Already have a barn in mind? Great! You’re ahead of the game. If you’re not there quite yet I want to offer some gentle suggestions on how to find the right place because if your kids are anything like mine, you’ll be spending lots of time there.
Ask friends. Have a friend whose kids ride? Ask the where, how much & “how happy are you” type of questions. A knowledgeable friend will probably have some insights for you since they already know a lot about you & your child, your personalities, riding goals & where you live.
Go to a local Tack Store or Saddlery. Underline, highlight, and star this one. They will know just about every lesson program in your area & who the happy customers are. Plus isn’t it always good to know where to shop?!
Yes, you will shop local– These wonderful folks often support your local shows and will know what is and is not acceptable at local barns. They will also save you money and will know what’s a fad and what’s classic and acceptable in the show ring.
Google. It’s a beautiful thing & most barns have very informative websites but watch out for those review sites. Every barn, no matter how wonderful, will have some folks who left unhappy. It’s just life so trust your gut if you decide to go to…
Watch a lesson. Most barns will be perfectly happy to have you come out & watch a lesson or two. Maybe 3 but don’t go overboard. Seriously, it gets weird. Call ahead and find out when lessons are and make sure they are okay with it.
Ask the trainer or barn manager a question or two but remember that he/she is probably: 1. Trying to get to the next lesson on time &Â 2. Exhausted so be brief as you get the answers you need.
Btw, a few questions are great for the parents watching their kids ride or that lovely person you spoke to when you called for their lesson schedule. Remember though, they are there to watch their kid ride so go easy!
What to ask?Funny you should say that! If the website doesn’t have this information you can ask the aforementioned lovely person from your phone call the following:
Do they teach beginners? Not every barn does!
Do they have school horses?
If this answer is “No” swipe left & move on to the next barn. You can even ask if they know of another barn that does have school horses, most folks are happy to help. You do NOT need or want to buy or lease a horse at this point!
Do they have saddles my child can use? *Important, you do not need or want to buy a saddle at this point either! Not only is your child growing, but your saddle may not fit the fat pony your child rides one week and the slab sided thoroughbred they ride the next. Yup, saddles must fit the horse/pony and the rider!
Is my child responsible for tacking up & untacking? (That just means grooming & putting the saddle & bridle on & taking care of the horse after the lesson) Many barns will start your child out by doing all the dirty work for them & will eventually teach them how to do it on their own. (It’s more efficient and safer for everyone involved that way) It’s important to know from a “what time do we get there & when will we be leaving the barn afterwards” perspective.
**I personally made sure that my daughter started at a barn where she would learn to tack up her own horse or pony. It’s important for so many reasons from being a responsible horse person to just realizing that this is a living, breathing, feeling animal who we are lucky to be able to spend time around. More about my feelings on grooming later!
What type of lessons do they offer: Groups, semi privates &/or privates?
How much are their lessons? Groups are typically the least expensive &, believe it or not, I think they are the most beneficial to learning- monkey see, monkey do!
Do they provide helmets? We’ll talk about this in the next blog post but your child will need a helmet. Most saddleries will have inexpensive, “starter” helmets anywhere from $50-$75. To be on the safe side as far as fitting in, most barns appreciate that your child has a plain, black helmet.
What other programs do they offer? Some barns have summer camps & special programs that set them apart. Many go to horse shows & will encourage all students to do the same. Shows can be a big factor when you consider your budget! If your little muffin has horse shows in their sights you’ll want to start out at a barn where they go to both “schooling” & “rated” shows.
Schooling shows are less expensive for so many reasons & are a perfect option for a novice rider. Rated shows count for year end points & offer classes where you can qualify for year end championships & awards.
It’s an important decision so if you call quite a few barns, take notes and ultimately go with your gut.  What you need for that first lesson is coming up in the next post, The Fist Lesson-What You’ll Need. Anything to add? Let’s chat in the comments!
