How to Choose a Riding School

Choosing a riding school can be a very stressful and hard decision if you do not know what you are looking for. There are many things you should take into consideration when looking for a riding school. The following steps will guide you through finding the perfect riding school for your needs.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Talk to people that may know something about riding school. Your friends and other family members that have horses may know of riding school that is just right for you. If not, ask the owner of the feed store, your veterinarian, or people at the saddle and tack shop if they know of any quality riding schools in your area.
2. Search the Internet and the yellow pages for riding schools in your area. Call and ask any questions you may have. Some of your questions may be, "What kind of classes are offered?" "How long to classes last?" "How much does a session cost?" These are all very important questions that you should address.
3. Decide ahead of time how much you are willing to pay for a riding school. You can almost count on paying $40 an hour for a session or $150 for 4 sessions lasting 1 hour a piece.
4. Take tours. Do not make a definite decision on a riding school without a tour and maybe even watching some of the classes. If the owners of the school do not want you taking a tour, you probably do not need to attend there.
5. Decide on the school that meets all your needs and one that you are comfortable with completely. Do not simply settle for a school and unless you are sure it is the one you want to attend.