Learn together • Build confidence • Make friends • Have fun
Group riding lessons are a fantastic way to develop your riding, build confidence and enjoy time in the saddle alongside other riders of a similar ability.
At Smugglers Equestrian Centre, our group lessons cater for a wide range of riders, from complete beginners taking their first steps into riding through to confident children and advanced adult riders.
Our group lessons are organised by rider grade, rather than simply by age.
This helps us place riders with others working at a similar level, allowing our instructors to plan lessons that are appropriate, enjoyable and progressive for the whole group.
As your riding develops, your instructor can update your grade, opening up different sessions and opportunities.
Our 30-minute children's beginner groups are designed for riders who are new to riding or are still developing their basic skills.
These sessions may work on:
• Correct position and balance
• Starting, stopping and steering
• Developing confidence in the saddle
• Riding independently
• Walk and introductory trot work
• Rising trot
• Basic school movements
• Learning how to ride safely around other horses and ponies
As riders become more confident and capable, they can progress through our grading system and move into the appropriate next-level sessions.
Once children have progressed to beginner canter level and above, they can join our hour-long children's group lessons.
The additional riding time allows our instructors to develop more advanced exercises and skills depending on the grade of the group.
Lessons can include flatwork, canter work, poles, jumping, position and balance exercises, transitions, school movements and confidence-building exercises.
Higher-grade groups will work on increasingly technical exercises appropriate to their ability.
No two lessons need to be exactly the same — our instructors can vary the sessions to keep riders learning, progressing and enjoying their riding.
Never ridden before? Returning after many years away? Or simply want to take things steadily?
Our 30-minute adult beginner groups provide a friendly introduction to riding alongside other adults at a similar stage.
Sessions concentrate on establishing the basics, including balance, position, control, steering, walk and trot, while gradually developing confidence and independence.
They're a great way to discover riding without feeling as though you need any previous experience.
For adults who would like a longer session, we also offer one-hour adult beginner groups.
These provide more time in the saddle to practise and consolidate the basics, develop confidence and work towards the next stage of your riding.
They can also be perfect for adults returning to riding who remember the basics but want time to rebuild their confidence and riding fitness.
For our more experienced adult riders, our one-hour advanced group lessons provide the opportunity to work on more developed riding skills in a sociable group environment.
Depending on the level of the group, lessons may incorporate flatwork, lateral work, poles, canter exercises, jumping, technical exercises and preparation for competitions or other riding goals.
These sessions are a great combination of quality coaching, progression and the social side of riding.
Our group sizes vary depending on the session, with approximately 6–8 riders in a group.
Riders within each session are grouped according to their riding grade, helping our instructors provide exercises appropriate to the overall ability of the group.
Our horses and ponies are also carefully allocated according to each rider's ability, experience, confidence, height and weight.
Our regular group lessons are held in our indoor riding school, meaning riders can enjoy their lessons without having to worry about typical Welsh weather!
The indoor arena provides a dedicated environment for lessons throughout the year, with our instructors able to use a wide variety of exercises to keep sessions interesting and progressive.
More Than Just a Riding Lesson
Group lessons aren't only about improving technical riding skills.
They're also a brilliant opportunity to:
Many of our riders start as complete beginners and progress through the grades together, building friendships and sharing their riding journey along the way.
We run a fantastic selection of children’s and adult group riding lessons Monday to Saturday, from complete beginners and our youngest riders through to confident canter, jumping and advanced adult groups.
All sessions are organised by rider grade, helping to ensure riders are riding with others of a similar ability and working towards appropriate learning goals.
Day |
Time |
Session |
Grade |
Duration |
| Monday | 4:30pm | Beginner Canter | Grade 3 | 1 Hour |
| 5:30pm | Children's Beginner | Grade | ||
| 6:00pm | ||||
| 6:30pm | ||||
| 7:30pm | ||||
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