I've been riding at NSEC for 2 years now, and all my experiences have been positive! The teacher's…read moreare always very friendly and helpful in lessons and outside, the atmosphere at the place is always enjoyable and there is always someone around (teacher or student) who you can ask for help if you ever need any. The horses are always wonderful to ride and you always learn a lot from each one. There is room for improvement regarding the pace at which students improve throughout the year, as I sometimes find other students in my class eager learn new things or try higher jumps. Overall, I love coming here every week; it's a beautiful place to ride at and a great sport to practice!

My daughter started riding in Sept 2014. She looks forward to riding all week, she always knows…read morewhen it's Wednesday. Riding has given her a real sense of responsibility and self confidence. It has been wonderful to watch her grow. It is amazing to watch these young children tack a horse on their own or with the assistance of a young volunteer. We only have experience with one teacher and she has been wonderful, always offering encouragement to the kids.

Located just down the street from Richmond Country Farms and just shy of Riverport Entertainment…read morecomplex, Blue Meadow is a lovely riding facility in south east Richmond. It's really easy to get to as the bus to Riverport stops right at Palmberg, and it's just a hop and skip down Steveston Hwy off Highway 99. Blue Meadow has both an outdoor arena and a covered arena (not a completely indoor arena, but sheltered) which is great for our wet climate. The area footing is excellent. It's not soggy and water-logged, which can be a problem in Richmond as we're so close to sea level. The farm is three acres--plenty of room for the horses to graze and run around--and is owned by a family who leases it to the barn manager Yolanda Bloomers. Yolanda has school horses available for lessons and there are also boarding facilities. Blue Meadow has certified Equine Canada instructors/trainers who coach numerous English riding disciplines including dressage and jumping. The Equine Canada certification was important for me when researching a riding instructor, and as I don't own my own horse (yet!?), I needed someone with school horses available. I've recently started taking lessons with Yolanda who came highly recommended from other barn friends. When I emailed Yolanda, she suggested I first come and observe a lesson, so I could see her teaching style. I really appreciated this! It was so great to see her interacting with a rider to see her style, her mannerisms, and her competency. I definitely wanted to take lessons! I've had a couple lessons with Yolanda already at Blue Meadows, and I *definitely* intend to keep going. The price for a private lesson with use of a school horse is fair--equestrian sports are expensive--and I also think it's great value. What I really love about Yolanda's teaching style is that she explains the "why" of things--when this particular exercise is useful, the benefit of lunging in both directions, or how to do this weird terminology thing. Instead of shouting at you from across the arena, she either uses a small microphone and fanny-pack speaker, or walks with you (not beside you, but comes down to the end of the arena you're working in). She also gives the rider ample notice, like a GPS in the car would say "in 500 metres, turn left". I really appreciate that Yolanda gives positive feedback with the constructive criticism. I've worked with a lot of kids, and I've also worked as an instructor (not horseback riding), so I know the benefits of the "compliment sandwich". Yolanda also explains why the horse might not be responding to what the rider is asking, listing a couple possible reasons and then saying what to try adjusting the next go around. I can't wait to continue lessons, despite my sore muscles the day after!

I've been riding here for almost three years now and I love this place. It's clear that everyone is…read morehere because they love and care about the horses and their welfare, not to show off social status and appearance like some stables can be. Yolanda is an excellent instructor for beginners and advanced students alike, and knows her horses' capabilities and personalities well. The boarders and other riders are unpretentious and enthusiastic, and the horses are sensible and lovely, and great teachers themselves. It's low-key and friendly here, a wonderful environment whether you're a human or an equine.

I can't say enough good things about Cassie, Josh and the whole team at Coquitlam Equestrian…read moreCentre. They have been unbelievable in instilling confidence in my 2 young daughters who are novice riders. Their horses are beautiful and very well loved and their teaching has been second to none. My daughters attended one of their camps which has been the highlight of their summer! I myself have also started riding again after many years away and have been very impressed with their knowledge and skills. I have ridden in many places over the years but CEC is something very special.

The best well-managed barn I have experienced. The care of the horses is top notch - Wendy is…read moremeticulous and on top of each animal's well being. Shoeing, vet visits, vaccinations; all organized for you. The people are great; it's a true family atmosphere. And the in-house coach (Heather) is an amazing horse-woman and teacher.

I had the pleasure of meeting Janice when I brought my daughters 10/8 for their first lessons. Her…read moreapproach and attitude show she genuinely cares about teach the children the correct way to ride and care for a horse. We had tried with other instructors that simply cared to rush us in and out. Janicea exceptional teach and we will definitely continue to have our kids attend lessons.

I take my kids to JM Sporthorse for their riding lessons and they absolutely love it. They barely…read morerode before, and now it is the best part of their week. Janice is so great with them and has taught them so much! You can tell she honestly cares about her role and the people she teaches. More than that, Janice is a thoughtful instructor who treats her horses with the kindness and respect that they deserve. The horses are wonderful, kind, responsive, and patient with my kids. I could not recommend enough!

Penelope is an amazing coach. We travel from North Van and are always so grateful. My daughter…read moreloves animals, especially horses, and has not been able to open up or bond with any therapist prior. She has gained confidence, self esteem, and pride. Her smile and glow when we leave is priceless. Highly recommend Penelope.

Ah, Southlands. A little piece of heaven in the middle of the city…read more I have great memories of showing here as a teen and young adult and often hang out with my riding friends who are club members. The grounds are beautiful and they have done a ton of upgrading over the years. It's a lovely venue for shows and you can't beat burning around the track or polo field. I love coming here because the clubhouse building reminds me of a British clubhouse where folks would come in for a nightcap after fox hunting. It's super cozy in the winter and nice and cool in the summer. If you have never been here, come to the Country Fair in the fall or swing by and watch a horse show. This is an amazing piece of land with a lot of history. I hope it stays around for years to come!

First of all, this place has Super nice and helpful staff, notably so…read more Furthermore, they've got racquet courts; it appears that there used to be 2 each squash and racquetball, however it's down to one each as two of the courts have been converted to a spinning room and a cardio /stretching area. Trout Lake and Mount Pleasant both lost their racquet courts when the facilities were renovated/replaced, so courts are harder and harder to find and to book. It's not crazy busy as many parks board facilities are because Killarney is so close by. The fitness area is spacious and fairly well equipped, but a few very basic things are strangely missing, like a dedicated bench press. They close super early (4pm) on weekends, so be mindful of that when planning your recreation.

It's 10 minutes away from my house with a decent court yard to play ball and badminton, however,…read morethere is no SWIMMING POOL (you can walk 25 minutes to Killarney). It has the basics which is appreciated. During various times of the year they throw craft fairs and special events. Prices are decent and staff is friendly.