RIDING TO THE HOUNDS – NOT! By Sheila Ascroft
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he fact that I was 30 and taking riding lessons with 10-yearolds didn’t bother me too much – except that I fell off more than they did. Those sleek English saddles don’t come with handles or pommels or anything else to hang onto. On my first ride, the instructor assigned me “Killer” and I panicked even before mounting. Yikes. But the grey beauty was well-mannered and willing to put up with a novice on his back. After class did I learn Killer stood for Kilarney. After a winter of twice-weekly lessons of
SADDLE UP! Here’s where to go for “English” style riding lessons for jumping and dressage. No “western” saddles with hand-holds and pommels. Some of these stables have been around for more than 30 years and continue to provide excellent ridership skills for all levels. But wherever you go, make sure the instructors are certified in equestrian skills and first aid to look after you, and the stables and barns are clean and well maintained for the horses. Saddles and reins in the tack room should have no dry cracks in leather. And the horses should look healthy and alert. 22 I ottawaoutdoors
learning to walk, trot and canter (well, canter when the horse wanted to), we welcomed spring by moving to an outdoor paddock. A spindly two-rail fence raised this novice rider’s fear of a horse’s urge to run off. A valid fear, it turned out. Killer really liked to jump and then go for a refreshing dip in
the nearby river. Yes, I was still attached, although riding sideways. We thrashed our way back to the paddock, dripping ignominiously. Another day, “And trrrrot,” the instructor ordered. Killer, an experienced school horse, responded immediately. I was less quick. I jiggled and jostled and abruptly fell off. Oomph. Fortunately, the paddock had a sandy base. Uninjured, except in pride, I remounted. Experts say it takes seven falls to make a good rider. That first year, I had 11 – and only tore a thumb ligament.
Stables offer a range of lessons, day camps, maybe an indoor arena (so you can ride in winter), outdoor sandy rings for jumping and dressage, a tack shop, and large acreage for just plain riding or jumping solid obstacles. Some offer pony clubs, clinics, competitions, and courses in stable management, useful if you want to own a horse. You’ll pay about $50 for a single lesson, and prices vary for lesson packages. Some stables lease horses. Centaur Riding School 3845 Frank Kenny Rd., Navan, Ont. 613-835-2237 Fiddler’s Green Stables 6575 Flewellyn Rd. Stittsville, Ont. 613-831-2844
Greenbelt Riding School 3960 Albion Rd., Ottawa, Ont. 613-521-5700 Westar Farms 8132 Fernbank Rd., Ashton, Ont. 613-253-0078 Royale Equestrian Centre 2191 Woodroffe Ave., RR 2, Ottawa, Ont. 613-608-1176 Maplewood Equestrian Centre 3178 Dunning Rd., Sarsfield, Ont. 613-510-1200 Shadow Ridge Equestrian Centre 372 Upper Dwyer Hill Rd., Ashton, Ont. 613-256-6759 Wynbrook Farm 6222 Dunning Road, Vars, Ont. 613 835-3511 www.ottawaoutdoors.ca
