by Cassidy Nunn | photos by Nunn Other Photography –
So your child (or you!) wants to try horseback riding … where to even begin? It can seem overwhelming, especially if you don’t know much about the sport, but it doesn’t have to be. Here on the Saanich Peninsula there are great options for barns that offer riding lessons, whether you’re an adult beginner, an adult who rode as a kid and is hoping to get back into the sport, or a horse-crazy kid, toddler or teenager!
There are many factors to keep in mind when deciding to give the exciting sport of horseback riding a try. The first is finding a barn and a certified coach who are the right fit for your riding goals, your budget and experience level. Laura Ward is an Equine Canada certified riding instructor at Painted Horse Equestrian and she, along with other coaches at the facility, run the lesson program (ages five and up) and offer spring break and summer riding camps (for ages seven to 12). New riders interested in their program will attend a meet and greet which offers a tour of the facility, and Laura can gauge the rider’s experience and confidence level around horses. She stresses that in the sport, horsemanship is more than just riding. “I put such a big emphasis on stable management,” she says, which means some days lessons will be more focused on an aspect of horsemanship, such as learning about horse first aid, the tack used for riding, feeding, how to set a jump course, the parts of the horse etc. Her students are also taught how to groom and tack up the horse they’re going to ride in the lesson (supervised at first but eventually this is a skill that each rider, age dependent, will be expected to do on their own).
She and her colleagues are dedicated to ensuring their horses have the best care, and a big part of their job is balancing the horse’s workload, both physically and mentally. “We want to keep them happy and healthy,” she says. “If they can’t work, we can’t work.”
Tara Prevedoros has been running her lesson and boarding stable in the same location for close to 10 years. She’s also an Equine Canada certified coach, enjoys teaching all ages and welcomes neurodivergent students and kids with various physical abilities. Her lesson program offers horse/farm experiences to those as young as age two and can also accommodate adult riders. When it comes to teaching the really young kids, she says: “I keep it playful and fun and think of new ideas to keep it engaging for the kids.” Tara also stresses the importance of having happy horses in her lesson program. “A big part of my program is keeping my horses happy,” she says. All her horses get daily year-round turnout in the field in small groups and her retired lesson horses are with her for life. Her barn is a mix of miniature horses, ponies, large horses and the retired ones.
When it comes to riding equipment, some lesson barns will offer the use of a helmet or boots with the correct heel and tread required for a stirrup, but for those who decide to stick with riding and become a part of a regular lesson program, some investment in riding equipment is required. Glynis Schultz, the owner of Greenhawk Vancouver Island, a large tack (horse and riding equipment) store in the heart of Brentwood Bay, says: “the most important thing when starting riding is a really good, safe fitting riding helmet.” For horseback riding, not just any helmet will do either. “A bike helmet is designed for a different type of fall so it’s not recommended for horseback riding,” she adds. A safe and approved riding helmet doesn’t have to break the bank, however, with helmets available for under $60. The other important piece of equipment is a good boot with a heel and proper tread; the heel is important as it prevents the foot from potentially becoming stuck in the stirrup if the rider were to have a fall.
Horseback riding lessons can range from $55 for a half hour to over $100 an hour for a private lesson depending on the facility, the length of the lesson and whether there will be more than one rider in the lesson. Some lesson barns now require a monthly commitment to at least one lesson a week and certain barns will offer the option to attend local horse shows, while others are strictly recreational. Riding lessons are an excellent way to get some exercise (and yes, it is in fact exercise – if you’ve ever ridden before you know that the horse does NOT do all the work!) in the fresh air with an incredible animal. This sport teaches much more than just riding: also responsibility, empathy and hard work, to name just a few of the values that go along with it!
