LICENSED & Insured 
£70.00 per child U16
2 hours riding
What is the minimum age?
Our recommended minimum age is 7-8 years old depending on size. Typically children of ages 7 to 14 take part, although some older children who have been coming a long time, still take part and enjoy pony days.
Chestnuts Riding School
The Chestnuts Riding School is a professional Equestrian Center located 5 minutes outside of Brighton on A23 (Southbound). We have a huge 40x20 meter floodlit Indoor Riding Arena, and totally road free Hacking on land (now classed as a National Park) accessible using our private bridlepath.
- Professional Establishment.
- Licensed by the Council.
- Fully Insured.
- First Aid Trained Staff onsite.
Pony Day Information
We run Pony Days every week during the School Holidays througout the Year. We've adjusted the days for 2013 onwards to allow for children with little or no experience of riding horses. Recommended Minimum age is 7-8 years old.
Pony for the Day is fun, engaging with lots to do and the children really enjoy themselves. Unlike Farm Days out with horses, we are licensed to provide actual Horse Riding and this is guaranteed as part of their day. The aim is a balance of fun and responsibility, with each rider required to look after their own horse, or learn how to, usually involving most of the activities that are required if you had your own horse.
- Pony Days run from 10am until 4pm.
- Adult Supervision throughout the Day.
- Suitable for Total Beginners and Riders (we split the Groups based on Experience).
- Approximately 2 hours Riding over 2 Sessions.
We don't ask them to do anything too difficult, stable duties (or stable management as it's called in the equine world) are a cut down version of what needs to be done to look after a horse on a daily basis. Keeping the area your horse/pony was tethered to clean while he is there. Putting any Equipment (brooms, brushes, hoofpicks) back after use. Feeding the Horse. Keeping them Supplied with Water on Hot Days. Rugging and Unrugging if needed. Returning them to The Fields or their Box at the beginning of the day. Nothing to difficult, the typical duties and responsibilities that go with horse care and horse riding. And we're happy to help anybody learn these skills. It's a great day, the kids love it, and better still they make friends and gain confidence while doing something they love!
Typical Morning Activities
We change the structure of the Pony Days regularly to keep them enjoyable, so we change the order, sometimes activities will be swapped to the afternoon and vice versa. So this is just a guide of the kinds of activities your child will take part in on a Pony Day.
- Registration & Arrival Time - 9:45 to 10:00am
- Hat Fitment (we provide included in the price for Safety)
- Riding Jodphur Boots provided to Beginners.
- Mucking Out / Cleaning a single box in 2's or 4's.
- Making Yard Feeds in Feed Room.
- Pony Grooming - Brush Kits provided.
- Platting of Mains and Tales
- Putting on Saddle & Bridle for Riding
- Morning Riding Session - 60 minuteas approximately.
- Removing Saddle & Bridle.
- Sponging Ponies off and Grooming.
- 1x Hour Lunch Break
Afternoon Session
- Checking Ponies have Water
- Skipping out - Removing Droppings from their Stables
- Basic Tacking Cleaning including Washing Bridle Bits
- Further Pony Grooming - Brush Kits provided.
- Platting of Mains and Tales if not done in the Morning.
- Putting on Saddle & Bridle for Riding
- Afternoon Riding Session - 60 minutes approximately.
- Removing Saddle & Bridle.
- Sponging Ponies off and Grooming.
- Feeding the Horses.
- Tidying up for Hometime at 4pm.
FAQ
Do I need Riding Experience?
Total Beginners Accepted - We've changed our format this year (2013), we now take children who've never ridden before. We split the groups into experience, so they will receive handler led sessions and gymkhana games. Unlike at farms, they will get to ride the horses!
Children with Riding Experience- Walk, Trot and Canter - For children who can ride (or already ride with us) they will take part in a mixture of Group Lessons, Gymkhana Games a Hacking on the South Downs.
Are you Insured?
Yes. We are fully Insured by South East Essex Insurance Company.
Are you Qualified?
Most of our Instructors hold BHS Stage 1, 2 & 3, PTT (Preliminary Teaching Test), some have AI and Above. The proprietors have over 30 years Teaching & Riding Experience. We are a professional riding school. Key members staff are also First Aid trained, and our safety record is very good, being our primary concern.
What forms do I need to fill out?
You will need to complete a Rider Registration Form (can be done on the day, but please turn up a little early, about 09:30), and provide an up to date Emergency Contact Number every time you come.
Now suitable for Beginners too!
Click Here to Bookor Call 01273 503842
| Term / Holiday | First Day | Last Day |
|---|---|---|
| Autumn Half Term | Saturday October 22 2016 | Sunday October 30 2016 |
| Christmas Holidays | Wednesday December 21 2016s | Monday, January 2, 2017 |
| Spring Half Term | Saturday February 11 2017 | Sunday, February 19, 2017 |
| Easter Holidays | Saturday April 1 2017 | Monday, April 17, 2017 |
| Summer Half Term | Saturday May 27 2017 | Sunday, June 4, 2017 |
| Summer Holidays | Saturday July 22 2017 | Sunday, September 3, 2017 |
