FAQ’s
Why do you need rider details?
We request rider details because they are essential to planning safe and suitable horse riding activities.
The information you provide allows us to:
assess whether the requested activity is suitable for each rider;
allocate appropriately sized horses;
ensure rider weight limits are not exceeded;
identify any age restrictions that apply;
plan suitable staffing; and
assess the overall availability of your booking.
Providing complete and accurate rider information helps us confirm your booking more quickly and ensures we can appropriately plan for each rider.
Why does every rider need to complete a Rider Waiver?
Every rider must have a current Rider Waiver before participating in any riding activity at Sydney Horse Riding.
The Rider Waiver allows us to:
obtain relevant medical information;
identify any disabilities or support requirements that may affect rider safety;
assist with allocating suitable horses;
comply with our legal and insurance obligations; and
ensure riders understand and acknowledge the inherent risks associated with horse riding.
Returning riders generally only need to complete a Rider Waiver once every 12 months, unless their circumstances change.
Why do I need to pay a deposit?
Deposits are required to confirm all bookings.
Many of our rides and lessons book out well in advance. Once we tentatively reserve places for you, we may turn away other enquiries and begin allocating horses and staff specifically for your booking.
Requiring a deposit allows us to confidently reserve these resources while reducing the impact of late cancellations and no-shows, which can prevent other customers from booking those places.
The required deposit amount and payment due date will be provided once availability has been confirmed.
If the deposit is not received by the due date, Sydney Horse Riding may cancel the tentative booking and make the reserved places available to other customers.
Your deposit forms part of the total booking price — it is not an additional fee.
Why do you need my height and weight?
A rider's height and weight are important when allocating a suitable horse.
Our horses vary considerably in size, build and carrying capacity. We consider both the size of the rider and the individual horse when determining a suitable allocation.
Accurate information is therefore essential. Rider weights must be provided honestly and as accurately as possible so that we can make safe and appropriate horse allocations before you arrive.
What happens if the rider information I provide is incorrect?
Sydney Horse Riding relies on the information provided to us when assessing your booking and allocating horses and staff.
If inaccurate or incomplete information regarding a rider's age, height, weight, riding experience or other relevant circumstances means we cannot safely accommodate that rider on arrival, they may not be permitted to participate.
Where we could have accommodated the rider had accurate information been provided when the booking was made, this will be treated as a customer cancellation/no-show and the full booking fee will remain payable.
Please contact us before your booking if any rider information changes.
Why can't you confirm availability until you have everyone's rider details?
Having spaces available at a particular time does not necessarily mean we can accommodate every rider.
We need to ensure that we have a suitable horse for each individual rider, as well as appropriately qualified staff for the activity being requested.
For example, we may have several horses available but none that are suitable for the height, weight or experience of a particular rider.
This is why we ask for rider details before confirming availability rather than simply booking places based on a date and time.
Can I choose which horse I ride?
You are welcome to tell us if you have a favourite horse or have ridden with us previously, and we will consider requests where possible. However, specific horses cannot be guaranteed.
Horse allocations are made by Sydney Horse Riding based on factors including rider height, weight and experience, the activity being undertaken, the horse's suitability, workload and welfare.
Horse allocations may also be changed at any time if our staff consider another horse to be more appropriate.
I'm an experienced rider. Will I be able to trot or canter?
This depends on the activity you have booked.
Lessons:
Trotting and cantering may be included in lessons once your instructor has assessed your riding ability and considers it safe and appropriate for you and the horse you are riding.
Beginner Trail Rides:
Our Beginner Trail Rides are strictly walking pace, regardless of a rider's previous experience. Trotting and cantering are not permitted on these rides.
Experienced Trail Rides:
Our Experienced Trail Rides allow opportunities for trotting and cantering, subject to rider ability, conditions and the discretion of the trail guide.
First-time customers participating in an Experienced Trail Ride will complete a 10–15 minute riding assessment at the beginning of the session. This allows our staff to assess the rider's balance, control and ability before proceeding onto the trail.
Returning customers who have previously been assessed by Sydney Horse Riding are not normally required to complete the assessment again.
Providing details of your previous riding experience helps us determine whether an Experienced Trail Ride is suitable for you; however, self-reported riding experience does not replace our rider assessment.
The instructor or trail guide will determine the appropriate pace and activities based on rider ability, horse suitability, group composition, trail and weather conditions, and safety considerations.
What happens if I arrive late?
Please arrive 30 minutes before a Trail Ride and 15 minutes before Lessons, Lead Rides and other activities.
