Sahara Park Riding School is run on the outskirts of Forbes by Helen Morris and Leanne Smith, who are both totally devoted to teaching children about learning to ride and, most importantly, about loving the horses that can
give them so much joy if treated properly. Their success is shown by the group of regular students who come along each week and pay $30 per hour for access to their equine wisdom. And they’re not, as Helen points, kids necessarily from a ‘horsey’ family, just kids interested in learning how to ride, and to look after the animals they care for. To that end, Helen and Leanne have invested more than $750,000 in forming a stable of about 30 horses that they can trust, even with quite inexperienced children. One of the most important tasks they have to perform is teaching the riders how to get up after their first fall and get back on the horse again.
“It happens to everyone at least once,” said Helen. “And though our set-up and choice of horses ensure there’s no physical damage, there’s inevitably a bit of lost pride.” Sahara Park also runs live-in classes during school holidays — ones that they find the students very reticent to head home from. These cost $450 for five days, including all meals, use of horses and equipment, and lectures from specialists such as vets and farriers.