As the weather warms up I’m sure many of you are starting to look for a barn to try some horseback riding lessons or maybe to get back into it after some time away. I’ve moved around a fair amount and therefore have had to find a new barn a number of times. Sometimes I was lucky on the first try, sometimes it took more than one try in a new area.

I think for each of us, the important first step is to think about what type of rider you are and what you’re looking for in a lesson barn. Are you a beginner that wants calm quiet lesson horses or a beginner that prefers to be challenged? Are you more advanced and you want a “hot” horse, one that will willingly take big jumps, one that will make you work, one that is push-button? Watch a lesson
or two, see what the personality of the horses are like, ask the barn manager/instructors about their horses.

Also, think about your goals. Do you want to get comfortable enough riding western that you can enjoy trail riding or an equine vacation? Do you want to enter the show circuit? Do you want to just enjoy the thrill of learning how to communicate effectively with your equine riding partner? Don’t be afraid to talk to the instructors when you meet them about your goals and try to gauge how interested they are in helping you to accomplish those goals.

Especially in today’s economy, another thing to consider is what you can afford. Group lessons are always cheaper than private of course. I ride in a group lesson myself but one thing that I look for is that they limit the group to a reasonable number. Three to five riders per lesson is reasonable. Having 15-20 riders in a ring, some of them jumping, some beginners, some very advanced is a nightmare. At least for me it is. After a busy work week, I look forward to a relaxing ride on the weekend, not a stressful event of constantly trying to avoid a collision. Prices can range a great deal depending on the barn. But again, think about what matters to you. You may be willing to spend a lot more on private lessons with an instructor with a well-known reputation or you may prefer to keep costs low and are perfectly happy in a small group with a knowledgeable instructor that preferred to “stay small” instead of having a hectic life in the show/trainers circuit.

Another aspect to consider is the level of your involvement with the horses. Most barns will have you groom and tack your own horse which I think helps you get to know the horse better and learn about these aspects in case you choose to own your own horse later on. Some barns however will groom and tack and hand you a horse ready to go. This can be a nice convenience especially if your
riding time is limited, but can also rob you of quality time with an equine buddy.

Overall, you should ride somewhere that you feel comfortable-with the people, the horses, and your progress. It’s not always easy to squeeze riding time into a hectic schedule, so the minutes that you do find should be as enjoyable as possible.

Happy riding!