Chessington Equestrian Centre Ltd.

25/12/2025

MERRY CHRISTMAS🎄
Wishing all of our clients, liveries, staff and friends a very merry Christmas 🫶🏻

01/12/2025

CHRISTMAS ACTIVITIES 🎅🌲

Now open for booking via our office. As always spaces are limited and offered on a first come basis.

Office number: 0208 398 7668

09/11/2025

🫶🏻❤️

“Confessions of a Riding School Saint”

Hello, human.
Yes, you — the one still trying to find the correct diagonal.

I’m the riding-school horse you meet once a week. You call me “steady,” “safe,” or, when I don’t immediately burst into extended trot, “lazy.” I’ve carried hundreds like you — some with bouncing enthusiasm, others with a death-grip on the reins and a look that says, “Please, not canter.”

Every rider brings their own style. Some kick like they’re starting a lawnmower. Some perch like a baby giraffe learning ballet. One even tried “natural horsemanship” by whispering at me for twenty minutes. (I admired the effort, but grass would have been more persuasive.)

I do my best to translate. But it’s tricky when one person wants me to go forward, the next to collect, and the next to “just feel the rhythm” while clamping both legs and pulling on my face. You’d be confused too.

Sometimes, when the messages get too loud or too mixed, I tune out. You call it “lazy.” I call it “self-preservation.” You see, my job isn’t easy — I must keep everyone safe while pretending your seat bones aren’t trying to send Morse code in three languages at once.

I’ve met every training philosophy going: “forward fixes everything,” “never use the leg,” “ride from the seat,” and my favorite — “just sit deeper!” (Usually shouted as the rider performs a mid-arena levitation.)

But I’ve also met kindness. The quiet rider who remembers to breathe, softens their hand, and says “good” when I try. That’s when I lift my back, stretch my neck, and remember what partnership feels like.

I don’t care about levels or ribbons. I care that you try to understand me. That you see me not as a piece of gym equipment but as a partner — one who has to process your nerves, your posture, and your Spotify playlist of contradictory aids.

So before you call a horse lazy, ask yourself: am I clear? Calm? Consistent?
Because the truth is, I’m not stubborn — I’m exhausted from reading mixed signals.

If you listen, I’ll listen. If you work on you, I’ll meet you halfway — maybe even with a flying change if I’m feeling fancy.

After all, I’m not just your ride. I’m your mirror, your teacher, and occasionally, your unpaid therapist.
Now, pat me. I’ve earned it.

Author: Gary A Diplock

21/10/2025

LEAD ROUNDS 🐴

Suitable for little ones that would like to have a go at riding pony in a confidence enhancing environment.
Ages from 4 and above welcome.
No experience needed.

Office number: 0208 398 7668

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29/09/2025

OPEN TO ALL CLUB MEMBERS 🐴
As always limited spaces so please reserve yours via; [email protected] OR by booking through the riding school office.
If you are not a club member but would like to attend, joining up is super quick and easy and can be done in time for this demo.

23/09/2025

HALF TERM ACTIVITIES 🐴
All activities now available to book via our office. As always spaces are on a first come, first serve basis so please book in ASAP to avoid disappointment.
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04/09/2025

KIDS CLUB 🐴

Start date: Sunday 21st September.
After successfully reintroducing our kids club over the summer holidays, it will now have a permanent place on Sundays @11:30am.
All details can be found above 🐴
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12/08/2025

Great fun with a handful of our Junior club members today! A first step into the area of lunging for most. Starting the day with lots of theory and discussion to make sure everyone went into the practical sessions with all the knowledge they would need to effectively control and improve a horse on the lunge. After watching a demo of a horse being lunged in full kit it was then into getting the girls confident with all the equipment whilst maintaining a safe space for both horse & handler. The first pony they lunged was Spot… he was the ideal small candidate to expose them to things that could potentially go wrong whilst lunging. Thankfully due to his tiny size it didn’t seem so daunting when it didn’t quite go to plan for the handlers (luckily he saved all his BIG party moves for our coach before the girls took over)Confidence built, it was on to the bigger ponies. It was at this point the girls really got to put the practice in with sending the horse out on the lunge, changes of direction and the use of aids to encourage the horse to change tempo. The day finished with everyone having to prepare a horse in full lunge kit safely and efficiently. Lots of fun and lots learnt 🏆

10/08/2025

☀️JUNIOR LUNGING COURSE☀️
For those joining us on Tuesday for the lunging day please make sure to bring the following:

Lots of sun cream and water.
Packed lunch.
Riding hat and gloves.
Appropriate footwear for handling horses.

It’s set to be a rather warm day! 🌞
Look forward to seeing you all.

Anyone wishing to book on has until Monday afternoon 🙂

04/08/2025

A massive well done to all who took part in our showing show today! Everyone looked amazing and all horses turned out beautifully. A first attempt at showing for most entered but all came away with confidence, experience and rosettes gained 🏵️🏆
Please do tag us in your photos as we love to see them!
Thank you to all who helped and made the day run so smoothly ❤️

31/07/2025

🐴KIDS CLUB SESSIONS NOW AVAILABLE🐴
Open to children 4 years and above. No experience required. The perfect way to get your little ones active whilst learning new skills and gaining great confidence within themselves.
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