Eastminster School of Riding, Essex
Value For Money
Eastminster School of Riding, Essex
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User Reviews
i've Recently Left Eastminster And Started T
I've recently left eastminster and started to loan, I left eastminster because the staff are incredibly rude. My niece got spoken to by a staff member like she was a piece of rubbish on the bottom of their shoes... We are paying customers, you don't talk to customers like that... You complain and nothing gets done about it.
eastminster is not a very nice place, you don't not feel welcome, and I would certainly not recommend this yard to anyone...
Utter rubbish An excellent riding school has been going since 1947 has a very good reputation
Agree completely. As a qualified BHSAI I was reluctant to use this school as it has a really bad reputation amongst riding instructors. I decided to give it a go as my daughter wanted to have somebody un-biased teaching her. When calling to enquire on how to book, the lady who answered the phone had an appalling attitude. She was incredibly rude & left me with a very unpleasant first impression. Nethertheless, I continued on to the lesson with an open mind.
We were dealt with on the day by a man. He was incredibly rude, left me hanging around for ages which being on crutches, was really thoughtless. The staff were sat around laughing and joking and one was making really hurtful comments about the weight of one of the pupils on the class lesson. I wasn't offered a seat, neither did any of them offer to take our money. This made both myself and my daughter incredibly uncomfortable. 10mins into lesson and we still hadn't been dealt with so I politely said I would be leaving as felt the way we had been dealt with was incredibly unprofessional, plus we were expected to pay full price for the lesson despite the fact we missed a big chunk of it due to the staffs gossiping taking priority.
This was meet with anger & we were told we would be banned for time wasting !! Absolutely shocking. This man is an embarrassment to the profession. I have dealings with a couple of Equestrian Colleges whom after hearing my experience at this school, informed me that this man is very well known within the industry and is widely disliked for the way he treats people.
I was speaking with a BHSII instructor a couple of days ago, asking if he had any good recommendations as he has a waiting list. He hasn't been in this country long but even he said he wouldn't touch this riding school with a barge pole. Said he wouldn't send his kids their due to the lack of professionalism. Seems my experience isn't isolated. This school, has an appalling reputation amongst highly respected professional schools and instructors.
As an instructor myself, the lack of customer care, rudeness/arrogance and "couldn't give a damn" attitude is something I'd never expect to see in a BHS approved riding establishment. The customer should always be made to feel welcome. Professionalism and manners cost nothing, but can be the difference between an average school and a great school. I haven't been back and will never go back. The customer is and should always be the focus of any good business. Sadly, this school seems to have forgotten that.
I wholeheartedly agree with your comment. However, what I find most disturbing is the absolute resistance to any sort of feedback. Customers are told that they "have to join in" or that they are being anti-social if they don't fit in. No wonder many British businesses (especially equestrian ones) fail. I do sometimes disagree with the old maxim "the customer is always right" but, by the same token, I expect to being treated with a degree of dignity when I am using a business and putting money into it (with my payments for lessons and/or riding club subscriptions). It is just not acceptable to dismiss concerns in this way. I think that best thing is to "vote with your feet" and go elsewhere. The sad thing is that many riding schools are closing in the South Essex area and I wonder if some of it is due not just to rocketing land values but to the fact that many proprietors of these businesses take their customers for granted and then wonder why everything goes wrong. I wish you all the best with your loaning and hope that you enjoy your future equestrian pusuits
Value For Money
Eastminster
Before I started riding at Eastminster, I used to loan a pony called Star, he was a bit naughty. I come off Star and injured myself and I lost quite a bit of my confidence, my friend recommended that I start riding at a riding school to build and regain my confidence. My mum rung Eastminster and the member of staff who answered the phone was helpful, they gave her details of when I could start and the prices. The next week I started riding, they gave me a horse named Treacle and he was amazing, they told my mum that they would assess me to see what class I would be suitable in, after my lesson the instructor told my mum that I would be suitable for class 1A on a Saturday. my first lesson in 1A and I got given Ben, he is amazing.I enjoy riding at Eastminster because you are consistently learning new things every week. The horses and ponies are always teaching you new things from Oxo who tries cutting across the school to the perfect mojo who just does as you ask her. I enjoy my lessons all the time and I especially like it when I get to ride my favourites: Kandi,Treacle,Ben,Rocco and Berite. Eastminster has given me the confidence to ride anything and it has also given me the opportunity to make new friends, sometimes I feel like the full time staff boss you around a bit and make you feel like you don't belong but the kids always make you feel welcome into the clubroom. There are some people whom are bitchy but as my mum says you will get it everywhere because you cant change people. Thank you Eastminster for teaching me new things and making me become a more confident rider. Also, I would like to say thank you to my instructor.
What's The Issue!
You really cannot do anything right at this yard!
I loan and am always hearing staff comment, about people going to other stables. Not sure what the issue is, they either need to shut up and be quite or they'll lose business!
What's sad is that I don't think that your comments will ever be acted upon. I doubt that even The Fixer, would succeed in getting through to those who need to be told. For your future riding lessons I would suggest Havering Park Riding School as a good alternative. You get a good hour (sometimes an hour and a quarter) for £25.00 and I like the way people use "please" and "thank you" when they take your money and speak to you generally. The indoor school is probably larger than the one at Eastminster and the outdoor school is a good size and has a nice surface (not sand). Hacking is mainly in the woods or along farm tracks and there's quite a variety - much more than you'd get in the country park. One of the proprietors at HPRS is active in the organisational side of the Association of British Riding Schools and I always think that ABRS accreditation is more rigorous than any other. The people who teach have, mostly, competed at a very high level and have won on a regular basis at national level in dressage.
Completely agree with what you said! If you're paying money to ride at their school they should be happy! It has gone down in my eyes thats why l left and now ride elsewhere in a riding school where you are respected, not judged and the best thing there is only ever a maximum of six per lesson!
Value For Money
Eastminster Is Great
As a latecomer to riding, I chose Eastminster for proximity. However, I don't think I could have chosen a better school. I have progressed consistently over the last 2 years in a way that I wouldn't have thought possible - even to long horse riding holidays. The staff are really nice and welcoming and there is a great camaraderie amongst riders. The instructors are supportive and always have time either during or after lessons to talk to you about techniques for improvement. The private lessons are really useful too - the instructor will talk to you about what you want, quickly assess you and plan the lesson accordingly.
Loving it!
Value For Money
Excellent Stables, Great Facilities And Friendly Staff
Having been at several stables in the brentwood area for the past 6 years watching my daughter progress slowly and very expensively and then being recommended to Eastminster by a friend over a year ago she has now progressed more over the past 12 months than the previous 6 years with the help of a great variety of ponies, excellent facilities and extremely knowledgable staff with a structured training program. Overall a great stables with a family atmosphere catering for a wide range of abilities and having the beauty being attached to a nature reserve with some fantastic and interesting riding without having to go near a road!
Value For Money
Friendly, Fun & Great Tuition
I have been riding at Eastminster on the adult lessons for several years now after taking horse riding back up since riding as a child. The horses are lovely here, as are the team that run the stables, Its a really friendly environment amongst the staff and riders. I have always felt encouraged and Im continuously learning from the lessons, so much so I confidently hack out when on holiday and recently galloped a stallion across the beach in St Lucia! I would never have felt the confidence to do this if it hadn't been for the great tutoring I have received which has made me a much better rider. I always get positive feedback and constructive criticism from my lessons which has really helped with my progression. Safety is priority here too and all the horses are clearly taken very good care of.
Value For Money
Clicky Yard Sadly :(
If your not in the click then you are made to either feel isolated or pushed out.
Very clicky bitchy yard. They appear nice to your face but often gossip about others.
