Mottingham Farm Riding Centre

07/11/2023

🔥🐎 This Bonfire Weekend, we kept our horses safe and sound in their stables due to the fireworks. 🏇 Despite the loud bangs, they remained well-behaved and calm. 🌦️ The weather may have been a bit unpredictable, but we're incredibly grateful for all the wonderful people who turned up to support us this last week! 💕🎉
I normally get January blues owning and working with horses but I have it in November! I'm so over the mud and wetness! I'm feel like I'm constantly shovelling s**t and wading through mud or water 💦 😫

If the horses are in they want to be out and if they are out they want to be in, I can't win and makes me stressed! I know the the majority of horse owners all feel the same too, only 4/5 months left to go 😂 I'm sure like many of you, I feel drained and exhausted but I continue for the love of these animals, Friday I got a short time off and spent some time with my horses (still shovelling s**t), I had a good cuddle and cry with my special pony Jelly who just seems to get me and life's stresses (George calls her ugly but she's my princess 😂) some people say you get a "heart horse" but I feel like I have a whole herd of them! ❤️

To make mine and my teams life easier I'm looking for some extra staffing 🙂 this feels me with dread because I know what I need but if I can find it is a different matter, so if anyone is looking then feel free to drop me a message before I advertise it to the whole horsey community....wish me luck!

Let's hope this week brings drier weather and a better week for everyone! 😚
Chloè 🤍

31/10/2023

30/10/2023

What a soggy, horrible weekend! ☔️⛈️ We have mud, mud and more mud, oh and a lot of water! 🙁
Winter has hit us hard and quick. 😣
The weekend was quieter than usual, with people away and the hideous weather but I'm so grateful for the customers who braved it and rode! 😚 my staff and volunteers who were soaked continuously all day, both days you are amazing 🥰
A few of the girls are still off this week which is a massive help as I'm suffering with a horrible cold! 🤒😷
The horses are all in over night and a lot of them have been in all weekend, they were all extremely fresh to turnout this morning! 😜 Can you guess who was the cheekiest!?

We have our Halloween ride tomorrow night which we've never done before so should be fun! We also have pictures from our Halloween photos shoot pending! 👻🎃 we'd love some ideas of what content you'd like to see on our social media....photo shoot ideas, more horses pics or just more general content? Let us know!
🙂😄😊

On to the subject that no one likes....prices and payment!
We will be increasing our prices for the first time since I took over, it's not a decision I've taken lightly but it needs to happen, hay and feed prices have gone up rapidly. Please see the notice boards for the revised price list.
The weather is horrid and it's only going to get colder and more miserable but we do require 48hrs notice to cancel please!
Have a good week and stay dry! 😚❤️
Chloè 🤍

23/10/2023

🌦️🌞 What a mix of weekend weather! 🌧️ On Saturday, it was raining everyone went through at least one coat, but Sunday was a breath of fresh air with crisp sunshine! 😎 The October half-term made it a bit quieter, but we still had a busy time. 🍂🍁
Next week we have a few activities on, planning this half term events has been hard because everyone is off at a different times! 🙄 I have basically three weeks of half term to plan!
The new arrivals are being gradually introduced to the herd, much to Domino and Polo's disgust, in their older age they definitely are less patience! 🤭
Tuesday, little Rein mastered how to open the gate and let oldies out the field, after Rein proofing the gate so she couldn't escape, she then decided to throw the head-collars all off the gate into the field 😂 she's so naughty but I love her!

🐴 Just wanted to touch on a topic that I was approached about the weekend, I was strongly asked if I'd selling one of our older ponies who's now late 20s and been at the riding school for most her life, the young lady had known this pony from years back and wanted to buy her! I personally believe it's our duty to care for them in their golden years, not to sell or re-home them. They're our steadfast companions! This pony, and many of the other older ones have only known Mottingham and that life, and to move them could have the opposite effect of giving them a "nice" retirement, I personally make sure the oldies get everything they deserve, I treat them all like individuals, each has a different care plan and is loved! 💕
I was really angry/upset that this individual implied that I'd sell her if the price was high enough, for me it not about money, it's about the service these horses give/have given to the riding school which is so important, they aren't another number, they are respected as part of our team! ❤️🥰

