Hi,
I've never ridden before but would love to learn and would particularly like to learn to ride western. Is anyone aware of any places in the North East of England where I could learn? I don't have my own horse or any equipment.

Thanks for any suggestions.

Andrew

Hi Andrew,

northeast is huge geographically - and has a good supply of instructors - can you narrow the area a little?

Jude

Hi,
I live in Sunderland, and have transport so could travel to Durham, Northumberland etc.

thanks

Hi Andrew, I live in Northumberland and there are no instructors in the north east. I have bemoaned this fact on many previous posts. There has always been an interest in Western riding up here since I organised a few demos many years ago but there is no way people can follow this up. There are a few people who manage to compete but only by travelling, at great expense, to the trainers and shows in the south but even they are rethinking their plans now with the cost of fuel.
I put some people in touch with the WES rep for this area recently but he told them there was not enough interest to get trainers up for clinics which left them very disillusioned. The only way to increase the interest is to make a start and get things moving.
Sorry, I'm on my soap box again and before someone says why don't I do something about it myself, I did, many years ago. We even had a club going but because we couldn't afford regular training clinics and there were no local trainers, people eventually gave up and the whole thing fizzled out. It's such a shame because any time I post something on my local equestrian forum relating to Western I get a lot of response from people asking how they can get started.
It's a Catch 22 situation.

Hi

if it is of any help to you Lee Rutter travels to do clinics. He is based at Oakridge Quarter Horses in Newark, so is only a couple of hours away from you.
Oakridge has also applied for a riding school license (imminent) so can also help out on the lesson front. Please call us if you need any further info.

Lee on 07736 430111
Lita on 079+71 589409

Hi Andrew,
Have sent you a message, hope you got it, the computer logged me out so not sure if it sent.
I'm based in North Yorkshire so not too far from you.
I'm really glad to hear more people are wanting to take up Western, especially from the North

Post edited by: Luv2Lope, at: 2008/10/02 19:10