Saddle Up! Where to Learn Horseback Riding in Singapore
Gone are the days when horseback riding was just a thing that the moneyed did for sport or leisure. Nowadays, members of the public can enroll in beginner's horseback riding classes if they want to – and for good reason. Horseback riding poses many benefits to riders, such as helping one stay in shape, fostering a special friendship with a vastly intelligent and gentle animal, and, as the British Horse Society (BHS) has reported, stimulating positive psychological feelings and reducing depression by 30%.
A 2015 study by the Journal of Traumatic Stress has also shown that equine-assisted therapy has significantly helped in reducing posttraumatic stress symptoms.
This 2022, why not step outside your comfort zone and learn horseback riding from these stables in Singapore?
Bukit Timah Saddle Club
The Bukit Timah Saddle Club has been in operation since 1951 when it was set up at Fairways Drive by the Singapore Turf Club (STC) as a place to retrain retired racehorses in skills like show jumping or dressage. The years have seen the Bukit Tima Saddle Club transform into one of Singapore's leading equestrian facilities and, in 2012, was approved by the BHS as a riding, livery, training, and facility centre.
Non-members of the club can take part in its public horse riding lessons, which are done in groups of three to eight. This is recommended for those who have a bit of experience with horseback riding, as riders must take an assessment with a club instructor before they can join the public riding programme.
The public riding programme is sold in a four-lesson package, priced at S$450, with each lesson lasting 45 minutes. For more information on this programme, go here.
Gallop Stable
Another place where you can learn horse riding is Gallop Stable at Horsecity, Bukit Timah, with lessons, joy rides, and trail rides available for all ages. If you'd like to get your child started early on horse riding, Gallop Stable's Pony Trail Ride for three years and above is for you. There are also private and group lessons for beginners (aged four years and above), novices, and advanced for more experienced riders. A beginners to novice group class for aged seven years and above will cost you S$70 per 45-minute lesson and will go up depending on the lesson type (semi-private, private full, or private short).
For a comprehensive view of Gallop Stable's riding lesson fees for each age group, go here.
Singapore Polo Club
The Singapore Polo Club is a landmark of Singapore's colonial past, having been established in 1886 by officers of the King's Own Regiment, the 1st Battalion. It is known as one of the oldest sporting and social clubs in the city-state, and perhaps one of the most prestigious, too, as polo is considered the "Game of Kings." Today, it's the city-state's premier equestrian lifestyle club and boasts of a Riding Academy where members as young as six can learn the fundamentals of horse riding.
For a start, you can view the club’s membership here to consider your options. We believe it’s well worth it.
Singapore Turf Club Riding Centre
The Singapore Turf Club Riding Centre offers horse riding programmes for riders of all levels, from beginner and novice to intermediate and advanced. Located at 1 Equestrian Walk, this centre allows you to choose your type of lesson, such as private, semi-private, or with a group. If you're a new rider with little or no riding experience, you have the option to take its Group Beginner Course, with lessons on Saturday or Sunday afternoon, or the Private Beginner Course if you'd like a more flexible schedule. The minimum age for riders is eight years old. The course consists of seven lessons and lasts 45 minutes per session.
To enquire about the centre's riding lessons, go here.
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