The Scottish Equestrian Centre, Bowhouse Farm, Fife

Previously we have been very happy livery customers but have returned for riding lessons on the Bowhouse horses. She had her first jumping lesson on Flint today with a lady teaching. What a fantastic session! I've never seen her so happy she was beaming with confidence. She really boosted her morale and we can't wait until the next lesson. thank you very much

I've brought my kids to this stable four times now and am delighted with the experience they have received. Their teacher has fantastic communication skills and already they have made amazing progress. Booking the lessons has always been easy and they have a great selection of riding clothes and equipment in their shop. Great for me that they have a nice café too - even comfy sofas! In stark contrast to most of the other stables I've visited with my kids they've got nice clean toilets! I've been to a number of riding stables - including ones in Edinburgh, West and East Lothian and this one in Fife - an easy drive from Edinburgh - is great.

Listen !

I have been riding at boehouse for a short period of time now, maybe about 6 month. And I have never noticed anything wrong with bowhouse ! What's all your problems ! It's probably just because you can't look after your own horses to the standard that they look after theirs with !

Do you honestly think that there would even be a Bowhouse if they were so rubbish !

They have a great range of horses that have seriously different personalities to suit different riders not in terms of age, but ability ! Their indoor arena is amazing its so bright and with the viewing gallery just above it, you are able to have people come and watch without being out in the cold !

And for sunnier days there's the outdoor arena which can also be a jumping course !

They also have all the different dirt tracks !

Which are amazing !!

And last but not least ! The riding instructors !

They are so friendly, so welcoming !

They have really improved my riding skills and are really funny ! They look after all those horses all day long ! That's why it's not run down ! Because all these volunteers and riding instructors keep everything in amazing shape and condition !

So on the hole bowhouse is amazing you cannot beat it ! I seriously reccomend bowhouse !

For £23 for half an hour this is a joke. About six times round the arena and the rest of the time standing talking?

If there are no ponies to match up to the riders requirements then DON'T take the booking.

Riding solo one week, being led the next - not good enough.

Is there anyone there actually in charge?

The staff I see look as though they could do with a good sleep!

I am comparing this now to one week when the instructor Stef was off and [name removed] was in charge - what a difference. She praised the riders and didn't just have them going round and round and round.

Wake up Bowhouse and give us value for money.

I have been riding here for about a year now and my experience so far has been very positive. My riding has greatly improved and my instructor is brilliant. She is so patient and never forces you to do anything, but still makes sure that you are constantly progressing in your riding. Everyone I have met here has made me feel welcome. The horses are very well cared for and always turned out impeccably for lessons. Their stables are all clean and tidy and there is lots and lots of fields for turnout. The arenas are all very well cared for and the surfaces are great to ride on. The bigger indoor arena is especially nice, with a lovely viewing gallery with sofas and the best hot chocolate! The owner is always very cheery, helpful and open to any feedback. My only disadvantage is the distance to travel from Edinburgh, but I can compromise as the standard of this riding school is far better than those nearer to Edinburgh. I would definitely recommend this riding school to someone else. These are my experiences of this riding school and others may have different.

Bowhouse is an example of everything a yard should not be. Staff are unfriendly and unwelcoming and frequently difficult to find. The owner is brusque and unapproachable. There is no welcoming feel to the place, it is actually a bit intimidating. The staff mostly young girls are surly and unhelpful. They are also not qualified riding instructors. The place is dirty and unkempt. The horses are of poor quality with little choice, even if you have the basics you will be schooling the horse rather than learning. There is little opportunity to progress. Liveries say they have seen horses being hit around the face and I have heard staff screaming and swearing at horses. Turnout for the riding school horses is very limited.

Fodder is of very poor quality with mouldy haylage being fed to school horses. The stables are generally untidy and the whole place looks dirty there are rugs and paraphenelia left everywhere a real health and safety risk. There appears to be a heirarchy when it comes to the allocation of fields and bullying appears to go unchecked.

Why would you want to ride here or keep your horse here. Guess thats answered by all the empty stables. I feel really sorry for the school horses at least the liveries have owners checking on them.

My recommendation is GO SOMEWHERE ELSE

I started going to Bowhouse last year for riding lessons. Instructor is really good and patient, and my riding has improved greatly . There is a good range of horses (some can be a bit temperamental at times) and you get the opportunity to ride different ones. I feel that sometimes the feedback after my lesson could be a bit better. Most times it seems rushed as there is another lesson waiting after me.

The staff are friendly and always seem to be busy.

The facilities are great, always looks tidy and the coffee is good. The shop could maybe do with some cheaper jodhpurs, but other than that it has a good selection.

The worst livery yard I have ever been on. Staff have a terrible attitude and regularly did not do my horses (this includes the basics of feeding and turning out!). Yard manager is a young girl who does not know what she is doing. Owner is very unapproachable and is not open to new ideas. He is also quite intimidating. All of the surfaces of the schools are terrible as not maintained (membrane coming through deep or hard parts in the school). Yard generally looks like a mess. Not allowed to bring outside trainers in and not allowed to bring your own hay/haylage (they charge quite a lot).

I also know that the riding instructors they use are not fully qualified and some of the ponies are unsuitable for the riding school.

Before going was also told many things that were allowed that actually werent.

Please avoid this yard!

Various issues - like previous reviews horses are not great quality - so difficult to progress further.

Phone not always manned, also when friends went to the shop one day it was closed and could not find staff so left after 10 minutes. Not very good image portrayed.

Been in the 2 schools and the smaller one is horrible - the horse really struggled as very deep and tripped often on black stuff coming through sand - felt very unsafe.

Will not be recommending

Such a pity as the centre has the potential to be very good. The attitude of staff can be questionable at times and riding school horses are very poor quality. They are rarely groomed for lessons. The arena surfaces are badly maintained and not at all good to ride on - I certainly wouldn't want to jump on them! Lesson bookings have been forgotten about too - not very professional! From what I've heard, the livery service is not good either with poor quality haylage/straw. I certainly wouldn't recommend it!!