Liz Burgess has been my riding instructor since February 2009.  It is my opinion that her teaching abilities are first class.   Liz always has a calm, patient and professional manner even when dealing with the most difficult horses and riders alike.  

Her friendly personality and brilliant sense of humour can put the most nervous of riders at ease.  I feel safe and secure when being taught by Liz, as I know that the horse and riders safety are always her top priority.  Liz will work with you at your own pace, gently encouraging and not pushing you to the next level.

I always look forward to her classroom lessons, she manages to teach you the important information but has a skill of making it interesting and enjoyable at the same time.  Her knowledge of the equestrian world is limitless and she will always give you a clear explanation of what is required and why it is necessary. 

The tuition that I have received from Liz in the last nine months has made vast improvements in my riding abilities, my confidence around horses has grown and it is all thanks to a fantastic talented teacher.  Keep up the good work Liz!

Claire Wood

09/11/2009

At last, a riding school that cares about it's horses as animals and not as money making machines. The riding instructors listen to what you want from your lessons and help you achieve it. Hacking is great too!

Emma Rochester (31/0CT/2008)

THANK YOU SO MUCH WILLOW FARM!

I have been riding with Willow for about 6 months now, from a complete novice's point of view the teaching has instilled me with confidence and is extremely effective in terms of my skill aquisition. The pace of lessons is good in terms of developing and embedding skills whilst chellenging to move forward. The thing I enjoy the most, apart from the amazing sense of achievement I get from mastering a new skill, is the variety of lessons and teaching techniques.

I have had musical formation riding, jumping, group, individual and lunge lessons, not to mention the hacks out in the beautiful Kent countryside. Liz, the riding school manager, is particularly excellent as the main teacher but I have also had some very good lessons from the other staff. Sharon in the shop was extremely helpful in kitting me out and ensuring the kit I bought was right for me to enable me to learn to ride safely. She had excellent product knowledge and I was particularly impressed that she didn't necessarily get me to buy the most expensive kit, just the kit that was right for me and my wallet. She is also a great laugh and very personable. We spent a very happy hour getting all the pre-riding kit sorted out before I ventured into the riding school. The horses are brilliant. There are a great selection for every shape and size of rider.

Even as a large man, I have had the choice of a selection of horses to suit my ability, getting more forward going as I havce progressed. The horses are extremely well cared for and presented and definitely seem to enjoy the lessons and hacks as much as the riders! Willow Farm does of course a fantastic job with the horse rescue side of their operation and are to be commended on the number of horses they have helped and the care they provide to horses who need it. Going to Willow Farm is one of the highlights of my week, its great for stress busting, general fitness and they do a fantastic bacon sandwich!

Thanks Willow Farm!

David Burgess  ( Nov 8th 2008)

Here are some more from the TouchMedway site.....

Gentle and Kind I had bought a mare for my daughter who was extremely nervous and reared up occasionally. I took her to Roy who was gentle and patient with her, 2 weeks later she had shook away her nerves and is a relaxed pony and now my daughter rides , hack and competes regulary . Thanks Roy is now schooling a 4 year old for me. Review Date: 07/01/2008 ---Tabatha W

Fantastic Riding School : I have been riding at Willow Farm since it opened in April 2007, and cannot express what a wonderful place it is. I really enjoy the Musical Dressage run by Liz and always look forward to it greatly. Liz always makes it good fun, whilst still improving your riding. Roy's lessons on a Sunday afternoon, are definitley not to be missed, and although I am exhausted by the end of it, I always leave with a huge smile on my face. I would recommend Willow Farm to anybody. If you don't ride you can still enjoy a friendly chat with Sharon in the shop whilst having a coffee and watching the lessons in the huge indoor school. Review Date: 15/11/2007 ---- Matthew H

