Richmond Valley Riding School

03/02/2022

Safety Fact of the Week: Riding Boots

http://www.horsesafetyaustralia.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/guide-with-cover.pdf
Riding boots are designed to slip out of a stirrup, preventing a rider from being dragged in the event of a fall.
They have a flat sole to encourage the foot to slip out of a stirrup if needed. They have a heel to stop the foot going all the way through a stirrup iron, that has not been fitted with Toe Stoppers.
Riding boots should come to above the ankle joint, be fully enclosed and preferably without laces or tongue pieces.
A sturdy pair of leather riding boots offer more protection should a horse step on someone's toes.
WITHOUT TOE STOPPERS, sneakers and general workboots in stirrups are a DANGER for horse riding. You instructor should be able to direct you when purchasing correct footwear or be able to provide suitable footwear for most sizes.

Here at Richmond Valley Riding School we include Riding Boot hire (childs 7 to Mens 11) in our prices because your safety depends on it.

Riding boots come in many designs and styles to suit every budget and need.

Happy Safe Horsing

29/01/2022

Thanks for your enquiry, we are usually out with the horses, so phoning 0418602672 in the evening 7 days a week or during the day Monday or Tuesday between 10.30 and 8pm works best. If we are unable to answer we will call you back.

25/01/2022

Over the weekend the temps reached over 30°c. The decision was made to bring lessons earlier in the day and cancel afternoon lessons to spare the horses and riders.

So what do we do instead? Our horses and ponies get to go swimming!

?Can you guess which Riding school pony swam all the way across? Comment down below!

20/08/2021

Just something about Blue rosettes or ribbons at any age😁!

17/07/2020

So true😁

31/03/2020

Hello All Riders and future riders.Sorry to say for at least the next 4 weeks, due Government recommendation at present for people to stay home and stay in their Suburb unless absolutely necessary along with the banning of gatherings of more than 2 people we now decided to shut our doors from yesterday.( This includes private one on one lessons in the interest of safety for all)
We will contact everyone asap as soon as we are able to safely reopen.
For regular riders who are able to resume lessons when we open again, those same day/time spaces will be available to you.
For casual or one off or riders or people with gift vouchers we will endeavour to phone you to discuss available options or please phone us.
Warmest of regards and stay safe.
Kim, Cassie RVRS☹️

21/12/2019

// Friday Fact - Mounting problems //

These days, many riders use a mounting block to mount the horse, often because it is believed that mounting from the ground can have negative health effects on the horse's back. The problem with using a mounting block is that if the horse walks off, as many do, the rider has to abandon mounting and restart. The horse learns very rapidly (through the process of negative reinforcement) that walking off removes the rider, if only temporarily, so the horse perfects this strategy.

It is useful then, to train a horse not only to stand immobile (park) by the mounting block, but also to step his hindquarters toward it if he happens not to be close enough, or if he has learnt he can swing away. The rider should have trained the horse thoroughly in 'go', 'stop' and 'yield' beforehand.

Now it is time to train the horse to step his hindquarters toward you from a voice command. You need a different voice command to step the horse toward you, such as the word 'here'. Begin against the wall as this dramatically facilitates the offering of the correct response. Reach across his back, toward the wall with the whip and gently tap his hindquarters until they step toward you, at which point 'stop' tapping and return the whip to your side immediately. Repeat until the horse anticipates the tapping and steps toward you solely from the visual stimulus of the whip reaching across. This may take a few or many repetitions. Now classically condition the voice command 'here' by saying it just before you reach across to tap him. When he steps easily toward you from the voice command, you can now repeat this while standing on the mounting block.

(Excerpt from the book 'Academic Horse Training', p. 272)

13/10/2019

Meet Misty our gorgeous cuddly fleabitten grey.

At 12hh our little grey welsh mountain pony is a trooper as the leader for over half the trail rides we take here on our property.
She is an aged mare who enjoys making a nest and sleeping in a pile of hay on cold days.
Her favourite treat is definitely the rare licorice piece found at the end of a sunny day riding.
Misty is a sensitive little girl only suitable for very neat confident riders, but for the coaches she's lovely.
Cassie would say "she's my extra pair of legs".

Don't forget xmas is right around the corner! We offer gift cards for birthdays, xmas or just because. 🐴🎁🎠

06/10/2019

Safety Fact of the Week: Equine body language

Did you know that you can read a horses body language to keep you safer? For example a pony with their ears pinned back against their head is giving a warning to "give me space", while ears moving shows listening and attentivness.

Reading body language is a skill that can take a while to master, so it is prudent to have an experienced horse person (an instructor is a great idea) with you whenever you are interacting with horses or ponies.

