written by on 18/11/2010
What is happening here! It used to be a lovely riding school. I think it needs more experienced professional instructors,especially for the advanced riders.
written by on 06/10/2010
I have now been riding at glen jakes for a year, Fist of all it was great until my instructor left to go to new zeland then everything changed! my new instructor is great , but we did the same thing ever week, (which was very boring). then one of the parents told the 'manger' then it changed. we started doing jumping , going in and out of blocks ect. so it's GREAT now !! But i do think the horses are over worked , plus the arena isn't very big...and the horses always have dried mud on them, and after it has rained the arena is always muddy so the horses still have to walk through it. and after the lesson i never see anyone getting the mud of the horses..plus there is no indoor arena...
written by on 05/06/2010
I used to ride at Glen Jakes before getting my own horse, and it's only when you go away to get your own, you realise how little you know!
I Love Glen Jakes, i really do, but i think there are better riding schools in the area.
The horses are lazy. No two ways about it. You have to constantly be kicking and whipping to get anywhere. Then they shout at you when you're not getting your horse moving, which is totally not your fault.
I have had many amazing lessons there, but i've also had a few where I've really lost my confidence.
I adored my weekly group lessons, and still miss them now, but only for the social side of things. I used to help out a lot and made some great friends, but i was talking to a friend of mine who was doing her test to become a helper on the yard. To give her a headstart, I invited her to come help with my horse for the day. I was shocked. She couldn't pick feet, didn't know what sweet-itch was, or any of the signs of colic. She didn't know how to properly put a bridle on. Yet she's being trusted to help children as young as 5. It's not good!
On the positive though, i have had many valuable lessons, and learnt lots of schooling techniques that are now coming in very handy (but i only learnt these as i had finished all my levels, so don't be expecting that on your first week lol).
I would reccomend it to someone wanting to learn to ride for fun, but anyone wanting to go on to own a horse should look elsewhere.
written by on 22/07/2009
This is a good riding school for beginer riders of all ages . BUT i am and adult of some understanding of the equine wold, Unfortunatly after trying several of their instructors their is only one instructor there whom i have had a session of,who seems to know what she is talking about.Unfortunatly she is normaly fully booked for her sessions,as i have found it dificult to re,book with this lady on a saturday for a regular private session.As i don't wish to waste my money on a session where i am told to KICK harder just to make him go.I have had to try and find somewhere else for regular sessions and only go to Glen Jakes when i can have the instructor of choice
written by on 31/10/2008
Great stables and friendly atmosphere; although the horse seemed a little disinterested during the lesson it might have been my fault rather than hers! the instructor did use a whip to try and get her going a bit, but did manage a nice trot in the end; would recommend to new riders or if like myself, you're returning to riding after a break.
written by on 09/08/2008
I Have Been Riding At Glen Jakes For Three Years.. Yes I Can Say I Have Learnt a fair deal.
But one of the problems is.. the stuff that they "forget" to teach .. in other words its "too boring so leave out" .. when you get asked or questioned on i tin the future and you cant or dont understand they seem to be more than happy to mouth off.
I Do enjoy glen jakes , i very much enjoy the staffs company and the horses. But the instructors can be a bit short tempered. i understand why.. chasing a bunch of kids on horses around a paddock all day isnt the best but.. they get stressed out and blame the kids even though the kids learnt from them. I am in no way WHATSOEVER attemping to bad mouth the place i just want my views to be acknowledged.
Some can teach better in a day more than a weeks worth of stable management.
One of the instructors (not naming) can be very rude to some people in my opinion. I have experienced this .. and needs a good talking to as this has left more than one person i have spoke to in tears..
This is probably just because they are professional and firm.. but this is starting to loose its name as a family place.
written by Jaffakake on 04/08/2006
I started going to Glen Jakes Stables in Stockport, knowing that it was a basic riding school. I found the teaching very poor. The lessons are unstructured, and you are not told what you will achieve in a lesson and how to do it. Therefore, you find yourself being expected to just know how to do something. The 2 teachers I had I found very young for the job, and one of them certainly did not have control of the class. I felt the emphasis was on progressing the kids before they were ready, so that mum and dad can say how clever they are, but everyone seems to forget it's dangerous to have a child on the back of the horse if they are not in control of the horse. There was no attempt made by the teachers to get the basics right before progressing. After 5 lessons where I wasn't being given the ability to learn to control the horse (even though I asked many times), I found myself on a horse who decided to canter off. It was at this point that I decided to find somewhere else.
The horses were OK, and they looked reasonably well cared for. Some of them are complete school ponies and will not listen to you at all, which is something else I find dangerous, rather than endearing!
written by Polarbears on 16/02/2006
I have ridden at Glen Jakes for several years now and find it friendly and accommodating place to ride. The way the yard is run leaves room for a great deal of improvement, but the ponies are well treated and in general, the necessary is taken care of. I found that, in comparison to other yards in the area, a greater effort is made to meet your requirements. The standard level of instruction is suitable for beginners and intermediates and there is provision for more advanced riders, where available. The ponies are of a typical riding school type, safe for beginners, but able to provide the more advanced rider with the variety and challenge required for meaningful improvement. The staff are in general very helpful and provision is made to ensure the safety of all who ride there. Naturally it won't suit everyone, but as a place for people to have fun with ponies, it is ideal.
Do you have a question about this product or company? Simply type it in the box below and one of our community will give you an answer
Once we've checked over your question we will put it live on the site and our strong community of experts will hopefully give you some great answers that you find useful.
We will email you when the question is on the site
As rated by our community of reviewers
Bobbinbob's Response to Jaffakake's Review
Written on: 25/09/2007
What you say has some truth too it, and believe me there are others who have said this, but the teaching has improved, since you cannot expect someone who hasn't been teaching for long too be really good, like everything else it takes time, also if you didn't like the instructor you had, you could of asked for someone else, you could have private lessons if you didn't find yourself progressing in the group lessons, since private lessons are aimed at improving your riding as well as helping you to gain confidence, since most private instructors will assist you in whatever way you need.