Great riding school  ! I finally got the chance to get back in the saddle after a protracted period without the opportunity. What a great stables this is. As an experienced, but rusting rider, I was apprehenisve about an assessment after such a long gap. Liz was sympathetic to my plight and had me making transitions from halt to canter without my stirrups after about 10mins! Since then I've been out hacking and replenished all my rotting riding kit at the shop. Standard of horse care is very high, the highest I've seen in a commercial stables. Indoor school is an excellent size and the local hacking is lovely. The only downside to this is that I can't get there as often as I'd like. Review Date: 12/11/2007 --- Lally B

Riding Lessons for Children: Having taken my horse mad daughter to several riding establishments over the years I was very excited to hear that a new horse riding centre was opening in Faversham, Kent. As well as being a riding school, Willow Farm Equestrian & Saddlery Ltd is an extensive equestrian shop, stocking everything you need, from childrens' gifts to riding accessories and extensive horse supplies, whilst remaining a friendly, fun and most importantly, safe environment to ride. The riding arena is undercover and the best I have seen so far, with a small cafe which caters for Birthday Parties or just a cup of tea to keep you warm whilst watching the budding young riders. My daughter is happy and excited to ride and is challenged every time, making the whole experience fun and from a parent point of view...... "value for money". The feedback is forthcoming and not "stiff and starchy" as so many horsey places can be...particularly if you are not a rider yourself. My daughter's teacher Liz, is full of enthusiasm and obviously enjoys working with children and it shows when she communicates with them, with a "let's make learning fun" approach. She is easy to talk to and introduces many new ideas and events. A recent highlight for us was a "Musical" ride which I think even the horses enjoyed! I would definitely recommend Willow Farm to anyone considering riding, grown up or little!!! Give it a go and I know you'll be back!! Review Date: 05/11/2007 ---Zoe W

Liz Great instructing skills, natural and down to earth. Being a bit nervous and inexperienced, I found Liz gave me heaps of confidence and had me stretching myself without realising it! Loves the horses and knows her stuff. Liz Burgess I hadn't been on a horse for about 16 years so was quite nervous - but Liz is not only an excellent teacher but she has a great rappour with her students - young ones and over 30's like myself!! The horses are all really loved and cared for too which is the main priority for the staff. Sharon and Roy and the team are dedicated to the welfare of these beautiful animals which are often not cared for in other places. I tried a few lessons at another large well known stables not far from Willow Farm and I left in disgust at the poor teaching techniques and attitude to the horses. I cannot recommend Liz highly enough. Review Date: 24/05/2007

Jo E: Excellent Instructor I can vouch for Liz Burgess as an brilliant instructor, really great for building your confidence. Comes highly recommended! ---Helen W Confidence Boosting I visited Willow Farm having not been anywhere near a horse for about 5 years and not had a lesson for 23 years! I was nervous but Liz chose a horse for me that was well behaved. I found Liz to be an excellent instructor and by the end of the lesson I had even got enough confidence to try a little jump. I will be making the 2 hour journey again in the near future to have another lesson at this friendly and well equipped. Jackie M Great facilities Found this riding school through this website and thought I'd pop along and take a look. The facilities are very good and the horses are kept in great condition. The staff made me feel very welcome. The addition of a well stocked and reasonably priced on-site shop is a real bonus! Looking forward to moving my horse in very soon. Thank you Sharon and Liz for giving me the 'guided tour'! Really appreciate it. Jack. Review Date: 14/05/2007 Excellent hack out Liz took my daughter and I out on a hack. She chose excellent mounts for us and took us on a really good route. The new yard has excellent facilities, a really well stocked shop and a good cup of coffee! My daughter's already booked in for a lesson in the indoor school to work on her jumping. We're looking forward to spending a lot of time there. Review Date: 14/05/2007

Feedback from a livery customer :A welcoming atmosphere greets you at Willow Farm. The horses are part of the family and their welfare takes top priority. I have learnt more during my time at Willow Farm than at any other riding establishment. Liz Burgess is an excellent instructor who encourages you to push the boundaries and pursue perfection in your riding ability. The combination of a large indoor school and an outside school also means you can ride happily in all weathers. The shop is well stocked with knowledgeable staff - perhaps the only downside of livery at Willow Farm is that you are tempted to pop into the shop each time you visit your horse!!