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“Won't be going back”

written by Samirc77 on 23/06/2015

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.