Promoting Traditional Western Horsemanship Generate a sense of identity for Western riders within the wider equestrian community.
Our primary objectives are as follows:
Maintain and manage a Centre of Excellence for Western Riding at Blackford Glen, Edinburgh. Maintain and promote high standards in Western riding, horsemanship and equine welfare and, through example,
encourage others to aspire to those standards. Facilitate continuous development of riding skills directed at safe and enjoyable (trail) riding as well as
performance classes in WES and AQHA Shows.
14/09/2024
🌟 September Spookbusters! 🌟
We had a fantastic weekend with Clive Johnson for our Spookbusters Clinic! Lots of new people and horses again which was wonderful 🥰
Clive brought his smoke machine this time for an added element of fun and the horses all did really well.
Thank you Clive for another great weekend!
We have one more horsemanship clinic planned this year on the first weekend in October so drop us a message if you’d like to book in. You can work on groundwork/riding/loading, the choice is yours!
Thank you from all of us at the glen for coming along and making it such a brilliant weekend!
Roll on 2025!
🤡🎠🐎🦄🌟
07/09/2024
And we're off... 🤠
25/08/2024
🎈SPOOKBUSTERS CLINIC with Clive Johnson🎈
7th & 8th September
We've got a couple of spaces left and we'd love to welcome you to the Glen.
⭐️Get in touch to sign up⭐️
Spectators very welcome on both days!
16/08/2024
🌟 Spookbusters Clinic 🌟
We still have a couple of spaces available for our September Spookbusters, come along and join us for a fun and learning experience with your horse 🐎
BBQ on the Saturday night that you’re invited to!
The last Spookbusters Clinic was a sell out so send us a message if you fancy coming along, spectators also welcome!
Looking forward to seeing you there! 🤩🎠🤡
16/07/2024
Best times 💫
Thank you everyone! 🥰
With special thanks to Clive for bringing Spookbusters to Blackford Glen! 🏴
15/07/2024
Fantastic Spookbusters Clinic with Clive Johnson! 🌟
We had all kinds of obstacles including the tunnel, water, inflatables and the see saw. The boat with teddies was an all round favourite too! 🥰
Everyone had great fun, including Barney who enjoyed a snuggle with the teddies when he got tired 🐶
The sun even came out yesterday! ☀️
It was great to see so many new people and their lovely horses. We’re all looking forward to the next Spookbusters in September!
Would you like to come along? It’s about having fun with our horses, and a bbq on the Saturday night. Open to everyone and every level of horse and owner with Clive there to help.
Thank you, Clive!
20/06/2024
It all starts on the ground… 🐎🫶🏼
19/06/2024
We have had the most wonderful clinic with Bernd .7p 🌟
Now that we can stand still and take a moment, we will share with you our reflections of training with him.
Having everyone together again was fantastic! We got to see how everyone has improved and we welcomed some new horses and people too.
We thank you Bernd for your way of working with us and our horses, and the difference this brings to our horsemanship. It was so much fun too, which really makes it such a relaxing experience and brings out the best in us.
We are so grateful to you and we can’t wait for next year already! 🐎☀️💚
7p 7p
#2025
08/06/2024
⭐️Only a few more sleeps until our clinic with Bernd Hackl! We're so looking forward to having him back at Blackford Glen! ⭐️
And it's not too late to sign up for a lesson. We've got a couple of slots left on Thursday, 13th. Please get in touch if you'd like to book in.
⭐️SPECTATORS are very welcome on all four days⭐️ (£20/day)
Everyone learned new things, horses and humans alike.
It’s lovely to welcome new people and we are all looking forward to the May clinic already! ⭐️
Thanks again, Clive! ☀️🐴
20/04/2024
We have been working hard at Blackford Glen, building new fences and getting ready for the year ahead!
We very much look forward to welcoming you, to seeing old friends, and meeting new ones! We have lots of exciting events this year and we have spent the last few months getting ready for our growing community.
We are so grateful to everyone who is part of our world.
Special thank you to for the beautiful fences. Through the rain, hail and wind we got those fences up and they look stunning!
We can’t wait for summer now! ☀️
27/03/2024
🤠 Bernd Hackl Podcast 🤠
Only a couple of months until Bernd Hackl is back at Blackford Glen. We're so looking forward to his return!
