Frequently asked questions

Yes! We teach both children and adults on our carefully selected school horses. Children can start from 5 years of age, provided they are confident, able to follow instructions and meet the requirements of our beginner program. Whether you're a complete beginner, returning to riding after many years, or an experienced rider looking to develop your skills further, we have horses and coaches to suit every level. We also offer guided trail rides, making horse riding accessible to complete beginners in a safe and enjoyable environment. Learning to ride goes hand in hand with learning to care for and understand horses. Horsemanship is part of every lesson from day one, and is taught until riders can carry out each task confidently and safely on their own. As riders progress, they learn to: - Catch and return their horse safely from the paddock - Groom using the correct brushes and techniques - Pick out and care for their horse's feet - Tack up and untack correctly, including fitting the saddle and bridle - Wash and care for their horse - Handle horses safely on the ground Once riders are confident and independent in these skills, their lesson time is progressively dedicated entirely to riding. Our goal is to develop not only capable riders, but knowledgeable, confident horse people.

A GCEC membership is designed for riders who want to learn, improve and become part of our equestrian community. Unlike casual lessons, membership provides a structured riding program that lets our coaches monitor each rider's progress, assess their level and work towards their goals, whether that is becoming a confident recreational rider, improving your flatwork, learning to jump, competing, or eventually part-leasing or owning a horse. This level of coaching is only possible through regular weekly riding; it is not possible to accurately assess progress with occasional or fortnightly lessons. Members enrol by Queensland school term (generally 10-week blocks) and commit to one lesson per week. If you join after a term has started and places are available, you are simply charged for the remaining weeks. Riders who can't commit to weekly lessons are welcome to book casual lessons online whenever places are available; members always get priority, so casual availability is limited to remaining spaces.

For your first lesson we recommend: - Long pants or leggings (avoid shorts) - A comfortable shirt with sleeves - Closed-in shoes with a small heel (no sandals) - An approved riding helmet, which can be borrowed free of charge for your first lessons Once you become a member, riders wear: a GCEC branded riding top (available at the centre), riding breeches or jodhpurs, riding boots with a heel, half chaps or tall boots, an approved helmet and riding gloves. Gloves give a better grip on the reins and protect hands from rubbing and blisters. A body protector is compulsory for all junior riders and all riders in jumping lessons. There is no need to buy everything before your first lesson: our team is happy to advise you as you progress, and we stock quality riding apparel and equipment in our onsite boutique.

Lessons continue rain or shine. We have a large undercover arena, so lessons run comfortably and safely in wet weather, and our coaches adapt the lesson plan to the conditions. Only in extreme weather, such as electrical storms or high winds, may lessons be postponed or rescheduled, and affected riders are notified as soon as possible.

Every booking reserves both a horse and a coach exclusively for you. **Member lessons.** Our horses' workloads are balanced each week and our full-time coaches are rostered in advance, so member lessons are not refundable if you are unable to attend. If you can't ride due to illness or injury and provide a valid medical certificate, we will do our best to arrange a catch-up lesson, subject to availability. Your weekly place is reserved for the whole term, and to allow for holidays GCEC charges members for only 40 weeks of lessons each year rather than 52. **Casual online bookings** are non-refundable and non-reschedulable, as stated at the time of booking. However, with at least one week's notice we will happily do our best to reschedule your lesson if another suitable place is available.

We have some amazing horses suitable for riders jumping at higher levels, but we don't offer jumping lessons to non-members. Members can have regular flatwork and smaller jumping lessons on our horses without a part lease. To jump above 50 cm, we ask riders to contribute to the ongoing costs of the horse through a part lease: jumping higher puts a significant amount of stress on a horse's body, and this contribution helps us keep the horses fit, happy and sound. We'd be happy to discuss which of our horses could suit you.