I want to get riding lessons for my daughter, I love horses but never had the opportunity to do lessons and I'd love to give my daughter this chance!

What should I be looking for in the trainers as in what qualifications should they hold, or if anyone could reccommend any centres in Southampton that'll be great!

She is 5 by the way

Make sure that you go to a BHS approved centre. If you look at the website you should be able to find a centre in your area.
www.bhs.org.uk

You might struggle to find a riding school that teaches that young. In our area they have to be 6.
See if there is any one local with a small pony they might be willing to teach her the basics.
Make sure they or you or both have insurance.

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Have a look on the Pcuk website, our daughter has been having lessons for just over a year, she started for her 4th birthday & joined a local pony club centre too... she has now earned 7 badges all to do with the keeping of ponies etc... we now loan a lovely 12.2hh welsh x, who's 22 years young, we did 2 shows (lead rein class) last year & they came a way with 6 rosettes in total, 2x 2nd place, 2x 3rd place a 4th & a 5th...
It's kind of taken over our lives a little, it keeps us outdoors & we love it

she is now doing really well coming off Lead too

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when I started riding I started with private lessons (hell knows how we affored them) I was around 8 and it cost 10shillings then, which was heck of a lot. Will say though that I did not learn to ride 'properly imo until I went to a different stable that was not quiet so safety conscious!
Think times have changed since I learnt so perhaps my reply is not very helpful, so perhaps better to listen to those that know!

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Hi

The BHS website is a great place to start looking for a riding school, they have a list of approved riding schools across the country.

You need to be looking for a well organized school with a good selection of well mannered ponies, make sure that they look well groomed and cared for, and that equipment is well maintained.

Check that the instructors are qualified, up to date with their first aid and that the school is insured.

My advice would be to go along to a school just to watch for the first time, it gives you the chance to look at the ponies and the yard, also to see how the lessons are run.
saying all that I learned many years ago at a non approved yard that would prob make your toes curl these days. They were some of the best days I ever had and enjoyed spending many hours in the fields and barns.

good luck and enjoy

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Same for me! from being about eleven (it were safe on the streets then) I would be up at the stables from dawn until dusk - We would fetch the horses up from the fields, bareback and without hats, I've taken a fair few tumbles, but bounced back - they were great days and feel sorry for the little girls of today, I doubt very much they will experience the joys we did nor the freedom!

The girl I used to ride with (Gillian) continued with her riding and went on to be a jockey - she was in the first womans race that wa televised on TV, Alas her career was cut short thought a terrible accident, not horse related she came off her motorbike, She did however, continue to work with horses for teh rest of her working life.

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Not Southampton but there are several schools not far away in the New Forest. Where I ride they take children from age 4 and have 'pony club' monthly to teach the looking after side as well as riding.

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