That riding school shouldn't charge me for this?

it certainly sounds unusual as to why they don't provide information where to go or who you are riding on a board. The riding school I was a teen at (from about 14 onwards) was a lot more organised and everyone knew what was going on lessonwise. We did have one arena though so it was much easier to see where everyone was admittedly. Just chalk it up to experience this time, maybe see if they have a whatsapp chat group or number to call if nobody is on the yard beforehand, and try again.

I’m not a rider so I don’t know how things tend to work but, if you turned up for the lesson and the group did not seem to be there, surely you could have asked one of these youngsters - even if they weren’t able to help it would have been something and they would have been able to backup your story that you were there. Also, surely you could have got a phone number and called the instructor.
On the other hand, you were clearly expected as they had a horse ready for you, so couldn’t they have taken a minute to call you and see where you were?
As you like the stables perhaps chalk this one up to experience but get more information for the future including the instructor’s phone number. You could also double check what their policy on lateness/no shows states.

Absolutely do not pay! This is their mistake, not yours.

I’m not sure other posters are understanding how riding schools operate - there’s always tonnes of children and teens hanging around on weekends. If someone was actually working there and manning the office, they would have spoken to you.

No, I wouldn't be paying for a service I didn't receive

It sounds very disorganised and the email saying that rides are "always" in the top arena when you know from previous occasions that has not been the case is rude and defensive. Not great business practice to provide so little information to customers, not very welcoming!

Yes you should have asked the kids in the office but it's understandable that you didn't. The one who was the helper should have, you know, helped you when you walked in and picked up a hat and were obviously waiting around. Then she just watched you put it back and leave and drive off! Doesn't sound like she's mature enough to be left in charge.

Some parents can be really funny about others talking to their children and this makes me wary of doing so. I was once pushing my daughter on a swing and the older girl on the next swing started chatting to us. Her dad stormed over and told me off!

A 10 year old would be able to answer a question like that though.. so why didn’t you ask them?

OP - as others have said, your behaviour of waiting around silently and then leaving was very odd and children who hang around at yards tend to know everything. 😅

Depends on the yard. My teen daughter was paid quite well working at her livery yard. Although at another bigger riding school it used to be work in exchange for lessons.

Even if you didn't know they were helpers, at age 7-10, they wouldn't just be there alone.
All you had to do was ask where the adults were!

I think YABU - you made no effort to find out what was going on. You could have wandered down to the stables - that's surely the most obvious place to look if no-one was in the car park!

I think it’s a bit odd that you feel a teen helper should’ve interrupted you - an adult - to ask if you needed help or direction, but simultaneously you weren’t able to ask the children “hi, is there a member of staff around?” or something similarly inoffensive.

I also think it’s very odd that - having turned up later than normal - you didn’t think to wander up to the arenas and check. So what if someone says you haven’t booked in - you just apologise and admit to your mistake.

It does sound like there needs to be clearer communication- but that works both ways.

My daughter is a helper, she is not paid for what she does. Just saying 😄. She is one of the young ones, not a teen yet, so there are limits to what she is allowed to do. She loves to spend the day at the stables with the horses, she learns a lot about looking after them, she helps at the stables, also with the lessons ( the ones for children) and the pony parties.. No free riding sessions though, we pay for the lessons, however the helpers get a better deal, longer lessons at a reasonable price.

It does seem that organisation isn’t great at the lesson place. However I’m really confused as to why you didn’t ask the children anything? You could have asked where an instructor/manager was. The children were clearly old enough to be alone, so it’s hardly like they were toddlers who can’t communicate. If you really were unable to ask, why didn’t you wander off to find someone? Go to the arenas and see if you could find an adult who works there to ask.

I agree that they have taken the time to bring in a horse and groom it and tack it up for you for no reason. That horse could have stayed in the field/stable and the person could have gone and done a different job instead of wasting their time preparing an unnecessary horse.

Agreed. They are there because they enjoy being around the horses, tack-up, groom, lead and in return get free rides.
And for their parents they know they are somewhere safe to hang-out.

Op should have asked the girls who were hanging around. They probably were told, if the lady turns up take her to the arena. But the lady didn't make herself known to the girls.

I think you are both being unreasonable - they should have been clearer in letting you know where the lessons start but you definitely should have spoken to the children. Regardless of their age you could have asked if there was an instructor/adult around. Or walked down to the arena to have a look.

You should have asked , or at least walked down to the school or stable yard area to find out what was going on . If their terms of business are you pay full charge for a no show then that is what you have to pay . That said it sounds thoroughly disorganised so find somewhere different.

Teen "Helpers" tend not to be paid I think.
They help in return for being able to be around the horses and ride for free.

The teen helper should have said ‘Hi there! You ok? Can I help?’

What’s the point in having ‘helpers’ who presumably are paid, that aren’t helping at all. Did this teen girl think you had just turned up, picked a hat and walked round for 5 minutes with it?

I hate it when you arrive somewhere and the staff don’t make a point of saying hello, can I help? Especially somewhere like this which covers a big area.

I can see both sides here, if they’re always met you in the carpark previously it’s really annoying to be told something completely different when you know that’s always happened before, but I do think you should’ve asked or gone looking a bit more before leaving.

Since they’ve confirmed someone even saw you there so you were on time etc I’d refuse to pay, and if they push it take your money elsewhere.

Yeah you need to try and lose that fear of embarrassment at asking a simple question.

Children are not stupid. If they are always there they probably have a pretty good idea of what is going on and would have been ideal to ask. You didn't even say hello to them. Just took a helmet.

And while I understand the feeling maybe I didn't book surely you had a way to check? An email confirmation? Or if not then the only way to check is verbally.

However, I agree that they shouldn't say "its always" when it hasn't been. We have recently dealt with a local business where the written T&C were quite different to what was implied when we booked on - re cancellation. It's so frustrating but you have two choices.
You either stand your ground and don't go there again, risk alienating them.
Or, you chalk it down to experience because you are equally culpable

Ugh no way would I pay for this. You're a new customer and their communication is awful. How the hell are you supposed to know where to go or what to do being brand new to it!

I used to run a riding school btw.

Maybe they went up early as some horses were being used in a previous lesson and were already up there. There may well be a reason. TBH I'm surprised a lesson that is 9.30 is not on board, in the arena and ready to go at 9.30. I expect people to be there half an hour early to get equipped, find horse, say hello to horse and faff around getting on board etc.