I've been rubbish at photo taking this week....sorry, I'll do better next week! 😂

17/10/2023

🎀DOLLY🎀
She really is as wide as she is tall! Proper leg
on each corner type of cob!
I've had the most fun dressing her up in pink....real life barbies pony!
Can't wait to see her progression, she's a complete blank canvas....not sure what saddles going to fit her though! 😳

16/10/2023

🌧️ What a cold weekend at the riding school! The weather took a chilly turn, and our lovely horses have transformed into the fluffiest marshmallows ever! 😂❄️

It's been a whirlwind of achievement with tree work completed, and we're gearing up for some exciting fencing work. 🌳🛠️

Honestly, this week left me feeling a bit unsettled and uneasy no idea why! 😕 I sometimes worry I'm not making the right choice with the horses, if they need rugs or should they be in or out over night, how many feeds they need, if they are doing enough hours or too many all theses things play on my mind and I quiet often doubt myself! 😏 I'm sure many of you have the same feeling just maybe not about horses! 😆

Today is a new week and I'm sure I'll have some extra thing to keep my mind occupied like Delilah constantly ending up in the boys paddock! 😂🙄

George and I hitched up the trailer this morning. 🚚 Could this mean a new arrival is on the way? 🐎🤔
Watch this space for updates! 🤭

01/10/2023

What a week it’s been! 🌞

The weekend has rolled around, and we can’t believe how warm it is for October! 🍂☀️ Our four-legged friends are feeling the heat too; those horses are looking extra furry and getting a bit sweaty. 🐎💦

To keep them comfortable and ready for action, we’re gearing up for some clipping. ✂️✨

On another note, our rides have been ultra-busy lately, especially the children’s ones! 🎠🎉 We appreciate your patience with wait times – after all, we’re only human! 😅🙏

But here’s some exciting news – we still have spaces available for some of our October holiday events! 🍁🎃 If you’d like to join in the fun, please call our office to book your spot. 📞🍂

I've taught some amazing riders this week on my 1-2-1s, some of the talent we have here at Mottingham is incredible, and we have theses amazing horses to thank for that! 😌

Riding school horses really are a different breed, the things they have to put up with is amazing, from the bumpy beginners, the riders who say they can ride, but actually rode 20yrs ago, all the way to the other extreme where they try ride them like a horse ready for the olympics 🤪 honestly we see it all, they are such versatile animals with more patience than I'll ever have 😂 and day in day out I try and make the life they have the best.
So please when attending MFRC listen to my staff, respect the decisions they make because I guarantee it's for you or the horse/pony you're riding safety, sanity or well-being! 👍🏼

Thanks for being a part of our fantastic community here. Hope you enjoyed your weekend and the warm October weather! 🌼

Chloè 🤍

24/09/2023

Sorry I've not done a post for a while, I was on holiday the week before last, managed to get a quick break away to Cyprus with George which was much needed after a child filled summer!
After having 30 degree heat before I left, I came back to what felt like winter! All the horses are getting fluffy and winter ready, they've all started to come in over night and have extra feeds and hay, winter means a lot more s**t shovelling and hard work!
All the horses are really well at the moment and looking and going great! Even Domino is behaving!
Hope you all have a good week!
Chloè 🤍

21/09/2023

👻HALF TERM EVENTS👻
Some of you have one week, some have two weeks off I've tried to do something for everyone!
Call the office to book
02088573003
👻💀🎃👻💀🎃

08/09/2023

Wow it's been a warm week!
This week has been really tough on horses and staff, this kind of temperature is great on holiday with a pool but not for shovelling s**t and teaching lessons!
The horses really did start to go a bit fluffy after the night temperature dropped the week previously, so now they are boiling!
Thank you to everyone who's understood our lessons being a lot slower in this heat, they will continue to be more hack like lessons across the weekend as temperatures are set to sore on Saturday.
Wednesday was farrier day which was all the trims being done in that heat well done Fletcher for getting them all done!

