Horse riding.

[Rainbow Dash]

I've always wanted to do some horse riding lessons but never been bothered to do anything about it I looked online at how much it is and it doesn't seem too expensive. I managed to pay for driving lessons when I was on less money.

I know how to mount a horse and make it walk around but that's pretty much it I had a few lessons when I was a kid but we just wondered around a bit.

Would it matter that I'm a beginner? would it be more expensive? How long did it take you to learn to ride properly?

[BlueWolf]

I rode in high school and I am just starting to get back into it again. It does not matter if you are a beginner, after all, everyone has to start somewhere, and from my experiences the more advanced you are, the more expensive it gets!

It depends on what you mean by properly. I ride English and it takes awhile to be able to master all the different gaits in correct form. It also depends on the rider how long it takes, as well as the horse you are riding, the instructer, and how often you ride. I made slow progress with my first instructor because she was young, inexperienced as a trainer, and so forth. I also took lessons once a week on a regular horse. Then I went else where and in three months I was riding as well as those riding for a year. I had a better instructor who had a lot of experience, I also rode 2-3 times a week, and the horse I was riding was a bit more well trained. Then, at the place I am at now, I am starting to pick up where I left off. I am riding once a week on a fancy show horse, and my instructor placed third at worlds. This stuff USUALLY makes a difference. Not always. A good instructor (one that works for you), a horse that does not give you too much trouble (trying to learn while riding a horse that is troublesome means you spend more time trying to fight him/her instead of working on what you need to be doing. As a beginner especially this is important), how serious you are about riding and how often you ride will all depend on how long it takes, so it is really impossible to say. For me, I rode on and off, but after 8 months of that I was able to say I could walk, trot, canter, and jump properly and well enough that I entered my first show and won a couple ribbons.

Check out a few places before you decide where to go. As long as the horses and instructor are experienced and you are determined, you will be riding a horse properly before you know it. And it is sooo much fun!

[Rainbow Dash]

Yay Thanks. I'll probably start in the Spring as it's too cold to ride horses right now I asked my mum if she'd pay for the first few lessons for my birthday and she said yeah

[TheBabyEater]

Good luck! I used to ride horses as a kid, and my old friend had a horse in High School.

The lessons should teach you everything you need to know better than we ever could here. Just one word of advice. Until you get to know the horse, don't go behind it. They get freaked out and kick. Not that I'd know

[BruceLeeDemarcus]

Good luck! If I was in your shoes, me personally, I would consider myself a beginner.

[Nostalgia]

I used to go horse riding and considering starting again. When I first started I wore tracksuit bottoms and wellie boots. And a t-shirt with a jumper/jacket over it and borrowed a hat from the riding stables, they usually have some to borrow or use. It also might be an idea to take a pair of gloves with you - the reins tend to rub and can cause blisters!

When I booked mine more recently they did ask for my height and weight ect just so they could be sure that they had matched me up with a suitable horse! You will probably have a 'leader' to start with a leader is someone who will hold the horses bridal with you for the first few lessons ect.

Lesson prices should not vary, where I went and where I plan to start riding again soon they have childrens lesson prices and adults lesson prices and then the only lessons that appear to cost more are jumping lessons and private lessons and the only other ones they charge more for is if you want an hours lesson rather than half an hours lesson. But other than that from lesson prices should not really vary. Where I plan to ride at (again lol) it costs £18.20 per lesson but if you pay for 6 in advance you get the 7th free, so it might be worth finding out if they have any of these sort of deals and it may work out cheaper .

It depends how long it takes you to learn as you start in beginners and then move up to walk trot, walk trot learning canter, walk trot canter, walk trot canter learning jump, walk trot canter jump, jump beginners , jump moderate, and jump advandced. I think how quick each rider moves up in each class depends on the riders ability to control the horse ect theres also the progressive riding tests where you learn basic horse care such as mucking out, putting on and taking off tack, grooming the horse, turning out into fields.

Some riding schools also allow for saturday and sunday volunteers/yard helpers where you help on the yard and in return every 3 weeks you get a free riding lesson as a form of payment and there are different level so yard helper like junior, 1 star, 2 star, 3 star, 4 star and senior.

The above two paragraphs also depend on how quick you move up in these as it all depends on the persons ability in the different tests and yard helper levels.

I have always really enjoyed horse riding. Also as you get into the walk trot classes you get to go out on hacks where you all ride as a group through the fields ect with your riding teacher. Hacks very enjoyable in the summer as you can enjoy the scenery and hacking is also very relaxing. Hacking lessons don't cost more either they are just considered normal lessons, but hacking is not so enjoyable in the winter.

Hope this has helped somewhat!

[Maloo]

I personally wear jeans when I ride, unless I can find my riding pants lol. It didn't take me very long to learn, but I'm a quick learner at a lot of things. I rode from the time I was 10 until I was 16, but only seriously from 13-16. I love it.

[*Jen*]

I love horse riding. I have had many horses on loan and currently I have my own pony who I love to pieces and ride her when I can. I think lesson prices vary according to where you live and how good the riding centre is. I have riding lessons at the moment because I am in the team at uni so we get it cheaper due to being students.

It doesn't matter if you are a beginner and it would still be the same price. Group lessons are cheaper than individual. Normally you have like an assessment so they can assess your ability and put you in the right group. It has taken me time to learn how to ride but it is definitely worth it. I enjoy jumping and occassionally do cross country which is loads of fun!