Lodge Equine Stables
History of L.E.S
Lesley Johnston has been involved with horses most of her life. She grew up in
Richhill, County Armagh, but started her working life in Italy where, for 6 months
she gained and built on her knowledge on the equestrian front and developed an
understanding of runninga yard and its commitments.
On returning home she discovered an Equine Based course and worked part time
in theRiding School, teaching and assisting with the day to day running of the
yard while studyingto become an Instructor, her passion for working with horses
and kids just grew stronger and stronger. After hard work and long hours,
Lesley soon qualified as a BHS AI and worked with all levels in Course Lodge Riding School, Richhill.
Lesley then had a break from riding school work and opened and managed a competition livery yard in Richhill, where she produced several successful young horses and achieved her childhood ambition to compete at the Dublin Horse Show. On selling her show jumpers she then veered towards some dressage riding and did some eventing for a local equestrian enthusiast, experiencing many valuable training sessions with some very well known top Instructors.
Lesley now thrives on ensuring to teach and motivate riders of all ages and experience, and regularly refreshes her teaching skills attending courses and seminars in her field whenever possible.
Lodge Equine Stables (L.E.S.) opened during April 2009, fulfilling a lifetime ambition for enthusiastic qualified Instructor, Lesley Johnston. The riding school was originally located at Mullalelish Road near Richhill in County Armagh.
Due to ongoing expansion, Lodge Equine Stables relocated to 10 Ballyloughan Road, Richhill, County Armagh, BT61 9ND towards the end of 2013 and is grateful for ongoing support from all customers.
Everyone in the family has put their heart and soul into making Lodge Equine Stables a success. The children help feed, groom and muck out while their dad jokes that he goes to work to get a rest.
Lodge Equine Stables has grown so popular with a regular waiting list for some of the classes. It caters for both kids and adults with horses available for all levels. Group or private lessons, hacking, birthday rides, special functions and “Own A Pony Days” which are always accompanied by qualified instructors.
L.E.S. think it’s really important for all would be riders to know as much about the ponies as possible so, as well as our Pony Club Members working hard towards achievement badges in our Riding School, we offer “Own A Pony Days” when we try to include talks and demonstrations from equine enthusiasts eg; Equine Muscle Care, a blacksmith, a Horse Dentist, and accomplished people from the Equestrian world giving a glimpse of work involved and rewarding results.