Horseback Riding

Ok, obviously not related to moving (I'm patiently waiting for the new Pets board  )...

I grew up on horses.  My mother was an avid horseback rider and competed her entire life.  I always joke that I knew how to ride a horse before I knew how to ride a bicycle (it's so true!).  We always had 2 or 3 horses growing up.  And one rotten little pony when I was younger (only one I wasn't sad to see go  ).  I stopped competing while I was in college.  I just didn't have the time anymore and my mother had semi-retired from showing too.  We sold our horses last year (after 6 years of being just pets).  I miss riding.    Now I'm getting ready to move across the pond by the end of the year.  From the quick web search I did, it looks like the UK is even more horse-obsessed than the States.  And strangely enough...everything seems cheaper!  It was ridiculously expensive owning horses in the States.  I'd like to get back to riding again (I used to drive too, that was fun).  And maybe own a horse again one day too.  We always had Arabians and they don't appear to be too popular over there.   

So, my question is this...where do I start?  I'm not keen on just randomly calling a few stables.  I'd prefer to go on recommendation.  If it's anything like the States, there are more than a few stables you want to avoid.     

Hey! I also knew how to ride a horse before a bike.

I sold my horse in order to move here, and occasionally have moments of doubt with that. (Not the decision to move, but I do sometimes wish I could've managed to bring him over!)

I've done the "go out and try a lesson" at a few stables, and have found them all to be pretty decent, but fairly tourist-y (this is central London, though, so that's to be expected).

I've been sticking with places that have BHS training, as I figure the instruction level will be pretty good. The BHS (British Horse Society) has approved riding centres/liveries on their website, which is pretty handy.

https://www.bhs.org.uk/

I'm hoping to move out of London in a couple of years and take up horsey stuff regularly again - it's too expensive/time-consuming here in London to try to ride a lot (1hr one-way commute to the barn, so weeknights are virtually impossible). I compete(d) in eventing, so this is Mecca for me - I just have to get out of the urban gridlock so I can take advantage!

Re: Arabians, I don't know that I've seen any (mostly Cobs and TBs/RIDs), but I know France is quite into the Anglo-Arab, and obviously Poland's not far away, so I would bet you could get some really nice bloodlines once you went shopping.

I just unpacked my saddle today!  While I haven't had my own horse in 15 years the hardest thing about moving was giving up my stable of 7 horses that a friend gave me full access too...

I did see the BHS mentioned on a few websites.  I'll pay closer attention to those.  Thanks!

I looked briefly for Arabians for sale.  Most were partbred Arabians and the few purebreds I found weren't the same "quality" we have in the States.  Poland... here I come! 

 I also ride (I event), but I'm in Manchester, so my info might not help! I basically picked a stable and scoped it out as "okay", then kept asking around until I found one I was happy with.  About three years later, I like where I am (not perfect, but pretty darn good), and I, uh, bought a horse.

BHS is a great place to start. You can get ahold of your local committee as well and ask them for specific places. Just have a poke around the website.  Some good places to go might be their exam and training centres. They tend to be bigger riding schools.

The horse bit is...still expensive, but it's the petrol/travel costs that will really get you.  I've not seen any Arabians (or even an Anglo-Arabs), but that doesn't mean they aren't out there somewhere. Loads of TBs, Cobs, and lovely ponies though!