written by 151Sparks on 11/10/2021
I had lessons at Hargate after they were highly recommended. Unfortunately my experience is not one that reflected the recommendations. Different instructor for each lesson which isn't such a bad thing but it is a bad thing when they all teach opposing methods of riding. Moved to another school and have made more progress during a couple of lessons than I did in the dozen or so at Hargate. New school go into detail to help improve all aspects of riding ability. Only wish I hadn't thrown so much money away on inadequate lessons having paid for private. Waste of my time and money and I'm not going to go into the unapologetic arrogance from management/owner when I spoke of my dissatisfaction. Poor show all round.
written by on 06/09/2014
I've not been riding here for very long but the privates I have had have been absolutely amazing and after having two months off from riding I've improved so much in my lessons! They teach you about your position, how to get the horse to bend, your lines, pretty much everything you need to know to become a great rider! The horses I've ridden are absolutely lovely and are happy to let you ride them. They seem like they always want to please. The yard is always clean and the girls on the yard are really friendly and tell you where to go or what to do if your unsure! It's a fab place and I'd definitely recommend it!
written by on 02/08/2012
Hargate Hill has great facilities with ample menage space and a good set of show jumps. Although for a livery, the indoor school is often unavailable due to lessons being taught there and in the winter it is often overcrowded. however if you are prepared to go up early when it is snowing it is often deserted. i kept my competition horse there for 2 years and kept to myself in one of the quieter blocks on the yard. i found the staff very friendly and helpful when i needed them especially when my horse was injured in the field everyone pulled together to help me get her in. if it wasn't for everyones help we wouldn't have got her out of the field at all so for that i am exceedingly grateful as well as all the support we both got. there is a great atmosphere up there as you are right in the hub of activity with regular unaffiliated shows and a well attended Pony Club, Riding Club and the riding school of course. The turnout is not great and the fields are very big and a little overcrowded which can be dangerous for younger children catching their ponies and getting ambushed by large excitable animals. On the other hand, stabling is excellent with airy floodlit stable blocks, well swept tidy yards and good room for all your belongings. The hacking in the area is fantastic with private gallop fields, close by bridleways to the Longdendale trail and over to Hayfield and new mills and a new bridleway by the railway line which you don't even need to go on a road for. The livery services are good value for money if you are tight on time you know your horse will be in safe hands. The prices are very good for the facilities offered and the bedding and hay is good considering it gets delivered to your door the morning after you ordered it. i think there is definite room for improvement as far as the whole running of the place goes but for only a few staff to deal with hundreds of people, horses and maintenance each day, i think they do a very good job. I made some lifetime friends and many memories at Hargate hill and although it isn't perfect, I would definitely keep my horse there in the future. :)
written by horseowner2 on 01/08/2012
Competitively priced for the facilities on offer as a livery: use of indoor and outdoor schools, show jumps and working hunter fences, and horse walker which usually works. However the advertised "shower room" has been out of functional use for about 4 years, and I can't remember the last time the solarium looked safe. The cross country is also barely useable due to the state of the fields (which I will come to later). And although stabling prices are competitive, hay and bedding have been steadily overpriced for the last 10 years. I don't use livery services, although MOST of the staff are amicable and have exams to around BHS stage II. Lessons are average, with only 2 qualified instructors in the staff cohort. Despite this, the yard has two major failings which cannot be overlooked. Turnout is atrocious. Grass livery is not available, although they have been advertising 'year round turnout' since the site opened. With 150 acres a very simple worming and rotation programme could easily be implemented. However the yard is managed on a very much money-orientated basis, where two cuts of hay are required off every field, before it can even be considered for turnout. On top of this the fields used are very much overstocked: the 'mixed' field is a ragwort, swampy mess that has not been rotated since its purchase over 5 years ago. The 'boys' and 'girls' fields do not fare any better, and in response to mud rash and injury worries the reply is often "don't turn out", and appalling attitude to horse management. I believe a lot of these issues are through ignorance rather than intentional rudeness. The yard is not run by the brightest bunch, and the work ethic appears to be "do less, charge more". However blatant favouritism and special treatment does sour the atmosphere somewhat for older clients who reside there exclusively for convenience. With a different manager, and a better attitude towards clients, this yard could be fantastic. Unfortunately I don't see these problems being remedied at any point in the near future.
