Riding in Richmond Park
London is my favorite city. For me, it exhibits such an elegant blend of history and tradition, of the ancient with the modern. Most of all, I love that it is filled with horses! From performing ceremonial duties like The Changing of the Guard, to racing at Greater London’s Royal Ascot, Kempton Park, or Sandown Park, to competing at the London International or Royal Windsor Horse Shows there are plenty of opportunities to appreciate these beautiful creatures that are such an integral part of London’s culture. Better yet, why not take a ride while you’re there? As Winston Churchill famously said, “No hour of life is lost that is spent in the saddle.”
You may not think of a capital city as an ideal destination for a riding holiday, but there are lots of places to saddle up in and around London. One of my personal favorites is Stag Lodge Stables. Located on the edge of Richmond Park near Robin Hood Gate it’s an easy commute from central London but feels a world away from the city. The largest of England’s royal parks, Richmond Park dates back to 1625 when Charles I bought it and turned it into a hunting ground. There are still plenty of deer, idyllic vistas, and tons of space to ride.
My first experiences at Stag Lodge Stables were in late November and December 2021 when my husband Anthony and I were in the UK for nearly a month. This extended holiday was part of my sabbatical thanks to my employer, Parse.ly, and our amazing parent-company, Automattic. Stag Lodge operates year around at two locations: Stag Lodge 1 offers hacks in Richmond Park, and Stag Lodge 2 offers riding lessons. Of course I tried both! One of the things that makes Stag Lodge so great is that they offer rides for all levels of equestrians, and when you are experienced they provide exciting and fun rides on keen horses. I took a jumping lesson on Teddy at Stag Lodge 2 and went for several fabulous hacks at Stag Lodge 1 on Royce and Merlin. When riding in Richmond Park in the winter you must stick to the bridle paths. These are numerous and well manicured, which happily meant that there were lots of places for lengthy brisk trots and forward canters! I left London craving more rides at Stag Lodge mostly thanks to their lovely staff’s excellent marketing. I simply must return in the spring, they insisted, because then I could ride off the bridle paths.
It probably comes as no surprise that my next visit to Stag Lodge Stables cams shortly after my first. In May 2022, Anthony and I flew to London to celebrate our friends Josh and Tara’s wedding. It was exciting to have a reason to visit in the springtime (as if I ever need an excuse to go to London)! On my first ride through Richmond Park with Stag Lodge 1 the previous November I successfully passed their group hack assessment, so I was ready to join other experienced equestrians and go “off roading” as it were. My three rides in the park on Jasper and Merlin did not disappoint. As promised, there proved to be abundant opportunities for fast canters over the sun-drenched grassy fields. Richmond Park was dazzlingly lush and green and absolutely brimming with deer and other wildlife. Surely I had now experienced the best there was to offer. No, the staff insisted. I hadn’t been on a pub ride.
My third and most recent visit to Stag Lodge Stables was this past summer in July 2023. It was the perfect time for a pub ride! Stag Lodge uses a handy online booking system that allows registered riders to book in advance. They also have an email newsletter, which I watched like a hawk all spring. In late May, I saw the announcement I was waiting for: registration was open for the summer pub rides! I immediately signed into my account and secured one of the last 2 places for the July 7 ride.
Ahead of the Friday evening pub ride I booked two group hacks. As usual I received a warm welcome from the staff especially Robyn who remembered me from previous rides. This trip was unique because I rode the same wonderful bay cob, Jim, all three times. I was very lucky with the sunny, warm weather, which is not always typical during British summers. Actually, it was downright hot by the day of the pub ride on July 7. Plucky Jim didn’t let this slow him down at all as we rode all the way across Richmond Park to Ham Gate. During my previous visits to Stag Lodge I heard stories about wild pub rides where a few of the horses became a bit overly spirited. We definitely enjoyed some exuberant canters across the vast fields, but all of the horses behaved beautifully. Although we tried our best to stay cool and stick to as many shady paths as possible, everyone was parched by the time we arrived at The New Inn. It was the perfect evening for a Pimm’s Cup! I blissfully enjoyed my refreshing drink while hand grazing Jim on Ham Common.
It’s hard to imagine a more quintessentially British experience than riding a horse through the park and having a drink on a lovely summer evening. However, I learned that Stag Lodge Stables also offers tea rides so surely I must return. More horseback adventures await me in London!
