You've watched cartoons about horses as a kid, read books about these beautiful creatures, and dreamed that one day… What? Why has that day still not come? Maybe horses no longer inspire you. But more likely you just don’t know where to start. You’re not a kid anymore, which means you have a bunch of important business to take care of. What you don’t have is time and money for unusual hobbies. Nevertheless, let’s take a look at the most promising opportunities to learn horseback riding in the US. If you have been waiting for a sign this may be it!
Aloha Riding Lessons
Already sounds interesting, right? Here professionals combine riding and horsemanship lessons according to the highest standards. Such an approach helps them keep learners safe and provide horses with the best-quality care. If you have already set riding goals, this place is a perfect choice. Simultaneously, joining the community may help you realize what you truly enjoy. ARL has a wide range of students, which means you won’t feel uncomfortable as a beginner. Experts also come here to train and improve their skills for showing or college.
Even if your mind is set on competition, you can’t skip the part with horse care and managing. Everybody must learn the basics to go on, and this is for the best! You’ll gain invaluable experience learning how to care for your horses, which can be a bit more sophisticated than exploring how to make a reflection paper in college, for example. And, of course, besides being an endless inspiration source, working with horses can become a great meditation opportunity. Here, you can leave your routine worries behind and live in a beautiful moment.
ARL tries hard to combine standard practices with an individual approach. Daily instruction, clinics, and camps are meant to cover horsemanship as a whole, without leaving any nuances without attention. You can visit their website to discover more details, book services, or ask questions in a chat. The services include evaluation lessons, fall break camps, family classes, and monthly riding lesson subscriptions. Situated inside the Koko Crater and Botanical Gardens, ARL provides first-class facilities for students of all levels.
Traditional Equitation School
Our next destination is located at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center. Established in 1981, this is the oldest riding school in this area. Like Aloha Riding Lessons, Traditional Equitation School offers a wide range of services for learners of all levels. Let’s examine some points in detail.
- TES organizes private and group lessons. You’ll deal with well-trained school horses either way.
- TES Horse Camp is available to children ages 6-12 during school breaks. This is a perfect opportunity to move from studies to active rest.
- Children also can enjoy a birthday party at the same location.
- Special attention deserves a Girl Scout and Boy Scout badge program. During two hours scouts can grasp the basics of horseback riding, safety, equipment, and barn chores.
- TEAM TES is an initiative allowing students to compete against other riding schools even if they don’t own a horse.
- Nevertheless, some trained horses are for sale.
- You can contact TES if you already own a horse but require additional guidance. Here you can get full-service horse care, including feeding and exercising.
TES provides helpful videos for those willing to repeat the theory. They also cover most of the controversial points in the FAQ section. For instance, the school clarifies the location, reminds learners of the need for reservation, and reassures them that riding experience is not necessary. Restrictions exist: riders must be at least 4 years old. TES explains the weight limit and the regulations regarding clothes. All learners must wear helmets even if they are interested only in having fun. Remarkably, TES trained several actors who had to deal with horses in their shows.
Working with horses is definitely not a cheap hobby. TES explains this point further by stating that keeping horses in a city is highly challenging. The school has monthly expenses that cover rent, vet care, grooming, supplements, and all types of equipment. It doesn’t work on Mondays to let horses rest after the busy weekends. After all, the well-being of horses and learners is the school’s priority.
California Riding Academy
Last but not least, this school provides the same services as our previous picks. However, its website immediately grasps visitors’ attention with a section that encourages newbies to meet horses. “We love horses, and we treat them with great care. We welcome you to visit them”. Here, you can click on photos of Lady Godiva, Humphrey Bogart, and other horses and ponies that make California Riding Academy such an exciting place. At first sight, there’s nothing revolutionary about creating such a section. However, it demonstrates that CRA highly values a personalized approach. Every horse and every rider are equally special. Success is a result of their common effort and dedication.
Wrapping up
Already feel inspired to turn your dream into reality? That requires extra effort and resources. However, as you see, you can tailor horseback riding training according to your current abilities and objectives. This can be a one-time experience just for fun. You can also join a school and try competing with others. Multiple initiatives will welcome you even if you don’t own a horse. So set your goals, join the community, and find inspiration in a pretty unusual hobby!
There are more informative articles in our section on Riding Disciplines.
