After putting up an announcement on there social media site yesterday,this yard should take at a good long hard look at they're yard ethics,The yard that they were quick to share with everybody to say had a POSITIVE result of STRANGLES EQUI but NO STRANGLES,know nothing about these results and should perhaps put they're energies towards running they're own yard PROFESSIONALLY,what seemed to be omitted from they're post was that the yard in question has just had 2 LIVERIES move to this yard (FORDBANK)and did not ask for any Strangles Tests before they arrived,or even now knowing that there is a POSITIVE RESULT,This is so unprofessional.

My child had attended Ford bank stables for roughly 2 years, paying for group lessons and semi privates for them, initially I was pleased with how my child was doing within the school and my child was happy to go every week, over the last 4 months or so, we began noticing inconsistencies in the lessons being given, one week they would be jumping straight jumps and the next, they had poor balance and were just going over trot poles. We have finally moved to a new stable and the first few weeks has been spent trying to fix errors in the way my child rides that were taught to them by staff at Ford bank, on talking with other people I have repeatedly heard that Ford bank are happy to take your money but don’t progress your kids as they should, also it’s hard to get 100% attention on your child’s riding when instructors are on their mobile phones or talking to other people within the yard. The best thing we ever did was to move stables, my child is now being taught to ride the correct way and has 100% attention from their instructor!! Would not recommend to anyone!!

Would highly recommend Fordbank to anyone wanting to start horse riding. Went for my first ever horse riding lesson last week and came away feeling much more confident for my second lesson. The two people I dealt with are both lovely and very patient and put you at ease straight away .

My son had a pony party at Fordbank yesterday. Such a fantastic day, at a great price. All the kids had a blast! They got a ride, and a chance to learn a little about the ponies during a grooming session. There’s even a lovely party room! Staff were super helpful, and patient with the kids. Smiles all round! Would definitely recommend!

By far the best riding school, my daughter has had many of lessons here,including a birthday party. Staff and riding instructor are very approachable and friendly, horses are well kept.They even have an indoor arena for those wetter days! Surroundings and views on this yard are amazing, would highly recommend.

My daughter has been riding here for over 5 years now and myself for 2 years. I have seen my daughter grow in confidence week after week from being at the stables. My daughter was always quite shy and unsure of herself, but just from being around the stables and the support she has received with her riding has in my mind helped her grow into a much more confident young women. I myself after a 30year gap in horse riding wouldn't consider riding anywhere else. All the horses and ponies are well taken care of and i have always found all the staff and owner to be extremely friendly and helpful. I would strongly recommend this family run stables.

What a fantastic riding school my two girls have been coming here for years, value for money, well cared for horses and pleasant, helpful and approachable staff, always able to discuss any concerns I may have. Manager and daughter always giving constructive feedback and praise to all riders. Will continue to recommend this stables to anyone wishing to ride x.

My daughter has been attending Fordbank Equi Centre since she was 5 years old. Now 7, I have watched her grow in confidence on a weekly basis. She has a smile from ear to ear from the moment she arrives to the moment she leaves. It’s a working yard so yes, it’s dirty! However the horses are clearly well cared for, clean and tidy. The instructors, the owner and her daughter are clearly very experienced and do their best to ensure the kids are happy. However, you have to appreciate that horses have their own personalities, so inexperienced riders may struggle to control them. It’s therefore very important that parents allow the trainers to do their job. I love nothing more than watching the lessons and have watched my daughter improve week on week. She’s happy so I’m happy. Thank you Fordbank for everything!

What a great place for your child to learn. Absolutely amazing staff and very experienced riding instructor. If the weather is bad there're an indoor arena

I purchased the pony party on group-on. After several attempts to get hold of someone to booked this I finally got an answer by text. This was fine all got booked and code passed on, however, at no time did the person I was dealing with give their name or ask me who I was or who's party it was for. I arrived at 11.45 for my party which was due to start at 12noon and couldn't see anyone around to ask except for a number of dogs. I finally saw someone and I said I was here for the party and she pointed me to a shabby little room - no way is this a party room! The room is like a hut with a wooden bench and table down the middle. A sink in the corner which had no running water and a storage box as a bin. The children required the bathroom and I was pointed across the yard in to another very run down building where the toilet was. This was absolutely disgusting and should not be open to the pubic. The toilet was dirty / did not flush / there was no toilet roll available (I had to provide tissues) and above all there was also no running water in here for the children to wash their hands. I find this absolutely unbelievable when they know the children will be using the so called room to eat!!! The woman - no idea who she is as at no point did she identify herself - was very rude and was rude to one of the girls who worked their. She asked one of the girls if she could do the trek and the girl paused and her comment to her was "that's fine if you have to think about it then I will not ask you again" but not said in a nice manner it was aggressive! The girls then got saddled up in a very run down area. She again at no point asked who the birthday girl was or what age she was. My daughter asked if she could pick her horse and she said no just get on this one which made my daughter upset. They went out trekking for only 10-15 mins / returned and then brushed a horse for 5-10 mins and that was it. I was paying for a two hour pony party but there was no way this was worth the money. We sung happy birthday and then left. Again at no point was anyone near to ask how we were getting on, did we need anything - absolutely no customer service at all. As we were leaving the lady shouted "is that you away". I just feel that if you are doing childrens parties then there are some provisions that should be made to cater for this and that would be running water so that kids can wash their hands before eating especially when dealing with horses and also to ensure a clean and working toilet with toilet roll. I felt very let down with this place and will at no point ever use this place again and would not recommend it anyone.

