Ditchling Common Stud, Brighton,

Fantastic facilities- two indoor 60 x 20m arenas, used all year round, an 80 x 20m outdoor school, mounds/stairs/bridge/ditches- great for practising Trec, a cross-country course, and if you want to get into skill-at-arms, this is certainly the place for you.

DCS has a good range of horses & ponies of all sizes and dispositions, generally very well trained and behaved.

Some of the nicest horses I've ever ridden (and still miss very much) are here.

This place used to have a real buzz about it, but seems to have quietened down in recent years, There are no regular lessons available now on Sundays or Mondays.

On the downside, DCS seems to have problems retaining good instructors, getting rid of them at unreasonably short notice and with scant regard to what would normally pass for good employment practice. Over the years, I've been taught by some very good instructors here, but they don't seem to stay very long. Get the feeling this is not always a very happy ship.

As far as value for money goes, DCS is definetely on the expensive side. Lessons are paid for in advance, and if cancelled by the client at less than four days notice have to be paid for...but it can sometimes be a challenge to get through by phone to do that.

Customer service could certainly be better. Don't expect much in the way of friendly interest in how you are getting on. On the plus side, I challenge you to find cleaner loos in any equestrian centre anywhere in Sussex.

Would I recommend it?

It depends who you are and what you need. I've had some very happy times here, but some pretty poor experiences on rare occaisions as well.