Children’s Riding Lessons at Bourne Vale Stables
For most children, six is the perfect age to start structured riding lessons, either as a complete beginner or progressing from our Tiny Tots sessions. From there, two group programmes take them all the way to becoming an accomplished rider, and ultimately, we hope, into a lifelong passion for riding and learning.
Pony Pathway is the beginner stage. When children are ready, they progress to our Young Riders lessons, which take their riding right through to a standard where they can confidently compete, sit Pony Club tests or BHS exams.
How to Start
Starting riding with us is straightforward. Your child’s first lesson will be part of a group, where an experienced instructor will quietly assess how they are doing during that session to make sure they are in the class that is right for them at this stage. That assessment matters whether your child has never sat on a horse before or has ridden elsewhere, because being in the right class is what makes riding enjoyable rather than frustrating.
There is no separate trial lesson to book first. Get in touch, tell us a little about your child, and we will take it from there.
Pony Pathway
45-minute group lesson · From age 6 · £44 per lesson
Pony Pathway is where most children begin. The programme takes a child from never having sat on a horse to walking, trotting and cantering independently on a range of horses and ponies.
It is designed for complete beginners, and equally for children moving up from our Tiny Tots sessions. The focus throughout is on confidence, enjoyment and building strong foundations of technique.
By the end of the Pony Pathway, your child has the skills and the self-assurance to ride multiple ponies independently in a 1-hour group lesson, which is where Young Riders begins.
Young Riders
1-hour group lesson · For progressed riders · £51.50 per lesson
Young Riders is the next step. It builds on the foundations laid in Pony Pathway, develops the canter further, and takes riders all the way to being accomplished on a range of horses, with the skill and confidence to sit Pony Club tests or progress through BHS exams.
Young Riders classes are organised by progression rather than as a single mixed-ability lesson. We place each child in the class that matches their stage of development and move them up as they progress.
For many children, Young Riders is where a weekly lesson often becomes something more lasting. We hope, more than anything else, to instill a sense of lifelong passion for riding and a desire to keep learning as a rider, knowing that even the most accomplished riders never stop learning.
When Children’s Lessons Run
Pony Pathway runs at weekends:
- Saturdays at 11.00am, 11.45am and 4.00pm
- Sundays at 11.00am, 11.45am and 2.00pm
Young Riders runs on weekday evenings and at weekends:
- Wednesdays at 5.00pm and 6.00pm
- Thursdays at 5.00pm and 6.00pm
- Fridays at 5.00pm
- Saturdays at 9.45am, 2.00pm and 3.00pm
- Sundays at 10.00am, 1.00pm and 3.00pm
Young Riders classes are allocated by ability, so we’ll guide you to the right slot rather than have you pick one from the schedule. If your child is new to us, please call the office on 0121 353 7174 or message us through the contact page. We’ll arrange a first assessment class in either Pony Pathway or Young Riders, depending on your child’s level of experience. Saturday and Sunday classes do fill quickly, so the sooner you get in touch the better.
More Than Riding
A child who learns to ride with us learns more than how to ride.
Around the horses, children develop responsibility, compassion and patience in a way that is hands-on and exciting. Caring for the horses matters just as much to us as riding them. Children learn grooming, feeding and how to read horse behaviour alongside the riding itself, and the time spent on these things builds both a deeper connection with the animals and a stronger rider as a result.
We also deliberately put children on a range of horses and ponies over the course of their training, rather than always allocating them to their favourite. Each horse has its own personality and characteristics, and learning to adjust to that builds adaptable, well-rounded riders. The achievement of riding well across a range of horses sticks out in the mind of many of our long-standing riders. What they go on to appreciate as adult riders is what it gave them: the empathy and feel to adapt to any horse they meet throughout their riding life.
Beyond Lessons: The Pony Club
We encourage children riding with us regularly to become Pony Club members. Joining opens up another world of opportunities beyond the weekly lesson: fun activities, holiday camps, badge mornings and competitions, all alongside their riding. Pony Club is also where children prepare for and sit Pony Club tests. We have been a Pony Club Centre for more than 25 years, and in 2024 we were honoured to be presented with a commemorative plaque from HRH The Princess Royal marking that milestone.
Learn more about our Pony Club
Two Ways to Ride
There are two ways to ride with us.
Pay-as-you-go is the flexible option. You book and pay for individual lessons as you take them. This is how most families start, and how some families always choose to ride with us.
Our Membership Programme is for families who ride every week and want to make it part of their routine. Members get reserved spaces and additional benefits that come with riding regularly.
Read more about our Membership Programme →
How to Book Your Child’s First Lesson
To book your child’s first lesson, or to ask any questions, please call the office on 0121 353 7174 or get in touch through our contact page.
Our office is open 9.30am to 5pm Tuesday to Sunday. We look forward to meeting your child and seeing where their riding takes them.
Looking for something for ages 3 to 5? Our Tiny Tots sessions are the gentlest possible introduction to ponies before formal lessons begin.
Frequently Asked Questions
What age can children start riding at Bourne Vale Stables?
Children’s lessons begin at age 6. For children aged 3 to 5, we run a separate Tiny Tots session as a gentle introduction to ponies before formal lessons.
Does my child need to have ridden before?
No. Pony Pathway is designed for complete beginners. Children with previous experience are also welcome, and an instructor will assess them in their first lesson to make sure they are in the right class.
How long are children’s lessons?
Pony Pathway beginner lessons are 45 minutes. Young Riders lessons are 1 hour.
How much do children’s lessons cost?
Pony Pathway is £44 per lesson. Young Riders is £51.50 per lesson.
How do I pay, and what are the booking terms?
All class lessons must be booked at least one week in advance and paid for in full at the time of booking. We take payment in person by cash or card, or over the phone. We operate a 24-hour cancellation policy: with that much notice we can transfer your payment to another date, but if a lesson is missed inside that window we cannot refund or transfer it, because the horse and instructor are already committed to your slot.
How do you decide which class my child joins?
Every new rider has a first assessment class so we can see how they ride. From there we allocate them to the class that best suits their experience and our current availability, whether that’s in Pony Pathway or Young Riders. As their riding develops, we move them up to the next class when they’re ready.
Will my child ride the same horse every time?
No, and that is a deliberate choice. We allocate riders across a range of horses and ponies because learning to adjust to different horses builds adaptable riders. Your child will get to know all of our horses over time and will find their own favourites along the way.
Does Bourne Vale Stables teach horse care as well as riding?
Yes. Caring for the horses matters just as much to us as riding them. Children have the opportunity to learn grooming, feeding and horse behaviour alongside their riding.
Can my child progress to Pony Club tests or BHS exams?
Yes. Our Young Riders classes develop the skill and confidence needed for both. Pony Club tests are sat within Pony Club membership, so children working towards those tests join Pony Club alongside their lessons. BHS exams are taken through our BHS Training pathway.
Do you offer private lessons for children?
Our children’s lessons are currently group lessons only. Private lessons are available for adults. If you have a specific reason your child needs private instruction, please get in touch and we can discuss.
What does my child need to wear?
Long trousers that fit close to the leg, sturdy shoes or boots with a small heel (no trainers), and a t-shirt or sweatshirt with sleeves. Long hair tied back. No jewellery. We provide a riding hat for hire at £1.50.
How do I book?
Call the office on 0121 353 7174 or use our contact page. Our office is open 9.30am to 5pm Tuesday to Sunday.