My child is highly motivated to learn and love horses. She's done more than 20hours riding abroad and in Stag Lodge they refused placing her to a group but pushed us to book private lessons. No support - no inspiration. Teachers cut 5 min from the class. In observed a few lessons and it is normal practice for them. I asked why and got explanation "we need to prepare for the next class". The team is rude and not welcoming. We're looking for an alternative place. read more

Sadly, my experience with Stag Lodge Stables was terrible from the day I booked. In early August, I booked two one-hour rides with them for the following week. A few hours later, I realized that it would be a 5-hour round trip each time, and I couldn't be away from work that long. I immediately asked if I could cancel and get a refund. They wouldn't give me one. They said I could only reschedule. I live in the USA, so I had a limited time. Since I was going to be staying closer a month later, I rebooked both rides on one day. There are two locations for Stag Lodge, and it wasn't clear which one I was supposed to go to. Apparently I chose the wrong one. It resulted in an unnecessary 45-min walk. Thankfully, I had arrived in the area an hour early. From the moment they opened, the same cold/rude behavior awaited me. Lucinda checked me in, and she just seemed annoyed. I was to ride Jason, a beautiful horse, and Martha was to be my instructor/guide for the full two hours, which was nice. Martha was *awesome*!! I loved riding with her. She gave me pointers and we had a nice chat. We trotted and cantered, and she even showed me a new way to canter! Now, I'm the first to admit that I'm not an expert rider, but I am an experienced rider at an intermediate level. I respect horses and love animals, so I often have a lighter touch than what it sometimes requires. Jason needed stronger direction because, as Martha told me, he was so used to kids just bouncing around on him that he ignored the normal level of direction (legs or reigns). It was a constant struggle just to keep him moving and stop him from eating! Still, it was an overall nice ride, and I thought Stag Lodge Stables would redeem themselves, until about 10 minutes from the end. During our last canter, Jason was trying to eat while cantering! As I tried to keep him straight, I lost a stirrup, but I had been trained well. This is my 7th year riding, and I've lost a stirrup several times. I've always been able to recover, so I haven't fallen once... until today. I thankfully wasn't permanently hurt, just bruised and embarrassed. Martha was very kind and validating, saying everyone falls at some point, which I know is true. After I caught my breath, I got back on, and we continued. About 5 min later, I noticed my phone was gone as was the crop they had me use to urge Jason on (little good it did), and I realized I must've lost them from the fall. It probably would've taken us 5 min to get back to where I fell. Martha called in because she wanted to go back, but they didn't have anyone else to take out their next rider. When we got back to the stables 10 min later, I saw that there were *three* workers there!! Any one of them could've taken me back out to find my phone if not taken the new rider out. Nope. They made me walk back, which took me over 30 min, meaning about an hour had gone by. Lo and behold, my phone was gone. Because, of course it was. It had been an hour!!! Exhausted. Frustrated. In pain and tears, I walked back to the stables and asked if I could use a computer to sign onto Find My iPhone. They said they didn't have the password for the office computer, which I don't believe for a second. Lucinda, who had given me the cold greeting, said, "We can't do anything if someone picked it up." ... of course you can't do anything NOW .... you could've taken me back right afterwards!! She called the general manager, Laura, to see what they could do, then handed me the phone. I told her all of this (written here), but she didn't offer me a refund or anything. Overall, Laura was very kind, and she didn't know any of this until that moment. As I was leaving, I asked Lucinda if Jason (the horse) was normally so hard to control, but she just condescendingly said how lovely he was and that he was perfect for kids and beginner adults, insinuating that I was a beginner. Maybe Jason just had as bad a day as I did. I certainly don't blame the horse, even if he was cheeky the entire ride. I blame the stables for-- 1. Not giving me a refund within hours of making the booking 2. Not making clear which location to go to 3. Pairing me with a horse clearly not used to a rider at my experience level 4. Not letting us go back (or taking me back) to find my phone 5. Being rude and unhelpful from beginning to end Martha was wonderful. Laura was kind. Lucinda was not. I've ridden many places across the UK. From several 5-hour+ rides in the Lake District and Scottish Highlands to riding in Hyde Park with Ross Nye Stables. Bottom line, don't ride through Stag Lodge Stables. There's a better choice in central London: Ross Nye Stables. They're a little more expensive, but worth every single penny. Don't waste your time or money riding with Stag Lodge Stables. If you want to see the deer, you can do that by riding in Windsor Park, which I've also done, and it was wonderful. read more

This was supposed to be a fun Christmas Eve day ride with my family. Sandra was a Terrible guide. She was rude, completely unfriendly. She didn't introduce herself (I asked her name at reception after the ride) and was snotty the whole time. She was unwilling or probably unable to tell us what she wanted us to do with our horses. My horse was somewhat challenging in that she wanted to root and go quickly and instead of telling me how to slow her down, she kept bitching at me to quit pulling on her and to 'control your horse'. But wouldn't explain how or spend an extra minute being helpful in teaching me what she wanted. Our whole group is very experienced riders but she made us walk the entire ride as part of her power trip. The other staff seemed friendly. Sandra was a bitch. Avoid her if her pissy attitude continues! read more

