Testimonials for the Ian Stark Equestrian Centre

Testimonials

Huge thank you to all the team at ISEC and congratulations on such a… successful 1st hunter trial. For a hunter trial the jumps were all BE standard, placed to encourage good riding, undulations taught balance and location allowed for great spectator viewing, you even sorted out the weather man who had not been playing ball prior to the event. Thanks to all the fence judges, start box and timekeepers for giving up all of your Saturday just to allow us to have some fun, cant wait till the next one……
Fy xx (Facebook, March, 2017)

A few facebook comments following our Hunter Trial on 25th March 2017;
  • Fantastic xc course so pleased to have this on our doorstep. Well done Tim and team busy and smiling all day. So great to have such a professional course and jumps (Fyonnah)
  • Totally fabulous!! You will be balloting next time!! (Charlotte)
  • Fantastic day, thank you! Lovely course and such a nice friendly atmosphere xx (Rachel)
  • Super day. Well done all the team and volunteers at ISEC (Christine)
  • Great day, so well organised thank you to all that made it such a joy to take part in (Nikki)
  • Fantastic Day!! (Robyn)
  • Fab day – look forward to many more x (Catriona)
  • Fantastic day, thank you very much xx (Gill)
  • Thanks to all for a great day today – the Scottish sunshine even decided to show up for the pony party (Hannah)

Hi Katie, Can you pass on my thanks to all involved in the event on Saturday. It well organised, a super course and rode really well – it’s only my 3rd hunter trial on Casper and even more delighted that we came 4th in the Senior Novice Class. Thanks again and looking forward to the next hunter trials!
Kind regards, Jayne Rogerson & Casper (March, 2017)

Thank you for a lovely day yesterday at the Hunter Trial. Everyone amazingly friendly and gorgeous weather
Helen (March, 2017)

On my recent travels to the Borders I was given a voucher for a riding lesson at your centre. I just wanted to say how great Tom and Nicole (one of your students) were. Both of them were lovely and very friendly. As I hadn’t been on a horse in 8 years, Tom was great in providing re-fresh tips and along with Nicole, both were brilliant at reassuring me and checking I was comfortable and ready before commencing trotting or cantering. Thank you to both of them who made it so much fun. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I’ll definitely be looking up a centre here in Brisbane.
Sarah (January 2017)

 

Hi Katie, Please could you pass on a huge thank you to everyone for making our coaching day today such a success. So lucky to have the use of such a fab venue, the surface is brilliant, variety of jump exceptional and of course most important if all, lovely loos, food and people!!
Rose Dudgeon, British Eventing Training Clinic October 2016

 

Dear Katie, I wanted to drop you a short e-mail to thank you and all at ISEC for the wonderful day at Petplan on Saturday.  It was our first time at the centre and we were hugely impressed by the organisation of the whole event, not to mention the amazingly clean loos (and copious toilet rolls) and the very welcome hot and cold food and drinks from the café.  The e-mail you sent out to competitors was also extremely useful.  We will certainly be back again!  Thanks again,With Kindest Regards, Alison (Petplan Equine Area Festival, October 2016)

 

Dear Katie and Team, Just a note to thank you for a great competition at the weekend, which my husband and daughter thoroughly enjoyed.  It was so well organised, ran to time and the fastest results posting EVER!   Please pass on our appreciation to everyone on the day who helped make things run so smoothly (particularly the young lady who was on door duty during the Medium bronze test … one rider was very rude to her at the end of the test and it was completely uncalled for).
Kind regards, Jenn Mackie. (Petplan Equine Area Festival, October 2016)

Hi, thank you all for a very well organised, friendly  Pet Plan………..   the fact that you processed the results so quickly and accurately, and had sensible prize givings, meant we could all take part and get on the long road home asap….
Kind regards, Joanna (Petplan Equine Area Festival, October 2016)

 

 

We had a lovely day thanks to all the friendly helpers. Our horse enjoyed it the weather was great and the coffee was good Alwyn (Facebook, Petplan Equine Area Festival, October 2016)
Had a great day out and everything was organised brilliantly – well done everybody involved. Karen (Facebook, Petplan Equine Area Festival, October 2016)
Well done to team ISEC. Brilliantly organised and makes such a difference to get your scores quickly and get home:).. Wendy (Facebook, Petplan Equine Area Festival, October 2016)

Hi Katie, Just a thank you for organising the event this week end, we had a really lovely time, looking forward to catching the photos when they are available. It was our first time over your way, the arenas were great to ride and the stewards most helpful and friendly!
Kind regards, Caroline (Petplan Equine Area Festival, October 2016)

Hello Katie, can we just say a big thank you from the Tynedale Pony Club for a wonderful weekend at Grassroots Championships, the venue was great, hospitality fantastic and organisation brilliant.   THANK YOU XX, Lesley (August, 2016)