A couple of weeks ago, we had the chance to facilitate an interview between him and the Curious Equestrian Podcast.
It provides a great insight into how Bernd works and thinks, and into some of his methods.
In this episode of the Curious Equestrian podcast, Anna Louise Claydon warmly welcomes the esteemed horseman , known affectionately as Bernie. ...
26/03/2024
Thank you so much Clive Johnson for an amazing first clinic of the year!
We had the most amazing day - learning loads and having fun along the way!
We can't wait for you to come back in April, Clive! 🍀
24/02/2024
As well as our horses living here, we've also got a host of other people calling Blackford Glen their home.
The amazing Grass Roots Remedies Co-op have one of their Medicine Gardens here.
They are an amazing group of people, teaching folk about foraging, the healing properties of plants, and offer lots of very interesting courses to the public.
They operate on a sliding scale, ensuring that everyone can have access to their knowledge, expertise and products.
If you're interested in herbs, herbal medicines and foraging, check them out at:
Following our Imbolc celebration at the farm last weekend, we FINALLY got a photo of all 7 of the core Grass Roots Remedies team
From L to R:
🌱Kathryn: medical herbalist at our low cost clinic in Wester Hailes
🌱Rhona: Lauriston farmer, Willow Garden-er and course tutor
🌱Audrey: medical herbalists at our low cost clinic in Wester Hailes
🌱Soraya: Lauriston farmer, Blackford Glen Medicine Garden-er and course tutor
🌱Ally: Lauriston farmer, course tutor and medical herbalist
🌱Catriona: Glasgow and general course tutor and medical herbalist
🌱Jillian: Willow Garden-er, stalls and workshop whizz and dispensary do-er
We've all been working in the community and in herbal medicine for years and we couldn't think of a nicer bunch of folk to be part of the co-operative
01/02/2024
🔥WES Area 11 AGM🔥
REMINDER: The WES Area 11 AGM is this coming Sunday, 4th February, 11:00 - 14:00.
To be held at Kola's Korner.
Please get in touch with Kayreen directly to let her know you're coming.
03/01/2024
🤠Here are our confirmed dates for 2024 🤠
We're delighted to welcome Leslie Desmond to the Glen for the first time, and are looking forward to building on what we've learnt from both Bernd Hackl and Clive Johnson Horsemanship.
We'll be hosting some WES events too. Stay tuned for confirmation of those dates.
4th February (Sun): WES AGM
24th March (Sun): Clive Johnson Clinic
5th - 6th April (Fri + Sat): Youth Camp with WES Area 11
21st April (Sun): Clive Johnson Clinic
28th April (Sun): Liv Lochhead Clinic
14th May (Tue): Leslie Desmond Demo and Private Sessions
26th May (Sun): Clive Johnson Clinic
13th - 16th June (Thu - Sun): Bernd Hackl Clinic
13th - 14th July (Sat + Sun): Clive Johnson Clinic - Spookbuster + Horsemanship
4th August (Sun): Clive Johnson Clinic
7th + 8th September (Sat + Sun): Clive Johnson Clinic - Spookbuster + Horsemanship
5th October (Sat): Clive Johnson Clinic
More dates to be added once confirmed.
We will upload the individual events pages shortly.
Please get in touch if you're interested in any of our clinics and would like to book in or if you'd like more information on anything.
YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE A WESTERN RIDER TO ATTEND ANY OF OUR EVENTS - EVERYONE IS MOST WELCOME!! 🍀
26/12/2023
Merry Christmas from everyone at Blackford Glen 🎄🌟❄️
We hope you're having a great time with family and friends (and animals!!) 🎅🏽
08/09/2023
Americana evening showcase with .7p .7p from 7p Ranch in Germany. It was wonderful to see them starting a young Haflinger and using Fips as a pony horse. There’s always so much to learn! ⭐️
06/09/2023
Final day of our clinic! ☀️ it was a fabulous weekend with sunshine and learning. From clown education 🤣 to self loading in the box, it’s been brilliant. Thank you Clive for your time! See you in October 🐎💚
03/09/2023
First day of our clinic! The afternoon was packed with interesting things for the horses, including a giant inflatable clown! Everything to engage their curiosity and develop connection. Fun is at the heart of everything we do, to keep things fresh and bring opportunities to learn. We are looking forward to the second clinic day tomorrow! 🤡🐎💚☀️
02/09/2023
First day of our clinic! It was a wonderful sunny day filled with horses, good people and fun! ☀️🐎💚
30/08/2023
We're looking forward to having Clive Johnson Horsemanship back at the Glen this weekend!
