How Do I Find Horseback Riding Near Me?
You’ve decided you want to try your hand at horseback riding.
It is a fun and challenging sport that offers many benefits to your mind and body.
But you may be wondering “how do I find horseback riding near me?”
Choosing the right horseback riding school will have a big impact on your skills, knowledge, safety, and overall riding experience.
I have seen many students get burnt out or frustrated at a riding school and quit the sport altogether.
Instead of quitting, perhaps finding a riding school that better fit what they needed would have kept them riding.
There may be many options available, but it is important to pick on that’s right for you.
First, we’ll discuss how to find horseback riding near you.
I recommend keeping a list of places.
Then we’ll talk about how to find the right fit for what you want to do.
For other related posts check out:
How to Find Horseback Riding Near Me
Thanks to the internet, gone are the days of laborious search.
Today, we can easily find what we are looking for in just 1 click.
If you search for “horseback riding near me”, and Google has enough information on you to know where you live, you’ll get a quick list of all of the riding schools near you.
However, you may need to choose a school in another location.
For example, we live near 95 and rush hour traffic makes it virtually impossible to travel during those hours.
Or perhaps your kids go to school in a specific town and would like to take lessons after school.
For that instance, search for “horseback riding near [town/city]”.
Don’t forget to write down the farm name, location and phone number.
Billions of people are getting social these days, and the good news is, Facebook has already developed a platform where people can easily search for places, people, products and services by clicking the search bar at the top.
You can type “Horseback Riding Near Me”, and just like Google, Facebook can give you multiple results!
In addition to simply searching, also look for groups dedicated to horse enthusiasts in your state.
Search for “horse [state]” in the groups section and likely you’ll find many groups for horse owners, sellers, riders, etc.
These groups are great sources of firsthand reviews of riding schools around you, and are usually incredibly helpful.
Once you’ve been accepted to the group, simply post a question asking for recommendations.
You don’t even need to narrow it down by equestrians.
Join any mom’s in your local area Facebook group, or your town’s/county’s Facebook groups and ask there.
Again, write these down.
Ask around
Sure, there are many different tools and platforms you can use these days (thanks to technology!) to help narrow your search, but still nothing beats Word of Mouth as one of the bests in terms of reliability & value.
Asking around is not too difficult! In fact, it is one of the easiest ways to gain reliable information from someone who has firsthand experience of the products and services you are looking for.
If you know anyone (a family, friend, or officemate) who has done horseback riding before in your area, you can approach them with all the questions you have in mind.
The information you will get will have a big contribution to your decision.
Factors to Consider When Finding A Horseback Riding School
Just like buying a horse, trying out a riding school is a lot like dating.
Very rarely will you fall in love at first site. But, also like dating, you have to know what you’re looking for before you even begin.
Ask yourself why you want to start riding in the first place.
Do you want to ride to learn a new skill?
For exercise?
Something fun to do with friends?
What type of riding do you want to do?
Do you want to compete?
How often can you ride?
Once you know the why and what of riding, and have a list of potential riding schools near you, here are some other things to consider:
Reviews
Reviews are a great place to start narrowing down your search.
You can read reviews from their website, from their Facebook page, forums, Google, and word of mouth.
I personally take reviews from word of mouth more seriously than reviews I find online.
Many of those who post good reviews are encouraged to, and negative reviews are often left by those who feel personally slighted or attacked and are often exaggerated.
Most people who are happy with a riding school will rarely leave a review online, however will tell you their opinion honestly when asked.
Facility
Safety should be number one concern when looking for a horseback riding facility.
Horseback riding is a dangerous sport, even when all safety precautions are done.
You can visit the location to check around their facility, especially the barn, arenas, and fences.
Also ask the personnel specific questions, such as maintenance, professionalism and safety.
If you see a riding facility with things done haphazardly, or if safety doesn’t seem to be in the forefront of every instructor, proceed with caution.
Horses
You’ll be riding on their horses, so you should check whether they look healthy or not during your visit.
One gauge that the horseback riding school cares about their business is the condition of their horses.
Do they look dull and lethargic?
Do they look skinny?
If they do, then you might consider other options.
Lessons
During your visit, try to watch others getting their lessons and pay attention to the teaching style and behavior of the rider and horse.
If the lessons match your expectations and what you are looking for to learn, then they might be a good option to consider.
Instructor
Whether you are a first-timer or looking for an avenue to improve your horseback riding, it is important that you choose an instructor who understands your needs and is able to provide them throughout the duration of your practice.
Your instructor may be well versed with all the tips and tricks of horseback riding, but if they are someone who seems to talk your language or carry the same vibe as you, then you might reconsider.
Your working relationship plays a big part in your riding education, so choose your instructor wisely.
During your visit, they should be able to answer all your questions and ease any doubts you may have.
Overall, finding horseback riding in your area doesn’t take too much time and effort with all the tools and platforms available.
With the tools available, the list of potential riding schools and an interview process to find the right fit, you should easily be able to find a school that suits you!
