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Frequently asked Questions 

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1. Do you teach adults and children on school horses? From what age?

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Yes! We teach both children and adults using 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 further develop your skills, 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.

At Gold Coast Equestrian Centre, we believe that learning to ride goes hand in hand with learning to care for and understand horses. Horsemanship is integrated into every lesson from Day One and is taught by our coaches until riders can confidently and safely carry out each task independently.

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 essential horsemanship skills, their lesson time is progressively dedicated entirely to riding, allowing them to maximise their time in the saddle while continuing to apply everything they have learned.

Our goal is to develop not only capable riders, but knowledgeable, confident horse people with a strong foundation in both riding and horsemanship.

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2. What is a GCEC Membership and why should I become a member?

 

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 allows our coaches to monitor each rider’s progress, assess their level, and work towards their individual goals and objectives. Whether your ambition is to become a confident recreational rider, improve your flatwork, learn to jump, compete, or eventually part lease or own a horse, we tailor your progression accordingly.

 

This level of coaching is only possible through regular weekly riding. It is not possible to accurately assess progress or build towards long-term goals with occasional or fortnightly lessons.

 

As a GCEC Member, you’ll enjoy:

 

  • A reserved lesson every week during the Queensland State School terms.

  • Reduced lesson rates compared with casual riders (please refer to our current Price List).

  • Priority access to lesson bookings.

  • A structured progression plan based on your riding level and personal goals.

  • Professional coaching from our experienced coaching team.

  • The opportunity to ride a variety of carefully selected school horses, helping you become a confident, adaptable and well-rounded rider.

  • Access to competitions, clinics, camps, horsemanship days and exclusive member events.

  • A clear pathway into our Part Lease Program and competition riding.

 

Members enrol by Queensland school terms (generally 10-week blocks) and commit to one lesson per week. If you join after a term has commenced and places are available, you will simply be charged for the remaining weeks.

 

Riders who are unable to commit to weekly lessons are welcome to book casual lessons online whenever places are available. Member riders always receive priority booking, so casual availability is limited to remaining lesson spaces.

 

At Gold Coast Equestrian Centre, membership is much more than a weekly riding lesson. It is a structured training program where your progress is monitored, your goals are supported, and you become part of a welcoming equestrian community.

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3. What should I wear to ride?

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For your first lesson, we recommend wearing:

  • Long pants or leggings (avoid shorts).

  • A comfortable shirt with sleeves.

  • Closed-in shoes with a small heel (no runners or sandals).

An approved riding helmet can be borrowed free of charge for your first lessons.

Once you decide to continue riding and become a member, riders are required to wear:

  • A GCEC branded riding top (available for purchase at the centre).

  • Riding breeches or jodhpurs.

  • Riding boots with a heel.

  • Half chaps or tall riding boots.

  • An approved riding helmet.

  • Riding gloves.

Riding gloves are considered an essential piece of riding equipment. They provide a better grip on the reins, helping riders maintain consistent contact with the horse and reducing the risk of the reins slipping through their hands. They also protect the hands from rubbing and blisters, making riding safer and more comfortable.

A body protector is compulsory for all junior riders and for all riders participating in jumping lessons.

Our team is happy to advise you on the most suitable equipment as you progress, so there is no need to purchase everything before your first lesson. We also stock a carefully selected range of quality riding apparel and equipment in our onsite boutique.

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4. What happens if it rains?

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At Gold Coast Equestrian Centre, lessons continue rain or shine.

We are fortunate to have a large undercover arena, allowing lessons to run comfortably and safely in wet weather. Our experienced coaches adapt the lesson plan to suit the conditions while ensuring riders and horses remain safe.

Only in the event of extreme weather, such as electrical storms, high winds or other conditions that could compromise safety, may lessons be postponed or rescheduled. If this occurs, affected riders will be notified as soon as possible.

Thanks to our undercover facilities, weather rarely interrupts our riding program, so you can enjoy consistent training throughout the year.

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5. What is your cancellation, refund and catch-up lesson policy?

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Our lesson program is carefully planned to ensure the wellbeing of our horses, the quality of our coaching, and the smooth operation of the centre. Every booking reserves both a horse and a coach exclusively for you.

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Member Lessons : 

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Members enrol for one lesson per week during the Queensland school terms.

Our horses’ workloads are carefully balanced each week and our full-time coaches are rostered in advance. For this reason, member lessons are not refundable if you are unable to attend.

If you are unable to 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. While we always try to help, catch-up lessons cannot be guaranteed.

Members should also understand that their weekly lesson place is reserved for the entire term. For example, if you are away during Week 9 of a 10-week term, it is generally not possible for us to sell that individual lesson to another rider at such short notice.

To provide greater flexibility, GCEC charges members for only 40 weeks of lessons each year, rather than all 52 weeks. This allows families and riders to enjoy holidays and personal commitments without paying for lessons during the scheduled non-teaching weeks, even though our horses continue to be fed, exercised and cared for every day of the year.

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Casual Online Bookings :

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Casual lessons booked online are non-refundable and non-reschedulable, as clearly stated at the time of booking.

However, if you provide at least one week’s notice, we will happily do our best to reschedule your lesson if another suitable place is available. While we always try to accommodate these requests, rescheduling cannot be guaranteed.

We appreciate your understanding and support. These policies allow us to manage our horses responsibly, maintain a consistent workload for our coaching team, and continue providing a high-quality riding experience for every rider.

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