Advantages: well maintained, good facilities, hacking in Trent Park, easy to get to Disadvantages: busy, disorganised, expensive
***Facilities***
Trent Park Equestrian Centre (TPEC) is close to Oakwood Station (Piccadilly Line) and also has plenty of parking. They have a large selection of horses (over 100) so can cater for various abilities and the horses themselves seem fairly happy. The yard is always being cleaned and the three schooling areas (two of which are under cover) are well maintained. There's a small cafe and other clients seem friendly. Generally, the instructors that I have been placed with have been friendly, enthusiastic and attentive.
***Riding Wear***
You can rent boots, crops and hats from TPEC for your lesson. They also sell a limited range of riding wear. The kit can be expensive, so I would advise you to perservere with renting if you are new to riding, untill you are sure you want to continue.
***Time keeping***
The centre has ...
Advantages: Good instructors; lovely horses and very patient instructors Disadvantages: Can be pricey if you have private lessons, but other than that there are none.
I too am an older rider at Callum Park and I would say to anyone who is thinking of taking up horse riding - then this is the place to come if you live within travelling distance. Yes it is a bit expensive, but all decent riding schools are nowadays. Whether you want to just learn the basics, or develop skills in jumping and dressage, there are instructors and horses to suit your requirements.
I regularly join the hacks in the summer months and I also take part in the group jumping lessons, both of which I enjoy. I have also learned a lot and my basic riding skills have really improved.
I would urge anyone to give it a go. As long as you have the correct riding wear, then the only expense is the weekly lesson (and if you join in group lessons then the cost is very reasonable).
Go on, have a go, you won't regret it. ...
Advantages: Fairly cheap membership fee, decent enough facilities Disadvantages: A lot of niggling problems
I have been a member at Greens Health & Fitness club in Stoke for around about three years now, as it is convenient for me to use and close enough to work to use at lunchtime. I was previously a member at Total Fitness Gym but left as the membership fees were getting too high.
Greens has a good gym, with decent quality cardio machines (we have treadmills, exercise bikes, cross trainers, rowing machines, step machines and what we call 'wave' machines which give a similar motion to skiing), a weight room, two rooms for organised classes and a room with spinning bikes. There is a 25 metre pool with three jacuzzi's, a sauna and steam room, as well as an infra red sauna cabin, loungers and showers around the pool area.
There is a large car park with plenty of space, with entrance and exit controlled by a barrier. This is useful as ...