Written on: 21/05/2013
This is a very inaccurate, and rather rude and spiteful review of Hargate Hill Equestrian Centre, written, I suspect, by a certain person who doesn't get her own way when she thinks she should. I have been involved with the yard for nearly 30 years and have never come across "blatant favouritism" or "special treatment" and as one of the "older clients" I don't find the atmosphere soured by any such thing. I do find, though, that the right approach usually clears up any incipient problems.
In the words of the cartoon from the 1st World War "If yer knows of a better 'ole, go to it"
written by Owldbat on 20/03/2012
I am very disappointed to see the negative comments here but feel that some of them are down to sour grapes and lack of experience. I have kept my horse at Hargate Hill Equestrian Centre for 11 years and before that was a client of the yard from the 1980s onward. I have been involved with horses for nearly 60 years so know what I'm about and would remove my horse like a shot if I met with the sort of conditions and intransigence that other reviewers have reported. The yard passes its official inspections every year and I find it to be well run. I have never had rudeness from the management or staff and they have often gone above and beyond the call of duty in an emergency. Obviously in 30 years there has been the odd glitsch but a quiet and polite word with the staff or management usually sorts it out. Perhaps "polite" is the operative word! Bedding, feed and hay are supplied at prices which compete fairly with local suppliers and the stable rents and livery charges compare favourably with other yards which have far fewer facilities. It speaks volumes that so many of the livery clients who leave for cheaper and more convenient pastures new very soon return their horses to Hargate Hill. The Centre has recently attracted a college from as far away as Huddersfield to do equine and small animal courses and they would not transport their students all that way 3 times a week if the place was substandard!
written by Taltyl on 19/03/2012
Hargate hill is the worst yard ever if your thinking of putting your pony on this yard big mistake!! The turn out is discusting lots of horses on this yard being turned out in knee deep mud every day if you want your pony to live out its with the school ponys and they put out one bale between them all which causes them to fight alot our pony was only there for two weeks and she ended up with two big kicks one on her leg the other on her bum she also had two rugs ripped and whenever we brought her in she ate like she was starving due to no grass and being chased away from the hay she seemed really down all the time also the bath in the field was always empty so we had to stand there for 30min everyday to fill it up the riding school takes priority at Hargate hill because it obviously makes the most money!! We were told to pay every 4 weeks but the yard manager Jenna used to ring us on a weekly basis mithering for £25!! We spoke to Jenna the yard manager about our pony coming in for a rest as she wasn't doing so well and there was an empty stable but she told us if we didn't like it we should move off!! My friend also has a 25 year old pony who was told the same when he got mud rash so they couldn't get rid because he was going in the field all the time. The shower room at Hargate constantly doesn't work it runs out of water and the farrier leaves 100s of nails on the floor to get stuck in horses feet which we also complained about and was told they were too busy I should imagine they don't care as the vets bill wouldn't be there's. I am so disappointed at the standards at Hargate hill I had hoped with a bhs they would be better but obviously not. If you care about your horse/pony don't send them here!!! In the end we walked off Hargate hill and it took the yard manager a week to notice our ponys were missing to which she rang us and asked for her bill to be paid no concern for the horses or ponies whatsoever!!!
Written on: 20/03/2012
I have byeen a client at Hargate Hill Equestrian Centre since the 1980s and have kept my own horse there for 11 years. The centre is situated on the edge of the Pennine Chain on heavy clay soil and the topograhy of the area means that it rains a lot and the fields get muddy. Hardly the Yard Owner's fault and the facilities and the avantages of the yard far out-weigh the mud.
The management and staff are helpful and kind and often go beyond the call of duty to help out in a crisis and I have never been "mithered" for money.
I have nearly 60 years experience with horses and I can assure you that I would never keep a horse on a substandard yard.
The OP's review smacks of sour grapes and s/he should remember that sneaking off without paying your debts is theft.
written by on 17/03/2012
Hargate Hill has the facilitates but Not the Management, Any complaints you may have are met with the simple answer of "If you dont like it move off" The turnout is appalling the field is knee deep clay that once you get stuck in you cant get out, There is more than 20 horses out and only two piles of hay which causes alot of fighting resulting in injury to all our horses and ripped rugs, The fields are never rotated so your horse is stuck in the same muddy conditions all year round. The rules you are given when you move on are clearly not followed by anyone on the farm and no effort is made to correct this. Very poor management, would never go on this farm again!!!!!
