We offer a wide range of Summer riding activites for kids aged 4-16.
Virtually every day in July and August we have something fun to offer to all levels from beginner to more advanced riders wanting to gallop and jump.
Enjoy riding with us
Cheston Farm Riding School
We have few riding vacancies for new regular riders at present
Welcome to our fully Licensed Riding Centre. Our super team of 25 horses and ponies vary in size from 13hh to 17hh and can help you enjoy riding whether a beginner or advanced rider. The Cheston equine team can help you master the rising trot, have a first canter, gallop across Dartmoor, jump fences or perform dressage moves! What a team!
With a range of super instructors and their excellent tuition, you can reach all your riding goals and ambitions. Sophie Osborne (qualified to BHSII BHSSM) is owner/manager and heads up our great team of humans and horses and does her best to ensure you enjoy your riding and learn to appreciate fully the wonder of horses.
Weight limits: We have horses to suit beginner, novice or advanced riders of most shapes and sizes. Our horses are very important to us so ensuring their comfort and welfare is important. We need a recent and accurate weight at the time of booking (be warned: we do have scales and may ask you to step aboard!) and we may have to refuse riders who are over our limits. Vets advise horses carry only 15% of their own bodyweight. Our horse team changes so it is worth while enquiring – currently (2019) our limit is as follows:
Adult lady beginner/novice riders over 75kg may be harder to accommodate in some sessions. 16+ Men or tall and experienced lady riders can be up to 13 stone (82kg) for our 17hh horses. Children under 12 must be under 9 stone (57kg), Teens must be under 11.5stone (70kg) to ride our pony and smaller cob team (exceptions may be appropriate for the very tall or advanced teen). We apologise if we are unable to accommodate you but our team can only do so much.
For further information and prices see the Riding School Fact Sheet and this year Riding School Timetable using the links below. An extensive price list is also available below.
Riding School Fact Sheet PDFRiding School Timetable PDFPrices
Cheston may be just what you are after. Ask yourself, do you..
- Want to learn basic to advanced skills with a range of steady cobs to forward sport horse types to suit every need?
- Enjoy riding with your own age range, being sociable, safe, happy and confident in the saddle either in one of our 3 arenas or out on Dartmoor?
- Want more? Advanced riders can ‘hire’ a horse for a competition or join our gallop hacks. We sometimes have a ‘loan’ available to treat as your own.
- Still want more? Join us on holiday and stay on site in a Farmhouse B&B
- Appreciate individual encouraging tuition with improvement and fun the main aim?
- Want to progress through either informal riding tests or take part in more ambitious dressage and show jumping competitions?
Booking with us
Please make new and routine enquiries by email initially. We require lots of information about you (see contact us page).
We are busy outdoors most days, so if you do phone it may be some days before you hear back. You may need to leave a message and leave your phone number very slowly and clearly.
You can also use visit our contact page for alternative methods for getting in touch although email is preferred: We have an active Facebook page with lots to see.
PRICE LISTCONTACT US
Please note:
Our latest price list is available from the office.
We cannot cater for beginner groups for pony trekking on Dartmoor (e.g. hen parties, school groups, youth clubs etc.).
Reasons to choose Cheston
We pride overselves on having probably the best facility in the area
We offer a full range of opportunities to suit you:
- High quality and detailed instruction in private, semi-private or group lessons all at a pace to suit you, your fitness and confidence
- Evening lessons 4-8pm are available on weeknights riding indoors or in floodlit outdoor arena
- Children can join in pony activities at weekends and holidays! See our Cheston Club page for more information
- Hacking: Competent riders only. Lanes or gallop hacks on to Dartmoor, at the beach or to the pub. Rides from 1-4 hours. Sorry, not for beginners
- Beginner riders: adults or children learn safely in private or small group lessons;
- Advanced adult group lessons and competitions: Our lessons are taught in open order, no following the bum in front or waiting for your turn!
- Residential options: Intense riding course, relaxing holiday, exam, careers or college preparation? We have options for different budgets. International students also welcome for short or long stays.
Our goal is to deliver a quality & enjoyable experience
- Our 50×30 indoor arena benefits from training mirrors and a dust free equestrian surface regularly watered and maintained
- We use ABRS, BHS and UKCC qualified & experienced instructors and staff who train and compete regularly themselves
- We love our equine team. You will find very happy and spoilt horses at Cheston with full and varied lives.