How to get into horseback riding?

[Gold Pile]

Horse riding. Never done it. Can anyone tell where (in general) a person goes to rent a horse with a place to ride?

Will I need lessons? How much would renting and lessons cost?

 

If I later bring a date, will she need lessons too...or can I guide her?

Thank You.

 

PS: Gold Pile has many friends here who will rightly suspect his motives.

But I remind them that Gold would like to enjoy this hobby just for himself, and also a hopefully cheap but fun date activity.

[A Fly onThe Wall]

Oh Boy !!

 

Start by looking in the phone book.. I don't remember where you live but around here they have a dozen or so farms that rent out horses and do riding lessons..

 

it couldn't hurt do do the lessons.. I think they are fairly cheap..it's owning the horse that is expensive

 

Good luck

[Gold Pile]

Fairly cheap..I like that. Owning expensive, perhaps I'll be considered rich by association:rolleyes:

 

I'll tell my dates that my own horse is in the shop for repairs, Or "they're on loan to Budwieser this week".

[A Fly onThe Wall]

Originally posted by Gold Pile

Fairly cheap..I like that. Owning expensive, perhaps I'll be considered rich by association:rolleyes:

 

I'll tell my dates that my own horse is in the shop for repairs, Or "they're on loan to Budwieser this week".

 

A clydesdale ( budwieser ) is about 18 hands tall.. Too tall to ride properly.. They are work horses

[Shana]

I own horses, run a facility as well.

 

- You DO need lessons, and not just 1 or 2 either...

-So will your "date".

 

-You cannot be the "trail guide" remember you do not know how to ride.

 

-Fairly cheap?? Yeah ok.. Try $90 per HOUR ride .. so are you willing to give up 180.00 for you and your date to ride for an hour? And that is just trail riding. Lesson with an actual instructor runs from $50 per 1/2 hour to 80 per hour, sometimes more.

 

Maybe you should stick to the movies instead? Drive in's perhaps, they are only $4.00 on Wednesdays!

 

I find it funny that people think they can just hop on and ride and they it is no big deal to ride and that it is cheap.. totally the other way around.. horses can KILL you if you do not know what you are doing, heck, ive been riding, showing and owning for 20 years now and I am still learning something new every day.. and just thankful that financially I can own and enjoy these beautiful animals.

 

So, I do in fact think a movie is a better place for you to go..

[Gold Pile]

You sure don't market your biz very well!!!!!

 

Thanks for the info.

 

Could I get some sort of discount for riding a lame horse, or maybe a pony?

A platinum card discount?

[A Fly onThe Wall]

Originally posted by Shana

-Fairly cheap?? Yeah ok.. Try $90 per HOUR ride .. Lesson with an actual instructor runs from $50 per 1/2 hour to 80 per hour,

 

Now I'm not a horse lesson expert but from the reaserch I just did in my Area (atlanta)

 

The most expensive lesson is 40.00 per hr and 20 more for an instructor..

I don't know what part of the world Shana is in but I would think that 90 or more per hr would be price gouging and a rip off.. and 100.00 per hr for an istructor is way out there..

 

Again... I'm not a horse expert but just from 5 mins of research I came up with a reasonable price..

 

And I have ridden before without lessons.. So it can be done... Shana is wrong in that aspect..

 

Go for it GoldPile

 

 

Try googling "horse riding lessons cost" with your "area" in the window and you will see

[curiousnycgirl]

Let me clarify for everyone. Yes you can rent a horse and go for a trail ride - generally the cost is fairly low, the horses totally docile and safe. However NO you will not be allowed to take them out on your own and no doing that does NOT mean you know how to ride.

 

It is totally irresponsible for anyone to think they can just take a horse out for a spin. You couldn't even do that with a car without lessons! Now imagine getting behind the wheel of a car that actually has a brain and (albeit a bitty one that is often flawed), with no idea how to control it - scary thought huh?

