The Oaklands School Of Riding

10/09/2024

SPACES STILL AVAILABLE THIS SATURDAY 14th 1:00-2:30pm £12 members £15 non members of PC.

29/08/2024

To anyone thats rolled their eyes, or gone to the tack room when fetching tack and had a moan, or gone home and blamed the horse for a bad lesson…read this - parents with children that aren’t on social media or clients that have friends that ride with us that also aren’t on social media that won’t get to see this- please show them this and let them read it.
Each and everyone of our horse’s and ponies will have something different to offer.
I’ve never sat on a horse and haven’t learnt something new about that horse or more importantly, about my own riding.
The horses and ponies that test us the most will be the ones we learn the most from 💪🐴

15/08/2024

PONY CLUB DAYS & AFTERNOONS WE HAVE RUNNING TILL DECEMBER 2024 🐴

Please MESSAGE us to book in for any of the pony days, your place will not be secured until deposit has been paid - please note deposits are non-refundable.

If you haven’t already and you’d like to become a member please check out the pony club website (centre membership)
www.pcuk.org

08/08/2024

💪❤️

Make Them Carry Their Saddle

A father of a darling girl and I were talking last week and he said that he wanted his daughter to ride more and not have to do the work part of the catching, grooming, and saddling. I smiled as I explained.

Riding horses is a combination of strength, timing, and balance. Kids in this country are physically weak (unless they are actively involved with weight training and physical conditioning 4+ times a week.)

When you walk out to the field, you are clearing your stress from being under fluorescent lights all day; feeling the sun soak into your bones. As your body moves on uneven surfaces, it strengthens your legs and core.

When you groom your horse (especially currying), you are toning your arms and stabilizing your core.

When you carry your saddle, your arms, chest, and back are doing isolated strengthening work.

Being near horses, calms and makes you tune into the splendor of these empathetic animals.

When you ride at a posting trot, it’s equivalent to a slow jog calorie burn wise.

After a lesson, the riders are physically tired and mentally quiet and balanced.

Horses feel your heart beat and mirror your emotions back.

Riding large and somewhat unpredictable animals makes you resilient and pushes your expectations.

Working with horses is so much more than learning how to ride.

So parents, make your children carry their saddles. Don’t do the hard parts for them, as long term it actually hurts them. To advance with their riding, they must get stronger. You can help by doing the high parts.

I love having you all at the farm, and am so grateful to get to share these fascinating animals with you.

Hannah Campbell Zapletal

26/06/2024

Cancellation policy, weather & riders weight update for new and existing clients.

Please make sure in the summer months you bring a drink with you and leave in the shade outside the arena ready for a drink break if needed. 😎☀️

14/06/2024

Sleepy oldies this morning 💙🩷

06/06/2024

🙏💯

Read , let it sink in, then read again :

“No. 1. Get your tack and equipment just right, and then forget about it and concentrate on the horse.

No. 2. The horse is bigger than you are, and it should carry you. The quieter you sit, the easier this will be for the horse.

No. 3. The horse's engine is in the rear. Thus, you must ride your horse from behind, and not focus on the forehand simply because you can see it.

No. 4. It takes two to pull. Don't pull. Push.

No. 5. For your horse to be keen but submissive, it must be calm, straight and forward.

No. 6. When the horse isn`t straight, the hollow side is the difficult side.

No. 7. The inside rein controls the bending, the outside rein controls the speed.

No. 8. Never rest your hands on the horse's mouth. You make a contract with it: "You carry your head and I'll carry my hands."

No. 10. Once you've used an aid, put it back.

No. 11. You can exaggerate every virtue into a defect.

No. 12. Always carry a stick, then you will seldom need it.

No. 13. If you`ve given something a fair trial, and it still doesn't work, try something else—even the opposite.

No. 14. Know when to start and when to stop. Know when to resist and when to reward.

No. 15. If you're going to have a fight, you pick the time and place.

No. 16. What you can't accomplish in an hour should usually be put off until tomorrow.

No. 17. You can think your way out of many problems faster than you can ride your way out of them.

No. 18. When the horse jumps, you go with it, not the other way around.

No. 19. Don`t let over-jumping or dull routine erode the horse's desire to jump cleanly. It's hard to jump clear rounds if the horse isn't trying.

No. 20. Never give up until the rail hits the ground.

No. 21. Young horses are like children—give them a lot of love, but don't let them get away with anything.

No. 22. In practice, do things as perfectly as you can; in competition, do what you have to do.

No. 23. Never fight the oats.

No. 24. The harder you work, the luckier you get."

~Bill Steinkraus

24/05/2024

That time of year again, as from now strictly no treats for the horses. Please respect this- this is for the horse health- we have more than enough grass.

30/03/2024

Watch, follow, and discover more trending content.

12/03/2024

Who’s up for the challenge? 🙋‍♀️🤦‍♀️😂

01/03/2024

100% ❤️❤️

One of my biggest frustrations in this industry is the lack of understanding and consideration for the role that Riding School horses play. So often, I see riders complaining about Riding School horses for a huge variety of reasons: for their perceived lack of quality or value, for having to ride one they don’t like, for not getting to ride the one they do like, for their establishment not having enough Riding School horses, or for the Riding School horses not being available at their convenience. Riding school horses not being good enough for them. I’ve dealt with all of the above and I know I’ll continue to do so, but I think it’s important that people understand the reality of Riding School horses, and that’s that they aren’t here for you/your kid to ride forever and climb the levels with your one lesson a week fortnightly commitment.

