

Have been going for lessons with daughter for a while now. Mostly pleased with them but often the instructor changes and there seems to be a lack of continuity in learning. Used to think most of the horse/ponies were appropriate but some of them just seem too big and too hard for the youngsters expected to ride them. One or two of them such as Ruby, Arthur, Jason need so much effort the kids come off shattered. Stables do seem good but much of the tack is very old and worn, saddle rugs worn out and really worn saddles and stirrup leathers. The inspection certificates give glowing reports and stars but I think they must be on their best when inspected. There does not seem to be much bedding down for tmany of the horses and often they are left with their tack on between lessons which I find unacceptable. I sometimes watch the tots lessons and there are never enough staff to lead the beginners and some of the children from the owners livery block do it. Many of them seem very young. I just feel now that things are quite lax at times but money is still taken and I don't always think a lot of learning takes place. One or two of the staff are quite nice but the owner doesn't seem hands on and is very loud and not at all professional. It is a pity really as it is quite convenient but feel too disillusioned now and will be prpared to travel to see if other schools are any better. You pay your money and take what you get at Ryders!!

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“Money Money Money!!!”

★★☆☆☆

written by KennethWagner258 on 27/07/2014

Any establishment is judged by it's management and staff and sadly this establishment lacks Quality and consistency. Group lessons (up to 12) can vary in quality. Often very great mix of ability in these lessons and often horses do not seem well matched to riders. My friend booked private lessons for the same day over a period of several weeks and rarely had the same instructor from one week to the next. What would people say if children had a different teacher in school on a regular basis. This is not a conducive way to learn and improve. When we asked some of the owners about livery (with a view to buying a pony) we received very mixed views but some seemed reluctant to criticis for fear of backlash and being asked to leave. Many criticised the apparent money grabbing attitude rather than animal welfare. ie: if animal welfare was paramount then all horses would be allocated the same amount of bedding for the comfort as the owners horses. Apparently this is not the case.I was told if they required more the price would increase. Although the facilities appear to be quite good ther eis only one small outdoor arena where livery owners can ride as lessons often go on til 9pm. This is a samll space for a livery stock of up to 20+ horses. For several varied reaons we decided not to enquire about livery, there are better yards locally.

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“Great horses, great staff.”

★★★★★

written by LadyViolette on 20/07/2014

Both my son and I have been riding at Ryders Farm for 8 months, him in tiny tots and me in weekly group lessons. There is a large number of horses so you aren't stuck riding the same horse every week, which will improve your riding by being able to adapt to different horses, some are more forward, some a bit lazier, some just want to follow the rest and are more of a challenge to get them to listen to you. With tiny tots parents get to lead their children in their lesson, although if you don't want to do this then just mention it at the office when you book in and they will get someone to lead the pony for you. These lessons are only half an hour so the youngsters don't get bored from being in there too long, they learn the very basics of riding; how to hold the reins, walking, sitting/rising trot, changing the rein. Once they've got this they can graduate up to a beginners class, riding on their own. I always enjoy my lessons and feel challenged but supported in what we are asked to do. I have also had some private lessons, which I have got a lot out of too. The lessons aren't 'cheap', but this is true of any riding school, and I have heard of people paying a lot more for much less. At the beginning of each lesson you go and collect your horse/pony from their stable and take them back at the end, depending on whether the horse is in any more lessons that day you may be asked to take off the bridle and loosen the girth, or untack completely (help is available from the yard staff if you are unsure about how to do this), so you also learn about basic track and tacking up/untacking. Before we started our lessons we went to one of the weekly taster sessions (£5) that enable you to have a go before paying the full price for a lesson, and if you've ridden before then the instructors can assess your ability and advise you on which of the groups you suit. Through the summer they run monthly dressage and jumping competitions, each with different classes for different levels, which you can compete in on your own horse or one of their horses. There are also "Own a Pony" days, Pony Club and special classes such as Beginners Jumping. The on site cafe is great, my son and husband have their tea there every week while I'm in my lesson. There is also the Farm shop, with very friendly staff where you can buy meats, veg, cakes, etc. We pop in regularly and got our turkey there last Christmas, which was fantastic.

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“terrible all round !!!!!”

★★☆☆☆

written by Gradyd464 on 10/07/2014

I had two horses on the farm so i was paying a lot of money but the staff treated us really badly all they do is bully everybody on livery mainly the kids ,the owner(sf) is the worst for this it became impossible for me to stay there .i cant beleve the amount of times the kids of livery were crying or scared because of sf or staff. I would not reconmend this farm to any one .this farm all thats important is the money!!!!

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“i love this place,its my second home the horses are...”

★★★★★

written by portugal25 on 07/07/2014

my grandaughter and dad go horse riding here and i have going for months watching them and thought it was time i had ago...first lesson was frightening but my second lesson was amazing my confidence grew. the staff are brilliant and teaching skills are brilliant.. the horses are well looked after and the stables are clean. having private lessons well wotrth the money. cant wait for my next lesson. highly recommended

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“Great place to learn with fun..”

