Bank Farm Riding School Poynton, Stockport

Bank Farm is a lovely yard with very friendly and highly qualified staff! The trips and shows are great and the horses and ponies are well fed, well behaved and well cared for. The lessons are great for anyone from beginners learning to ride to experienced riders needing a challenge. Overall I would recommend this fantastic riding school to anyone of any ability!!!

Bank farm is one of the best riding schools ever if u disagree then ur a whitch and a moody cw how could u ever disagree with them they brought up my confidence up to a whole new level and I am thankful thank you soo much bank farm xx

I have been writing at Bank farm for almost 4/5 years now and it's amazing. I write there for about 3 years and then one lesson the owner (who was teaching me) suggested that I started loaning a horse. I did and have had many amazing opportunitys there such as, xc fields, clinics and shows. This is a great place to ride and you can carry on improving. Many people say they only get put on lazy horses, that is not true. You need to go on slower ones before you can be put in more advanced ones. I had made many friends and enjoy going there. They only things I would say is loaners should not have to lead except in major curcomstances and we also loaners should have to have certain times to ride so we can actually move. Great and friendly place and I would recommend this to anyone!

Last year I finally got round to fulfilling a lifelong dream of learning to ride properly. I asked around and Bank Farm's name came up - thus I visited them first.

Firstly, the place seems to be run by kids. When I was asked the fill in forms, there were several sections which were not relevant to me, but the little girl behind the desk would not accept the form if those sections were not filled in. The yard was untidy, with dirty brushes perched on strange places and hay tossed on a heap on the dirty concrete next to the office where children were stuffing it into ratty hay nets. Having never been to a yard before, I didn't think much of it.

The private lessons started off ok - my young instructor was very professional and really pushed me, but I could sometimes feel her frustration with ponies which did not want to trot or turn no matter how much leg I gave. I could only come to the conclusion that they were either bored of going in circles or tired. I booked earlier lessons but it made no difference.

What irritated me was the hordes of kids running around, snickering at me behind my back, nearly dragging me off my mount as soon as the lesson finished as it was needed at the next class. It became clear that there was definitely a clique and I was made to feel most unwelcome.

On the odd occasion that I did see an adult other than my instructor, they were extremely short with me for no real reason. It got considerably worse when I developed a medical condition - my GP encouraged me to continue riding as it was much better than sitting at home. I dutifully notified my instructor and she had no problem with it. But when the other "instructors" were told about this things got nasty. Suddenly I was not able to have the pony I always rode and neither was my instructor allowed to continue teaching me - I was suddenly told that ponies and instructors were provided at their discretion.

I wanted to leave and go to another yard, but I really liked my original instructor and hoped that she would be allowed to continue teaching me. We were never friends, but I respected her and knew that she thought me capable and was proud of how I was improving.

It was at this time that I noticed that a lot of ponies suddenly sported hogged manes - sweet itch were spreading through the ponies and two of the ponies I rode had it.

After my last lesson I was called into the office and two of them ganged up on me in front of all these children about my medical condition. Telling me that the "owners" didn't think that their insurance would cover me - even after I pointed out that I had signed their paperwork which stated that I accepted the risks of riding. I was told to leave and that they would contact me during the week to let me know if the "owners" would allow me to continue. As no call came, I returned to the yard the following week as I had a lesson booked.

Upon arrival I was told the child behind the desk that I was not allowed to ride. Whilst I was taking this in, a woman who stabled her horse there, but who did not work there, entered the office and ranted and raved at me about how inconsiderate and reckless I was continuing to ride with my medical condition. I realised that the "owners"/"instructors" had divulged the details of my condition to a 3rd party without my consent which was both unprofessional and inexcusable. When I asked to speak to the person on charge, this woman went off in search of the women who had spoken to me a week before. Surprise, surprise, they did not even bother to come and speak to me face to face and told this third party to tell me that I was not longer welcome at the school, before stomping out.

I was really upset at this and the kid behind the desk was really embarrassed. As I left the office I saw my old instructor and tried to speak to her, but she turned around wordlessly and walked away - from the look on her face I believe that she was told that I had made a complaint about her or something in that line.

I was completely heartbroken and felt beyond betrayed. After a stint in hospital, my GP has again cleared me to continue riding - but I will not be returning to Bank Farm.

I absolutely love bank farm it's lovely the staff are very. Friendly and I help on Sunday's and rent a amazing pony called Trigger who is fantastic he has brought my confidence up loads and I can't wait to do cross country with him which is one of the amazing opt unities they give its amazing value for money I also enjoy going on hacks and doing showjumping and xc country clincs I love the ponies up there as well all of them are very friendly recommend to anyone

I rode there for 4 years and in that time i did bot improve as I was put on Chaniey one if there oldest horses but also the slowest or as people say in the horse world a plodder and I was in her every week. We also never did any jumping so I now 4 years after leaving Bank Farm I sill have a large fear of jumps. Since I have left Bank Farm and have started riding at Glen Jakes Riding School I am in top leval and have done many shows, so if you want the best horse riding experience posable I do not sugest riding at Bank Farm.

Bank farm is a lovely place to ride & you often get a lot of things done in the lessons, the horses&ponies are absolutely amazing and always give their all&the staff and leaders are lovely and are always happy to help you out when you need them....however it often feels like the instructors would rather be on their phones than teach & they tell you to do things without actually explaining how to do it. Although, when they aren't engaged in their phones, they push you and give you constructive critisism. I've noticed that the horses aren't always given water and are clearly ridden for too long without breaks, they also need a good groom as many of them have mud or dust all over them and finally the stables can be very mucky and need a good jet wash. Other than that I think bank farm is a nice place to learn to ride or to improve your riding!

My daughter has been riding here for a few years now and really enjoys the lessons and hacks that she has done. The horses appear to be well look after considering they have a difficult task of looking after so many. The staff are always polite and considerate towards customers such as myself however, some staff members can be bitchy and demanding towards the young girls which help out. Additionally, the instructors are friendly and the majority provide interesting lessons to watch and for the children to develop their abilities. Finally, I would recommend this well run family business, but for the future would suggest that they don't over work the horses as much.

polite and friendly staff who put there heart and soul in to the horses and lessons. yes there are a few changes and improvements which are taking place all the time. my lessons are always interesting and i feel like i always improve and have something to work on the horses are changing all the time so you never get bored or end up on the same horse all the time . thanks to bank farm my confidence has really improved and im loving riding again.

I have owned ponies for 30 years & at present have a youngster I am breaking/schooling for my young son's. Just started sending my 4 yo to Bank Farm for lessons since our old pony was pts & so he has no one to learn on at home anymore.

After only a couple of lessons I can say I will continue to send him to bank farm, ponies are so well behaved (unlike mine!) & my boy loves going! After every lesson asks when his next one is. The girls that lead the kids seem to be enjoying what they are doing & encourage the riders throughout their lesson. Once he has mastered the basics & ours is child safe he will have lessons on his own at home but until then he enjoys going & I love watching. Fair price too... No grumbles from us :)