In the Saddle & Around the Yard
The Riding & Horse-Care Journal

In the Saddle & Around the Yard

Honest, practical guides to learning to ride, keeping a horse well and buying the right kit — from the old Holmescales riding centre near Kendal, in the heart of the Lake District.

Riding · In the Saddle

Learning to Ride

Everyone who rides well was once a nervous beginner gripping the reins too tightly. The path from there to a confident canter is simpler than it looks.

How to Start Horse Riding as a Beginner in the UK
Editor's Pick

How to Start Horse Riding as a Beginner in the UK

A beginner's guide to taking up horse riding in the UK — finding a BHS-approved riding school, booking your first less…

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What to Wear for Your First Riding Lesson
Riding

What to Wear for Your First Riding Lesson

Exactly what to wear for your first horse riding lesson in the UK — from a borrowed hat to the right boots and legging…

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How Much Do Horse Riding Lessons Cost in the UK?
Riding

How Much Do Horse Riding Lessons Cost in the UK?

A clear breakdown of what horse riding lessons cost in the UK in 2026 — group versus private, block-booking discounts …

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Learning to Ride as an Adult: It's Never Too Late
Riding

Learning to Ride as an Adult

Taking up horse riding as an adult in the UK — why it's easier than you fear, how to find adult-friendly lessons, and …

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Horse Riding for Kids: A Parent's Guide
Riding

Horse Riding for Kids

A UK parent's guide to horse riding for children — the right age to start, what lessons cost, safety, and the kit your…

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Horse Care · Keeping Well

Caring for a Horse

It's not the buying, it's the keeping. A horse is a daily, year-round commitment — and going in with clear eyes is the kindest thing you can do.

Buying Your First Horse in the UK: A Complete Guide
Editor's Pick

Buying Your First Horse in the UK

How to buy your first horse in the UK — what to look for, why a vetting matters, avoiding common buyer's mistakes, and…

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The Real Cost of Owning a Horse in the UK
Horse Care

The Real Cost of Owning a Horse in the UK

The honest, itemised cost of keeping a horse in the UK — livery, feed, farrier, insurance, dentist and the surprise ve…

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Horse Care Basics for Beginners
Horse Care

Horse Care Basics for Beginners

The daily and weekly essentials of caring for a horse — feeding, water, checking over, mucking out and the routine tha…

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Livery Yards Explained: DIY, Part and Full Livery
Horse Care

Livery Yards Explained

A plain-English guide to UK livery — the difference between DIY, part, full and grass livery, what each costs, and how…

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What to Feed Your Horse: A Beginner's Guide
Horse Care

What to Feed Your Horse

How to feed a horse correctly — why forage comes first, when hard feed is needed, feeding rules to live by, and the mi…

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Kit & Gear · Well Equipped

Riding Kit & Gear

You need surprisingly little to start, and a hard hat is the one thing never to compromise on. Here's what's worth your money.

The Best Riding Boots for Beginners
Editor's Pick

The Best Riding Boots for Beginners

The best beginner horse riding boots in the UK — comfortable, safe jodhpur boots and affordable long boots, plus what …

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The Best Riding Helmets: A Buyer's Guide
Kit & Gear

The Best Riding Helmets

How to choose a horse riding helmet in the UK — the safety standards that matter, why fit is everything, and when you …

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The Best Jodhpurs and Riding Tights
Kit & Gear

The Best Jodhpurs and Riding Tights

A guide to buying jodhpurs and riding tights in the UK — the difference between them, what to look for in grip and fit…

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The Best Horse Riding Gloves
Kit & Gear

The Best Horse Riding Gloves

A guide to horse riding gloves — why they matter, the difference between summer and winter gloves, and the features th…

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Essential Tack for Your First Horse
Kit & Gear

Essential Tack for Your First Horse

The tack and equipment a first-time horse owner actually needs — from a well-fitted saddle and bridle to rugs, headcol…

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