Hi Katie, I am from the Cleveland Hunt Pony Club and was at the Grassroots Championships at the weekend. First of all I would like to thank you all for hosting the event. We thought the facilities were fantastic and everyone from your centre was very helpful and incredibly friendly. You all did a brilliant job!
Many Thanks, Pat Carr (August, 2016)

Good Morning Katie, Just to say a big thank you from the Strathblane & District team members, parents and supporters to you and the ISEC team for running a great weekend.  As it was a new Championship we weren’t quite sure what to expect, but everyone really enjoyed themselves and put their heart into the competition.  I was delighted with how our lot rode and they all went home encouraged and inspired to move on to greater things.  If there was one regret it was not winning a prize for their stables.  On Sunday ever more elaborate  ideas were being discussed about what decorations they could prepare for next year! We were particularly impressed that you managed to push the show jumping through so quickly.  I hope other team jumping organisers took note,  I have never known that run substantially ahead of time before.  What a relief, with such a big class.
Very many thanks and best wishes, Mary Dunlop Assistant District Comissioner Strathblane & District Branch of the Pony Club (August, 2016)

Hi Katie, Just to say thank you for running the Regional Championships, I am sorry I wasn’t able to attend, but our team had a lovely time and really felt that they were at a championship event.
Thanks again, Pam (August 2016)

Fantastic, just returned home from a fantastic Pony Club Grassroots Championships, brilliantly organised event x
Emma, Facebook (August, 2016)

Would just like to say a huge thank you to all at ISEC for doing such a great job with the grassroots show jumping today. The event was superbly organised and run and we all had a great time. Look forward to seeing you again soon.
Cooper SMB (August, 2016)

Dear Jenny I must firstly apologise for not coming to thank you personally for a very well run and enjoyable competition. I forgot in the excitement of the day! It was perfect for Rosie and I to have our second competition this year – only our 2nd experience of jumping indoors. We both had fun. Please thank all your helpers for their hard work and hopefully we will return soon.
Kind Regards, Liz & Rosie!! (July, 2016)

Hi Katie & Jenny, I just wanted to thank you for a very well presented venue and welcome on Monday 11th, it was much appreciated. Hope to see you soon. Kind regards
Lorna McElhaney, Secretary EDRC, Training (East of Scotland) for BRC Area 1 (April 2016)

Hello! I would just like to say another thank you to the staff that were running the Arena Event in Sat. It was a brill day and you all (especially Ian!) went above and beyond to help with my rather naughty pony! The atmosphere was fantastic and helped me feel a lot less embarrassed x
Carrie (March 2016)

 

 

Hello Katie, Please pass on my thanks to the ISEC team for the Blyth Tait weekend. Buff & I had a fantastic time jumping & learnt a lot, as Blyth is a brilliant teacher. Watching all the lessons over the 2 days was such a great experience
Thanks again, Alison ( February 2016)

 

Thank you to everyone for putting on the Harry Meade Clinic. Good fun days and great opportunity for everyone. Weather did its best to spoil things, but I suppose it is December in Scotland!
Best wishes, Rose (December 2015)

 

Dear Ian & Jenny, Thank you for organising the brilliant lesson with Harry Meade on Saturday; Nicola and her young horse both learned a lot and we appreciated that opportunity.  Given the weather, we bolted for home without saying our thank you’s.  I hope the floods are subsiding with you – what a weekend!
Best wishes, Anna Broad (December 2015)

 

Jedburgh Grammar wanted to say a huge thank you to all at ISEC for their support.???
The small team of just 8 kids did us proud.Champions in the 90 SJ team going from 6th place in the first round to 1st place in the second round against 44 teams. Samantha Martin took 7th place as an individual in the dressage.Ellie Meldrum took 4th place in the  80 cm SJ as an individual.
So thank you all, very very much ????
Kindest regards, Wendy Meldrum  (October, 2015)

 

 

Morning  Katie, Just wanted to say a huge thank you for being so accommodating and helpful with me to allow me to take part in the RoR 3 Phase Challenge at the weekend, we managed to get 2nd place and so have qualified for Floors next year so it was well worth the trip.Your facility is lovely and there was such a friendly welcoming atmosphere, it looked like you had a good turn out for all classes and the weather remained kind.
Thank you once again. Kind regards,
Elizabeth Laurie (July, 2015)

 

 

Thanks to all for another great show jumping day…so easy going and friendly!! Worth getting caught in a hail shower when hacking home with our rosette in my pocket!!
Alma Croft (June 2015)

 

 

Katie, Please pass on my thanks to Jenny and the team for a fantastic camp last week. It seems to me that friendly hospitality and top class instruction is a winning combination!The instruction from Catherine, Ian and Steph were all superb. We also enjoyed some great hacking and a night out with our fellow campers. The B&B at Lindean was great with more Borders hospitality including a freshly baked scone on arrival and great accommodation for the horses. Overall a great experience; once again many thanks!
Gordon (June, 2015)

Nice to be back competing today, thanks as always for an organised and enjoyable event.
Karen Gillie (June 2015)

 

Thanks to Jenny, Catherine, Ian and Steph for a great camp this wee…k. Met a lovely bunch of people and their equally lovely horses. Now just to put what we learnt into practice!
 Valerie Sneddon (Following Summer Camp, June 2015)

 

Many thanks to all at ISEC for a fantastic couple of days at summer …camp. Sid and I had a great time . It was just what my young horse needed. I feel that we both learned a lot and had fun as well. Couldn’t ask for more!
Marion Hutcheson (Following Summer Camp, June 2015)

 

Hi Jenny,
I wanted to say another huge thank you to you and your team for helping to make our Children’s Day event a massive success. Everyone had a great day and I cannot thank you enough. Louise’s cakes were excellent and we have only heard positive feedback. Zorro and Arnie were the highlight of the day, and I cannot thank you and Tom enough for your tireless pony rides – all the kids had a brilliant time.
Thanks again.
Kind regards, Jenny (Mainetti, May 2015)

Stephs XC clinic was brilliant tonight , both my girls came home delighted , it asked questions of both ponies and girls but they went great, Steph is brilliant with them ! Thanks again
Anne Morris (Feb 2015)

 

Had a great time with my 3 using your cross country school! All the girls went really well and its been a great start to the eventing season! Thank-you very much
Louise Clark (Feb 2015)

Thank you Ian for a brilliant clinic this morning. Lots of challenging questions and I was thrilled with how the new boy coped and progressed. When’s the next clinic?!
Jane Clark (Feb 2015)

A fun filled hack this morning, dorland and tam were great rides for… Hel and I…Thanks to Tom, Ashleigh and ciara for their hospitality.
Hannah Campbell (March 2015)

Just a quick message to say thank you for the fantastic training with Katie Jerram last week. My mare and I had a great time
Katie Aitken (March 2015

Dear Ian, Jenny & Katie,
Thank you Ian for Saturdays training session, I enjoyed it and its given me lots to work on, and was very nice of you to be encouraging on Sunday at the Arena Event. I am so lucky with Overlaw he is my fairytale story. Thank you also jenny & Katie. The competitions you have organised have been great. It is a wonderful venue and you are all friendly and encouraging. You all deserve the centre to be the great success it is. Many thanks Elizabeth Fletcher – February 2015

Hi, I was at the arena eventing yesterday and noticed someone was taking photos but I forgot to ask who they were and do they have a website?  I had a great day yesterday and it was well worth the 2.5 hour trip down.  Thanks to everyone.
– Claire Johnstone (March 2015)
Just to say a BIG THANK YOU for today’s clinic with Jane HR.  It was FAB.  I have thanked Jenny and told her how much I enjoyed it and I am sure everybody else did as well.  I hope it was a HUGE success for the centre.  Not sure how to write a testimonial on the web page so just wanted you to know I thought it rated at least 12 out of 10!!
– Trish Lockhart (July 2014)
I just wanted to say a big thank you to all who work at ISEC and organised the arena event yesterday.
I was the most disorganised mother (some children are just unlucky!) and arrived having had to change vehicles to get there, without Ellie’s Kit.
You loaned us a back protector, allowed her to ride in a sweatshirt as no jacket and your delightful French student loaded Ellie her jodhpur boots!! and not once was I or Ellie made to feel uncomfortable by anyone.
You have a lovely and welcoming set up and we will be back!
Thank you again for being so understanding and helpful.
– Emma Bryce (June 2014)

 

“Dear Jenny, Tommy, Sandra (and the French girl!)
Thank you so so much to you all for allowing our group of girls to come and put all the skills they have learnt during our equestrian club lessons over the last year into practice.
It was really kind of you-we all had an absolute ball and the weather on Friday made for the perfect day.
Tommy-putting our Head Teacher on a horse called ‘Numpty’ was definitely the main highlight of the visit for Gillian and I!
It was lovely to see the children enjoying themselves so much and even the non riders of the group managed fine, thanks to Sandra and Tommy putting them at ease.
Many thanks once again on behalf of everyone at Morebattle Equestrian Club.
Wishing you all a lovely summer. ”
– Nicola Gibb (class teacher)

“The proprietors and staff at the Ian Stark Equestrian Centre could not have been more accommodating. The facilities they provided us with were excellent and the whole day was enhanced by being held at such an accessible Borders location amidst beautiful countryside.”
– S. Arnold, BHS Scotland

“this facility is so needed, just can’t wait!”
– Aileen Firth

“No place like it! Major improvements being made by the Stark’s. Looking forward to our next visit.”
– Robert Kellerhouse

“Took my daughter today just like I always do when on holiday in Hawick. She absolutely.loved cantering over the hills thank you so much and to buster the pony “
– Kirsty Mackintosh

“Amazing people, amazing horses in an fantastic setting, cant wait for the new school too”
– Kerry Hudson-Brookfield

“Fantastic”
– Sarah Brodie