Welcome Pack

Firstly, we should direct you to appropriate clothing. For your comfort and safety, we advise long trousers and sturdy boots with a small heel, no less than ½ inch, please note that trainers are NOT permitted for riding, wellington boots with small heel are a suitable alterative as an interim measure. We ask that you do not wear strappy tops or tops that show your midriff as these tops do not provide adequate protection to your body, and this is a family setting. All facial and body piercings, necklaces and bracelets/bangles must be removed before your ride, if this is not possible then they should be covered with tape or a plaster – this is for your safety as they create a ‘catch’ risk and could get tangled with your tack or the horse’s mane; wedding rings are permitted but you must wear gloves over them. All riders are requested to wear gloves, and anyone providing walking alongside/leading you will need to wear them too. Anyone accompanying you should ensure they have appropriate footwear and be aware they will be in an area where horse poo will be present, so closed toe shoes are a must! You will need to wear a hard hat for all lessons, we do hire these out for a small fee of £1 and all our hats conform to the latest British Standards (BS) guidance. Of course you can provide your own hat, but we will need to check that it conforms to the latest BS guidance and that it fits properly before you ride. Sometimes young children find the idea of hats a problem, we often have them telling us the hats hurt but we know our stuff and won’t put them in anything that is too tight! Please tie long hair back, we would suggest that you avoid French Plaits as they can be uncomfortable under hats and can also create a false fit. If you decide to buy a hat, please go to a reputable store that offers a fitting service – hats vary in design so where one size from one manufacturer fits, it may not from another.

Now that we’ve got you all kitted out and dressed appropriately, we need you to arrive for your first lesson 20 mins prior to the ride time; once you return for any subsequent lessons, we ask that you arrive at least 15mins prior – arriving promptly allows us to ensure smooth transitions between rides, check stirrups and girths and to fit hard hats, where appropriate.

On your first visit we will check your Rider Registration form and talk to you about any anxieties you may have, we’ll take your payment (preferably cash, please) and fit your hat. From there you’ll be shown to the waiting area and taken to your horse, you’ll be helped with adjusting your stirrups and girth, if you don’t already know how to check, and we’ll get you on safely. At the time of booking in, we usually ask if you’d like to book in again for the following week, however we appreciate that you might want to see how your first lesson goes and come back to us after the ride. Once you’re a returning rider (e.g., each week/fortnightly/etc) we’ll ask you to book for subsequent weeks at the time of booking in – this ensures you’re booked for when you want. Please note that there isn’t a choice of times as your instructor will grade your ability and we’ll fit you in to an appropriate lesson. Group lessons take place at weekends and are in high demand; we may be restricted to which day we can offer you rides. We ask that you keep your family group to as small a number as possible, especially during times where there may be government restrictions on group sizes, etc. We do have a viewing area in our indoor arena but please note that space is limited, and other riders may have family present too. Taking photos and videos is permitted, however please ensure that they are only of your family member/friend – this is especially relevant if wishing to post on social media. You may be happy to post pictures of your child, but other parents may not wish images of their children to appear on such platforms; please be mindful of others’ wishes/opinions.