Wimbledon Village Stables,
London, offers a series of Short Riding Courses for riders
of all abilities. A short course can be the perfect
introduction to the challenging and rewarding world of
riding or, for those who’ve ridden before, a great way to
build on experience already gained. Whether you’re a
beginner, a recreational rider or an aspiring professional,
Wimbledon Village Stables has a Riding Course or
Horsemanship Course to suit you. Our team of friendly,
professional instructors
and quality, well-mannered horses will make it an unforgettable equine
experience.
At the bottom of the page you
can see the
Instructors Timetable which shows which instructors are assigned to each
course
A golden opportunity to learn what a fun leisure activity riding can
be. We’ll help you master the basics in a single day.
Perfect for those planning a riding holiday or horseback safari, or
simply for those who’d prefer a condensed start to their learning,
our Learn to Ride in a Day Courses are hugely popular. Each
rider is assigned their own private instructor for the day and,
through a combination of ridden instruction and demonstration, will
be taught how to mount and dismount, sit correctly, increase and
decrease pace, communicate direction and gain more control of their
horse.
Available
Wednesday, Thursday or Friday
Non-Member’s Price
£190.00
Session
10.00am-3.00pm
The
lunch hour gives you time to explore the bars, restaurants & shops
in Wimbledon Village.
A perfect follow-up to the
Learn to Ride in a Day Course, or ideal for those who have ridden before
but would like to spend a day brushing away the cobwebs and brushing up
their skills! Each rider is assigned their own instructor for the morning session to ensure that they can focus and progress happily at their own pace.
They will then join a group lesson or hack in the afternoon.
Riders should be Level 3 or above.
Available
Wednesday, Thursday or Friday
Non-Member’s Price
£175.00
Session
10.00am-3.00pm
The
lunch hour gives you time to explore the bars, restaurants & shops
in Wimbledon Village.
Available during half-term
and holiday periods, this course has been designed for ‘intermediate’
level riders (those familiar with trot diagonals, canter leads and basic
school movements) to consolidate their skills and focus on areas for
improvement. Over four half-day sessions instruction will focus on the
development of balance and a deeper seat through more subtle, yet
effective, use of the aids, while daily lecture/demos will illustrate
and clarify points covered.
Available
Tuesday-Friday
Start Dates
This course is available for a group of 4
riders, minimum of one months' notice requried
Ideal for the complete
beginner or those with a little riding experience, this one-to-one
Introductory Course will, over six one-hour sessions, provide a thorough
grounding in basic horsemanship. Riders will learn the correct
position, along with the control and balance needed to further their
riding skills confidently and safely. Theory topics will help promote
understanding of and empathy with the horse.
Available
Tuesday-Friday
Session
10.00-11.15am or
1.45-3.00pm
Duration
6
sessions to be booked in advance
and taken within a 6 week period
Desperate for an
excuse to escape work or your domestic chores? Need some
quality ‘me’ time? Tired of the gym and over yoga? - after feedback
from some of our female clients, we decided to develop an idea
tailored for ladies who love to have fun and spend time with
like-minded people and, most importantly, love the idea of riding!
The Get To Know
Your Horse Course is suitable for women of all ages at any level
of riding ability who are keen to learn how to ride or to improve
their riding in a friendly, fun environment
We meet at 10.45am
every Wednesday for a 45 minute session of Horse Care and Stable
Management over coffee, followed by one hour’s riding.
We have a fantastic
selection of well-mannered horses and ponies on which you can learn,
along with qualified, sympathetic instructors to guide you on your
journey.
Stun friends and
family with your new found proficiency in all things equine! Join
the Get To Know Your
Horse Course
and see what fun horse riding can be.
What is Riding Inside Out: “Horses
are wonderful teachers because they are sensitive and immediate in
their response to us.”
The nature of the RIO workshops is one of exploration. Through
theory sessions, we will use techniques to improve mind/body
co-ordination and methods of physical and mental relaxation. We
will look at how our attitudes about life, ourselves and others can
affect our riding both positively and negatively.
During the riding session we gain firsthand experience of how our
attitudes and intentions are reflected back to us by our horse.
Thus, by using the horse almost as a mirror, we can learn a great
deal about the way we inhibit or enhance the horse’s performance.
In short, to ride well we need to have a balanced mind. This means
being able to focus one’s attention by steadying one’s thoughts and
emotions and freeing our bodies. This will allow you to be supple,
still and alert leading to the ultimate goal – a balanced horse who
is a delight to ride.
Who is RIO suitable for? Anyone!
Because of the style of these workshops, with the emphasis being on
self discovery, we can work with all levels of ability from absolute
beginners to highly experienced and proficient riders. Everyone
learns from each other.
Who runs the Courses? – Caroline Chalk MSTAT UKCP reg Caroline
is passionate about riding (and horses) and is interested in
enabling people to get the very most out of their riding as sport,
recreation or profession. She is a Psychotherapist, Teacher of the
Alexander Technique, trainer and horse woman (BHS Trained). For
the last 21 years she worked freelance over a range of activities,
teaching in this country and abroad. She has been running the RIO
workshops for 7 years and has devised this course, which brings
together her interests in riding and personal development.
