Pony Academy

The New Pony Academy Builds Confidence in Riders

The new Pony Academy at Espoon Talli is more than just riding. It includes riding, pony care, and horsemanship skills that help young beginner riders gain more courage and confidence in handling horses – which in turn also supports learning to ride. Espoon Talli’s Pony Academy offers children an excellent and safe way to get familiar with handling ponies and riding under the guidance of experienced instructors.

Theory Provides a Strong Foundation

The Pony Academy is based on a study conducted in Sweden where the development of beginner riders was observed. In the first research group, children rode for one hour per day. In the second research group, children rode for half an hour and spent the other half hour learning horse care and other theoretical topics. After a year, the study found that the group that had ridden less had actually progressed further in riding as well, because their understanding of the theoretical side supported their learning and gave them courage and confidence in handling horses.

Ponies Can Be a Shared Hobby

During the course, every Pony Academy student learns how to handle ponies, lead them, groom them, tack them up, and ride. In addition, Pony Academy students get introduced to vaulting. The Pony Academy also offers a pleasant way for the parents of horse-loving children to get familiar with horse care and handling, as spending time with a pony can at its best become an enjoyable shared hobby and a nice topic of conversation for both the child and the parent.