Domino has opened the gate countless times this week, letting all the herd out to roam the fields! We think we've solved how to stop his gate opening for now...but I'm sure he'll work out a new way (polo is his side kick)!
Without fail this morning Delilah was out again....she waits for my days off I'm sure of it!! She just walks around, has a look like it's normal...naughty pony!

I really hope for the horses sakes it's cooler next week, have a good weekend everyone
Chloè ❤️

08/09/2023

🥺

Riding school owners fear they are a "dying breed" and more will go, as they face their toughest time yet

Read more via link below

03/09/2023

Another weekend is over!
I've moaned about rain and now I'm going to
moan about the heat! Where has this come from!
Last week was soggy ponies and this week it's sweaty ponies....some of them have started thickening their coats ready for what the winter will bring, do I clip early and end up doing it twice or have it to rug when it drops??! Theses are the dilemmas that keep me up at night!
It's been a fairly tame weekend! Although on the 13:45 ride Domino who was out in the field decided to take the gate off it's hinge and let himself and Polo into all the fields where lesson were happening, lucky after Mitchell, Maddison and Jaela were dragged around by the old ba***rd he was put back and the gate fixed! Thank god Delilah was in can you imagine!
This weekend was hard work! Heat, less leaders than usual and more children's rides really does make life stressful but we always manage and my team is amazing!

At the end of today we (myself, Mitchell & George) started our October half term activities, mainly because none of us could be asked to move from the office but is 95% done and we have some new activities planned!
Can you believe it's September already.....dare I mention Christmas is soon!! I love Christmas so can't wait!

All done for the evening now, all the oldies fed and in bed and I'm too lazy to cook a roast tonight, sorry George! Take away it is!
Have a good week in the heat wave! 🥵
Chloè 🤍

02/09/2023

Call the office to book!
02088573003 📞

01/09/2023

The final full week of summer holidays is over!
It's gone super quickly and I and my team are going to miss the extra help! The girls and boys we have as part of our training club are incredible and make my job so much easier.
Of course Tuesday morning started with Delilah out of the field on her own, no mates this time! She really is an escape artist.
We had 1-2-1 lessons all week, which saw a lot of new faces, some returning to riding after a break and some completely new riders. Tuesday we held our first "clear round" jumping evening which was extremely popular, so I'm thinking of doing this once a month, what do you think?
I've taught some really talented young and not so young riders this week, I'm very much a jump instructor but obviously teach all disciplines and I've had a very varied week which is lovely. In the week Julie, Paula and Mitchell teach, Mitchell has nearly completed his apprenticeship and has smashed it...so far! He's teaching style is very similar to mine which is refreshing, he's definitely someone to watch for the future!
Thursday evening was our annual "games" for everyone who helped during the summer, well I've learnt they are all very competitive! It got messy with apple bobing and flour! Was finished off with chase me Charlie, can you guess who went the highest? The last three in it to win it were Aaliyah & Prince, Mitchell & Sox and Sienna & Ray.
Let me know what you think in the comments!
Have a Good Friday!
Chloè 🖤

28/08/2023

Another weekend done! I can't believe next weekend is September already this year is going so quickly!
Saturday was a bit of a wash out on and off, we had some thunderstorms while a 5 year old birthday party was riding.....which made it interesting!
At the end of day all the soggy numnahs were changed and tack wiped down.
Sunday started with a car/bike crash outside the yard and thought the day was going to go down hill from there but actually was ok! The weather held out and we had lots of new faces!
Next week we have clear round jumping on Tuesday evening and 1-2-1s the rest of the week.
Today a lot of us are off to Edenbridge and Oxted Agriculture show so I've had an early start getting my horses done first, will take lots of pics and show you all later!
Have a good bank holiday!
Chloè 🤍

25/08/2023

I feel like this week has flown by! The weather has been fabulous as well....it's been very normal week, we had 1-2-1 lessons Tuesday and Thursday all day and our mini one day event on Wednesday.
The mini one day event really is an opportunity to combine all you've learnt over a year and be tested on your achievements, all that took part rode incredibly well and should be really proud.
All the horses have had a week of pampering lots of grooming, toes painted to hydrate them, our hairy ones manes all plaited fresh which looks so smart. We have a few really feathery cobs as well, keeping them combed and clean is a mission.
Delilah has been extremely well behaved so far! She likes to save her antics for a weekend!
Thank you to all the instructors and volunteers who've been in this week!

