Do you have a rider weight limit? . . .

We have a weight limit of 14 stone, fully clothed ready to ride as we do not have any horses suitable of carrying any heavier weight. We would ask all our clients to adhere to this as it is to ensure the welfare of our horses.

Do you cater for riders with disabilities? . . .

The Kimberley House RDA group meet regularly at Witham Villa on a Thursday afternoon. Additionally, we may be able to cater for riders with disabilities that come to Witham Villa direct, providing that they have registered with us first and we have a signed agreement from their Doctor that horse riding is a suitable activity, and that Witham Villa is able to provide a suitable horse/pony for their individual needs.

What do I do when I come for my first lesson? . . .

When you come for your first lesson, please arrive 15 minutes early to enable you to be ready to start on time. You will need to come through the small gate leading from the car park. Then walk along by the manege, past the stables until you come to Reception at the bottom where you will be able to have a hat correctly fitted if needed and boots. You will then be able to wait until the lesson start time and go into the indoor or outdoor arena as appropriate and the instructor will tell you which horse or pony your are riding, which will have been brought into the arena for you. All lesson booking is done via ECPro so you will need to rebook further lessons via the app. If you have a regular lesson space then this will be held for you for 1 day after which it will be available for anyone to book.

Do you cater for groups? . . .

We are pleased to cater for groups. Please email withamvillarc@gmail.com to discuss your individual requirements.

Will I be riding indoors or outdoors? . . .

We have both an Indoor and Outdoor school, and also a Show Jumping Paddock and Working Hunter Course during the summer months. We book lessons in both the indoor and outdoor arenas concurrently. If your lesson normally takes place in the outdoor school, please come suitably dressed depending on the weather conditions! In the event of weather conditions preventing the lesson from carrying on in the outdoor school, it is our policy to double up the lessons in the large indoor school.

Do you give lessons to people on their own horses? . . .

Yes – we are pleased to teach people on their own horses – whether it be that you need help with your own riding, or help schooling your horse, or competition training.

Do you teach stable management? . . .

Yes – we can run tailor made courses for you, or let you know of any of our existing courses.

Do you do career training? . . .

Yes – we are a BHS approved Training Centre to train up to level 3 - BHSCCH.

Do you do hacking (take rides out)? . . .

We regret that we do not take any rides out as we are situated on a busy road and we do not feel it provides a safe environment.

What times do you teach? . . .

Check our LESSONS page to see when we are open.

Can I buy a voucher to give as a present? . . .

Vouchers can be purchased for the cost of any of our lessons and special events.

How old do you need to be to start lessons? Am I too old to start having lessons now? . . .

We teach children from the age of 4 and there is no upper age limit!

Do I need Personal Insurance? . . .

Riding is a Risk Sport and whilst we are totally safety conscious, horses can be unpredictable and we recommend that clients invest in personal accident insurance. For your safety:- We are licensed by Harborough District Council which involves an annual inspection to ensure that all required safety standards are met. We are approved by the British Horse Society which again involves an annual inspection.

What do I need to wear? . . .

It is essential that any time you get onto a horse or pony, you wear a Riding Hat that meets the current safety standards. We have a selection of different sizes meeting current regulations available to hire if you do not have your own.You also need to wear Shoes or boots that have a smooth sole and small defined heel. This is so your foot will not get stuck in the stirrup. We regret trainers or Wellingtons are unsuitable. Again, we have a selection of boots available to hire if you need to.We recommend that our clients always wear Gloves as these protect your hands from possible blisters and keep your hands warm in winter!You will need to wear comfortable long trousers - jodhpurs are specially designed for riding, but any comfortable trousers, for instance jogging bottoms will be fine to get you started. Any clothing worn should be suitable for the weather conditions and must be fastened for safety. We recommend that you wear a long sleeved top.Many riders choose to wear Back Protectors to provide extra protection. They are particularly recommended to clients who start jumping.

Will I have a qualified Instructor? . . .

Your instructor will always be suitably trained with the knowledge and experience to teach at the required level. Click on STAFF in the main menu for further details of our staff.

How do I book a Lesson? . . .

To book a lesson follow the link on the lessons page which will enable you to register on ECPro and once graded you will be able to book onto any suitable lessons