How to Find Horseback Riding Lessons
Horseback Riding Lessons at a Lesson Barn
A lesson barn is a stable that is primarily focused on teaching children and adults horseback riding lessons. Lesson barns should own quiet, reliable horses suitable for beginners to ride. They should also employ quality instructors who focus on rider safety and are good at explaining riding concepts.
Finding a good horseback riding lesson barn is key when introducing you or your child to a sport that can be enjoyed for many years. Never choose a barn at random. Following this process listed below will help you to find the best lesson barn in your area.
Horseback Riding Lessons Mean Safety FirstWhen searching for a lesson barn, your safety or the safety your child should always come first no matter what. Choose a barn and instructor who values safety above all else and has rules in place to keep riders safe. Always wear a helmet. Most permanent and fatal injuries involving horses are due to head injuries. It just isn't worth it. ALWAYS WEAR YOUR HELMET. There are many other techniques for safe riding and horse handling that an instructor should teach you. With that being said, it is important to be responsible for your own safety and you must know the risks of participating in equestrian (horse-related) sports. Use common sense...horse sense! If something doesn't seem right, be sure to ask. Find Horseback Riding LessonsYour local phonebook is a great place to start to find horseback riding lessons. Take a look at the yellow pages. You may also use references from friends, family or neighbors. Another great resource available in New England is state-specific editions of The Equine Business, Services and Stable Guides. Information is available at www.stableguides.com. Another good option is to call a local tack shop (store selling horse equipment) and ask the staff, who tend to be in the know when it comes to the equestrian community, to recommend a safe and reliable lesson barn. I always use this technique when I move to a new area. Tack shops are listed in the phonebook or on the internet.
Once you have collected your contacts, now the real work begins. DO NOT PICK A BARN AT RANDOM. You must make phone calls to screen the potential lesson barns in your area. There are certain questions you can ask to assess quality.
Questions to Ask
Horseback Riding Lesson BarnsCall the barn owner or instructor and ask these questions: If your child is young, ask: How old children must be to start taking lessons?
It is not uncommon for barns to not offer lessons for children under the age of 6 or 7. The reason is that many children who are this young have a short attention span. If you call several barns in your area and find that your child is too young for lessons, don’t be discouraged. Find other ways to encourage her interest in horses and wait a couple of years until she is old enough to ride. It’s probably better in the long run.
You should also ask: How do you ensure good barn and lesson safety? What are your school horses like? (age and training) How many do you have? What is a typical first lesson like?
Instructors should conscientiously teach students how to properly handle the horse in the barn when the student is not mounted. When the student is in the lesson instructors should use a quiet, reliable school horse. They may start by leading the horse on a lead rope or by lungeing the horse on a long rope in a small circle while the student learns how to properly control the horse. Whether you are brand new to riding or not you should be assessed for skill at the first lesson. First lessons are typically privates, not group lessons so that the instructor can work one on one with the student. They might be a half hour or an hour. Younger kids will probably do better with shorter lessons.
What is your background and credentials?
Ask this to the riding instructor. Most good riding instructors are or were successful riders themselves. Many have been successful horse show competitors or judges. These are useful backgrounds because they often mean that the instructor herself received good instruction that she can pass on to your child. Instructors should have good soft skills also. They should be especially good at explaining themselves and communicating information to you and your child and they should be able to read your child’s feelings and skills, to gauge when to push and when to allow students to stay in their comfort zone. Instructors must be able to use common sense and good judgment so that they will not push students too far beyond their skill levels and into danger. Some instructors may have certifications. These are nice but not necessary. Good firsthand experience and background is more important. Understand that in some cases a head instructor will allow auxiliary instructors to teach beginner lessons. These instructors should have the same type of skills and credentials as discussed above.
What equipment will I need?
