Adult Riding and Horsemanship

Adult Riding and Horsemanship 

Our horse riding courses are run over a single session or 2 to 4-weeks during school terms (depending on the course or group you choose). They are suitable for a range of riders; from complete beginner adult riders and parents of riders, to those progressing and improving their skills as well as those looking to get back in the saddle or learn more about horsemanship.
Riders will have a 2-hour session weekly (excluding Single Session Groups, which are standalone sessions). The first 45 minutes of each session consist of horsemanship instruction as a group, preparing the horses for the lesson. The group will then split into pairs and each student will ride under one to one instruction from a coach for 30-minutes whilst the second student watches and learns alongside the coach – an extremely valuable part of the learning process. Riders then progress at their own pace each week.
Courses are suitable for most riding levels.

For riders unable to commit to a 4-week course, there is the flexibility to join a Single Session Group or combine multiple Single Session Groups and/or 2-week courses.
Costs: 1-Day $165 | 2-Weeks $330| 4-Weeks $660 for the full course.

On the day:

Arrive 15 to 20 mins early if possible, to allow for helmet fittings etc.

Location:

101 Booralie Rd, Terrey Hills. There is limited parking outside 101 Booralie Rd. Please be mindful to park in a way that does not block driveways or impact the road. If the limited 3 spot car park is full, please find safe street parking or head to a nearby side street such as along Kallaroo Road. When you enter the property, wait at reception for one of the team to assist you.

What to wear:

Comfortable full-length leggings, jeans or tight fitting pants or jodhpurs are ideal, with layers on top eg. a t-shirt and long sleeved top or jacket.

Covered shoes or boots with a small heel and smooth soles are essential. We have a limited number of boots available in selected sizes to borrow if need be.

Riders will need an EA certified helmet to ride. We have a number of certified helmets in various sizes you can borrow to use during your lesson, if you don’t have your own. (Down the track if you commit to regular lessons you will need to invest in an EA certified helmet of your own.)

About the Trainer

MC Equestrian Riding School is located in Terrey Hills and run by Dee McVicker. With over 30 years of experience Dee ensures the highest safety standards are met for both our riders and our horses. Our coaches are EA qualified and we pride ourselves on improving your horsemanship and enabling you to become a confident rider.

Our horses are calm and well schooled and our facilities are first-class and include; a large floodlit, covered arena and a smaller outdoor round ring. Enrol today as numbers are limited.

This course is suitable for beginner riders and those looking to progress and improve their skills, as well as those looking to get back in the saddle or learn more about horsemanship. Also suitable for parents of riders that want to be able to support their children and learn how to safely handle a horse. All riders must be over the age of 16. 75kg weight restrictions apply for the safety and wellbeing of our horses (only 2 of our horses are suitable for a 75kg weight).

This course is delivered once a week for 4 weeks. Day or Evening courses are available.

You will learn a number of essential horse riding skills including:

• How to correctly saddle and tack up a horse
• How to mount and dismount from your horse
• How to obtain the correct position in your saddle to ride safely
• The correct posture while riding
• Groom and care for a horse
• Terminology and equipment
• How to read a horses body language
• How to walk and guide a horse
• Work your way to an independent trot

Outline of Sessions:

Session 1. Introduction to horse riding – horsemanship
Theory: Learn how to handle a horse

• Key safety factors
• Horse anatomy
• Horse body language
• Terminology
• Equipment/tack for the horse
• Rider’s attire

How to communicate with your horse – body language

Practical: Prepare your horse for riding (Tack up) + Grooming

• How to groom your horse – correct brushes & hoof equipment
• Identify the tack you need for your first ride
• How to put a halter on your horse
• Learn how to correctly tack up your horse – saddle, bridles, boots
• Learn how to rug and un-rug your horse
• Learn how to correctly mount and dismount your horse
• Learn the correct seat for riding – how to sit correctly in your saddle
• Slow walk on lunge

Session 2. Building your knowledge
Theory: Caring for a horse

• How to care for a horse – feeding, farrier, dentist, vet, physio, osteopath, massage
• How to exercise a horse and horse work loads
• First aid
• Recap of last week’s information

Practical: Communication and posture

• Tack up your horse independently
• Independent mount and dismount
• How to communicate effectively with your horse
• Work on posture, position and balance while riding
• Progression to walk off lunge

Session 3. Accelerating your knowledge
Theory: Improving your communication with a horse

• Types of bridles and their differences
• Types of saddles and their differences
• Types of saddle pads shape, half pads & corrector pads
• Types of stirrups and their differences
• Recap of last week’s information

Practical: Improving your riding skills

• Tack up your horse independently
• Independent mount and dismount
• Perfecting your posture, balance and seat
• How to guide your horse around the arena
• Learning to go, stop and turn your horse
• Trot on or off the lunge (depending on your ability)

Session 4. Reinforcing your knowledge

Theory: Recap on horsemanship skills learnt

• Answering questions

Practical: Improving your riding skills

• Tack up your horse independently
• Independent mount and dismount
• Perfecting your posture and seat
• Improving balance in trot work on or off the lunge (depending on rider level)
• Perfecting your riding skills learnt so far
• Work on arena craft (symbols, terminology, rules etc) and movement if applicable