★★★★☆

written by Emma31 on 28/06/2014

My little girl has been going to rider's now since she was 4...she is now coming upto 9.years old...an all I can say is they have been great with her an taught her everything she knows. ....an now become a fantastic rider an that's down to all staff. ..making it fun along the way as well as teaching her....she has also been going pony club. .an all I can say is she loves it..helping out round farm as well as learning along the way. ...kids love it. ...she loves the staff so do we as there always there to help if we have any worries very helpful. ..I'm even thinking of maybe doing working liver for my little girl as she's now ready for her own Pony...an I wouldn't look any were else for a pony as over the 5years we have been coming. We know all the pony's inside out...an staff are helpful in helping us look for a pony best for my little girl. ...

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“Could do better”

★★☆☆☆

written by Izabelle34 on 29/05/2014

Is the owner of this establishmenent for real? She is officious and rude and if unable to interact with the clients should leave it to one or two of her staff who are lovely. I do not wish to hear her screaming at her staff about how she pays them to do a job (this shoould be done in private)it smacks of bullying, a power complex to me. The manner in which she speaks to some of the young owners does not say much about the older generation setting an example.The times I have been with my grandaughter the yard and horses appear well cared for but everything seems to be about money and much of the tack needs updating and re-placing. A lot of very worn tack. The small jumping competition last week was extortionately priced and prohibitive to most young owners consequently she did not enter. I think the lessons both group and private are overpriced for the amount of actual riding time. Lessons often overun and therefore sometimes the following clients do not get a full hour. Two of the staff I have met are extremely nice and very competent, a lovely young man and a young lady with short hair. Excellent instructors!! It seems strange that everything seems money not client motivated except the small cafe area which provides the riders and visitors with excellent cafe quality food at the most reasonable prices served by a very pleasnt gentleman for whom nothing seems too much trouble.Some good points but much room for improvement. Why do we continue to go?? Nearest for convenience!

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“"Love it but some yard staff are.."”

★★★★★

written by Patience70 on 17/05/2014

I have been riding at Ryders Farm for a while now, but have swapped farms a few time due to a few problems. First, in some groups lessons, they put up to 12 or more horses in one lesson. For me its a pointless waste of time and money because you are not really doing much. I love it but some yard staff are very ignorant, and can be a bit nasty. I personally think C and J are the best. They are helpful and if you are stuck they actually help you. Private lessons are very expensive, and considering so many people go there, they don't need to make it that much, but they are worth the money. Sometimes lessons over run so be sure to make sure they actually give you 30 mins. Overall, a lovely place, maybe some yard staff ruin it, but a lovely place with wonderful horses. S F is also a wonderful woman.

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“Mostly great yard staff ”

★★★☆☆

written by Brentonk431 on 09/05/2014

Lessons are very good and well graded for all abilities. Staff on the whole are very friendly and helpful there are always one or two in any establishment that could be better. Stables are reasonable size and the horses appear to be well looked after but I used to have a horse on working livery and was generally happy with the way he was looked after and exercised although I often thought that bedding was skimped on and put extra in myself. The fees are reasonable but got the feeling that money and the business was more important than customers. Interpersonal skills not a strong point of senior management. Overall v good.

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“Great Horses, Great Teachers”

★★★★★

written by RachyW on 25/11/2013

Ryders is fantastic, Always a great ride and lesson. They have particularly great teachers, they keep you interensted alert and challenged. Each lesson is thought through with purpose and meaning dependant on what your goals are. The horses, although they do the same things week in week out, they are safe for children and learners to ride and when an experienced rider jumps on they are not disapointed. The horses are ready for a challenge and react to touch. They are kept on their toes by the teachers. Ryders Farm has a great range of horses, each one teaches a lesson. Myself, my mother and my step daughter all ride here and i dont have a bad word to say. The horses are taken care of really well, and are well loved by all. Connor even tought us how to get Mandy (one of the eldest horse residents) to give us kisses :)) Great Great Farm. Personally I Stopped riding around 16 years ago, after i left school, I always wanted to do cross country, so started riding again at the beginning of the year (2013). I'll be ready to complete a course by next summer and have grown in confidence 10fold since i started again. I Look forward to my lesson each and every Friday :) Thanks Ryders :)

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“Does what a riding school should do!”

★★★★★

written by on 20/09/2013

I am an experienced adult rider and have been to many riding schools over the years. I have been riding at Ryders Farm for 2 years now and here is my honest review. The instructors I have had, particularly my regular instructor are all excellent. I have confidence issues and my confidence has grown here. I have been pushed out of my comfort zone but in a safe way which to be honest is what you pay for - if you didn't want to improve there would be no point in taking lessons. The horses are all lovely. They are all safe riding school horses - they have to be! Some of them are capable of working in a beautiful dressage outline or jumping amazingly well. Some are more cheeky than others but you will be matched according to your ability. The facilities are good - the only thing that is missing is hacking due to the location. The prices aren't cheap but I think are worth it for quality instruction and horses. My riding has improved so much. Thanks Ryders.

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“rfec is the best!!!!!!!!!”

★★★★★

written by on 20/12/2012

ryders farm is the best place ever! I've been going for about 1 year and 5 months. All the staff are friendly, the instuctors are qualified and the facilities are great! There are many great facilities like:- indoor arena outdoor arena cafe lunge pen many people are saying that the horses aren't taught properly, well they are, you do get the lazy ones and the spooky ones and the quick ones,but trust me they are safe.I like is how the instructors work on something untill you get it right.The price is abit high but it's worth it!

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