Have a great bank holiday weekend guys!
Chloè 🤍

21/08/2023

Weekend is DONE!
The weather was great and we saw quite a few new faces this weekend, which is great!
Each weekend we do 5hrs of group rides which are all varied abilities, then 1-2-1s at the end of the day.
Our horses work incredibly hard all weekend, which is why I try so hard to make sure they have everything they need, clean numnahs, clean/correctly fitted bridles and saddles and a nice wash off at lunch and the end of the day!
Saturday was completely uneventful which was great just a normal day!
Sunday on the other hand started with Delilah (of course), Layla, Butterfly and Dora opening the bottom gate and taking a trip up the lane to stand in the barn munching Domino's special hay! This was swiftly followed by Prince and Rocky jumping out their paddock and joining them leaving poor Gunner all on his own, by the way they start this escapade at 4:30am! It's so funny being able to playback the cameras and watch them being naughty!
This week we have lots of 1-2-1s booked in Tuesday and Thursday and our Mini One Day Event on Wednesday.
I'm just off to spend my day off with my own herd!
Have a good week guys!
Chloè 🤍

18/08/2023

Week four of our summer holiday activities done!
Tuesday was our very popular pony spa day, Honey and Beauty were the victims of the bathing! Honey actually really enjoys it all the time she has a haynet, Beauty on the other hand tolerates it as I believe children aren't her favourite thing.....😂 King and Nora were next in line for grooming and plaiting, we had some very interesting plaits! The weather was beautiful so Beauty and Honey could dry in the sun.

Wednesday was another kid filled day with our half day own a pony which I obviously love! We had the farrier for all horses/ponies with shoes, Kings Farriery (Fletcher and Paul) are great and do a brilliant job at maintaining our horses feet!
The sun was shining and the horses were all very sleepy, because eating all night is hard work!!!

Thursday was our OG riders picnic ride in the morning and then 1-2-1s all afternoon. I had a few lessons this week which I've really enjoyed teaching, seeing passionate young people is why I do this job!
We've been rather lucky with the weather this week (obviously not today) it's held up for all our activities.

Rein had a mild bout of colic yesterday which she seems to be over now, she is rather dramatic but I think that's my fault as she's one of my favourite ponies! I know I shouldn't have favourites but Rein is such a funny little pony who has a very cheeky side. She's like a mini Domino 😂
Delilah has been defeated and stayed put all week, Domino hasn't pushed anyone out his stable....yet we have a whole weekend to survive though!

BUT the best thing to have happened this week is the PHONE AND WIFI are back....finally it's been really tough trying to function without hopefully we can now catch up on anything we've missed!

Have a good weekend! ❤️

13/08/2023

FINALLY SUNDAY EVENING! 😅
This weekend was a real struggle with lots of you and staff being on holiday, we really do notice the difference.
I feel I've had weekend where I'm not sure whatever I do will ever be good enough to please everyone but I guess that's how life is! I'm constantly learning and trying my best to offer something for everyone, while keeping the horses welfare my top priority and staying inside health and safety rules! In the 3 years I've been at Mottingham so much has been learnt and I believe every change I've made is for the better (wether that be for horse or human), I started these Facebook posts to try and be transparent and open to the daily life at Mottingham and my life here some funny, unbelievable and sometimes hard days and for me this weekend was one of those hard ones and I feel very much defeated! But tomorrow is a new week and I'm sure I'll be reminded that even bad days teaches you something!
We had lovely weather, which is always a bonus and makes the days better, Saturday we had all the horses in the right places no field swapping, fence breaking or unruly behaviour....massive bonus, Domino behaved himself and didn't escape or push anyone out the door (the love I have for the grumpy git is insane!) but he is a nightmare 😂
Saturday afternoon we had a guest- little fluffy pooch who had lost his owner so he stayed with us while we located his owner through the micro chip, I'm very lucky to be able to do this thanks to my grandparents running Willow Wildlife and having access to scanner and code to get ownership details! "Teddy" was reunited and everyone happy!
Sunday started with Cookie trying to remove his shoe on the stock fencing, a massive con to stock fencing is this but I have serious trouble with certain individuals staying put so is a must really, George (not the horse!) came to the rescue and freed him no harm done!
We had a lovely steady day, at 11:30 we rode our Muslim ladies who come to ride with us regularly in different groups, they ride solely with other woman and with an all female staffing, we are one of the only riding schools to offer such thing and makes me proud to be able to offer this.
The day ended with all the horses turned out to enjoy a day off tomorrow, ready for Pony Spa Day on Tuesday! ( watch out Honey and Beauty it's bath time!)
Have a good week ❤️
Chloè x

