Trent Park Equestrian Centre - London

Margaret S.

I have been riding at Trent Park Equestrian Centre for four years and have gone from lesson rider to loaner to now livery client with my own horse. Prior to that, I had owned and competed horses across the United States for fifteen years.

Trent Park is a top notch facility that I can’t recommend highly enough. Here’s why:

1. Care of horses: lesson horses and privately owned horses alike receive excellent care at Trent Park by staff who truly value horse welfare above all else. Happy, healthy horses=great experiences for riders.

2. Safety: safety of horses and riders is paramount at Trent Park. Trent Park is a BHS training center, meaning that everything done here is by the book. School horses are carefully selected and maintained to ensure their suitability for riders of all levels. In my four years here, I have never witnessed any behavior at Trent Park that raised safety concerns (a rarity with equestrian facilities)

3. Expertise: Trent Park is home to many excellent instructors suitable for every level of rider from those learning to trot for the first time to riders competing in dressage and jumping 1.20m. It is also a training center for emerging professionals in the equestrian field, meaning that the quality of instruction is always maintained to a high standard.

4. Facilities: Trent Park is a large and well-maintained facility with several indoor and outdoor riding arenas, a connected network of hacking trails in a beautiful wooded park, a galloping track and cross country field. Everything is kept to a high standard, with careful attention paid to things like fencing and arena surfaces (important for horse and rider safety). There is also an on-site tack shop and restaurant/café with excellent food and coffee. You may end up spending all day here!

5. Community: Trent Park is an open and welcoming community for riders of all ages, levels, and backgrounds. It’s a true escape from city life and a place to find like-minded people outside of work, school, etc.

Trent Park can take you from your first riding lesson to owning and competing your own horse and anywhere in between.

Charles

Very disappointing experiences.

I initially was quite excited to have found a school fairly accessible from home, and booked three private lessons over three consecutive days. Most of my riding experience had been in open spaces (whether hacking in Windsor or riding in Hyde Park) with mostly forward, competition level horses, and I felt it would be good to do arena work and work on my technical skills in a closed space.

- the first lesson was with Rory as my instructor (very friendly guy) and Polly as the mare. It went well despite Polly being dead to the leg (but lovely otherwise)
- the second lesson was with Monty and god was he desensitised. I could not get him to canter without a whip (which I was told to use early on) and big kicks, and the most we did was a full lap of half the arena in canter before I was told to "give him a breather" by walking (!). Monty was completely dead to the leg, and also not in the right physical condition (maybe being old?) for a higher level of activity
- the third lesson today happened to be with Monty again (!). While it is mentioned when making a booking that we have the right to request another horse, no alternative was offered to me when I did. The "private" lesson ended up being one in half an arena with 2 other horses (!), all cantering and following instructions from two other coaches. There was absolutely no space to do anything, especially as one of them (Stella) would try to kick anything remotely close to her. Monty still refused to move without a whip, and it ended up being just a waste of time. I even asked to cut the lesson short, despite the £78 price tag for 45 min, feeling completely helpless. My instructor was however really lovely, but there was little she could do in the context. By the end of the lesson, I was told by her I'd be upgraded to the next level, which would mean better horses... Not sure there is much point to more lessons if the environment remains one where 3 different coaches can teach separately in half an arena for so called private lessons.

jennifer B.

My daughter started last summer and loves Trent. We had been to other equestrian centers and Trent is by far the best. Knowledge and kind instructors. They go out of their way to accommodate and give the best and safest experience for my daughter. We LOVE 💕 it!!! Will be riding there for years to come.

Maria K.

I’ve been riding here for almost 17 years now, and have owned a horse here for 16 of those. The level of training is amazing- from beginner to advanced/ competition level. The owners have owned the stables since forever and are lovely- they make so much effort to get to know each client and really cater to them.

The horses are all loved to death, treated like absolute royalty and are friendly, easy to handle (like big dogs) and, while they all have their own personalities, I have yet to encounter a truly ‘difficult’ horse after nearly 20 years riding here. They’ve got staff who have been around since before I came and are still here. The place is incredibly well managed, from organising bookings to teaching to yard work/ horse care/ tack/ everything. Everyone is extremely friendly and they even have instructors who can teach in languages other than English.

For context, I’ve taken a bit of a break from jumping since my horse got old/ I got an intense office job/ uni before that. I haven’t jumped in about 5 years. This weekend, I went to jump somewhere else (as a riding holiday) and got put on an ‘international level showjumper’. First thought: ‘She’s nice but (of course nothing compares to my own horse, that aside) TPEC has better school horses than this’. Second thought - I haven’t done any intense riding in years, it reared up and I knew exactly how to handle that situation because the groundwork I got taught at Trent Park kept me confident and able to handle this and jumping around a course despite having taken a break.

To clarify - TPEC does NOT have horses that rear or are dangerous (to the extent that no animal can be predictable with 100% certainty). Just their teaching taught me well enough to be able to deal with this, even in an environment I don’t know on a random horse I don’t know. They take a very selective approach to who they hire to teach and it certainly shows.

The only slight thing I would note is that the prices have gone up, but I’m assuming that’s the case anywhere/ general economy more so than making huge profit margins- and also here, I fully trust that spending slightly more will be worth it compared to other places I’ve been to.

Tish W.

Been riding here since I was 4 years old and always had the best experience. I ride once a week and constantly learning more every lesson. Harriet has helped me when getting back in the saddle after a little break from riding and it’s been nothing but pleasant. Would 100% recommend.

Il A.

Had my lesson today! I got more than was expected!
High qualified teacher who helped me to overcome the fear to come close to the horse and ride, it was miracle how step by step ( I didn't realise how) at the end of the lesson I felt confident and relax to ride and even was trying trot)
Thanks so much for helping me with my first enjoyable step which made me be motivated to horse riding journey!!!
From today I am a regular student and looking forward for next classes! Also there are the friendly and very polite atmosphere,very professional and attentive staff !
Highly recommend!

Anoushka G.

Absolutely miserable, staff are careless and stuck up.

I came here for my 19th birthday lesson and spent £97 of my hard working money in total for a 45 minute private lesson and a pair of gloves. I requested when I made the booking to have a horse that is not “slow” and wants to be ridden, however I got the complete opposite.

It was raining on this day so the arena was much busier than expected but they had 6-8 horses and riders in one small arena I should not have been charged £92 for this so called private

The WHOLE lesson was spent trying to get this poor horse to trot instead of actually learning the technalities or even begin to try and canter. My instructor was Angela (do not recommend) grumpy and couldn’t even film a video so I can look back to progress, she was completely unbothered and when asking if I can swap horses she said “no I’m not going to do that for you”.

It doesn’t take much to receive good customer service from the reception, and have an instructor that puts some effort into helping you rather than blaming you. During the lesson she was chatting away with the other instructor even though she could clearly see that I was struggling. After consistently kicking and using the whip I felt extremely upset, discouraged and disappointed that this was the reality of my lesson. All I wanted was to have a fun birthday lesson and treat myself to this so called “luxury stables”

After the lesson I was so upset I wanted to speak to reception about my experience but they were extremely dismissive and basically in other words gave me the impression ‘this is not our problem you can head off now’ one of them couldn’t even keep a straight face and continued to nosh on her lunch and the other one said it was because I was down as a beginner even though I told them I can do so and so and have ridden regularly in the last 6 months. DO NOT recommend coming here, save yourself the money and go somewhere else.

lorna D.

Took my 7 year old daughter riding she absolutely loved it staff amazing and pony just perfect, have rebooked. Highly recommend.. cafe great as well!!