Good stables will require that students at least wear a shoe or boot with a heel and an ASTM/SEI Certified helmet designed for riding. Heeled boots help prevent the foot from sliding through the stirrup and getting caught. Certified helmets are built to certain specifications and standards to help prevent head injuries. A barn that does not require heeled shoes and helmets is not a safe barn. These items are a must have for safe riding. If you find yourself at a barn that does not require helmets and proper shoes whenever mounted, do not ride there. Find another barn.
Note: Many barns can lend you a riding helmet at first so that you will not have to purchase one right away. Make sure that the helmet and chin harness is in good working condition and that the harness is properly adjusted. A helmet that is not properly adjusted or has already suffered an impact will not protect your head as well as it should.
I suggest calling anywhere between 3 and 10 lesson stables and asking the questions discussed above. Compare the answers. Which barn gave the best answers? Which one would you trust the most?
Other Considerations
Below are some other considerations. All of these considerations are much lower priorities than finding quality barns lessons and instructors. Price-lesson prices vary greatly geographically and from barn to barn. They might cost anywhere from $25-50 per half hour private with hour long lessons costing more. Facilities-barn facilities should be safe for your child. They don’t need to be fancy, but there should be an enclosed area such as a small paddock, indoor or outdoor riding arena where children can learn to ride. Location-Is the barn conveniently located? Will you be able to make it to lessons on time? Never put location or convenience ahead of more important priorities. Schedule-Do you have any special schedule requirements. For example, do you work during the day and can only take riding lessons at night? Ask to see if night lessons are possible.
A final consideration is, do you like the barn staff and clients personally? Do barn staff seem polite and professional? Would you be comfortable spending lots of time with these folks. Horseback riding is a time consuming activity so you should pick a barn where you will enjoy spending your time!
Making the Decision
If you’ve found a barn you like, schedule a first lesson and observe. Do you like what you see? Is the barn and lesson as it was described to you on the phone? Remember, you are ultimately responsible for your safety. If you see something that doesn’t seem right to you, ask the instructor about it. If you aren’t satisfied with the answer and the situation can’t be resolved. Don’t be afraid to continue your barn search. Finding horseback riding lessons at the right barn is a rewarding experience. Good luck, and I hope you find what you are looking for!
A lesson barn is a stable that is primarily focused on teaching children and adults horseback riding lessons. Lesson barns should own quiet, reliable horses suitable for beginners to ride. They should also employ quality instructors who focus on rider safety and are good at explaining riding concepts.
Finding a good horseback riding lesson barn is key when introducing you or your child to a sport that can be enjoyed for many years. Never choose a barn at random. Following this process listed below will help you to find the best lesson barn in your area.
Horseback Riding Lessons Mean Safety FirstWhen searching for a lesson barn, your safety or the safety your child should always come first no matter what. Choose a barn and instructor who values safety above all else and has rules in place to keep riders safe. Always wear a helmet. Most permanent and fatal injuries involving horses are due to head injuries. It just isn't worth it. ALWAYS WEAR YOUR HELMET. There are many other techniques for safe riding and horse handling that an instructor should teach you. With that being said, it is important to be responsible for your own safety and you must know the risks of participating in equestrian (horse-related) sports. Use common sense...horse sense! If something doesn't seem right, be sure to ask. Find Horseback Riding LessonsYour local phonebook is a great place to start to find horseback riding lessons. Take a look at the yellow pages. You may also use references from friends, family or neighbors. Another great resource available in New England is state-specific editions of The Equine Business, Services and Stable Guides. Information is available at www.stableguides.com. Another good option is to call a local tack shop (store selling horse equipment) and ask the staff, who tend to be in the know when it comes to the equestrian community, to recommend a safe and reliable lesson barn. I always use this technique when I move to a new area. Tack shops are listed in the phonebook or on the internet.
Once you have collected your contacts, now the real work begins. DO NOT PICK A BARN AT RANDOM. You must make phone calls to screen the potential lesson barns in your area. There are certain questions you can ask to assess quality.
Questions to Ask
Horseback Riding Lesson BarnsCall the barn owner or instructor and ask these questions: If your child is young, ask: How old children must be to start taking lessons?
