Children's riding school in Surrey

Our weekend riding club operates on Saturdays and Sundays. It offers a unique opportunity for young horse enthusiasts to be immersed in not just learning to ride, but in horsemanship, stable management and horse care.

Our morning clubs are for riders between the ages of 5 and 12 who are new to or less experienced with horses. Our afternoon clubs are reserved for riders (minimum 10 years old) that are capable of grooming and tacking-up their horse independently or with very minimal support.

NEW DROP OFF TIMES: between 9:45 am and 10:00 am (Starting 2nd September)

The session activities roughly follow this schedule:
Mornings
9:45 - 10:00 ~  Collecting equipment for horses and humans
10:00 - 10:30 ~ Grooming and tacking up for riding - working with a partner
10:30 - 11:30 ~ Group 1 Riding Lesson* / Group 2 Stable Management Lesson
11:30 - 11:40 ~ Change over/Break
11:40 - 12:40 ~ Group 2 Riding Lesson* / Group 1 Stable Management Lesson
12:40 - 1:00 ~ Tidying up yard - both groups

*Please note the 1-hour time frame includes mounting, adjusting stirrups, a warm-up and cool-down, and dismounting. During the nicer weather, riders will be walking their horses to the riding arena, doing an in-hand warm-up, before preparing to mount. They will then bring their horse to the mounting block. This is to build more independence and ground handling skills.

Afternoons (times will change with daylight savings)
2:00-2:30 ~ Group 1 Getting Ready to Ride / Group 2 Stable Management
2:30-3:30 ~ Group 1 Riding / Group 2 Getting Ready to Ride
3:30-4:30 ~ Group 2 Riding/ Group 1 Stable Management
4:30 - 5:00 ~ Tidying up yard -  both groups

The stable management lessons include activities using the Association of British Riding Schools (ABRS) rosette categories: points of the horse, grooming, saddlery, tack cleaning, native breeds, feeds & feeding, poisonous plants, the foot & shoeing, leading, pony health, health & safety. Since we are a centre that specialises in nervous and anxious riders, at the same time we focus on social and communication skills.

FEES
We offer weekly or fortnightly sessions. The monthly fee for weekly sessions is £260, which includes a free session if there are 5 Saturdays or Sundays in the month. Over the year, our weekly club riders receive 4 or 5 free sessions, the equivalent of a free month of riding!

The monthly fee for fortnightly sessions is £130.  For our fortnightly riders, there are months in which there may be 3 sessions rather than the normal 2. There will be an additional fee of £65 for this extra session.

Monthly fees are payable by standing order on the first of the month.

We offer pay-as-you-go lessons, if space permits, at £70 per session.

There will be occasions when we will host non-riding sessions that will focus on groundwork and pampering our beloved horses and ponies. While we usually emphasise riding skills and horse care in our programs, we recognize the importance of nurturing the horse-human bond through alternative activities.

What to Expect:
These sessions will be dedicated to activities such as more in depth grooming, bonding, and pampering our ponies. Participants will have the opportunity to engage in groundwork exercises that strengthen the connection between horse and rider. Our aim is to highlight the significance of the horse-human bond when participating in non-ridden activities.

Benefits of Non-Ridden Activities:
1. Deepening Connection: Engaging in activities like grooming and groundwork fosters a deeper connection between riders and their equine partners.
2. Trust Building: Non-ridden sessions contribute to building trust and understanding, creating a positive and harmonious environment.
3. Wellbeing for Both: Pampering our ponies is not only enjoyable for them but also contributes to their overall wellbeing, promoting a healthy and happy atmosphere.

Why This is Important:
At The Holistic Horse and Pony Centre, we believe in offering a comprehensive program that goes beyond riding skills. The horse-human bond is a fundamental aspect of our philosophy, and we recognize that activities off the saddle are equally valuable in strengthening this connection. This special weekend allows us to explore and celebrate the unique relationship between our riders and their four-legged companions.