This time is required for check-in, helmet fitting, horse allocation and mandatory safety briefings.
Our rides must leave on time for the benefit of customers who have arrived as requested and because our horses and staff may have other bookings scheduled afterwards.
If you arrive too late to complete the required preparations and safety briefing, the ride cannot be held for you and you may not be permitted to participate. This will be treated as a late cancellation/no-show and the full booking fee will remain payable.
What happens if it rains?
Horse riding is an outdoor activity and light rain does not automatically mean your booking will be cancelled.
Sydney Horse Riding will assess the conditions and will postpone or cancel an activity if we consider the weather or ground conditions unsafe for our riders, horses or staff.
Please assume your booking is proceeding unless Sydney Horse Riding contacts you to advise otherwise.
What if I don't want to ride because of the weather?
A customer's decision not to ride because of rain, heat, cold or other weather conditions is different from Sydney Horse Riding determining that conditions are unsafe.
If Sydney Horse Riding determines that conditions are unsafe, our Wet Weather Policy will apply.
If the activity is proceeding and you choose not to attend, our normal cancellation policy applies. Please consider the weather forecast and dress appropriately for an outdoor activity.
Why am I charged if I cancel within 72 hours?
When we confirm your booking, horses, staff and places are specifically reserved for you.
Many of our rides and lessons book out, and we may have declined other customers because those horses or places were allocated to your booking.
Cancellations made at short notice are often too late for us to fill those places, while many of the costs associated with preparing horses and rostering staff remain.
For this reason, cancellations within 72 hours of the booking are subject to the full booking fee.
Can I bring my own riding helmet?
Yes, however all customer-supplied helmets must be inspected and approved by Sydney Horse Riding staff before use.
Your helmet must meet the applicable Australian safety requirements, be free from damage or defects and have a manufacture date of no more than five years ago.
If your helmet does not meet our requirements, you will need to use one of the approved riding helmets provided by Sydney Horse Riding.
Can I take my phone, GoPro or smart glasses on the ride?
No. Phones, cameras and personal recording devices cannot be used while riding.
This includes GoPros, action cameras, Meta/Ray-Ban or other smart glasses, helmet-mounted cameras and body-mounted recording devices.
This rule applies for both safety and privacy reasons and there are no exceptions for hands-free or wearable devices.
Phones can be left in our office while you ride (personal belongings left at the owner's risk).
If you would like a photo, please ask our staff and, where practical, we will be happy to take one for you and AirDrop or email it to you when you return.
Can a parent, friend or support person come along on the ride?
Only booked riders and authorised Sydney Horse Riding staff may accompany our riding activities.
Parents, friends, spectators, carers and support workers cannot walk alongside or accompany a trail ride on foot.
This is necessary for safety, insurance and operational reasons.
If a rider requires additional assistance or has particular support needs, please discuss this with us before booking so that we can determine whether and how we can safely accommodate them.
Can children under 10 go on a Trail Ride?
Yes. Children under 10 can participate in our Trail Rides; however, they must be led by a Sydney Horse Riding staff member for the entire ride.
As an additional staff member must be specifically allocated to lead the child, an additional charge applies on top of the standard Trail Ride price.
For safety and insurance reasons, a parent, family member or other accompanying person cannot lead the child in place of our staff.
Alternatively, younger children may participate in one of our shorter Lead Ride options.
Please provide the child's age, height and approximate weight when enquiring so we can confirm availability, appropriate staffing and the applicable cost.
Do you have a question about your booking?
If you have any questions about this Booking Policy, the suitability of an activity or any part of our booking process, please contact Sydney Horse Riding before making your booking. We are happy to clarify the requirements and help you determine the most suitable option.
Booking Policy
Thank you for choosing Sydney Horse Riding. This Booking Policy explains how our booking process works, what is required to confirm a booking, and the conditions that apply to all lessons, trail rides, lead rides and other riding experiences - including rescheduling, cancellations, wet weather policy, helmets, appropriate clothing, etc. By making a booking with Sydney Horse Riding, you acknowledge that you have read and agree to this Booking Policy.
Our Booking Process
Unlike other activities or sports, horse riding bookings cannot be confirmed based solely on the availability of a date and time.
Not all horses are suitable for every activity. Some horses are specifically trained for lessons, while others are better suited to trail riding. Likewise, not all instructors and trail guides are qualified to deliver every service we offer.
Every booking must take into account:
The specific service being requested;
The height, weight and riding experience of each rider;
The availability of suitably qualified staff for that service;
The availability of horses - suitable to the service AND rider;
Along with other information that may affect the suitability or safety of the booking.
