How to Choose a Good Riding School
If you are interested in getting your child into a good riding school, there are a few things you should know. Not all riding schools are considered equal. Some schools are just in it to make a buck or two and don't even properly care for their horses. If they don't care for their horses, they aren't going to care for your child.
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Instructions
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Gather together a list of local riding schools or schools withing the distance you are willing to travel. You can get a list from the phone book or from your 4-H club. Add any schools that your friends and family may know about. The list is just the starting place. It will be helpful if you buy a cheap notebook and put the name of each school on one of the notebooks pages. Each school should get its own page.
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Visit each school. Make it a weekend event and don't forget your notebook. As you visit each school take notes on the pros and cons. Is the facility clean? Do the horses look well cared for? Is the instructor and other school staff knowledgeable and friendly? Are there proper riding areas and trails for your child to practice on? Think about your first impression and your gut instincts. Make sure this is a place that you and your child feel comfortable in because you will probably be spending a lot of time there.
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Talk about the lessons with the school owner. Find out how long the lessons will be given each day and what is entailed in those lessons. Is your child just going to learn about riding the horse or will they also get a chance to learn about horse care? Will the lessons be more hands on? The more experiences offered for your child the better. Schools should be willing to teach your child everything they can about horses and how to care for them. This includes having your child help with the daily care of the horse. The more understanding the child has of the horse, the more of an appreciation they will get.
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Discuss prices and include them in your notebook. Some prices to add are lesson prices, prices for equipment, prices for clothing, can any prices associated with competitions. This will help you make a decision if you are going back and forth between two schools.
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Make sure you check out all certifications before making your final decisions. Just because a school claims to be certified or have credentials doesn't mean they really do.
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Ask your child which school they liked best. Don't let them make the decision, but weigh heavily which school they chose. Remember that kids don't always know what is best, and hopefully the school your child desires really is the best one for the both of you.
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Tips & Warnings
Ask if you have a trial lesson, before you sign any contracts for a long term riding commitment.
Horseback riding can be dangerous. Make sure you take all precautions to make the sport as safe as possible.
