LESSONS
LESSONS
We ride at Trent Park Equestrian Centre (nearest tube stop is Oakwood on the Picadilly line).
All lessons are one hour long, so please ensure you arrive at least fifteen minutes early to the stables for your lesson!
We have a maximum of eight riders per lesson, so make sure you book your place in advance. If you have never ridden at Trent Park before, you will need to fill out a rider's form before your lesson.
Below is some information on the different riding abilities, but if you are still unsure, please don't hesitate to email us with your riding history!
BEGINNERS
If this is your first time riding, or if you have not ridden very often, then this would be the group for you.
Beginners should be working towards:
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applying simple aids and instructions (for halt, walk, and trot)
achieving rising trot effectively, and understanding what the correct diagonal is
developing a balanced seat on the horse
NOVICE
If you have ridden before, and are confident riding in trot, then Novice is for you.
Novices should be working towards:
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having a balanced seat that is maintained
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learning to canter and work over poles
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beginning to work in open order and not as a ride
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being more aware of others riding within the riding school
beginning to understand how to collect the horse
INTERMEDIATE
If you are confident in walk, trot and canter, and have just started learning to jump, then intermediate lessons are the choice for you.
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Intermediate riders should be working towards:
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riding in open order effectively, with an awareness of what other riders are doing around them
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learning how to collect the horse and riding lateral movements, such as leg yielding
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adapting their riding to the different types of horses they ride
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jumping fences up to the height of 50cm, and starting to count strides up to, and between, fences
ADVANCED
If you can jump fences over 80cm, and are confident riding the more challenging horses, this is the group for you.
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Advanced riders should be working towards:
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being able to complete a dressage test
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jumping fences over 80cm
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focusing not only on improving themselves, but also on improving the horses they ride and their weaknesses
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being able to perform more complex lateral work
Friendly League
Advanced riders who are not on the BUCS teams, but still want to compete for KCL, now have the opportunity to ride against other universities in our Friendly League.
All competitions have the same format as the BUCS competitions. The only difference is that these have a more relaxed atmosphere.
If you would like to compete in the Friendly League, please don’t hesitate to contact us for more information!
BUCS Teams
Our BUCS riders represent KCL in competitions against other universities, and this year we are pleased to be putting forward another three teams into the BUCS league.
Each team is made up of four riders. Competitions are made up of two parts: a dressage test in the morning, and a showjumping course in the afternoon. Four horses will be allocated for dressage, and four different horses for showjumping. Each team rides the same four horses for each discipline, with each rider drawing a horse's name out of a hat, so having a bit of luck comes in handy!
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Team trials take place at the beginning of every academic year. For further information, please contact us via email.
PRICES
PRICES
If you would like to join our lessons, you must buy a membership first, which includes insurance for the year.
HALF-YEAR MEMBERSHIP
Beginners, Novice, Intermediate, and Advanced riders
£35
ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP
Beginners, Novice, Intermediate and Advanced riders
£40
ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP
Beginners, Novice, Intermediate, and Advanced riders
£60
ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP
BUCS Team riders
£100
LESSON
1 hour session for members
£25
LESSON
1 hour session for non-members
£60 - £85
PRIVATE LESSON
1 hour session
members/non-members
£78 - £90
Please note that subsidised lessons can only be booked through KCLEC. If you would like to arrange lessons outside of the club schedule, this will be at full (non-member) prices.
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Lessons must be booked via the KCLSU website by 12pm Monday on the week of the lesson. If the item is out of stock that means that the lesson is full, you will need to book a place for the next lesson.
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CANCELLATIONS
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Please only book riding lessons if you are 100% able to attend! Lessons will be paid for online and there will be no refunds available.
CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT
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Riding hats & boots can be borrowed from Trent Park, at no extra charge. All hats are the latest European safety standard, PAS 015, which exceeds the new British safety standard and is the highest standard available (If you are bringing your own hat please make sure it meets the current standards).
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Riders should wear long comfortable trousers, e.g. leggings or jogging bottoms, a top that covers their shoulders and a shoe/boot with a smooth sole and small heel. Caterpillar boots are often too chunky and jeans can rub on the seams in all the wrong places! Trainers are not acceptable footwear and we strongly advise that wherever you are in the world DO NOT ride in trainers – they are dangerous, and you foot could easily become wedged in the stirrup. Long hair should be tied into a low pony tail with all grips and clips removed, and riders should remove any jewellery.
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As you will be riding regularly we recommend that you purchase some of the correct riding clothing. You can purchase a variety of horse riding equipment at the equestrian centre shop. This includes riding hats, boots, body protectors jodhpurs, gloves, riding crops and a variety of other horse riding related wear.
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We also have club kit which is available to purchase through the link below.
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Team Riders
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For riders who ride in our BUCS competitions they will need their own competition attire.
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BUCS rules state:
Riders should be smartly dressed. Shirts must be worn with a tie or stock. Breeches/jodhpurs should be white, pale yellow or fawn in colour. Plain black or brown long boots or Jodhpur boots with matching black or brown leather gaiters (but not suede half chaps) must be worn. Gloves are compulsory for Dressage and are recommended for Showjumping. As part of some centres policies they require body protectors for jumping so they are necessary as well.
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We highly recommend especially to team members that they make use of our team kit (link below).
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