Singapore Turf Club is the oldest existing club in Singapore. Renowned for its horse racing events, STC also grooms the next generation of equestrian talent through the Singapore Turf Club Riding Centre (STCRC), a community project it launched in partnership with Tote Board.
Besides its courses for aspiring competitve athletes, STCRC also has equine experiences for complete novices who just want to dip their feet into the sport – or who simply want to get up close and personal with horses and ponies. These experiences include stable tours and leisure horse rides at STCRC's sprawling compound in Woodlands.
The stable tour ($88) offers a gentle introduction to the animals and the stables. Meet horses and ponies with names like Chelsea or High Street, and learn all about caring for them. Experienced stable hands will take you through the steps of horse grooming and care. It's not a mere listen-and-learn either, you get to be hands-on with it – brush the horse's coat, comb through their tail, and feed them treats.
Things get a little more exciting with the leisure horse ride ($118) and leisure trail ride ($108). Get geared up with a helmet and proper riding shoes, before heading to the stables for a lesson in tacking up your horse. Instructors will teach you how to mount the horse safely, how to hold the reins, and how to keep a proper riding posture. Then you're off, for a ride around STCRC's trails and Olympic-sized covered arena. This is usually followed by a bath and treat time for the hardworking horses!
The equine experiences at STCRC are great fun for the whole family. For the safety and welfare of participants and horses, STCRC does have age, height and weight requirements – so do take note of these on the website. For more details about the lessons and activities you can sign up for, head to turfclub.com.sg.
Watch us try out horse riding at STCRC: