Barguse Riding Centre - Technical riding tuition with lessons that build skill and confidence. Indoor & outdoor arenas.
Private/ Group sessions for Juniors, Adults and private horse owners. Specialist equestrian mindset support available. | