Mottingham Farm Riding Centre

31/10/2024

Halloween 2024 🎃

01/10/2024

OCTOBER HALF TERM DATES!!!!
🍂🎃👻🎃👻🎃👻🎃🍂

20/09/2024

💔💔💔💔💔
Today was an extremely hard day that I've put off for weeks.... it was time for Domino and Polo to cross rainbow bridge. It's a decision that I've struggled with and I could only do what I thought was right! Money and "business" hasn't been a part of my decision as I love everyone one of this horses whole heartedly.
Domino hasn't been an active riding school horse for some time now and has had a retirement fit for king!
Polo has now been semi retired for over a year and retired for the last few months, he had on going lameness issues on a hind leg. They both struggled last winter holding weight and spent a lot of time in which had its problems with them both becoming stiff.
These two were the best of friends and stuck together at all costs, so was only fair they went together as well.

Every time I loose a horse they take a bit of my heart with them....it never gets easier. They have left the biggest hole here at Mottingham and are completely irreplaceable. There will never be another horse with more attitude than Dom and more sass than Polo!

I'd love for any of you to share your DomDom and Polo pictures and stories. I can't even imagine how many people those two legends have taught to ride, must be 1000s over the years!
If you're in to ride the weekend go easy on my staff and volunteers we are all really feeling it!

RIP DOMINO & POLO you are going to be truly missed.

01/08/2024

Little July photo dump!! 🌻🌞🌻🌞

21/07/2024

☺️☺️

21/07/2024

Spaces available!

20/07/2024

So well written and so true!

A small stab in the heart is what you feel when you put up the day's riding list and you see riders sinking heavily in their shoulders when reading which horse they are assigned for the lesson. A small stab in the heart for that horse that for an hour will carry around a rider who has already decided that he does not like his horse. A small stab in the heart for the horse that did not choose the rider himself but still does his best, lesson after lesson.

Riding is a privilege and something you have chosen to do. If you chose to ride at a riding school, your instructor assumes that you actually want to learn how to ride. The instructor's highest wish is that you get good at it.

Often there is a plan and a thought as to why you are assigned to that exact horse. Before you mount up next time, ask yourself "what can this horse teach me today?" All horses have something to give, a feeling or a new tool in the box.

The art is actually in being able to get a lazy horse to move forward, to get an uncertain horse to gain confidence, a naughty horse to focus or a tense horse to be released. It takes work. If you think a horse is boring, it's more likely that you don't ride the horse as well as you think! It's not easy to be confronted with your own shortcomings, but it is in that very situation that you get the chance to truly grow as a rider.

The excuse that "it's not my kind of horse" is actually a really bad excuse. A good rider can ride any kind of horse. A good rider has trained many hours on different types of horses to become a good rider. A good rider can find and manage the gold nuggets in every horse.

If we absolutely want to ride, it is our duty to strive to do it as best as possible, even if it's only for fun. We owe it to every horse that carries us upon it's back.

Copied and shared with love for all of our horses, ponies and riders 🐎❤🐎

06/07/2024

JUNE PHOTO DUMP! 🌻🍉☀️🌞
(Bit late!) looks like summer in these! 🙄

06/07/2024

Get booking!

02/07/2024

⭐️⭐️NEW⭐️⭐️

01/07/2024

☀️SUMMER EVENTS 2024☀️
Book via email [email protected] OR call 02088573003

04/05/2024

🌸May Half Term Events!!!🌸


☎️ call 02088573003 or
✉️ email [email protected]

08/04/2024

💔💔💔💔😪😪😪😪
I'm sorry to have to write this but we sadly had to have Fleur put to sleep tonight.
She had a short bout of colic this evening which unfortunately she couldn't be saved from. She went very peaceful and is now out of pain.
She will be greatly missed, she was one of the favourites among the little kids. Fleur although looked like a young pony was in fact in her 20s. She was a gentle, kind soul who has taught countless children to ride. She will never be forgotten.
RIP FLEUR 💔

31/03/2024

26/03/2024

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️FOUND FOUND FOUND⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

24/03/2024

Feels like a life time since I've posted anything, yard life in the winter doesn't leave any time to breathe! I've been in full blown winter equestrian blues! 😔
All the horses have wintered well, and coping with the ever changing weather conditions, they've all been in every night over the winter and only just started spending more time out. It's been super time consuming and costly having them all in!
I really feel like the last 5 months I've not left site, oh unless I'm doing a Tesco's shop 🙄 and I hate shopping!

All winter we've had mud and a lot of water, definitely the wettest it's been in my time here, it's been really hard going on everyone, staff, riders and horses. Fingers crossed 🤞🏼 the worst of the wetter weather has passed and we can then all moan the grounds too hard and it's too hot 😉
You'll be glad to hear Domino and Delilah have been semi well behaved, we've had one escape incident with Delilah in the last few months which is not bad going!!! 😂 Dom is still going strong, he's naughty and gets his own way because fighting with him is impossible! He kicks the door/wall for food, attention, to wake me up in the middle of the night or just to p*ss off Polo 🤣 but he's one very special old man so makes it all ok 🥰

I feel it's absolutely crucial to highlight the challenges riding schools face during quieter months. Emphasising continued support can make a significant difference in keeping establishments like ours going. We are so grateful to all you customers who've braved some horrendous weather conditions to ride with us. ☺️
I'm hoping to have more time to post regularly again and keep everyone updated on life here. ❤️

Hope everyone is keeping well
Chloè 🤍

04/03/2024

🐰🐣Easter Holiday Activities! 🐰🐣
☎️ Call the office to book 02088573003
✉️ Email: [email protected]

01/03/2024

👏🏼👏🏼

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.

14/02/2024

Little Valentines Day photo opportunity! ❤️

23/01/2024

❤️ February Half Term Activities ❤️
Call the office to book 02088673003
Email: [email protected]

04/01/2024