Lodge Farm Equestrian Centre
WHERE
Stoke-on-Trent
What it’s like
Riding lessons, pony parties and Pony Club badges at a proper equestrian centre with its own café.
This one's for the pony-mad. Riding lessons run for all ages, and the Pony Club side of things means kids can work towards Achievement Badges rather than just sitting on a horse once and going home. There's an indoor school and a floodlit outdoor arena, both big enough that lessons carry on regardless of the drizzle, plus viewing galleries if you'd rather watch than muck in.
Pony parties are the bit to book if there's a birthday coming up: an hour with the ponies for riding, fun and games, then party tea in the Conservatory afterwards. Every child gets a rosette, which is a nice touch and means nobody goes home empty-handed. Catering can come from the Arena Café or you can bring your own, so you're not locked into one option.
The Arena Café does cooked breakfasts with locally sourced bacon and sausage alongside the usual hot drinks and homemade cakes, though it keeps odd hours, open Wednesday and Friday afternoons, Saturday daytime, and Sunday only on event days. Worth checking which day you're planning around if food matters to your visit. The site's got disabled access, toilets and WiFi, and the whole place is closed on Sundays outside of events, which catches people out if they assume it's a seven-day operation.
If you're not after a lesson, the indoor and outdoor arenas can be hired privately, which is handy if you've got your own horse and just want the space rather than a class.
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- Pony-mad kids old enough for lessons and Pony Club badges
- Food
- Arena Café serving hot and cold drinks, cooked breakfasts with locally sourced bacon and sausage, and homemade cakes
- Parties
- Pony parties available with an hour of riding, fun and games, followed by party tea in the Conservatory
- Closed on Sundays except for events, so check the calendar before planning a Sunday trip
- Café hours are limited to Wed and Fri afternoons, Saturday daytime and Sunday events
- All staff are B.H.S. qualified and it's a B.H.S. Approved Riding School
- The Conservatory doubles as a space for lectures and meetings, not just parties
Plan your visit
Do we need to book riding lessons or a pony party in advance?
The site doesn't mention turning up on spec, and with lessons and parties running through the week it's the kind of thing you'd want to sort ahead rather than chance it.
What's included in a pony party?
An hour with the ponies doing riding, fun and games, then party tea in the Conservatory. Every child gets a rosette to take home.
Can we bring our own party food?
Yes, you can cater it yourself or let the Arena Café handle it.
Is the centre open on Sundays?
The equestrian centre itself is closed on Sundays. The shop opens 10am to 4pm, and the café only opens on Sunday event days.
What are the arena hire rates if we've got our own horse?
£30 an hour for either the indoor school or the outdoor arena, plus £5 per additional horse sharing the space.
Is there disabled access?
The site lists wheelchair access alongside the toilets and viewing galleries.
What's the café like?
Cooked breakfasts with locally sourced bacon and sausage, homemade cakes and hot drinks, though it only opens on certain afternoons and Saturdays, plus Sunday event days.
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