So, your child wants to start Pony Riding, here is some advice on the best way to start.
Pony Riding Advice
What age should your child start riding, where should you go, and how much does it cost? Is it good for children, and do boys ride? These are all questions that parents frequently ask us at Shetland Pony Club.
Beginners’ Experts
We are an award-winning riding school and we are beginners’ experts. Our Shetland ponies are small and child-sized. We have one to one helpers, making it easy, safe and fun to learn to ride.
Find out the answers that parents face when their child wants to start Pony Riding in this week’s video.
Pony Share Membership 2025
You can experience a pony of your own, the easy way, with Pony Share Membership. Learn to ride, build a bond with your pony, come regularly to our club and enjoy pony fun in the countryside.
Gentle and fun, ideal for those little people age 3+. Enjoy pony dress up and learn to ride along a short trail with chocolate eggs to find in the countryside, followed by a rosette presentation. Each child will have their own pony and helper. The perfect tots treat at Easter for children aged 3 to 6 years old. 3/4 hour long. £55 child.
– enjoy our legendary camp weeks with your favourite Shetland pony (Mon-Thurs). Learn to ride him, look after him and enjoy being with him all day long. Amazing themed days.
– enjoy 4 mornings with your favourite Shetland pony (Mon-Thurs). Learn to ride him, look after him and enjoy being with him all day long. Amazing themes every day.
9:30am – 1pm, Summer holidays only. Age 4+.
£395 per week
Help! My child wants to start Pony Riding
So your child wants to start Pony Riding? At Shetland Pony Club, we’re an award-winning riding school and beginners’ experts. Our Shetland ponies are small and child-sized, and we provide one-to-one helpers to make learning to ride easy, safe, and fun.
Find out the answers that parents face when their child wants to start Pony Riding in this week’s video.
If your child really, really wants a pony and you need some more information about how to start, then watch this video.
Beginners’ experts
Shetland Pony Club are beginners’ experts – we have taught over 20,000 children to ride. In this video Rosemary, Founder of Shetland Pony Club, helps you with all those questions and concerns you may have, such as: How much does it cost? Where do I go? What do I need?
Boys and girls love ponies
Children from age 3 and above can ride with us, as we have small Shetland ponies. Some riding schools need children to be older due to their insurance and the size of their ponies.
Costs are more like skiing and sailing
Riding can be more expensive than football or athletics, but there are ways to enjoy time with a pony before committing to buying one.
Best way to start riding
A Starter Ride is a great way to begin. You will have your own Shetland pony and a one-to-one helper to guide you with getting to know your pony and brushing him. You then help to put on his saddle and bridle and lead him. Then it’s time to ride him, outside in nature, around our meadows.
Children can progress to an Own a Pony Experience which is 2 hours long. They learn pony care as well as riding.
For those who are keen they can join our Pony Share Members Club. That is the best route to start riding before buying your own pony.
We can’t wait to see you for riding again from 2 March 2024!
From Rosemary, Liz, Libbie, the Team, and all the ponies at Shetland Pony Club
P.S. Bookings for riding at Shetland Pony Club are now open and we start riding again on 2 March 2024.
What to book at Shetland Pony Club
Starter Rides – are 45 minutes long and are specially designed as first riding experiences for children. From age 3 years old. £50 per child.
Own a Pony Experiences – are two hours long and are delightful early riding and learning experiences for children from age 4 years old. £75 per child.
Shetland Pony Parties – amazing pony parties for children aged 3 -10 years old. Use of a private facility with 6 ponies, creating magical memories for your child’s birthday. One and a half hours, £750 for 10 children. Extra riding children (up to 18), £30 each.
Easter Egg Hunts – fun Shetland Pony Treasure Hunts especially for Easter, with riding along a trail and chocolate eggs to find in the countryside. Ages 4 to 10 years old. One and a half hours – £75 per child.
Summer pony camp days and weeks – enjoy the whole day with your favourite Shetland pony. Learn to ride him, look after him and enjoy being with him all day long. 9:30am – 4pm, Summer holidays only. Age 5+. £150 per day.
