Lead rein ride
a ride, from$30
- An adult leads the pony the whole time
- Walking, sitting tall and a little trot
- Patting and saying goodbye at the end
- A parent stays at the arena fence
Learn to ride on ponies who know the way
Group lessons, private lessons and pony days for children from age four and adults of any age, in an indoor school and a sand arena with qualified instructors. Pick a lesson and a slot, and the yard confirms by the next working day.
From age 4on a lead rein pony
22 horsesand ponies, matched to each rider
6 ridersat most in a group
- Riding hats lent for every lesson
- Groups of six at most
- Indoor school for wet days
- Calm, schooled horses and ponies
Lessons and pony days
Every lesson includes the horse or pony, a riding hat if you need one and a qualified instructor. New riders start with a private assessment so we can place them in the right group.
Group lesson
a lesson, from$45
- Grouped by ability, not just by age
- Beginners, improvers and riders who jump
- Weekday evenings and weekend mornings
- Ten lessons for the price of nine
Private lesson
a lesson, from$65
- The first lesson for every new rider
- Nervous riders and returning adults
- Work on one thing at your own pace
- 30 minute lessons for children at $45
Pony day
a day, from$95
- Catching, grooming and tacking up
- Two riding sessions and a stable talk
- Feeding and mucking out with the team
- Bring a packed lunch and a water bottle
Lessons cancelled with 48 hours' notice are moved or refunded. Later cancellations are charged, unless we cancel because of weather or a horse's health.
Ages, weights and experience
These limits protect riders and the horses' backs. Every rider is matched to a horse that can carry them comfortably and suits their experience.
| Lesson | Ages | Rider weight | Experience |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead rein ride | 4 to 7 | Up to 35 kg | None needed |
| Pony day | 8 to 14 | Up to 60 kg | Can sit a walk and trot |
| Group lesson | 7 and over | Up to 95 kg | After a private assessment |
| Private lesson | 6 and over | Up to 95 kg | Any level, first timers welcome |
We ask each rider's height and weight on the booking form only to choose a suitable horse, and we keep it private. Riders over 95 kg are welcome to call us about ground work and stable care sessions.
Safety comes before the stirrups
Riding carries a real risk of falls, even on the quietest pony and with careful teaching. That is why nobody mounts without a riding hat made to a current safety standard, fitted and checked by an instructor before every lesson.
Our instructors hold coaching qualifications and first aid certificates, and every lesson has a first aider on the yard. Riding schools are licensed and inspected in many countries, and the rules differ, so ask to see the licence of any school you choose.
- Riding hats lent at no charge, or your own checked for fit
- Boots with a small heel, never trainers or wellies
- Body protectors for jumping and for riders under 12
- A parent or guardian signs for every rider under 16
Your first ride
Every new rider, child or adult, starts the same way, so the instructor knows exactly who is in the saddle.
Ask for a lesson
Choose an assessment or a lead rein ride, give the rider's age, height and weight, and pick a time.
Arrive early
Come 20 minutes before the lesson in long trousers and boots with a heel, so we can fit a hat.
Meet your horse
Your instructor introduces the horse, shows you how to lead it and helps you mount from the block.
Ride and plan
After the lesson the instructor suggests the right group or the next private lessons.
A few of the horses and ponies
Twenty two horses and ponies live at Meadowgate, from a tiny Shetland for the youngest riders to a tall hunter for experienced adults. Height is measured in hands at the shoulder.
- Pepper, Shetland, 9 hands
- Dandelion, Welsh pony, 12 hands
- Biscuit, Connemara, 14 hands
- Moss, Highland pony, 14 hands
- Duchess, cob, 15 hands
- Rolo, Haflinger, 14 hands
- Captain, hunter, 16 hands
- Bramble, New Forest pony, 13 hands
Every horse and pony has two rest days a week, and none works more than three lessons a day. Riders are matched to a horse at each booking, so the pony a child rides grows with them.
Life at the yard
Lessons in the indoor school, grooming before a pony day, the tack room, meadow hacks and evening turnout.
Riders and parents at the gate (example reviews)
Our son was scared of horses before his first lead rein ride. Six months on he grooms Pepper by himself and talks about her at every dinner.
Returning to riding at fifty felt daunting. Private lessons on Duchess rebuilt my confidence one canter at a time, and the instructor never once rushed it.
A pony day is the best kind of tired. Our twins came home smelling of hay, full of stories about mucking out, and asked to book the next one in the car.
Questions riders and parents ask
What should a new rider wear?
Long trousers or jodhpurs, boots with a small heel and a jacket you can move in. We lend riding hats and body protectors; gloves are a good idea in cold weather.
What if it rains?
Lessons move into the indoor school, so most go ahead in any weather. We cancel only for storms, ice or ground that is unsafe, and those lessons are moved at no cost.
Can parents watch?
Yes, from the viewing bench beside the arena. A parent or guardian of any rider under eight stays on site for the whole lesson.
Why do you need my weight?
So we can choose a horse that carries you comfortably and safely. It goes to the instructor only, and the limits for each lesson are listed in the table above.
What happens if a rider falls?
The instructor stops the lesson and a first aider checks the rider. If there is any sign of injury we call the parent and, where needed, the local emergency number. A rider who hits their head does not ride again that day, and we recommend a check with a doctor.
How quickly will my child learn?
Some riders trot alone after a month and others after a year, which is why no date is ever promised for trotting off the lead or jumping. Instructors explain what each rider is working on and what comes next.
Book a lesson
Choose a lesson, a day and a time, and tell us about the rider. An instructor looks at each request personally, then answers inside one working day with a confirmed slot, another time, or advice on a better lesson to start with.
- Your place is held only once we confirm
- Payment is made to the yard after we confirm
- Riding hats are lent for every lesson
Find the yard
Meadowgate sits at the end of the meadow lane, with parking in the field by the gate and a viewing bench beside the arena.
Call or email the yard
A yard on the meadow lane, five minutes past the last bus stop west of town
Yard hours
| Tuesday to Friday | 15:30 to 20:00 |
| Saturday and Sunday | 08:30 to 17:00 |
| Monday | Horses' rest day, office only |
Come and meet the ponies
Families are welcome to visit before booking, on weekend afternoons after the last lesson. Wear sturdy shoes, and please ask before feeding any of the horses.
Arrange a visit