 

And while you may know your area really well - I doubt you know the horse trails so very well, again totally irresponsible to just take someone's horse out when you don't know the area - and generally there are no maps

 

Bottom line - if you want to enjoy horseback riding, and actually pick it up as a hobby - then you need to invest the time and money in lessons.

 

I would also suggest making sure you learn about the animals first! I am totally astounded at the number of people out there who ride (even compete) who don't know the first thing about caring for a horse! For me it is part of the joy of owning a horse - spending the time caring for him.

 

Hope this helps.

[morrigan]

Most areas do have horse farms where you can take riding lessons and small excursions. I agree--even though the mounts that newbies ride are pretty gentle, you're not going to saddle up and turn into Gene Autry within 3-5 hours.

 

If you want to go horseback riding for a date, go ahead. Prices vary, Shana's pricing is not the most expensive, it depends on the region and on the the ranch/stables themselves.

 

A friend of mine has three horses on his farm, I've been riding with him for a couple of years, and I still would never be considered an expert rider. Horses are beautiful animals, but you truly have to enjoy giving your time and patience to work with them, and train them properly.

[Moose]

Shana and curiousnygirl,

 

Gold Pile is welcome to come out to my place, hop on MY horses, let the reigns hang on the horn and enjoy, they know the area better than any of us, and will do all the work themselves.

 

I don't know where you guys go riding or if you even do own horses Shana, but if you do IRL......you need to spend ALOT more time with them..........

[Shana]

Do ANY of you own, show, take lessons or even trail ride here? ]

 

Ive owned and operated, show GP (Grand Prix) horses and give lessons... for what 20 years now.. SO, with that, yes, you can go to a boot leg trail riding place which will let you ride one of their numerous 20 + year old broken down horses for an hour at a good rate.

 

BUT, if you taking actual lessons, and also most trail barns, the going rate in NJ/NY/CT/NH/ME areas are what I stated in previous posts.

 

Lessons where I am and what I charge is 80/hour. Boarding is 1200.00/month and my string of horses are worth millions.

 

So, don't tell me I am "misjudged", wrong or don't know what I am talking about.. I can run circles around your thoughts of what you think is riding horses is about.

 

Goldpile, I think your statement about lame horses is just as immature as your other posts on this board. no one is laughing at your stupid comment. You talk the talk about ACTING like the wealthy but we know your just not, so again, stick to a 4 buck movie.

[saddle]

I thought the lame econo horse crack was funny.

 

Nobody has mentioned HB riding has a good way to put your date in the mood.

A bouncy, motion thing going on during a ride. After a ride is about the only time my wife it a sure thing, as fer as sex goes.

[Moose]

Shana,

 

That's nice......proud of you, really........

 

Gold Pile is talking about taking a woman out for a date......not to become a showman, or barrel rider........

I can run circles around your thoughts of what you think is riding horses is about.

Then you ought to know first hand it should be about the relationship between man and beast.....not a show~

Lessons where I am and what I charge is 80/hour. Boarding is 1200.00/month and my string of horses are worth millions.

Like I said, good for you......my, "string", is worth a lot more to me than money, because I know them and have a relationship with them. ANYONE, and I mean ANYONE from 6 to 66 can get on anyone one of them and be safe.....your animals have to have an experienced, overpaid, know it all to ride them......no thanks.

 

And before any of you LS'rs give me grief about being a jerk over this, you must know that horse owners are passionate over their animals.

 

With that said, Shana, what works for you is fine.......what works for me is fine. I have living proof that your statement is wrong about not being able to get onto an animal and ride without experience.......

[A Fly onThe Wall]

Originally posted by Shana

I own horses, run a facility as well.

Fairly cheap?? Yeah ok.. Try $90 per HOUR ride .. so are you willing to give up 180.00 for you and your date to ride for an hour? And that is just trail riding. Lesson with an actual instructor runs from $50 per 1/2 hour to 80 per hour, sometimes more.