11/08/2023

This week has flown by so quickly!
Monday started with Delilah and Carol being in top field which is the naughty boys paddock....having found where they both shimmed through (if any of you have seen the size of Carol I have no idea how she got her bum through the gap), fence fixed and Delilah and Carol returned to the main herd my day off could commence.

Tuesday we had 1-2-1s all morning and then a lovely dressage evening, which had a great turnout! Everyone rode really well, dressage is such a art of accuracy which doing a lot of field lessons here at Mottingham is not something we are all so good at, so training evenings like this are essential to progress.

Wednesday was a FULL day own a pony, own a pony days either half or full days age me by 10yrs every time, if you know me you know! But it actually went really well and we had a lovely bunch of children who worked so hard and looked after their ponies incredibly well.

Thursday was more 1-2-1s which it's lovely to see new faces who want to learn. I had two lessons one with Maisie on Layla and the other Lola on Hugo these two young girls are extremely talented and committed which is the whole reason I love my job and Mottingham.

So far Friday is going great all the horse are where they meant to be, Joe is on the yard today with two work experience, one RVC vet student and one doing hours to get in to vet school so plenty of help. Domino and Polo are in for a feed then straight back out with the herd.
I'm now off to spend some time with my own horses which I only get to do twice a week!!
Happy Friday people! See some of you the weekend! ❤️

06/08/2023

Weekend is over!!
We battled more rain, high winds and mud in August but the weekend is complete!
All horses behaved apart from Albert who decided that wearing a coat in August to catch him in, during torrential rain was rather offensive...he learnt that quiet quickly it was out or be caught!
Saturday night we even had to rug some of our more delicate horses and ponies because it was rather chilly and wet over night.....summer where!

We managed a whole day and a half without one of our fantastic yard girls Frances who selfishly decide to go on holiday, in the sun 😂😉 I cannot thank my team enough for the hard work they do for me and these horses, although they are riding school horses and not privately owned they really get treated with the care and respect they deserve, all because of all of the staff and volunteers working endlessly in all weather.
All the horses are out in the field ready for a rest day tomorrow!
Have a good week! ❤️

02/08/2023

Week two of "summer" holidays has been some what uneventful! Monday is horse and pony rest day...everyone stayed in the field and behaved which is a rarity!
Tuesday Delilah was out roaming the yard at 8am and we had our ba****ck activity which always seems to be very popular with our Mottingham Farm training club and the weather stayed reasonable and everyone had a lovely ride!
Tuesday a weather warning came up for rain, thunderstorms and wind on Wednesday which was our picnic ride! Wednesday came, Delilah was out AGAIN...but Mitch and I now know where she's been sneaking through and did a quick repair job! We all waterproofed up and braved our picnic....to be fair it held up pretty good and we all stayed dry....until 4pm hit and wow did it rain! The yard was flooded, the school had puddles, I and every other instructor was soaked to underwear we kept going and the days is done, shower PJs and dinner is much needed!
Tomorrow is a youth group and 1-2-1 lessons all day hopefully the weather holds up! (Fingers crossed)
Hope everyone is having a good week!

