Reviews by apples4

This review is for Victorian Equestrian Centre, Beaconsfield Upper VIC

verified email - 24 Oct 2015

Please do not use this facility.

The owner is completely unknowledgeable about horses and employs young girls with limited capacity to teach safety, horsemanship and riding skills. The instructors are incompetent and dangerous. In fairness to them, they are young girls clearly without adequate role models and are probably doing the best they can with their own limited experience and in unkempt and dangerous facilities.

Two of the instructors we had both appeared to be frightened of horses. The third instructor was a godsend but as I understand was not one of their regular instructors.

The facilities are unfit for humans to stay there. The bunkhouse is adjacent to the indoor arena so fills with dirt and grit and is clearly never cleaned.

The most disturbing aspect of the place is the state of the horses. Most looks like horses purchased from the markets and are underfed to manage behavioural issues. That said, all of the horses did display dangerous behaviours including chronic biting, kicking and general grumpiness. Every horse has poorly treated feet. Those with shoes on were loose and obviously treated by an unskilled farrier. Most of the horses did not have shoes on and their feet were cracked and so long that they had started to curl. The paddocks are filled with loose wire and every fence has at least one strand of wire loose creating dangerous situations for the horses. The hay they feed the horses is mouldy and the chaff and pellets were filled with rat droppings.

I don't know how much they charge for camps and lessons, but whatever the fees, you would do much better to invest in other options for yourself or your children. My advice would be steer well clear of this place.