This horse riding centre is only a 45-minute drive away from Sydney’s CBD, in the cosy suburb of Badgerys Creek. When Time Out saddled up, we trotted through 200 acres of beautiful riding trails across grassy plains, rolling hills and past dams filled with paddling ducks and swans. The team at Sydney Horse Riding are ready to instruct newbies and seasoned equestrians and will pair you with a suitable horse based on your level of experience. If you’re wracked with nerves, request a sweet-tempered horse like chestnut gelding, Jaffa – he was truly a gentleman throughout the duration of our ride.
Our group was escorted by instructor Margaret: a seasoned rider who made the experience very comfortable with warm chit-chat and tips on how to manage our horses. As riding novices, we learnt basic skills such as steering and controlling our horses, handling the reins and tackling uphill and downhill inclines safely. More experienced riders were also encouraged to hone their skills of trotting, cantering and controlling a horse with a stronger personality. We embarked on the one-hour trail ride available on weekends for $50 (8.30am-4pm). The centre also offers private and group lessons in dressage and show jumping for $55-$85 (daily, 10am-4pm), school holiday camps for $130-$350, and pony parties for up to 15 children for $350.