Ideal for
riders who want to improve their technique and confidence.
Caroline has been influenced by Mary Wanless and will be working
with some of the techniques that Mary has developed.
Riding and Road Safety
with Caroline Stevenson, BHSI
The BHS Riding and Road Safety Test is taken by over 4,000
candidates a year and helps to educate riders in road safety in
order to minimise the risk involved when riding on the roads.
Training is available to all riders from 12 years of age and the
test is supported by the DETR.
For more information about the Exam
click hereI
Read our
Road Safety Guidelines
Keen to burn
up to 400 calories an hour without going to the gym? Why slog away
for hours in a gym when you can have fun whilst getting fit with
your horse? This special new course will combine exercises and
stretches both on the ground and on your horse guaranteed to tone
your muscles and develop your fitness levels.
The following courses are six weeks in duration, being one session per
week. The content of each course varies, but most include group discussion
as well as professional demonstration and all of the ridden courses include
a minimum of one hour’s riding per lesson. These courses are free for Gold and Silver
Members. (Please note that we can arrange courses at alternative times
to suit your requirements – call or e-mail
Sarah Chittenden in the office
for further information).
This course has been
developed for those who have already progressed through walk to rising
trot and canter, and would like to develop their confidence and
experience. We will help you improve your position and technique in
order for you to become a more effective and sympathetic rider.Discussion time will focus on understanding how the horse moves and
communication between horse and rider.
Designed for those familiar
with trot diagonals, canter leads and basic school movements, this
course focuses on building experience and improving co-ordination and
balance in all three gaits so giving the rider confidence to progress
further.
This course has been
developed for the more experienced rider, already competent in all three
paces and keen to develop the finesse to take their riding to the next
level. Goals are a deeper seat and more effective use of the aids. The
emphasis will be on the use of the half-halt, working into the bridle
and the principles of lateral work. Riders will be able to work at a
more advanced level, and will have a greater understanding of how to
improve the horse’s performance.
If you’re confident in all
three paces, are
able to ride school movements accurately and in full control and
you’ve often watched enviously as horse and rider effortlessly pop
fences, this is the course for you. Starting with simple pole work and
progressing through grid work, this course aims to give you the skills
and confidence needed to achieve the ultimate goal of an accurate and
fluent round over a small course of fences.
Designed for those riders
at Preliminary (basic) dressage level, able to ride in a forward and
balanced manner, this course will work towards achieving greater
engagement and the ability to vary tempo within any gait, as well as
creating and maintaining impulsion through accurate transitions. Rein
back and lengthening will also be covered, and the course will work
towards riding a Novice dressage test on the final day.
This
course will help prepare you for the first of the professional
qualifications. Although we do take great pride in seeing our pupils
succeed under exam conditions and gain recognised qualifications, some
of our clients choose not to take the exam at the end of the Course,
they’re just happy with their new-found knowledge and keen to put it
into practice. We run a twelve-week course divided into two six-week
terms, with a one-week mid-term break. The Course will cover riding in a
correct, balanced position in walk, trot and canter and riding without
stirrups in walk and trot. You will be taught to recognise correct trot
diagonals and canter leads and to ride simple school movements
accurately. It will also include working over poles in jumping position
in walk and trot.
This
Course will help you prepare for the second of the professional
qualifications. Again, some clients choose not to take the exam at the
end of the course. We run a twelve-week course divided into two six-week
terms, with a one-week mid-term break. The Course will cover riding with
good posture both with and without stirrups in walk, trot and canter,
applying correct aids for canter leads and school movements. You will
be taught to jump a small grid and course of fences in harmony with your
horse whilst demonstrating a secure jumping position.
Available
Tuesdays
10.15-12.15
Wednesdays 9.00-11.00
Start
Dates
8/1/08, 15/4/08, 9/9/08
9/1/08,
16/4/08, 10/9/08
Duration
2 x 6 week
terms
Non-Member’s Price
£500.00
per term
Member’s
Price
(if taken as weekly ride)
£175.00
per term
Member’s
Price
(in addition to weekly ride)
£350.00
per term
See Exam
Training for details of British Horse Society Stage 1 and Stage 2
Horse Knowledge and Care courses.
Please
note that numbers are strictly limited to 4 - 6 riders on each Course
(dependent on course) so do please book early to avoid disappointment. You
do not need to be a Wimbledon Village Stables Member to participate,
although Members will receive priority when booking. Bookings for
Non-Members will only be confirmed on receipt of a completed Booking Form
accompanied by a £50.00 deposit. (Booking forms available via e-mail or
from the office.)
In addition to the
lessons shown on this chart all the instructors are available at any
other times for private, semi-private lessons, private and
semi-private hacks, jumping lessons and training hacks.