They quite happily take your money but they won't think of you in the next moment.
Its a business and can be quite ruthless I'm saddened to say :(
I completely agree!! If you aren't an extrovert or confident around people this yard is probably not for you. Although the quality of teaching is high and the ability to cater for all abilities is very good, there is an underlying sense of hostility for riders who aren't "in" with any of the clicks on the yard - I hasten to add this issue is with the younger volunteers/staff.
The actual teaching has improved over my time there - maybe as you progress to a higher standard of riding there are better teachers available to you.
nothing to say about the availability of a wide range of rides for all abilities? Nothing about to say about the high quality instruction available to all riding abilities? nthing to aay about the competitive lesson pricing or availability of evening lessons or specialist private lessons for jumping, dressage or lunge? Less of a review of the yard more a very public paddy about your own inability to make new friends... how embarrassing for you.
I don't recognise the yard this review is talking about! I have been riding at Eastminster for 3 years and only have good things to say about the people there, The owners, staff and instructors are all really welcoming and encouraging, which for me is everything as I am quite a nervy rider. I know lots of people that ride there regularly and have never considered myself or anyone else as part of a "clique" as I don't feel there are any. If anything I would say Eastminster has a family, community feel to it - there are a lot of organised competitions for all riding abilities and everyone that wants to join in is welcome to do so. There are social events that are open to everyone whether they ride or not and in the summer we all go out in the fields to pull ragwort. Kids are welcomed and encouraged to join in, there's kids lessons and a kids club as well. I can honestly say I've never heard any rudeness from anyone. Amazed that this reviewer came away from the riding school feeling like this.
Value For Money
Great Riding Experience
I have ridden here for 7 years of my life, but before Eastminster, iSpent time in other stables near me. They do not compare to the environment of Eastminster, the horses there are treated really well and the staff are always friendly. Thumbs up to Eastminster Riding School <3
ICannot stress enough how fantastically brilliant they are down there. The instructors are very helpful and concentrate on learning rather than money. I cannot think of anything negative to say about the school at all. They will do well in the future and I hope they are there for my children aswell
Value For Money
Fantastic Yard That Makes You Welcome.
The problem with these types of sites is that generally only people who are dissatisfied tend to go on them, giving a a false impression. The vast majority of satisfied customers like myself wouldn't normally bother. I'm doing this review having heard about some of the negative ones. This is a friendly yard with opportunities given to hiring riders like myself not readily available anywhere else a know. I rode as a child and returned to riding with a couple of friends intending to have just a few lessons so I could go out hacking with confidence. I now have regular lessons, joined the adult club and take part in the competitions. To those who claim this yard is unfriendly, maybe you need to think about how you come across because I find you usually get out what you put it.
In additon to the way I am treated I would also like to commend Eastminster on the way the horses are treated. They are cared for like they are the owner's own. Even those too old to really earn their keep but still have quality of life are given a place unlike soome other yards where those past their economic sell-buy date are put down.
Value For Money
Fantastic Horses And Ponies Here
I started my son at eastminster at the beginning of April, although i found it rather daunting we went on a very busy saturday, i was soon put at ease by the helpfulness of the staff, my son had no previous experience, but with the confidence given by the instructor is now going on to a higher class.
i have found everyone at eastminster to be friendly and helpful,I have now started riding there myself after 25 plus years out of the saddle and with the encouragement of riders there joined their adult riding club I get withdrawal symtoms if i miss a class lol.
I feel sad that there has been alot of negative comments re; ponies/horses
you get what you put in, if you have a positive attitude and treat them with respect they will do their best for you! in answer to someone complaining about the weight restrictions previously, why should they have someone who is overweight for the size of the horse ride them for hours on end? sorry just being honest! my first thing that impressed me was the way in which all of the ponies/horses are loved and cared for especially on hot days! i have now recommended a further 3 people who are now starting there. keep up the good work eastminster you cant please everyone :)
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