30/07/2023

How our weekend at Mottingham has gone!
7am Saturday Domino broke the gate and let butterfly, George, Delilah and Billy out into the lane which leads to the yard! At approx 33 years of age Domino has become a really old man but the grumpy mischievous kind, he knows better than all of us and has every trick in the horsey book worked out, on a daily basis he keeps all of us on our toes!
Saturday continued to decline as the whole 9am group ride it rained...heavy! Wet horses, wet tack, wet numnahs and seriously wet pi**ed off staff! 10 am on the dot the sun appears and the weather is beautiful and everyone and thing dried out!! By 6pm it had been on and off monsoon weather and volunteers decided to immerse themself in a bin of water then roll in sand! (Note no water was wasted in the process) just soggy children!

Sunday came around and all the horses stayed in the field apart from Delilah who seems to do a very good goat impression and climbs fencing!! Having pooped all over the yard and broke into the hay barn which clearly states no entry Delilah was captured and put in for breakie!
Breakfast feeds are a rush to get everyone fed before 8am ready for the 9am ride and to beat Charlie kicking his door so much he flips the kick bolt and pushes the lock out and escapes meeting you with his feed on pony yard! WAY TO MUCH STRESS FOR 8am SUNDAY MORNING!
With a quieter weekend as all of you seems to have gone on holiday the day went smoothly with very little excitement until 3pm where the heavens opened AGAIN and kept going to until 5:45 when the day was done!
Wet horses, tack, numnahs and people to finish a long almost autumnal weekend.....in July!!!
Oh and we still have no phone!!!

27/06/2023

☀️SUMMER HOLIDAYS EVENTS!!! ☀️
😎☀️🌞🌻👙🍉⛱️🕶️🍓🍒🌊🏖️🏝️⛵️

12/06/2023

On a extremely hot day we had our riding school inspection! We passed with FIVE STARS ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️!!
Since taking on management at Mottingham there has been a lot of work, which today has made it all worth it.
Thank you to my amazing team for making everything perfect on a daily basis ❤️

04/05/2023

🌸May Half Term Events🌸
Call the office to book 02088573003 ☎️

20/04/2023

😂😂😂

08/03/2023

EASTER HOLIDAY EVENTS!!!
☎️Call the office to book!☎️
🐣🐥🐰🪺🌼

13/01/2023

FEBRUARY HALF TERM!!!
☎️ Call the office to book ☎️

03/01/2023

💔💔It's with great sadness that this morning we had to make the heartbreaking decision to send OJ over rainbow bridge after a complete freak accident in the field at the grand age of 28!
OJ has taught hundreds of people to ride over the years and was a massive part of MFRC, he was truly iconic and will never be forgotten. He will be missed by so many people. RIP OJ 🕊️❤️🤍❤️

31/12/2022

2022 is nearly a wrap!!
What a year we've had a MFRC, pony days, ba****ck, Gridwork, mini one day event, mock hunt just to name a few. None of Mottingham could be run without the most amazing team of staff and volunteers your dedicated throughout 2022 had been amazing.
Here at Mottingham Farm we are all like a big family and I hope that continues as we grow as a business in 2023 ❤️

18/12/2022

😂😂

Totally true 🤣

16/12/2022

I'm sure all horsey people are really feeling it this week.....we definitely are!
It really is a lifestyle!

13/12/2022

12/12/2022

Snow day! All the horses and ponies are out having fun, they have bales of hay to munch and all seem happy ❤️❄️

22/09/2022

💀👻🎃HALF TERM EVENTS🎃👻💀

28/08/2022

With summer nearly over here's some of what we've been up too.....pony spa days, own a pony days, Gridwork, learning to jump a course, craft days, picnic rides, learning to ride a dressage test and a mini one day event! We had our summer staff show on Friday where all our loyal, hardworking staff and volunteers get to have a bit of fun!
We've had a great summer and have loved seeing you all! Roll on October half term! 👍🏼💙♥️💙

23/06/2022

☀️🔆 SUMMER HOLIDAYS!!!!🔆☀️
All events are subject to availability, age and ability.
Call to book ☎️02088573003☎️