Rider Clothing
For safety, riders must wear:
enclosed shoes - a small heel to keep you in your stirrups is preferred;
comfortable long pants; and
clothing suitable for outdoor activity.
Loose or flowing clothing that may flap around and startle horses must not be worn.
Strictly no thongs, sandals, Crocs or similar.
Arrival
Please arrive:
Trail Rides: 30 minutes before your scheduled ride.
Lessons, Lead rides and other activities: 15 minutes before your scheduled start-time.
These arrival times allow sufficient time for check-in, horse allocation, helmet fitting and mandatory safety briefings.
Late arrivals may not be able to participate and may be treated as a cancellation.
Please follow all posted signs, park only in the designated Horse Riding parking area, and do not enter restricted areas.
Our property includes working areas, horses, vehicles and equipment. For your safety, please remain within designated customer areas unless accompanied or directed by Sydney Horse Riding staff.
Helmets
An approved riding helmet must be worn at all times while mounted on a horse.
Customers may use their own helmet, subject to inspection by Sydney Horse Riding staff.
Customer-supplied helmets must:
comply with the applicable Australian safety standard;
be free from damage or defects; and
have a manufacture date no more than 5 years old, as marked inside the helmet.
Helmets that do not meet these requirements will not be permitted.
Sydney Horse Riding will provide a disposable hairnet and an approved riding helmet where required.
Rescheduling Policy
Bookings may be rescheduled with more than 72 hours' notice.
A $10 administration fee applies to each reschedule.
Requests received within 72 hours of the booking are treated as cancellations.
Respect for Staff, Horses and Property
All customers are expected to treat our staff, volunteers, horses, other customers and our property with courtesy and respect.
Customers must follow all posted signs and instructions provided by Sydney Horse Riding staff at all times.
Abusive, aggressive, unsafe or inappropriate behaviour will not be tolerated.
Sydney Horse Riding reserves the right to refuse participation or terminate a booking without refund where behaviour compromises the safety or wellbeing of our staff, customers or horses.
Any person who deliberately damages property will be held responsible for the cost of repairs or replacement.
Follow Riding Instructions
Riders must follow the instructions of their instructor or trail guide at all times.
This includes instructions regarding the speed and pace of the ride, spacing between horses, position within the group, overtaking, stopping and the handling or control of your horse.
Riders must not independently encourage a horse to trot, canter, overtake another horse or leave the group unless specifically instructed to do so by Sydney Horse Riding staff.
These instructions are necessary for the safety of the individual rider, the group and our horses.
Payments
Our booking deposits are generally made via direct bank deposit. We may sometimes request credit card payment over the phone for late bookings - in this instance your card details are entered directly into the payment terminal, while you are on the phone - Sydney Horse Riding does not keep records of your card details.
The balance of your booking can be settled on the day via the usual card methods or cash.
Maximum Rider Weight
Our maximum rider weight is 95 kg.
Rider weight is an important factor in safely matching riders with suitable horses. The 95 kg maximum applies regardless of riding experience; however, being within the weight limit does not automatically mean that a suitable horse will be available for every rider or activity.
Please provide an honest and reasonably accurate weight when submitting rider details. Sydney Horse Riding relies on this information when assessing availability and allocating horses.
If inaccurate information is provided and we are unable to safely accommodate the rider on arrival, the rider may not be permitted to participate and our normal cancellation policy will apply.
Stage 1 – Enquiry
When you contact us, we collect enough information to understand the service you are requesting and determine what additional information we require.
For returning customers, we may already have current rider information on file, making this process much quicker.
For new customers, or where additional rider information is required, we need the details of every rider before we can assess availability.
You are welcome to provide these details during your enquiry. Alternatively, our staff can place your booking on hold at the enquiry stage and email you a Rider Details form, allowing you to collect and submit the required information at your convenience.
Stage 2 – Availability Assessment
Once we have received the required rider details, we assess whether suitable horses and appropriately qualified staff are available for your requested service, date and time.
If availability can be confirmed, we will tentatively allocate the required horses and staff to your booking.
Stage 3 – Tentative Booking
Once availability has been confirmed, your booking progresses to the Tentative stage.
At this point we have tentatively allocated suitable horses and staff for your booking and are holding those resources exclusively for you. However, your booking is not yet confirmed.
To confirm your booking, we require:
Payment of the required deposit; and
Completed Rider Waivers for any riders who do not already have a current waiver on file.