They’re here to get you started, safely and productively, while you decide just how far you want to take this.

Riding School horses are incredibly special creatures. They have to be easily caught by beginners who don’t know how to properly approach a prey animal.

They have to stand like statues on the crossties while tiny kids take the better part of an hour to get them clean.

They have to hold their head still while beginners jam the bit into their teeth for the fiftieth time in a row to put the bridle on.

They have to stand still at the mounting block while someone stands for too long with all their weight in the left stirrup and then slams down on their back with no consideration for their comfort.

They tolerantly teach riders who are unbalanced, uncoordinated, and unclear, who catch their mouths and bounce on their backs and kick at their sides, and every single time, they are expected to just come again without so much as a swish of their tail or pinning of their ears.

And any time one of these horses has a moment where they act like a regular horse or force the rider to really ride, they’re labeled annoying or rude or bad or lazy or whatever.

Riding School horses are not intended to take you up the levels and jump big jumps and win all the classes. If these horses were this beginner-friendly and this tolerant AND the hack winner with an auto lead change, you couldn’t afford them!

That’s not to say these horses can’t be winners if you ride them well and pull your weight, but their ability to win in the show ring is not where their real value lies.

Riding School horses exist to bring new riders into the sport. To teach them the ropes and get them started, lay a foundation and prepare them to make a bigger commitment to the sport by leasing or purchasing the next step horse.

Riding School horses are not responsible for chasing your Olympic dreams for you.

They’re responsible for getting them started in the first place.

For riders to act like a Riding School horse isn’t valuable because he isn’t the winner in any company or harder to ride is ignorant and unfair.

Every horse you ride has something to teach you. Whether it’s the crotchety old school pony who likes to root when you’re not paying attention, or the younger lesson horse who will only pick up the right lead if you ask *just right*, or the ultra reliable skip-change king, they all will add to your toolkit that you can one day apply to the fancier model you get to take you to the next level after yout Riding Scool Journey.

Don’t forget about all the lessons you learn along the way and remember that without Riding School horses, you wouldn’t be riding at all!

Riding School owners are trying their best to provide the best services they can and keep the Riding School horses in the good condition. Horses are extremely expensive not just to buy but to keep aswell. Utilities, Mortgage/Rent, Vets bills, Feed, Haylage, Bedding, Vaccinations, Farrier, Wormers, Staff Wages, Physio, Saddler and so much more the list is endless no one sees how much it all costs to keep a yard running, no one sees full behind the scenes.

They are trying the best they can, it's not just a job to them it's their world their passion and the Riding School horses are their babies they are their family.

29/02/2024

We have a 1 off childrens group lesson running this Saturday 1:15-2:15pm
Must be able to walk, trot and canter independently.
Please pm

31/12/2023

HAPPY NEW YEAR 🎉🎊

Thank you all for you continued support. We can’t wait to see what 2024 brings!

03/12/2023

Beautiful view to wake up to this morning ❄️☃️

21/10/2023

We had our Halloween fancy dress pony club day on Wednesday, was great to see the kids all dressed up.
We did some riding, played some spooky games and dressed a couple of the ponies up. (Thank you Jay & Gemma for being so tolerant)

Well done to everyone who took part!

🎄 CHRISTAMS FANCY DRESS 🎄
Saturday 23rd December 12:00-15:00pm.
£35 members of the pony club
£40 non members of the pony club.

All must be in fancy dress!
£10 deposit to be paid before Wednesday 13th December.

Depending on numbers I’ll put the children into pairs prior to the fancy dress so they can get some ideas thrown together. PONIES & RIDERS MUST BE FANCY DRESS.
Parents are welcome to stay and help out.

Prize for 1st 2nd & 3rd.
Sweeties will be available.

17/10/2023

Beautiful sunrise this morning 🌅❤️

24/09/2023

Our theory pony club session ran yesterday afternoon.

We practiced putting on a head collar, correctly tying up, leading and turning the pony, points of the pony and finished the session off learning about different types of bedding and making sure the horses had nice stables to come into this morning.

19/09/2023

🎃 HALLOWEEN FANCY DRESS 🎃

Wednesday 18th October
10:00am-3:00pm

OPEN TO ALL CHILDREN

Come and join us for our Halloween fancy dress on Wednesday 18th October.
Arrive in fancy dress and bring some bits and bobs to dress the ponies up too! The spookier the better! (Riding will be taking place so please be sensible as riding hats will need to be worn)

👻 PRIZE FOR BEST DRESSED 👻

Please bring lunch- treats will be provided 🍭

Limited spaces available. Please message to secure a place.

£45 members of the pony club (membership number must be given)

£50 non members of the pony club

19/09/2023

We still have a few spaces available this Saturday for our pony club care theory session
2-3:30pm
£12 members of pony club
£15 non members

15/09/2023

Girlies, our yard sheep ❤️ from the left: Baby lamb, baby baby lamb, Ellie & Nellie