Originally posted by Shana

Lessons where I am and what I charge is 80/hour. Boarding is 1200.00/month and my string of horses are worth millions.

 

Which is it that you charge ? 80 or 90 per hour ..

 

You are almost as bad as goldpile with your issues over money .. Come on.. Saying your string is worth millions is supposed to make us believe you more ?

 

Personally how much your string of horses is worth doesn't bring any merit at all to your post.. Your experience does..

[Moose]

I forgot to mention, the oldest mare I have is 7 years old........

[Shana]

Originally posted by A Fly onThe Wall

Which is it that you charge ? 80 or 90 per hour ..

 

You are almost as bad as goldpile with your issues over money .. Come on.. Saying your string is worth millions is supposed to make us believe you more ?

 

Personally how much your string of horses is worth doesn't bring any merit at all to your post.. Your experience does..

 

I charge $80.00 like I said. BUT they run 90 + .. so. what did i say wrong?

 

You don;t have to believe anything I say, believe me I AM NOT A money maniac like our very own GoldPile here. Trust me. I just happen to have some nice horses and a good business, that's all. You ARE SO RIGHT when you say, its not the $$ its the experience. It kills me how SO MANY people own horses but don't know what end they crap out of, that's a whole nother story though..

 

MOOSE: I agree with you too.. I am passionate about my horses, God, I would give the world for my 37 year old pony to not be that old and to not have ringbone, but he does, and I deal with it..

 

I would give anything to have my beloved grey back who had a basketball sized tumor internally that eventually put him to sleep.. Geez, I am getting the "willies" thinking about him...

 

There is nothing better then hearing the barn all quiet with the only noise being the horses eating their hay. When they give you that morning hello, everyone of them... they don't compare to much.

 

My string runs from 3 to 38 years old.. Yes, I do have some horses that anyone can ride but I do have those experience only beasts as well.. Just because I have a different schedule for my horses does not mean they are not my life and that money is..

 

Again, I would give up my house and home for some of these beasts that got short changed..

 

So, back to the OP, Goldpile .. just be careful...

[curiousnycgirl]

Moose and Shana -

 

Your little exchange reminded me of my b/f and I - made me LOL!

 

Indeed my horse is one of those hot house roses, who needs a fairly experienced rider on his back. Mostly because it makes him feel more secure. I bought him as a barely green broke 3 year old and have spoiled him ever since - so he is a wee bit behind in the maturity department. On the other hand if you put a child on his back, he is kind, sweet and gentle.

 

My b/f on the other hand used to own mountain horses - anyone and everyone could ride them, they were totally self sufficient (in fact they were turned out all winter to fend for themselves) - he primarily used them for hunting, the theory is to have the horse carry the carcass home, and he would even shoot from the back of his horses! Try that on mine and you'll be heading G-d only knows where REALLY fast.

 

My b/f thinks I'm nuts and I cannot believe any animal owner would not be as fanatical as I am about their babies!

 

Bottom line is that the original poster was asking about getting into riding as a hobby - so some of us answered in a very serious way. If you want to become a rider, you need to take lessons! If you want to take a casual ride, you need to find somewhere that has sweet docile animals that will allow you to take them out.

 

I also agree with Shana - I see way too many riders, even competitives ones, who don't know the first thing about horses - and frankly they don't care. I know someone who has bought their kid 3 horses, the cheapest of which was $150K (for that kind of money the kid can sit on it backwards and win) - and the kid doesn't know how to groom or tack up her own horse! Plus she has pushed so hard to win in competition, without building an acceptable trusting relationship with the horse, that she has completely killed the spirit of at least one of them (the last one is on his way to mental breakdown, but hopefully we got him out in time). So I do indeed get quite passionate about what it means to be a rider and a horse person.

[Shana]

Curious-

 

We are alot alike with thoughts of our horses. I took it seriously (like a few of us, yes) because we know the animals.. We totally went off topic. Nice to know there are others who share the joy of horses here!