written by AliciaandHarriet on 12/03/2012
We help out at hargate hill and we think its great! All the staff are pleasent and we love all of the horses there but our favourate horses are Buddy, Ozzy and Jason! Weve just had 4 new school horses arive but theres not enough space. The new horses are called: Princess, Max, Dolly and Paddy! We love them all! The only thing we dont get, which we want, is a free lesson for the work we do! All the facilities are great! When you book in for a lesson they put you on a sutible horse of your height and ability. Sometimes the horse you want is not avalible but dont worry theres plenty more good horses! We rate this 4 stars!
written by on 12/12/2010
Hargate Hill is a great riding school and livery facility. The yard is kept clean and tidy at all times. The riding school horses and ponies are kept in good condition and are good to ride. There are horses for all abilities and once that you have been riding there a while you can usually choose the horse you would like to ride. The lessons are varied, you can learn something new each time you go. There are four arenas (2 outdoor, one indoor and an outdoor jumping). The instructors are fair (some nicer than others) but they are all good at teaching you how to ride. The prices can be steep but I think you get what you pay for as it is good value for money. I don't know much about the livery services but from what I have heard, it is quite good. I would recommend Hargate to anyone.
written by on 15/11/2010
Stabling quality is reasonable, and there is adequete turnout in Summer months. However overnight turn out is of poor quality and emphasis in recent years appears to be on making the most hay possible rather than appropriately rotating turnout, resulting in the poor quality of the most frequently used fields. Riding facilities are good with access to jumps and 4 good arenas, though indoor use is limited. As a riding school it has suffered in recent years for advanced riders with a greatly reduced number of working horses and qualified staff. In addition prices are still increasing, without any apparent improvement in facilities to warrant it. Livery services are ok, but "special treatment" of a few staff favourites can leave others wondering why paying bills on time is not sufficient to warrant reasonable consideration of their requests.
written by megan05199 on 20/08/2010
You can't beat hargate it rocks! :) Ive been riding since I was aboout 3 or 4 and has loved hargate so much I have never had one doubt about goin. The staff are friendly, the horses are kept in good condition and you deffinatley get your moneys worth! It might seem dear but its sure worth paying it! Me and my mum go now and it is something we like spending time together on. Its good no matter the weather because you can go in the indoor paddock and the instructors never force you in to do anything you dont want to! They dont rush in to things and explain and help if u cant do anything. You get to choose which horse you want to go on and which instructer you would like!! Maybe when I get a horse I might keep it there!!! Because the stables are securley locked from ten o clock I think its that time anyway and get opened at 6:00 am!!
I love hargate hill and love the horse and the thing i love the most is doin something I alway want to do. HORSE RIDING and theres nop where better around that area to go to!! Yo cant beat hargate!!!!!!!!!!!! PLEASE READ THIS IT MIGHT SEEM LONG BUT IT TELLS U WHAT ITS REALLY LIKE!!! :)
written by on 08/08/2010
I moved my horse to Hargate Hill, as a livery, about 6 months ago.
As I'm stabled in the riding school block, I feel suitably justified to comment on both Hargate's livery services and their riding school.
As I attend to my own horse every morning and evening, I can confirm that the riding school horses and ponies are very well looked after. Jenna, the yard manager, ensures that no horse is overworked. After all, these horses and ponies are chosen specifically to suit a riding school environment to ensure their suitability and to ensure the safety of the novice rider.
As for livery, the stables & facilities are excellent.Staff & lessons are excellent. Grazing not so great. Haylage/hay quality hit & miss.Delivery of feed & bedding is good. There is no perfect yard, but this one is good.
written by on 29/05/2010
I have recently moved my horse off hargate hill after a bad experience. I was made to feel stupid at times by staff and they werent very helpful. My horse had an injury in their field because of inadequate fencing. There is some good instructors there though, my hat goes off to cara who is amazing and helped me so much. You have to buy hargates own bedding, feed etc which was ok quality but the straw made my horse itch like mad and they werent very reliable. I had to borrow hay and food off friends twice as they hadnt delivered it. The riding school is well done but livery is extremely expensive and probably not worth the money. Wouldnt reccomend.
written by Sidesaddlelady on 17/05/2010
I have ridden at Hargate Hill Equestrian Centre for over 20 years and when I bought my first horse I chose to keep him there because I was so impressed with the set-up. He's lived there for 10 years and only exceptional circumstances would make me move him. The stabling is safe, secure and warm and the staff can be relied on to do what they are asked to do. There are excellent facilities - brick built stabling, full, part & D-I-Y livery, hay, straw & feed deliveries, horse walker, cross country course, cafe, lessons,close to the Trans-Pennine Way and other off-road riding areas (although there is some roadwork to get to these places) and the centre is home to Glossop Pony Club & has its own Pony Club Centre for children who don't have their own ponies. Turn-out can be a bit dire in winter but Hargate Hill is in the foot-hills of the Pennines, well known as a notoriously wet area and the soil is clay so there isn't a lot to be done about it. No yard is perfect and if you want the ups you have to put up with the downs. At least we do have turn-out in winter which is more than some yards in the area!