Had the best time today kids had aball ponys mud and all the party fun we had in the party room and great staff made the day worth while the ponys were well fed well turned out and had great paitenes with the kids made 10 little girls very happy my daughter is so happy thankyou

A lot of strange bad reviews has prompted to write my own review of Fordbank. This is a perfectly nice stable yard, my daughter has been taking lessons here for a year and has also had a pony party here, which all her friends adored. Yes the yard can be a wee bit muddy,(it is Scotland) but the horses are always clean and happy, as is the tack. It is a relaxed environment with friendly staff and the teenagers who help out are always lovely and are happy to explain to younger children what they are doing and why they are doing it. It is an affordable option for children who have parents who are not financially blessed with multi million £ salary careers like myself. I am happy to let my daughter attend and enjoy the experience of being around horses. I'm no equestrian expert, but it seems to me like an okay place.

Was a bit unsure about this given some of the reviews that I'd read after booking. However, the kids had a fantastic time. Staff welcoming and friendly and had a good rapport with the kids. Horses appeared well looked after / content and although the stables themselves are obviously not brand spanking new, the place was not the shanty town one might imagine after reading some of these reviews. I would definately take the kids back as they loved it.

Would not recommend at all, very overpriced for a sub standard place. All of the riding school ponies were filthy, the equipment was very poorly maintained and also filthy. Wheelbarrows, forks and brooms lying about the stables. For the amount of money paid for a pony party I expected much better than very young girls as staff leading about children on ponies for 20 mins. The instructor was very nice and friendly, but place seemed severely understaffed and relied on young teenagers to carry out most of the work. Other staff members were smoking on site and didn't seem overly interested. I will not attend the place again, and would have liked to have known that the pony walks were just to the end of the drive and back and that under 16 staff were reasonable for taking the pony walks without any supervision

ive been going to fordbank for a year and its great! all the instructers are nice, loud and clear. the horses and ponies are amazing and cool as well! i gave it a five star rating because everything is just great about the ridding. there is also a pony camp,where you stay for two nights and clean out your ponies then groom then ride then party. there is also shows every now and then! i have learnt so much from fordbank so thank you!!!!

fordbank equicentre is truly a brilliant riding centre, lovely people go there and not only the riding is good but the interaction with the horses
I have been going there now for seven to eight years and have never thought of swiching yards, brilliant also for livery I have my own horse there on livery and she always gets cared for well when I cant make it up I would definetely recomend this yard to everyone
if you are a parent and are worried about saftey it is unbelievebly safe I have never broken anything or had any serios injuries at my yard (the sport is dangerous though).overall I have to say that Fordbank is very good and I have enjoyed my time there so far.

I have been going to Fordbank for over a year now and find the staff to be friendly, professional and encouraging. They ALWAYS go the extra mile to make you feel comfortable and safe both when on the yard and in the school. They have great horses for all levels of rider that are well looked after and the instruction is top class. I started there when my confidence, both personally and as a rider, was low and throughout the past year everyone has helped me to build that back up to the extent that I've taken one of the horses on adoption and I spend all of my weekend there (and a few weeknights too!). It's such a happy, friendly place to be that you can't help feeling welcome. I would say to anyone who fancies a go at riding to go and give Fordbank a go - you'll love it!

Both me and my daughter (11) have learned to ride at Fordbank. We've had constant encouragement and a lot of fun. It's a friendly and relaxed place with everyone happy to help out. Fiona and the staff are excellent - and regularly go the extra mile to make sure both of us (and our new pony) are all well looked after.

I have been at fordbank for just over 1 year now and i can without a doubt say that it is the best run yard i have ever been to . The staff are very helpful and friendly and there is just a general good atmosphere about the yard . The horses are kept in top condition and are cared for extremely well .Fordbank has improved my riding immensely since i have been there and fiona puts alot of effort into helping me , taking me to shows and letting me ride her top class showjumping horses which i apppreciate alot .I would not hesitate to recommend the yard to anyone .