It is not uncommon for barns to not offer lessons for children under the age of 6 or 7. The reason is that many children who are this young have a short attention span. If you call several barns in your area and find that your child is too young for lessons, don’t be discouraged. Find other ways to encourage her interest in horses and wait a couple of years until she is old enough to ride. It’s probably better in the long run.
You should also ask: How do you ensure good barn and lesson safety? What are your school horses like? (age and training) How many do you have? What is a typical first lesson like?
Instructors should conscientiously teach students how to properly handle the horse in the barn when the student is not mounted. When the student is in the lesson instructors should use a quiet, reliable school horse. They may start by leading the horse on a lead rope or by lungeing the horse on a long rope in a small circle while the student learns how to properly control the horse. Whether you are brand new to riding or not you should be assessed for skill at the first lesson. First lessons are typically privates, not group lessons so that the instructor can work one on one with the student. They might be a half hour or an hour. Younger kids will probably do better with shorter lessons.
What is your background and credentials?
Ask this to the riding instructor. Most good riding instructors are or were successful riders themselves. Many have been successful horse show competitors or judges. These are useful backgrounds because they often mean that the instructor herself received good instruction that she can pass on to your child. Instructors should have good soft skills also. They should be especially good at explaining themselves and communicating information to you and your child and they should be able to read your child’s feelings and skills, to gauge when to push and when to allow students to stay in their comfort zone. Instructors must be able to use common sense and good judgment so that they will not push students too far beyond their skill levels and into danger. Some instructors may have certifications. These are nice but not necessary. Good firsthand experience and background is more important. Understand that in some cases a head instructor will allow auxiliary instructors to teach beginner lessons. These instructors should have the same type of skills and credentials as discussed above.
What equipment will I need?
Good stables will require that students at least wear a shoe or boot with a heel and an ASTM/SEI Certified helmet designed for riding. Heeled boots help prevent the foot from sliding through the stirrup and getting caught. Certified helmets are built to certain specifications and standards to help prevent head injuries. A barn that does not require heeled shoes and helmets is not a safe barn. These items are a must have for safe riding. If you find yourself at a barn that does not require helmets and proper shoes whenever mounted, do not ride there. Find another barn.
Note: Many barns can lend you a riding helmet at first so that you will not have to purchase one right away. Make sure that the helmet and chin harness is in good working condition and that the harness is properly adjusted. A helmet that is not properly adjusted or has already suffered an impact will not protect your head as well as it should.
I suggest calling anywhere between 3 and 10 lesson stables and asking the questions discussed above. Compare the answers. Which barn gave the best answers? Which one would you trust the most?
Other Considerations
Below are some other considerations. All of these considerations are much lower priorities than finding quality barns lessons and instructors. Price-lesson prices vary greatly geographically and from barn to barn. They might cost anywhere from $25-50 per half hour private with hour long lessons costing more. Facilities-barn facilities should be safe for your child. They don’t need to be fancy, but there should be an enclosed area such as a small paddock, indoor or outdoor riding arena where children can learn to ride. Location-Is the barn conveniently located? Will you be able to make it to lessons on time? Never put location or convenience ahead of more important priorities. Schedule-Do you have any special schedule requirements. For example, do you work during the day and can only take riding lessons at night? Ask to see if night lessons are possible.
A final consideration is, do you like the barn staff and clients personally? Do barn staff seem polite and professional? Would you be comfortable spending lots of time with these folks. Horseback riding is a time consuming activity so you should pick a barn where you will enjoy spending your time!
Making the Decision
If you’ve found a barn you like, schedule a first lesson and observe. Do you like what you see? Is the barn and lesson as it was described to you on the phone? Remember, you are ultimately responsible for your safety. If you see something that doesn’t seem right to you, ask the instructor about it. If you aren’t satisfied with the answer and the situation can’t be resolved. Don’t be afraid to continue your barn search. Finding horseback riding lessons at the right barn is a rewarding experience. Good luck, and I hope you find what you are looking for!