Both my horses are graduates of the riding school at Hargate Hill and I have never had any have never had cause to regret buying either of them.
I can't comment on the rding school as I don't have lessons but for livery I would certainly recommend it. My only complaint is that they don't teach side saddle!
written by on 11/05/2010
Hargate Hill is an amazing stables, I loan my pony, Cara, there. She is gorgeous. The stables are a very good size and the facilities are absolutely fantastic. There is a cafe, horse walker, three outdoors, a jumping arena with many jumps, a massive indoor school, lots of stables, staff and loads of advice.
The only fault I can find is that all food and bedding must be bought from Hargate. However, it is good quality so it isn't really a problem.
My favourite ponies are Cara, Casper, Poppy, Johnny, Tommy, Woody and Chico. And Missi but she's left now. :) A great livery stables but not as good as a Riding School. I hope you pay it a visit!
(Don't worry if the gates on the drive are closed, the are on sensors so they will open as you drive up to them!)
written by on 30/03/2010
I went to Hargate Hill for a jumping lesson, the staff were never at the office, and we had go to looking for them, or ask in the canteen. When I arrived at the farm, and located a member of staff, it turned out they hadn't booked me for a jumping, and made it out althought it was my fault, when I cleary said a jumping lesson. The teaching was very inconsistant as one week I was told never to kick a horse, the next I was told to boot him very very hard. As this is attached to a colleuge to teach people to ride this is very poor. They office staff also tried to charge me £21, when my dad said it was £19 last week, but they said it was always £21, when my dad quired again they said well she is over 16, when I am 14. The horse I rode at already done a 1 hour jumping lesson, then 1 hour riding, then I had a 1 hour lesson on him. The staff were very rude, and the horses seemed overworked. They are not organised enought to book the correct type of lesson either. I would not reccomend it at all.
written by on 04/11/2009
I have been to quite a few riding places but Hargate is the best. They do let you pick which horse you ride but if you need to work on something specific they will choose the best one for you for a few lessons. The horses are kept clean and it is a tidy stables. When you have been going for a couple of lessons they will let you tack up if someone is free to show you. You can even join clubs to brush up on your skills. They have a great indoor and outdoor riding arena. Also they have show fields. It is quite expensive (the most expensive i have been to yet) but it is worth the money. I think it is really good that you book different types of lessons or go on a hack. Overall this is a great riding school.
written by becky cranmer on 30/10/2009
im currantly loaning a pony kept at hargate hill it is brilient has a horse walker, indoor arena, 2 outdoor arenas crosscountry course, lots of near hacking and over 100 livery stable with lot of grazing staff will look after your horse if your busy + exelent riding school there was nothing to complain abuot.
written by on 10/08/2009
I only went a couple of times to Hargate Hill and it was extremely good but I was only having an hour semi-private and it was £23!! however the quality of the lessons was very high and the facilities for the horses are of the highest standard, they each have a big stable (that as far as I saw was always nearly spotless), they also have a stall each, a walker and even a dryer for rainy days. Great, if expensive, riding school :)
written by on 03/07/2009
i have a private jumping lesson every two weeks and the teacher is brilliant have improved loads im so thankfull the horses are lovely and whats great they dont put on the same horse they change them so you dont get used to one style of jumping and i take my 3 year old son up with me when i go and there brilliant with him! i think the lesson are resonably price for what you get and i bring the horse i ride to hargate for a private lesson its great
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As rated by our community of reviewers
Sidesaddlelady's Comment
Written on: 21/05/2013
In the main this is a fair review. I've kept my horse at Hargate Hill for 13 years and hopefully he's there for life. He's happy and that keeps me happy. Fees are reasonable and the yard compares favourably with places charging similar rates for fewer facilities. The staff are experienced and reliable and one can safely leave one's horse in their care when unable to be there oneself. There is winter turnout - admittedly muddy but one can't have everything and many yards in the area have no winter turnout at all. Stables are solidly built and warm and dry and there is secure storage available. Security is one of the most important aspects for me - the owners and some staff live on site and there is CCTV coverage.