Get in the Saddle! Start Horse Riding Lessons Now

How to Find the Right Trainer and Stable, at Every Level. Find the best place to take horse riding lessons, whether you are a beginner, intermediate, or advanced rider looking to compete.

We’re so excited to tackle the topic of horse riding lessons today at BTB, as it is something we are always getting asked about, from horsey friends and non-riders alike. At every level,  matching with the right trainer for your horse riding lessons is essential. For those just getting started, you want to find a great stable where you can learn ground skills and have a 360 degree introduction to horses. But for those further along in their equestrian journey, finding the best place to take horse riding lessons will be the determining factor in whether or not you and your horse plateau or whether you both qualify for the horse show that has always been your dream to compete in.

Horse Riding Lessons: For the Kids

While some “horse people” will put their toddlers up on a horse, a general rule of thumb is that children can begin horse riding lessons between 5 and 7 years of age. The right age to start riding really comes down to a child’s maturity, attention span, and willingness to ride. A stable that offers horse riding lessons to kids at that age should have instructors who have experience with children, compassion and patience, and a strong sense of safety, which will be a big part of of your child’s horse riding lesson instruction.

Horse Riding Lessons: For Beginner Riders

Congratulations – you’ve made the decision to start taking horse riding lessons. How exciting! Now it’s time to find the perfect stable for you to embark upon your journey. Horseback riding is a commitment, and as a beginner, we would recommend taking a horse riding lesson one time a week. Call a few stables that are local to you, and ask to take a tour. You’ll be able to watch lessons in progress,. You can even ask in advance to come by at a time when beginner lessons are taking place, so you can get a sense of what your own experience will be like. Be sure to ask fellow students what they like about taking horse riding lessons at that stable. Ask to meet the instructors who could potentially be a good fit for someone just starting out.

While visiting a potential stable where you want to take horseback riding lessons, make sure you spend time looking at the horses as much as you do the instructors. Do they seem well cared for, happy? Are the stalls clean and lined with a fluffy bed of shavings? Do they seem skittish, aggressive, or happy to be handled by grooms and riders? Are common sense safety guidelines being followed?

Most stables will offer an introductory horse riding lesson pack. You’ll be able to buy a set of 2 to 5 horse riding lessons, usually at a slight discount, to see if you really enjoy it before committing to bigger future purchases. Most stables will also offer a selection of helmets to wear during your lesson, and your instructor can fit you properly at your first horse riding lesson. Once you’re fully committed (and trust us, happens faster than you can imagine) take the time to visit your local tack shop or online equestrian shop and purchase two key essentials – a helmet, and riding gloves. Breeches and other equestrian clothes can come later.

Horse Riding Lessons: For Intermediate Riders

You’ve mastered the basics, and might be time to move on from that great instructor who gave you a solid foundation. Before you move stables to take horse riding lessons somewhere else, speak to the management at your current stable – perhaps there is another instructor that you can graduate too who will help you advance into jumping?

Another thing to keep in mind is the quality of the stable horses. Your current stable’s lesson horses were clearly great for helping you learn the basics – they were even-tempered, sometimes slow-pokes. But are these really the horses that will take you to the next level? While it is always good to ride a bevy of different horses during your riding lessons – from the slow, to the unbalanced, the fast, horse that fall in or out or don’t use the back end – but sometimes to grow and advance you need better horses who know what they are doing. From basic dressage movements to navigating your first course, riding on competent well-trained horses will help you become confident as you advance.

Talk to other riders at your current stable – the horse world is small, and they may have some great personal recommendations to offer, or friends who train at other stables. 

When it is time to begin meeting with new stables for your horse back riding lessons, take a moment to genuinely consider what your goals are, and what you need out of your future instructor. Be sure to be vocal about the fact that you feel you may have plateaued, and you want to accomplish x, y, and z by a certain point in time. 

Horse Riding Lessons: Competing at the Next Level

Like any sport, if you want to to compete at the next level, much of it will come down to commitment. How many times a week can you commit to training with a strong instructor? How many times a week are you riding? Are you willing and ready to buy or lease your own horse? What other activities or expenses in your life might you be willing to put on the back burner in order to spend more time and money on horseback riding?

As you’ve been riding for some time, you’ll certainly have a network of horsey friends to ask for personal recommendations. About six months before you think you may be ready for a change, be sure to put that network to work. Snagging a spot on an in-demand trainer’s schedule is tougher than it sounds, and you’ll want to make sure others think of you if a popular trainer has openings to take on new students.

Undoubtedly, there will be a star show stable in your area. What is it like? Is the culture a proper fit? How many horses board there, and will the busy trainers give you and your horse’s needs the time you both deserve? Who else does your future instructor train, and in which show circuits are they competing? Does your future instructor take her riders to compete down in Wellington in the winter?

By now, you’ll know what tough questions to ask when finding your next stable and instructor. Be sure to put yourself first – just because a certain show stable may seem like the ideal and obvious answer, it has to live up to the hype and be the right fit for you.

Horse Riding Lessons: Getting Back in the Saddle

Finding the stable to take horse riding lessons when you are ready to get back in the saddle requires research and consideration. Whether its been 5 years, 10 years or 15 years since you’ve last taken lessons, it is extremely important to analyze what your goals are and what you want to accomplish. Did you own or lease a horse as a kid, and now that college is over and you’re settled in your job, you want to pick back up after you left off? Chances are you’ll want to find a stable that offers horse riding lessons and the opportunity to actively participate in your mount’s well-being. From grabbing him in the paddock, to a thorough grooming, to hosing him off and taking him to graze after, it is these bonding moments that you may enjoy almost as much as being in the saddle. 

For those who may have lost a bit of confidence along the way, pairing up with an instructor who is respectful of your boundaries is important. As you are meeting with different places that offer horse riding lessons, be vocal – never be afraid to say that you were a competitive hunter jumper winner a decade ago, but you want to rebuild your confidence before tackling even a cross rail again. The right trainer will find the perfect balance between pushing you to grow and supporting your decisions if you feel that any activity is particularly daunting. And this goes without saying – it is best to have all of these conversations before you’re up in the saddle and someone you barely know is pushing you to canter on an unfamiliar horse.

Horse Riding Lessons: Fun at Every Age

Now that I’m in my 30s, I have come across many people from their 20s to 60s who have said they always wanted to take riding lessons, and never got the chance. A good percentage of these folks also have stressful jobs, and are just looking for a way to relax. I fully recommend taking up the reins and giving horseback riding a try.

Riding is one of the few sports one can really do at any age – and many Olympic show jumpers are in the primes of their careers in their 40s and 50s. It is never too late to learn to ride. There is something utterly relaxing about putting your cell phone away, getting a full body workout and bonding with an animal. It is very rewarding to do things with your hands that have nothing to do with typing at your desk.

We’ll continue to update this article with new information and advice on horse riding lessons, and soon we’ll also have a directory to some of the best places to take horse back riding lessons within the USA. Stay tuned.