Group Lessons

Our group lessons are the most popular type of lesson, for both children and adults, with a full hour riding (although we offer a half hour group for children under 7 years). The lesson is typically more social, as riders get to know each other, and children build great friendships whilst attending.

Group lessons run at the same time every week and riders can just advise us whether they are attending or not. Our group lessons run mainly at 4.30 pm and later Mon – Thurs and at all hours between 9.30 am and 5 pm at the weekends.

Each group lesson is “graded” to our unique grading system of colours, so riders can swap between group lessons of a similar standard easily if they have appointments/shift work etc to accommodate their riding around.

Group lessons are suitable for any rider who is 5 years or older and average 6 riders in a class. If you would like to join one of our existing groups, then email to arrange/join wait list.

GROUP Lessons

Private Lessons

Private lessons are individual sessions with the coach of your choice and are used for a variety of reasons:

Initial assessment (for someone coming to ride with us who has done some riding previously) – we will use the private lesson to assess you in before advising of group lessons of a suitable standard.
To work on a particular aspect of your riding – if there is something in particular you wish to improve or work on, a private lesson is ideal for this. Many of our riders use a private lesson to improve their work without stirrups, improve their riding on a specific horse or work through a specific exercise.
Lunge lesson – lunge lessons are brilliant for working on your position as you can work without stirrups and reins and really improve your seat.
Competition preparation – many riders use a private lesson to run through an upcoming dressage test or improve their showjumping prior to an event.

Our private lessons range in price depending on which instructor you choose and we offer a £2 discount for private lessons taken before 4p.m Mon – Thurs. If you would like to book a private lesson, then give our reception a call or drop us an email. Our private lesson diary runs one month in advance and always opens on the last Monday of the month before for the next month (e.g. Junes diary will open at 10.00a.m on the last Monday in May). We limit the booking of “peak time” (after 4p.m Mon – Thurs and weekends) private lessons to 2 per rider to try to ensure there is enough availability for everyone.

Private lessons are suitable for any rider who is 5 years or older.

Walkies (4 Years Plus)

Walkies are a brilliant introduction to riding for younger riders as we take children from 4 years upwards for them. Walkies sessions are half an hour long and the children are led either in our indoor arena in bad weather, or out round the farm if the weather is nice. They are a great way to build confidence in younger children before they start lessons but they are also a great “one off” session or treat for a birthday or special occasion. Many parents aren’t sure whether a child will enjoy riding once they try it, so walkies are a great way to assess this whilst also teaching the younger rider the basics of how to hold the reins/steer/stop e.t.c.

Walkies (4 Years Plus)

coach training

Horse riding is a risk sport – when you book a lesson it is important that you are guaranteed a well trained, qualified coach, who specialises in training your level -whatever that level.

At ARC, our coaches are all qualified at a minimum to British Horse Society (BHS) Stage 3 complete coach level. We are also a British Horse Society training and assessment centre, so we can provide tailored training for individuals who wish to train for and sit their BHS professional assessments. As part of our commitment to promoting qualified coaches, we also offer an “open doors” policy for anyone who is preparing for BHS Coach assessments that they can come and watch our coaches delivering their group and private lessons and take notes/assist with setting up exercises e.t.c. Full detail on the BHS career pathway can be found here

If you would like to organise some career pathway training with us, then please email us.

Stable Management

We offer a huge variety of stable management and horse care training from beginner stable management and “fun” pony days for younger riders through to career training for exams. We provide “Pony Stars” weeks and days in the school holidays (Aberdeen City), which is a great scheme for under 12s, focusing on key skill development through fun learning with ponies (see link below):

https://www.bhs.org.uk/careers-recreational-awards/recreational-awards/pony-stars/

We also offer “educational evenings” (details of which can be found on our public Facebook page) where anyone can attend either in person or via live video call and learn about a specific subject.

As an RDA Accessibility Centre our coaches are also experienced at working with participants who require access to horses as a form of therapy – we can arrange specific quiet sessions for participants with sensory requirements and structure grooming/handling sessions in a safe environment to build confidence in those who are struggling with anxiety in the school environment or general busy environments.

Therapy Sessions

As ARC is designed to “make riding accessible to all” we have always ensured that we provide opportunity for those who may require access to horses as a form of therapy. In 2017, ARC was delighted to be recognised as a Riding for the Disabled Accessibility Mark centre.

In order to increase accessibility in this area, ARC provides a subsidised facility (and horses/ponies) for two local RDA groups – ARC Hippotherapy Group (a group which is coached by a physiotherapist who delivers physio sessions to the participants using horses as a movement tool) and Deeside RDA group (who work with local schools to provide fun sessions for young people with disabilities).

ARC also provides subsidised and funded sessions through our mainstream lessons for riders who require access to horses as a form of therapy. As an RDA Accessibility Centre our coaches are experienced at working with diverse participants and those who require access to horses as a form of therapy – we can arrange specific quiet sessions for participants with sensory requirements and structure grooming/handling sessions in a safe environment to build confidence in those who are struggling with anxiety in the school environment or general busy environments.

Hippotheraphy Facebook Page

RDA Website

HIPPOTHERAPHY