Have you tried asking Janet Weston at The Western Department, Shabbington, near Thame for ideas? She has a great Western Tack shop there and is a good contact for people in the Bucks/Oxon area.

Hi

Jeannine March comes over from Germany about once every 4-6wks and gives me and a few friends a lesson in Aylesbury, not too far from Oxford depending which side you are. I'm sure she would come over to you when she's here or you could box over to us. Also there is a yard in High Wycombe offering western lessons on fully trained QH's, they are Warwick western performance horses or something. I can give you contact detals for both, just drop me an e-mail.

Following this thread I note that Warwick western, near Beaconsfield, has been mentioned. Funnily enough I came across them just today via an ad in Horse and hound. Does anybody on here know anything about them? Until I saw the ad I hadn't heard of them and I've been researching Wes for some time. I want Wes lessons and they seem to be the nearest to me but I'd rather travel further if I don't get a recommendation (ie, I'm not going there 'cold' as I've heard good things about places further away so I'd rather go where I know it's ok than pick something nearby just for the sake of miles on the clock!)

Hi - I mentioned the Warwick western place near Beaconsfield but again I have only seen it advertised. I'm afraid I haven't been there so can't comment on the horses or teaching. It's run by Leanne Warwick Drake and I believe she does the teaching, that's all I know though. Sorry, might be worth meeting them or having a look round if it's not too far though.

I share the frustration of not being able to find a trainer for those of us who are horseless. I am South Leicestershire based and I desperately want to find a good western riding instructor that comes complete with horse!
I noticed someone from Borland Quarter Horses said they did lessons, but on their website it says for people with their own horses only?
Does anyone have any suggestions? I only want to drive ideally within an hours radius.There seems to be such a big demand for western now, why are there so few trainers prepared to use a horse to teach with?
Thanks.

I think the problem is not just finding a Wes trainer, but finding a good one who really knows their stuff. Anybody can set themselves up as a 'trainer' but it doesn't mean they are any good or have any real empathy with horses. I think this needs addressing by this (wes) community because as wes riding grows in popularity more English riders and even non-riders will be keen to have a go.

Not wanting to throw a spanner in the works here, but as someone new to wes and having been researching the scene I've been warned to be very careful where I go for lessons as there are some bad trainers with no real expertise in Wes. Experienced English riders who know horses would soon suss them out, but that wouldn't help real novices or beginners who wouldn't know any better.

Those new to English riding without their own horse often only have access - unless more fortunate - to trainers at the lower levels whereas there is an argument for having the most experienced and best trainers teach beginners. The good thing about wes is that, from what I can see, you can actually go to top people such as Shane Borland and Lee Rutter et al, when you are at the bottom and just starting out. This is great but there don't seem to be enough of them to go round and, as has been flagged up, there don't seem enough who can offer lesson horses.