Poplars Farm Riding School
BEST FOR
Ages 4+
ENTRY
from £22
WHERE
Stoke-on-Trent
What it’s like
Riding lessons from £22 for a half hour, with group sessions, private coaching and hacking out for those who've got the basics down.
This is a proper riding school rather than a pat-a-pony farm visit, so the main event is lessons: group sessions from £22 for 30 minutes, up to private coaching with a BHS Stage 4 coach if you want someone who really knows their stuff. There's an outdoor floodlit arena with an all-weather surface, so a cancelled lesson because of rain is less likely than at a lot of yards, and jumping instruction is on offer once a rider's ready for it.
Kids need to be 4 or over to start, and from there the options widen out. Shared lessons with two or three riders bring the price down a bit if you're going with a friend or sibling, and once confidence builds there's hacking out for an hour, an hour and a half, or two hours, which is the bit riders tend to graduate towards once the arena feels too small.
It's not a casual drop-in. Cancel on the day or fail to show and there's a £15 charge, so you want to be fairly sure of the slot before you book it. The place is closed all day Thursday, and hours generally run from morning until early evening, with Wednesday staying open a bit later and Saturday finishing earlier in the afternoon.
Need to know
- Best for
- 4 and up starting lessons, with hacking for older, more confident riders
- £15 charge for same-day cancellations or no-shows, so only book a slot you can keep
- Closed all day Thursday
- Outdoor arena is floodlit with an all-weather surface, useful for evening lessons
- Hacking sessions suit riders who've moved past the basics
- Wednesday is the latest opening evening at 8pm
Plan your visit
How much does a lesson cost?
Group lessons start at £22 for 30 minutes, £27 for 45 minutes and £31 for an hour. Private lessons with a BHS Stage 2/3 coach run from £33, and with a Stage 4 coach from £36.
What age can kids start riding?
The minimum age is 4.
Can we book a shared lesson instead of private?
Yes, shared lessons for two or three riders are available with either a BHS Stage 2/3 or Stage 4 coach, and they work out a bit cheaper per person than a private lesson.
Do they do anything beyond lessons in the arena?
There's hacking out for those with more experience, priced at £35 for an hour, £45 for an hour and a half, or £55 for two hours.
Is there jumping instruction?
Jumping instruction is offered as part of the lesson options.
What happens if we need to cancel?
Cancelling on the day, or not showing up, costs £15.
What days are they open?
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 9am, Saturday from 8:30am. Thursday is closed.
How late can we ride in the evening?
Most weekdays run until 7pm, with Wednesday open until 8pm. Saturday closes at 5pm.
Do you need to book ahead?
There's no online booking link listed, so it is a case of getting in touch directly to arrange a slot.
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