Riding School Frequently Asked Questions
How much are lessons?
Our half hour lessons on a horse or on the simulator are £41.
How old do I have to be.
We start lessons at 8 years old but offer pony rides for 2-7 and lead rides for 4 and over.
Is there an upper age limit.
No, in fact horse riding is a great way for all ages to keep fit. Equestrians often make up the oldest athletes at the Olympics and it's not uncommon to see riders into their 60s and beyond still competing at this high level.
Do I have to go on Robohorse first?
If you want riding lessons here then you must go on the Robohorse our simulator first. If you want to just have a go on the horse then you can book a lead ride in walk, this comes with someone leading your horse but no tuition.
Why do I need to go on the Robohorse?
This is so that we can either assess your current ability or teach you the basics before trying out the real thing. If you are a complete beginner the simulator allows you to try out what you have to do so that when you try it out on the real horse he will understand you a bit better. If you are experienced the simulator will check your aids are correct and also help you correct and positional errors you may have. Or simulator does all the work up to Grand Prix!!
Do you do group sessions?
We currently teach all our clients on a 1-1 basis (private lessons).
When are you open?
We are only closed on Mondays, we start lessons at 10am weekdays and 9:30 weekends. Tuesdays and Wednesdays we teach lessons till 7pm. To see a full calendar of what is available you will need to register on our booking system.
Do I have to book a course?
No, with our online booking system you can come as often as you like as long as there is a space.
How long does it take to learn the basics?
It depends!
It depends on the student's age. Are they a small child? Middle schooler? Adult? It depends on how driven they are. Are they just taking lessons to make mom happy? Or is this their passion? Of course there are a multitude of other factors as well - athletic ability, natural talent, maturity, ability to follow directions and retain information, hours spent in the saddle, and quality of instruction are just a few examples.
You wouldn't expect to be a great guitar player in just a few lessons, would you? Learning to be a great or even good horse rider takes time also. I once was told that it takes about 1,000 hours of time in the saddle to truly feel comfortable with any movement a horse may take. It's the feeling of being "one with the horse". The book "Outliers: The Story of Success" by Malcolm Gladwell states that it takes 10,000 hours of practice to become an expert at anything. If the average student takes one lesson a week and rides 30-45 minutes during that lesson, then they will have about 40 hours of saddle time during one year. That's a lot of lessons to acquire 1,000 hours! The more you ride the better you will get but most of all just enjoy your equestrian journey.
Is there a weight limit?
Our horses have a weight limit of 11 stone and Robohorse our simulator has a weight limit of 15 stone.
How do I book?
Simply register on our online booking system on the riding school page of the website.