'Disappointing' doesn't come close. Booked by Friend as gift for my Daughter, excited about her first ride. Contacted Stag Lodge Stables, consistently no answer on either contact number. On arrival, staff informed they do not have the capacity to take calls. I feel Stag Lodge should address this known staffing issue, rather than just leave clients unable to reach them? Met the pony- honestly the most tired and depressed looking horse I've ever seen. Not a single kind word to the pony from the carer, who when asked, said Comet was 'probably in her teens'. Although young, my Daughter could clearly sense all was not well, and she too was unusually sombre throughout the 25 minute ride. Came away only feeling like I'd contributed to an animal welfare issue that day, rather than the happy experience planned. Staffed by people who (on the day) did not seem to remotely enjoy their work. Very much just a business churning out, rather than a service provider or carer of horses. read more

NOT Recommended Management are the worst I have seen. We were late by traffic but an hour before we arrive we call to check if we can still have the session today, and we were told it's absolute fine. However after we arrive still have plenty of our session remaining, the refused to let us ride and insist we need to re-book and pay again. When we ask if we can have some ride later today they claim there are no horses and coaches avaliable despite there is an instructor just walking around the whole time and many horses in the stable. Wouldn't rearrange our appointment and insist we re-book and pay again. Not recommended to anyone. Manager is just utterly arrogant and pay no attention to the fact that they told us first that we can come in and have our session even we are late. Very disappointed. read more

I have just had the most enjoyable escorted hack through the park. I class myself as an experienced rider, but my boyfriend Joe is a beginner. We had a lovely instructor named Rachel who was very clued in to both of our needs. This stable is perfect and can take beginners into the park as they have NO ROAD work to access the beautiful park. I have ridden at other London stables and the road work can be scary to a non rider like Joe. I would highly recommend this place to riders, and non riders alike. After our ride we had a lovely romantic picnic in the park. It is my Birthday :) Thank you Stag Lodge for making my day special. I will be returning to join your Wednesday evening pub ride with Rachel. I can't wait! Christine read more

I had a lovely ride yesterday in the park on Cleo, the sun was shining and the park was just beautiful. I have ridden at Stag Lodge several times and always been impressed with the horses and instructors. I am a confident rider and always been matched with lovely steeds. I find stag lodge have a wide range of horses for different rider's abilities. I came once before with a friend who is a novice rider she rode a steady mare, we of course rode at her level but I still thoroughly enjoyed watching my friend learn a new hobby! I would recommend Stag Lodge to all my friends as I feel they have always looked after me very well. read more

This place is perfect if you want to be able to enjoy some beautiful hacking in Richmond Park. They have a good selection of horses and instructors. One of the major benefits if you're not an experienced rider is that they will take anyone out into the park. While at Kingston Riding Center, the other big local riding school, you must be able to walk, trot and canter before you can go on a hack, that is not the case here. Instructors will lead even complete beginners into Richmond Park. This is great for some laid back riding and enjoying the scenery. However I would not recommend it as a place to learn how to ride or improve your skills. There are group or private hacks which also cater for the experienced rider wanting a faster ride around the park. What better way to enjoy Richmond Park than from horseback! read more

I have been riding at Stag Lodge last year and had a bad accident. The horse got very bouncy while we were cantering in the park, I tried to get the control back and I sat heavier in the saddle but she turned sharp right causing me to fall and then she stopped at the side of the path to eat the grass. I have a teared ligament as I consequence of the fall. It took me months and a very long and expensive rehabilitation before I could use my arm again. There was clearly something wrong but they will never admit it. My teacher had been working there for just one week and he later said that he had noticed that the horse had got bouncy looking back from the corner of his eye. I had been riding at this place a few times before the accident but I would not recommend it. Apart from a couple of phone conversations after the accident, they never contacted me again to ask how I was. read more

I had booked class with them, but when I've showed 20 mins before class as instructed no one was there, everything was closed. I left them message and left. After occurred that they are closed for lunch and they only open for time of my class and i should have wait. No refunds and no willingness to help. Very disappointed with service and approach towards customer. read more

I love taking regular visits to Stag Lodge Stables! The staff here are very friendly and helpful. And there are two different riding centers to allow for hacking and improving skills in the arenas, i feel i have bettered myself as a rider through gaining experience in both of these riding environments. i definitely recommend Stag Lodge to any type of rider as these stables can cater for anyone's abilities, as i have learned all i know from this stables. Every pony or horse that i have ridden at Stage Lodge has been amazing as each horse you ride will be catered to your individual experience, as my progression as a rider here has demonstrated. the prices are cheap for the amazing scenery from the hacks through Richmond Park, which is right on the doorstep without having to cross roads which can be a bit unnerving. I Wouldn't choose anywhere else to ride. THANKS STAG LODGE!! read more