Which pony in the picture is giving a warning to "back off"? Comment below ☺

Remember we have gift vouchers for birthdays, xmas or just because sessions.

22/09/2019

Safety Fact of the Week: Saddles fitting the Rider

Did you know there are a variety of saddles to fit all shapes and sizes of ponies, horses and riders? There are even different styles for different disciplines.

Incorrect saddle sizing can affect rider stability and comfort, making for an unpleasant ride.

Incorrect saddle fitting for the pony/horse can also cause discomfort in the pony/horse to the point of causing undesirable behaviours.

Here at Richmond Valley Riding School we have saddles as tiny as 12inches for little riders or up to 18inches for Adults.

We have both dressage saddles and general purpose saddles, on occassion we also have a demonstration western or stock saddle to enjoy.

Remember we have gift vouchers for birthdays, xmas or just because sessions.

15/09/2019

Safety Fact of the Week: Monkey Grips

Did you know Monkey grips/Balance straps can be fitted to most saddles to give an extra piece of support to riders if required.

Monkey grips can be made from leather or synthetic etc, some are even built into little saddles as a fixed rubber handle.

Here at Richmond Valley Riding School we have a monkey grip on every saddle.
We use monkey grips as an alternative to holding the pommel, to help riders find balance while learning to rise trot, so no one accidentally pulls a pony in the mouth. They are also used to slip grass reins through or our little plastic horseshoe game pieces.

Our riders love the extra security, and feel much better knowing they can always grab it if they get the wobbles.

Remember we have gift vouchers for birthdays, xmas or just because

08/09/2019

Safety Fact of the Week: Size and Skill appropriate ponies/horses

Just like bikes, horses come in all shapes and sizes, but you wouldn't ask a 3yr old to ride a grownups mountain bike would you?

Here at Richmond Valley Riding School we have 12 ponies and horses suited for beginners, basics or more advanced. We have ponies as little as 87cm for toddlersl to larger ponies, galloways and hacks.

We match our riders to a suitable size/experienced pony and only as rider skills improve are they encouraged to try a bigger or more challenging mount.

You will not find beginner riders under 10years old on the "bigger guys" as we have various size ponies from shetlands to welsh mountain crossbreeds who are delightful and appropriate for children and small adults.

Gift vouchers available for birthdays, Christmas or just because. 😁🐴🎁🎠

05/09/2019

Congratulations to our winners in the Winter Obstacle Course Challenge 2019. We had so many competitors this year it was very tough scoring everyone, but we managed all the math, lol. Rosettes and prizes will be given out at your next lesson.

01/09/2019

Safety Fact of the Week: Notched Reins

Did you know that reins come in several lengths and many styles?

Notched reins assist beginners and more experienced riders to keep even contact and also assists in gripping reins easily.

Richmond Valley Riding School have some custom "traffic light" reins to help children and beginners sort/adjust to correct length of rein quickly during any activity.

28/08/2019

Truer words could not be said.

In horse training, the greatest amount of tension arises from the blocking effects of rein(s) and leg(s) at the same time. Animals simply can't accelerate and decelerate simultaneously so the horse learns that aids are only "aids" when they occur from pressures above the tight-pressured contact. Such a training regime means that sharp rowel spurs and double bridles with crank-up nosebands become mandatory items of training, yet commonsense would dictate that riders at the higher levels should demonstrate more finesse and less force.

When the horse is undergoing simultaneous rein and leg pressures, the horse may perceive one pressure as more salient than the other, which is known as overshadowing. Usually, it's the mouth that hurts, more especially with curb bits that work on a lever-action to squash the lower jaw of the horse and overshadow the "go" aids. Curb bits should be phased out and extra points given to those who can train horses right up to Grand Prix in a simple snaffle or even a bitless bridle. When the mouth response overshadows the "go" response from the rider's legs, the rider typically responds by driving the horse forward with strong spurs and thus emerges a modern training doctrine: ride your horse forward, forward, forward to fix all your problems – this practise should be abandoned for the sake of the horse's welfare.

25/08/2019

Safety Fact of the Week: Neck Straps

Neck straps are a non-compulsory piece of equipment that can assist with rider balance/confidence and horse comfort in many situations
Neck straps can be as simple as a stirrup leather or as adjustable as a custom neckstrap from examples like Soft Hands Equine.
When used in jumping and gymnastic work a neckstrap can stop a rider from accidentally catching a horse in the mouth causing pain and fear during the activity. Used during hill work it can allow a rider to lighten their seat even while they are working on leg strength .

WIlliam Foxpit, ( a leading British Showjumper) believes neckstraps are not just for beginners and can be seen competing with an attached neckstrap, "just in case".

Here at Richmond Valley Riding School all our horses and ponies have individually fitted neckstraps.

24/08/2019