Summer Riding

Come Ride With Us!

The University of Connecticut's Animal Science Department offers a summer horseback riding program to the public with something for everyone!

Dressage, Hunt Seat, Polo, Trail and Western are open to adults and children who meet the minimum age and skill level requirements.

Schedule
Payment
Registration Form
Frequently Asked Questions

Lesson Options

Dressage, Hunt Seat & Western

Trail Riding

Polo

RIDERS MUST COMPLETE ALL APPLICABLE ITEMS BELOW

Important: Please submit both your Payment and Registration/Consent Form on the same day. We ask that you don’t pay for your lessons until the required documents are signed and submitted.

1. Review the applicable documents below:

• UConn Summer Riding Protocols
• UConn Horse Barn Safety Rules and Precautions
• UConn Horseback Riding Physical Restrictions Policy
• Barn Rules
• Biosecurity Rules

2. Check Marketplace (our online payment system) to ensure that the lesson you are interested in is not currently full. 
*Lessons that are open will appear in Marketplace without a "full lesson" message. If a section is full and you wish to be added to the waitlist, please email horsepracticum@uconn.edu.

3. *For Trail Only*

Individuals interested in riding in the trail program who have never ridden in UConn’s trail program or who have not participated in our trail program for over a year will be required to take a riding evaluation lesson (one hour assessment) to confirm their riding level before registering.
- If you meet the criteria above, please email jenifer.nadeau@uconn.edu to confirm whether or not you need to take the trail test. An email with payment information for the test will be sent to you from uconnhorseriding@uconn.edu once approval is received from Dr. Nadeau.

4. Complete the Registration and Acknowledgement and Consent Form - *PLEASE COMPLETE THE FORM ONCE FOR EACH LESSON YOU PLAN TO REGISTER FOR*

• For riders under 18: Read, fill and sign CT Code of Conduct Form and email to horsepracticum@uconn.edu

5. Make Your Online Payment 

Please Note: Registration for sections is Monday AND Wednesday or Tuesday AND Thursday OR Friday one lesson sessions. Riders must register for both days for M/W and Tu/Th lesson.

*Note: Your space is not reserved until your payment is made and registration form completed*

Additional Information for all Riders

All students will be required to supply the following equipment: (1) a properly fitting ASTM/SEI approved riding helmet within 5 years of manufacturing date and (2) boots that have a heel with a rubber sole.

• Riders must be paid in full and registration forms completed by the deadlines listed above.
• Makeup lessons will not be offered.
• There are no refunds, however refunds will be considered on a case-by-case basis for extraordinary circumstances.

Height & Weight:
Our goal is to ensure a safe ride for all of our riders and horses. Horses are limited in how much weight they may carry.  It is important to be as accurate as possible when submitting your height and weight so that an appropriate horse can be matched to each rider.

Weight Restrictions:
Each horse is restricted in the amount of weight it may carry. The weight restriction is based on several factors, but the most important is rider’s weight. Too much weight can cause rub-sores from the saddle, strained muscles, and pinched nerves. Permanent damage such as a "sway back" or deteriorated muscle function can also occur over time.  It is important to be as accurate as possible when submitting your height and weight so that you can be matched with the appropriate horse. None of the horses currently available for horseback riding are capable of carrying a rider who weighs more than 225lbs. On any given day, it is possible that a horse will not be available for you to ride because of weight limitations (examples include: (1) the only horse capable of carrying a rider who weighs 200lbs is being monitored for injury and will not be available for riding for at least a week and (2) three riders, each weighing 185lbs, are scheduled for a riding program on the same day but only two horses are available to carry such weight.) In the event a horse is not available for you to ride on a particular day, we will try to provide you with advance notice and will provide a refund for each day a horse is unavailable for you to ride. For additional information regarding weight restrictions please contact: Alena Meacham alena.meacham@uconn.edu.

Age Restrictions:
Public riding lessons (including trail and excluding polo) are open to participants 11 years of age or older. Polo lessons are open to participants 13 years of age or older.

Riding Program Contacts:

• Hunt English Beginner, Western Beginner, Advanced Beginner, Western Intermediate, Intermediate 1, Intermediate 2, Advanced, Advanced Flat Work, Dressage Intro, and Dressage UL - Alena Meacham alena.meacham@uconn.edu
• Western Dressage, Intermediate Ground Poles - Melissa Tindall melissa.tindall@uconn.edu
• Trail Riding - Dr. Jenifer Nadeau- jenifer.nadeau@uconn.edu
• For Technical, Form or Payment issues please contact- uconnhorseriding@uconn.edu 

Important Links:

• Frequently Asked Questions
• Lesson Level Descriptions
• Hunt Seat Instructor Biography
• Parking information for riders: The PayByPhone mobile application (Location 5172 | map) will provide campus visitors the required flexibility in a convenient location ($2/hour; $6-maximum/day).