Finding a Place
Ask around. Never underestimate word-of-mouth recommendations. Do you have a friend, or know somebody or rides locally? Ask them where they go. Other places to get recommendations are: Horse-savvy relatives or friends Your local equine veterinarian Employees at the tack/riding supply shop or at your local feed store Local tack shops.
Look through the yellow pages. However, not all stables or riding schools are listed under the yellow pages, and it is hard to tell the quality of such a school or stable through an ad.
Search the Internet. More and more riding schools and stables are getting websites or advertising online. Websites can give you more information then a single advertisement. There are some local authorities and organizations that inspect and approve riding school. Some have lists of approved centers on their website.
Also, don't be afraid to watch a horseback riding lesson to see what you will be doing if you choose that school.
Evaluating the Facilities
Call the prospective lesson site. Ask for a tour of the facility. They will be happy to show you around as they understand that without surveying the facilities you will not be able to make a decision. Set a date and time.
Be prompt. You want to make a good impression. Some things to watch for: Is the barn clean and tidy? The muck heap and dirty bedding should be kept in a pile away from the barn. There should be no broken glass or other dangerous items around. Is everything in good repair? For example, does the barn seem run down or in danger of falling apart? Are any of the fences broken? Are the stalls relatively clean? Horses should not be standing in puddles of their own urine, and stalls should be mucked out once daily. Is the riding arena cramped or obviously too small for the size of the lesson? For any individual activities you may pursue, are there facilities to encourage this? For example, is there a jumping arena, or a place to go trail riding? Do the horses seem happy and healthy? Is the owner and staff open and friendly?
Evaluating the Lessons
Watch different types of lesson, and lessons by different instructors.
Watch one or two lessons to make sure that this is really a place that you want to learn at. Watching more than one is a good idea, as you can develop more of a feel for this person's teaching style.
Pay careful attention to the horses. Are they well-behaved? Are they full of energy, or do they seem tired and lethargic? Are they well-groomed, or very scruffy? A little mud or dirt is okay, but when the horse is caked with it, you have a problem. Does the experience level of the rider match that of the horse they are on? As a general rule of thumb, no horse should be used more than four hours a day with breaks, and no more than 15 hours a weeks. This would depend on the horses fitness and the type of lessons/hacks given. Work load should be suit the individual horse.
Do all of the people in the lesson seem to be about the same level? You do not want to be a beginner in a jumping class, or working with people who have only begun to trot when you are already cantering. Is the barn staff appropriately dressed for teaching? They should be wearing jodhpurs or long pants, along with boots or close-toed shoes. When they are riding, they should always wear a helmet. Western instructors tend to be a bit more lax when it comes to this, however.
Also observe the students. Are they dressed in appropriate riding clothes? These would be long pants, riding boots, and a well-fitting helmet. Everybody should be practicing proper conduct around horses, i.e., no running, shouting, or otherwise endangering themselves or their horses.
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