Pony Share Membership – experience a pony of your own, the easy way. Learn to ride, build a bond with your pony, come regularly to our club and enjoy pony fun in the countryside.
Pony Membership– a pony of your own each week, 2 hours, from age 4+ £275 per month.
Mini Membership– a pony of your own each week, 45 minutes, from age 3+ £195 per month.
Pony Walking Experience – the perfect way for grown-ups and everyone aged 11+ to enjoy Shetland Ponies in the beautiful Surrey countryside. Come and spend time learning about and leading an adorable Shetland Pony. Followed by Coffee and brownies. 1 Hour, £50 per adult.
Take a moment to watch this week’s video: Help! My child wants a pony.
In our first 2 videos in this Parents Advice series, we learned that regular access to green spaces, which happens when you ride outside, can make your child healthier and happier. Riding from a young age can lead to a life of success and fun too.
How can my child start pony riding?
Parents often ask us the best way to begin riding with children, because we have taught over 20,000 children to ride. Successful riding starts with having the right trained pony, and a Shetland pony is small and helps children feel confident.
It’s important to have an experienced helper. All our children ride on a lead rein, with a one-to-one helper to guide them every step of the way, making learning riding fun, easy and safe.
Special Riding Method
We have a special beginners’ riding method, where we use soft saddles to start children learning riding. This helps children develop a good seat and position, and we add stirrups and reins later. Children ride outside in nature with friends, so they relax and have fun when they are with their pony, caring for him as well as riding.
Which type of riding should I choose for my child?
Starter Rides are a great way to begin from age 3. Children meet their pony and spend 45 mins with him. They brush and get to know him, and have a short, happy ride with their pony and helper.
Own a Pony Experiences are suitable for children from age 4. They meet their pony and learn how to care for him, as well as a longer ride with friends around our beautiful farmland trails.
Pony Share Membership is great for those who are keen to ride weekly, without the costs and responsibilities of actually owning a pony. It’s a practical way for keen children to learn more and enjoy the benefits of regular riding.
So, a great way to begin riding with children is to start at a specialist children’s riding centre, like Shetland Pony Club.
Bookings are now open for 2024, so if you’d like your child to start pony riding:
We can’t wait to see you for riding again from 2 March 2024!
From Rosemary, Liz, Libbie, the Team, and all the ponies at Shetland Pony Club
P.S. Bookings for riding at Shetland Pony Club are now open and we start riding again on 2 March 2024.
Bookings update – bookings for 2024 are now open!
We start riding again on 2 March 2024 and we are so looking forward to welcoming you!
What to book at Shetland Pony Club
Starter Rides – 45 minutes long and are specially designed as first riding experiences for children. From age 3 years old. £50 per child.
Own a Pony Experiences – two hours long and are delightful early riding and learning experiences for children from age 4 years old. £75 per child.
Shetland Pony Parties – amazing pony parties for children aged 3 -10 years old. Use of a private facility with 6 ponies, creating magical memories for your child’s birthday. One and a half hours, £750 for 10 children. Extra riding children (up to 18), £30 each.
Easter Egg Hunts – fun Shetland Pony Treasure Hunts especially for Easter, with riding along a trail and chocolate eggs to find in the countryside. Ages 4 to 10 years old. One and a half hours – £75 per child
Summer pony camp days – enjoy the whole day with your favourite Shetland pony. Learn to ride him, look after him and enjoy being with him all day long. 9:30am – 4pm, Summer holidays only. Age 5+. £150 per day or £600 per week.
Pony Share Membership – experience a pony of your own, the easy way. Learn to ride, build a bond with your pony, come regularly to our club and enjoy pony fun in the countryside.
Pony Membership– a pony of your own each week, 2 hours, from age 4+ £275 per month.
Mini Membership– a pony of your own each week, 45 minutes, from age 3+ £195 per month.
Pony Walking Experiences – the perfect way for grown-ups and everyone aged 11+ to enjoy Shetland Ponies in the beautiful Surrey countryside. Come and spend time learning about and leading an adorable Shetland pony. Followed by Coffee and brownies. 1 Hour, £50 per adult
