Horse riding

[Neighweigh]

Hi my 6 year old keeps nagging me about going to horse riding lessons. Does anyone know if there are any in/around Surrey?

Can you be a bit more specific on area ?

Google? Surrey must be awash with stables. I live in Northern England and there are 3 within a mile of me. Friend of mine pays £20 for half an hour for himself.

Wallington (we only recently moved from the Midlands)

I am new to the area so wondered if anyone could recommend anywhere decent and safe!

Try Kingsmead. It's not far, it's up past Sanderstead and very friendly.

I saw what you did there @Neighweigh

😉

😜

@Neighweigh

For you and 6YO.

This was my summer holiday at 6YO. Woke up one morning and she was there, in the field. Loved my parents for that, but it backfired because from that day all schoolwork was fairly rapidly out the door.

Blimey that's cheap. Surrey you are looking at £30-35 for a 30 min private!

OP - try the tack room on here. Make sure it's BHS. British Horse Society registered.

To start I'd suggest private lessons - she'll start on the lead rein.

In that the tack room topic is mostly just riders so you'll get some personal recommendations

Kingsmead is nice, my kids (and me sometimes!) ride there. There's another stables near Biggin Hill- Mayfield- which someone recommended to me. There's a thread on The Tack Room called something like 'Riding in London' which has some SE London, Surrey & Kent recs. You're looking at about £35 ish for a 30 minute private, less for a group. I cry a little bit inside at the cost.

Ignore the BHS, not worth anything and without going in to detail, I am just n a position to know

Thanks Julian!

@Neighweigh Actually for a horse novice looking for BHS approved yard gives a basic level of care + instruction. It is a minimum though and not a gold standard. So many yards set up as riding schools with unqualified instructors and shoddy care for the horses.
Ask if instructors are qualified, and to what level, then ask to watch a lesson and look to see if horses are treated well, look healthy and happy.
There should never be any shouting by staff at horses, no running or stupid behaviour allowed on the yard and be wary of any yards where there are hoards of teenage girls doing all the jobs. The insurance and licence documents should be displayed and the yard should insist on only up to date safety standard hats to be worn.

Just Google it and go and look at a few, treat it like looking for a primary school!
We have one very local to us however I take my daughter to one further away.
For a start it stops the competitiveness (other girls in her school saying 'I can trot by myself, why can't you' etc) I wanted her to learn at her own pace, no pressure.
The other reason for my decision was that the local school is very much 'all the gear, no idea'. The girls have the best helmets, jodhpurs, boots etc but even after years of lessons they are still sloppy riders!
My daughter has been at her riding school for 8 years now and is doing incredibly well, she knows everyone and is there now helping them muck out and fill hay nets to her hearts content.
Definitely go and see how you feel about the place.