Cullinghood School of Riding, Berkshire

Have just come back from an overnight stay at cullinghood, I loved every minute. Maggy was lovely and couldn't do enough for us! The accommodation was rustic and better then I thought it would be! Maggy was wonderful she made us welcome and made us home cooked lasagne when we got there, she was helpful and un intrusive. Our riding instructor vicky was lovely and helpful. She went through the basics with us and let us be independent ! The only thing I would have liked was a list of times for meal times and rides etc, however when we asked vicky times she was so helpful and was able to tell us meal times and the best places to go.

I have no negatives about the whole experience and would happily recommend cullinghood!

Thank you maggy and all the staff

I just came back from a two-day riding break at Cullinghood and could not recommend it more.

Maggie is a caring but unintrusive hostess, she makes you feel welcome without over-fussing.

My room was incredibly spacious, with all mod cons and a fantastic power shower, as well as a huge flat-screen TV to make you forget that you are actually in the middle of rural Berkshire.

The riding itself was amazing: field upon field of beautiful countryside to hack out in and the happiest horses I have seen in ages (and no wonder, with all the space they have to stretch their legs!).

I had two very good, generous and demanding lessons, two exhilarating hacks and a rather interesting session on their highly trained mechanical dressage horse!

All members of staff were attentive, approachable and skilled, with the instructors especially accomplished, understanding and challenging at the same time.

The facilities are the best I've seen for a while and with the new planned indoor school they will be able to compete with the rest of the best.

All in all, a perfect stay, and a place I will definitely go back to!

My daughter and I booked to go on a 3 day break at Cullinghood to help improve our riding and have some fun!! Now we're back home I wanted to leave a review so others can hear how good it was. We have had a fantastic three days. All the staff were exceptionally friendly and extremely knowledgeable, but a special thanks has to go to Mark, for his exceptional patience, the horses were matched to our individual ability and were well cared for. We also got to ride different horses to widen our experience. We stayed in The Middle Mews which was perfect for what we needed, clean, comfortable and well equipped. Maggie was a perfect host and constantly checked that we had everything we needed. We had such a good time I have already booked our next trip, staying in "The Spiral". It's rustic charm and traditional feel is breath taking....so if you fancy a riding break in Berkshire, then this one’s a perfect choice!!!

Many thanks to all.......Cheryl & Hannah

I am an intermediate rider and on the outlook of a long, relaxing riding weekend.

Therefore, I spent a couple of days at Cullinghood. I had a great time! Staff was warm and friendly and I felt welcome. Then, I took a lot out of the lessons. The horses are well trained and have a good live, on the paddock most of the time. Even the other riders were chatty and friendly.

I stayed in the beautyful old house, relaxed in the sunny garden and slept soundly every night.

Additionally, the surroundings are stunnig, there's a lot of variation on the hacks.

All in all, a highly recommendable place!

This place blew me away. I trained as a rider in the 80s as a riding instructor and stopped it al in the 90s. This place renewed my enthusiasm and feel for it al again. I was reluctant to have to pay for something I was paid to do in the past, but the level of knowledge of the staff was beyond mine. Excellent all round, especially for schooling by todays standards. I will be a regular booker.

My boyfriend and I learn to ride here in september 2010. We stayed in a self catering cottage called Crabapple. It was brand new, and even though some little things still needed finishing like a towel rail etc it was heaven. It had views over the fields with some of the 150 horses on site running around and playing. All mod cons like DVD player, dishwasher, underfloor heating and induction hob.

We spent 3 days horse riding on a variety of horses which were all very calm and knew the score. The estate is huge, with long gallops and a cross country course. I'm sure those with more experience could have alot of fun here, for us though we had some relaxing lead and unlead hacks across the fields and through the woods.

I have since had a bad experience at another stables which really showed me just how good Cullinghood was. The owner Maggie, Mary in the office and the three instructors we had lessons with Louise, Mark and Victoria were all amazing. We could have fun with them whilst building our confidence and skills but still felt safe. The stable girls were all friendly and helpful too.

If I didn't live so far away I would ride here every week.

I went with my nephew who has Autisim. He enjoys riding but can struggle with new faces/places. We could not have been made more welcome - he loved it. Mark especially was a fantastic teacher, and took us on a beautiful hack. All the staff were friendly. The views from the fields were spectacular. Mark deserves a medal for his enthusiasm and fun!

We will definately return, it was great.

I've been riding here for a year and a half and I love Cullinghood. The horses are fantastic, the best ones I've found at a riding school. They have so many they can put you on one that really suits you, and if your instructor knows you well enough you can ride lots of different ones and/or the same ones if you like them that much.

The facilities are great, there are two outdoor schools, one massive and one smaller but both suitable to whatever you want to do. The grounds are beautiful and great for hacking and having a good canter over the old gallops. Really traditional, old stables too which look picturesque.

The instructor I have had for the last year and a half is the best instructor I've ever had at any riding establishment, she is beyond fantastic and has helped me improve so much. However, if she wasn't teaching there and I hadn't had her as a teacher, I'm not sure I'd be so keen.

The other people I have had taking the lessons are less helpful, can be quite abrupt and a little rude at times, and don't really focus on making you comfortable. There are also a few people around the yard who treat you like you are stupid at times, but the yard staff change so much those people are hardly ever there. Because of this it can be really disorganised, at times my horses were not bought in for the field or I was tacking up my own horses to be ready in time (I do not mind doing this but other people might) and often I feel the horses are neglected. They are turned out a lot which is fantastic, but some of them are underweight and not groomed before riding which could leave them quite sore if done regularly, which it is.

Can be a little pricey but I'd rather pay more and feel happy and comfortable at a yard such as Cullinghood.

Overall, a lovely yard with great horses but there are stuff that could be improved, especially management, staff and care of the horses, but some lovely people around and great experiences and facilities. Recommended even if you're just trying it!

Have been riding at Cullinghood for approx 2 and half years and would

recommend to anyone who has a genuine love of horses and the country side.

Staff are always very helpful and encouraging, has to the best place to hack out for miles

Me and my dad went to stay at Cullinghood School of Riding for two night's but it was so good we then stayed 5 night. You can always have a laugh with them all and there ridding teacher's are the best we hope we can go back.

I would say it is a peace full place were you can relax and chill out the children have so much fun when they help out with the hourses and mushroom there dog is so friendly she will cuddle up to you.

Everything there is great and we didn't want to leave it was that good.