£45/session and £10/day to spectate (under 14s free). All welcome 🌼
Please get in touch if you've got any questions or would like to book in🍀
06/08/2023
The afternoon clinic with Clive Johnson . Focussing on strengthening bonds in the round pen and transitioning to western riding in the arena, it was an all round successful day! We also had a very special spectator 🐶
06/08/2023
The morning of our Clive Johnson clinic. Working on extreme trail, improving confidence and trying out new things 🌳🌈
22/07/2023
Smokey, Chief Commentator, at the show last weekend! 🤠📣
20/07/2023
Fresh from the Calgary Stampede, we're looking forward to having Clive Johnson Horsemanship back at the Glen on Sunday.
One space remaining if you'd like to book in. As always, spectators are very welcome too (£10).
And we're off... WES Area 11 Show here at the Glen. A tad windy, but the hats have stayed on so far.
15/06/2023
The dust has well and truly settled on the arena and our clinic with .7p
Thanks again to everyone who took part or came to spectate!
We're busy working on the dates for next year and will let you know as soon as they're sorted 🥳
11/06/2023
The final day of our Bernd Hackl 2023 Clinic has been tremendous! 🌟
It has been fantastic from start to finish, a true learning journey where all of our riders have gained invaluable knowledge to develop and progress our horsemanship and riding skills.
We are all very much looking forward to the next clinic .7p 💚
If you bring as much sunshine next time we will need to get extra sun lotion! ☀️ 🏴 🐎
Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Blackford Glen Western Horsemanship posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.
Contact The Business
Send a message to Blackford Glen Western Horsemanship:
Maintain and manage a Centre of Excellence for Western Riding at Blackford Glen, Edinburgh.
Maintain and promote high standards in Western riding, horsemanship and equine welfare and, through example, encourage others to aspire to those standards.
Generate a sense of identity for Western riders within the wider equestrian community.
Facilitate continuous development of riding skills directed at performance classes in WES and AQHA Shows.
Facilitate continuous development of riding skills directed at safe and enjoyable trail riding.
John has now retired as a western instructor, but we still strive to uphold these values at Blackford Glen, and will continue to put on clinics and PlayDays. We will continue to promote Western riding in Scotland.
Message from John: –
Dear All,
My five-star pupil, Olivia Lochhead, became FEQHA European Senior Ranch Riding Champion in 2019.
I can’t take all the credit for that of course. She has picked the brains of several other Western teachers and put in a power of work on her way to becoming a horse trainer, clinician and Champion competitor.
She came to my yard for lessons when she was twelve and I mentored her for about 10 years. Over that time, she became an accomplished Western rider and determined to make a life and career for herself in the world of western horsemanship. She has done that in style. Onwards and upwards, Olivia.
I have of course helped many others with their riding skills but Olivia’s outstanding achievement this year made me think that this might be a good time to retire from being a Western Instructor. That will make it the third career I will have retired from.
Architecture, Leisure Consultancy and Western riding consultancy have all given me satisfaction, a modicum of success and a lot of personal pleasure. Whether they know it or not, personal pleasure is what people live for and want to keep living for.
Don’t think I will be looking for another career. I will just sit in an arm chair all day watching daytime tv. Is that not what an old person is supposed to do? Don’t think that’s altogether me. Beekeeping, poultry breeding, arrow making and a bit of horse riding will probably be enough to keep me from pining away.
I thank everyone who allowed me and encouraged me to pass on my knowledge. I may not be teaching Western Horsemanship anymore, but my door is always open for a chat on the subject.
I will also host like-minded instructors, trainers and experts to run clinics, seminars and demonstrations at Blackford Glen so keep an eye on the Events Page on this website.
My thanks to all for making my life, so far, seriously interesting.
