Belle Wood Equestrian Centre - Pickering, Ontario

Alison S.

Our daughter has been riding at Belle Wood for 2.5 years and loves it. She has gained skill, confidence and community. As parents, we are thrilled with the attention to safety, the focus on creating good habits, and the responsibility of caring for the horses. The opportunities of low pressure shows and clinics have been amazing!

Kiru S.

I wish I read some of these reviews before booking a trial session for my nephew. He was so excited about horses his whole life and I took him here for his birthday to try a lesson. He got really scared of the horse and the dogs that were walking around. I asked a few times to send the dogs out to decrease the anxiety but it didn't happen. The whole thing was overwhelming for him and he refused to ride the horse.

The girl who helped us with grooming the horse was so kind and understood he was not too comfortable yet and made it easy for him to get close and brush the horse but the lady helping to ride the horse didn't try different strategies to help him. She basically said you can't be scared instead of understanding he was a small kid with a big horse and these fears can be natural.

We had left before the lesson even started and she refused to give us a refund. We had asked for at least a partial or credit to come try again at a later time, but our email has been ignored with no proper explanation as to why a refund can not be given. It really sucks to have paid almost $90 for just touching a horse. Money doesn't come easily to so many of us and it's sad that businesses like this just exploit the experience. Extremely disappointed with how this was dealt.

Anne M. M.

I have been really enjoying the Belle Wood horse show series. It's a wonderful grassroots schooling series that has tons of different classes and opportunities, at an affordable price 👍

Laurel H. W.

My daughter rides at Belle Wood and loves it! Her coach is amazing, very detailed and truly cares about her and her success. She has learned so much, and it clearly shows in her riding skills. The owners are on site and very involved, they really care about their horses and creating a welcoming community for all the riders and their families.

Google U.

I deeply regret enrolling my child in this horseback riding facility. My child was once filled with excitement and joy for horseback riding, but the rude and unprofessional management completely shattered that experience.

From the beginning, their lack of clear communication and misleading policies made things frustrating. Their PDF of policies does not mention anything about sick leave, yet they still expect full payment if a child misses a lesson due to illness. Instead of addressing concerns professionally, they misjudge and assume people won’t pay, even when we were happy to—if only they had answered questions properly.

They also sent an overcharged invoice, and when I asked for clarification, both the owner (Belinda) and staff responded with extreme rudeness and hostility. They judge people unfairly, demand money even when no lessons were attended for a month, and show no willingness to communicate professionally.

But the worst part? My child had formed a beautiful bond with one specific horse, and because of this facility’s behavior, that bond is now completely gone. The place that was supposed to nurture my child's love for riding instead broke their heart and crushed their enthusiasm.

I have never encountered such an unprofessional, discouraging, and disorganized business. If you’re looking for a place that truly cares about young riders and their journey, stay far away from this one!!!

Faye A.

Our daughter rides at Belle Wood and is very happy there. The care given to both the horse and rider is clearly evident in everything they do. There is a real community feel for both the rider and the parents, it is a very welcoming environment. Well done Belle Wood!!

Lori

Wonderful Barn - Wonderful Horses - Wonderful People. My 11yr old daughter has been riding at Bellewood for over a year and has learned so much from the coaches. She also has learned a lot about how to look after the horses and stable management through the volunteer program. Bellewood Equestrian staff and clients alike make it feel like family. 😁

Skylar

Been with BelleWood for almost 3 show seasons, I love all the different divisions and how inclusive they are! I love that me and my sisters can all go to one show and do what we love!