Joining a guided ride means trying horse riding. The guide is beside you, the horse knows the way and you enjoy the view. Really learning to ride, guiding the horse yourself, changing pace and one day riding out on your own, takes lessons.
At Kerem Bey Horse Farm, riding lessons are one-to-one and open to both children and adults. This guide explains how lessons start and the order they follow.
The first lesson
In the first lesson the instructor gets to know you. Have you ridden before, why do you want to learn, what is your goal? Riding just for fun, going out on trail rides, or progressing all the way to jumping?
Then comes meeting the horse. How to approach a horse, how to groom it, how to check the saddle. This part matters as much as riding, because riding starts with your relationship with the horse.
Most lessons take place in the fenced outdoor arena, a safe space where neither horse nor rider is distracted.
How lessons progress
Everyone learns at their own pace, but the general order is this.
- Seat and balance. Sitting upright and relaxed in the saddle, putting weight in the stirrups correctly, holding the reins properly.
- Starting, stopping and steering. Walking the horse on, stopping it, turning left and right. Learning to use leg and rein aids together.
- Trot. The step up from walk. Rising trot is the stage students find hardest and enjoy most.
- Control and confidence. Transitions between paces, circles and arena figures.
- Trail or jumping. Once basic control is in place, two paths open. Trail rides in Belgrade Forest and along the beach, or an introduction to jumping at intermediate level.
What you learn in how many lessons
The short answer is that it depends on the person. Age, balance, how often you come and whether you have spent time with horses before all play a part.
As a rough guide, sitting comfortably, starting, stopping and steering usually come in the first few lessons. Most students have solid basic control by the end of a 10 lesson pack. Riding confidently on your own out on the trails takes longer.
Coming regularly gets you much further than coming now and then. One or two lessons a week is a good rhythm for most people.
For children
For children the first step is usually four laps in the arena (500 TL) to meet the horse. Once the child is comfortable, they move on to one-to-one lessons. The starting age is decided together, based on the child’s height and how well they can communicate. More in our guide to horse riding for kids.
Lesson packs and prices
| Pack | Duration | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Single lesson | 30-40 min | 3,000 TL |
| 10 lesson pack | 10 lessons | 23,000 TL |
| 10 trail ride pack | 10 x 120 min | 36,000 TL |
Packs are valid for 3 months. With the 10 lesson pack, each lesson works out at 2,300 TL. The trail pack is for riders with solid basic control who want long rides in the forest and on the beach. All prices are on the prices page.
What to wear to a lesson
- Stretchy trousers that fit close to the leg. Jeans can rub, leggings or riding breeches are more comfortable.
- Flat, closed shoes or boots.
- Long hair tied back, dangling jewellery removed.
- Helmets are provided at the farm.
If you want to try first
If you want to see whether riding is for you before booking lessons, start with a short ride. Tips for a first ride are in our guide for first-time riders.
Booking lessons
Lesson days and times are planned together with the instructor. Message +90 546 414 00 89 on WhatsApp with your level and the days that suit you. Everything about lessons is on the horse riding lessons page.