Tower Farm Riding Stables, Edinburgh

this stable is not what it says in the text. I ride there weekly and have been 'mistreated' on a number of occasions.The horses are mistreated. For example the horses are never groomed and they have difficulty walking because there shoes are not fitted properly.

I live in USA and out of nostalgia decided to look up my old riding haunt.Let me tell you a story. I worked with Judy when she FIRST started the riding school. There was only the 2 of us, no indoor arena, only the stables in the yard. Couple ponies and about 5 horses. Judy was not married then so you know I am going back to the 70's here. Judy was not only my employer she was my friend. I did not even know she had passed on. All I wanted to say is Judy gave her heart and her soul into Tower Farm Riding Stables and I am sure Caroline (you wont remember me but we met when you were about 10) is trying her hardest to keep her mums dreams alive. I have lovely, funny memories of the farm and I hope the bad reviews are just grumpy people. Hi to Jock and family. Diane

i like tower farm because i hav been goin ther since a wis wee nd its rella gd!!!!i nw keep ma horse there (fender) nd hes rella well looked after!!!ma m8 keeps her 2 ponies ther 2 (peggy nd reno) nd they liv oot nd they gt looked after well 2!!the indoor skl is rella gd in the winter coz it gts wet ootside!!!the teachers r all rella gd especialy lucie,amanda,daniele nd stef!!!! The skl horses r well looked after nd ther r a different horse 4 every 1!!!!!ma favs r Monarch,poppet nd harry!!!!!u always hav loads ovv fun at tower nd the lessons r rella gd!!!!!!!!if u wnt 2 learn hw 2 ride, go 2 tower!!!!!!

I have been riding weekly at Tower Farm for just over a year, and since i started lessons there I feel that I've improved so much, and I feel a much more confident rider. I believe this is because of the top quality teaching. The horses are mostly very hard tryers, but I find after a long day, its hard work to get enough energy from them. But i love going there, its the highlight of my week.

i started tower 3 years ago and i was riding there for 2 years i left at int and i found that i was not learning enough so i lef the best instructor there is lucy! She was always in a good mood and the kindest member of staff there was tracy she is always supportive.also i got swapped round horses alot when i booked try or monarch.i ride at thornton farm near rosewell and have loan on a 13.2 grey welsh section b called blue and is the most challenging pony i have ever riden, i have learnt tons and tons in just 1 year. I know a member of staff there called ashley small with dark hair and she got on blue and was off within 30 secs! I am getting lessons of of a 10/10 rider called palm she is a 5 star instructor and after half an hour your body is in total agony! this is michael carde 13 years old!

I ride every week here and overall they are quite good. However, if you are a new rider i don't think that the support is that comforting. Attention to details such as tack cleaning can tell you alot about a stables and tack on occassions for the school horses could do with more attention! In the past there has been a tendency for the stables to have bought very green horses which are ridden and then sold on at what i can only presume is a huge profit. But then all stables have done this at some point! After saying all that it can't be that bad I'm there every week!

when i only rode at tower i found it a nice atmosphere but when i helped out i found that i was treated with no respect and was not told how to do things i was left to do things i did not understand and i had tack up horses which i had not much experiance doin and this could have been very dangerous

I ve been riding at tower for at least 3 years now, and i have to say that it is still the highlight of my week. Yes the horses could be better looked after e.g groomed more often, but then there is nothin stopping riders from coming up a little earlier and doin it, thats what i do and i think it helps me bond more with the horse that im about to ride and in so i get a better riding experience. also the yard could be cleaner, but then if there are about 30 horses around then that could be quite difficult. as for collecting your own horses and occasionally tacking up (which doesnt happen very often} i feel it gives me more a sense of horse ownership, if i had my own horse i would have to do this, however there is always someone around who is more than willing to help riders with their horses if they need it. i think tower is a good riding establishment the staff are friendly the horses good natured and well behaved, it is a little on the expensive side but then so is everything now, and at least the money goes towards the horses. thats why i ll go back every week. Oh and its not jus cobs that they have anymore.

I've been riding at tower farm for just over six years. I've been to other stables all around edinburgh, and TF is by far the best. The horses are well looked after by the helpers and staff, whenever the helpers have spare time i see them grooming or spending time with their favourites. As well as the staff the helpers try to help you as much as they can and at the same time they are having fun. Every week I go I see the same helpers (Allana, Louise, Elisha, Kathryn and Cat) and I admire them for their hard work year in year out. And whenever I talk to them they tell me TF is like a second home to them and everyone who is involved is part of the big family. I have noticed however that when the kids are having a really great time and the manager comes they all stop. I know that a yard isnt a playpark but I dont think its right to make them feel as if they have to stop having fun and get to work, especially since they dont get paid they just do it for the love of it. The staff all have their own style of teaching and if they tell you what horse to ride the next week its because that horse will suit your needs. I have been taught by all of them (Eve, Sinead, Rhiannon, Alex, Debbie L, Alana, Caroline and Debbie C.) All the horses seem happy and recognise the staff and helpers which i think is a nice touch to the yard. It is run in a very organised manner. By 12 all the horses will have had a morning feed, boxes will have been mucked out, Hay/ Haylage given depending on which the horse needs. Then after Lunch, the yard will be swept the muck will be put in the muck heap, The horses will have had a luch feed through lunch, and some of the horses will be groomed. at the end of the day the horses will be taken up to the feild and as a thankyou for a hard days work the helpers may get to ride to the feild, which is fair.TF have group lessons for evey level includinng adult only lesson some nights, but if you dont feel confident enough to do a group lesson or you would like to progress at your own pace there are individual lessons monday to friday through the day. They also do ride outs to portobello beach and the pentlands as well as Common Rides. The horses are turned out very well for the common rides.They are bathed and plaited with clean tack on and you can try out your horse before hand to make sure it is suitable for you. I hope you will give TF a chance because it really deserves it. I would just like to say thankyou to everyone who works/helps at tower farm :)

The horses are left all day in their box with their tack on.i dont think that is right.when i used to help out around there the staff were really rude and very unhelpfull.i wouldnt recommend it at all.