How much do private riding lessons cost?

Despite riding becoming more accessible over the past few years, the cost of the sport is still a real investment. This is especially true if the whole family is keen on riding. Here are the various factors professionals take into account when setting the price of riding lessons.

What does the price of riding include?

To work out the cost of riding, it is important to consider both the price of lessons and all the other associated costs. For instance, the cost of riding lessons will depend on the riding school you approach. In the Paris area and Île-de-France, for example, prices are much higher than in the provinces.

We are talking about a mark-up of more than 30%. The other factor that determines the cost of riding lessons is the reputation of the clubs and owners' yards, which they factor into their prices. Riding schools with a more family-style atmosphere, on the other hand, are generally more affordable.

As a rule, a riding lesson will cover dressage as well as jumping, or an introduction to other disciplines. This means that one session may be devoted to dressage while the next is focused on jumping.

On top of the price of lessons, you should also remember to allow for the club's facilities. The larger the club you want to take lessons at, with "state of the art" facilities for example, the higher the prices will be. Some riding schools have several arenas, lunge rings, solariums, horse walkers, cross-country courses, a club house and so on.

All of this obviously comes at a cost, since members or owners have access to all this equipment. Clubs generally choose to include all the options in a per-session package, while others prefer to add them as extras because they consider they are not part of a riding lesson.

Club membership fees and the federal licence fee will also be taken into account. The cost of last-minute cancellations should be added too, as they are neither refunded nor carried over. And don't forget the accessories you will need as you learn. You will find the exact costs at La Sellerie Française.

It is therefore worth staying alert when you make enquiries and not hesitating to ask for more information before you commit as a member/rider at a riding school.

The average cost of riding lessons

The prices of a riding lesson are generally given as a guide. These prices represent an average range. It is advisable to add 30% for the Paris area or for well-known or upmarket clubs. On average, then, a riding lesson costs between 15 and 27 euros for a group session. If you buy a card for 10 sessions, this comes to an average of 150 to 250 euros.

If you want that lesson on a private basis, you will need to pay an average of 40 euros per individual session. As for baby pony lessons, the price per session is 12 to 15 euros. For 10 baby pony sessions, however, you will have to pay between 110 and 150 euros.