If these requirements are not received by the specified due date, we may release the allocated horses, staff and booking places to other customers.
Stage 4 – Confirmed Booking
Your booking becomes Confirmed once:
The required deposit has been received;
all required Rider Waivers have been completed; and
any additional information requested by Sydney Horse Riding has been received.
Once confirmed, your horses, staff and booking places are reserved for your booking.
Cancellation Policy
Our horses, staff and facilities are scheduled specifically for each booking. As availability is limited, our cancellation policy enables us to manage bookings fairly for all customers.
More than 72 hours before your booking
Bookings may be cancelled or rescheduled.
A $10 administration fee applies to all cancellations and reschedules.
Within 72 hours of your booking
The full booking fee becomes payable.
Failure to Attend
Customers who fail to attend, arrive too late to participate safely, or are unable to ride due to failing to meet our safety requirements will be treated as a no-show and the full booking fee will remain payable.
Wet Weather Policy
Horse riding is an outdoor activity and rides generally proceed in light rain.
Sydney Horse Riding will only postpone or cancel activities where weather conditions are considered unsafe for riders, horses or staff.
If Sydney Horse Riding cancels your booking due to unsafe weather, you will be offered an alternative booking date.
Customer Cancellations Due to Weather
If Sydney Horse Riding determines that conditions are safe for the scheduled activity to proceed but a customer chooses not to attend because of rain, heat, cold or other weather conditions, our normal Cancellation Policy applies.
Please assume your booking is proceeding unless Sydney Horse Riding contacts you to advise otherwise.
Horse Welfare
The welfare of our horses is our highest priority.
Sydney Horse Riding reserves the right to change horses, modify activities or refuse participation where necessary to protect the safety and welfare of our horses, riders or staff.
All instructions given by staff regarding the safe handling and treatment of horses must be followed at all times.
Right to Refuse or Discontinue Participation
Sydney Horse Riding reserves the right to refuse or discontinue a person's participation in an activity where we reasonably believe that:
the rider does not meet the requirements of the booked activity;
the rider cannot be safely matched with an available horse;
inaccurate or incomplete information relevant to the rider's participation has been provided;
the rider or accompanying person presents a safety risk to themselves, another person or a horse;
the rider does not follow instructions given by Sydney Horse Riding staff; or
a customer's behaviour compromises the safety, welfare or reasonable enjoyment of our staff, horses or other customers.
Where participation is refused or discontinued because of a customer's behaviour, inaccurate information, failure to follow instructions or failure to meet the stated requirements of the activity, no refund will be provided and any outstanding booking fee will remain payable.
Nothing in this section prevents Sydney Horse Riding from modifying or cancelling an activity where circumstances outside the customer's control make it unsafe or unsuitable to proceed.
Phones, Cameras & Recording Devices
For safety and privacy reasons, phones, cameras and recording devices are not permitted to be used while riding at Sydney Horse Riding.
This includes mobile phones, GoPros and other action cameras, Meta/Ray-Ban or other smart glasses, helmet-mounted cameras, body-mounted cameras and any other wearable or electronic recording device.
Safety
Riding requires your full attention. Riders need to remain focused on their horse, their surroundings and instructions from staff at all times.
While the risks associated with using a hand-held phone or camera are obvious, hands-free and wearable recording devices can also create unnecessary risks. They can:
distract the rider or divide their attention;
encourage riders to focus on recording, framing or interacting with a device rather than their horse;
cause riders to unnecessarily turn their head, look away or adjust the device while riding;
become loose, fall or create an unexpected distraction that may startle a horse; and
in the case of helmet-mounted devices, potentially interfere with the correct fit or function of safety equipment or create an additional snag or impact point.
For these reasons, wearable and hands-free recording devices are not an exception to this policy.
Privacy
Our property is also a workplace and is used by other customers, horse owners, staff and visitors.
People you encounter during your ride may not wish to be photographed or recorded, and they have not consented to having their image or voice recorded or subsequently posted to Instagram, TikTok, Facebook or other social media platforms.
For this reason, personal recording devices cannot be used during our rides, even when the intention is only to record yourself.
Want a photo of your ride?
We understand that you may want a photo to remember your experience. Phones can be left securely in our office while you are out riding.
If you would like a photo, please ask our staff. Where practical, we are happy to take photos for you at an appropriate and safe location using a Sydney Horse Riding device. These can then be AirDropped or emailed to you when you return from your ride.
Riders who do not comply with this policy or with instructions from Sydney Horse Riding staff may be required to dismount and may not be permitted to continue the ride.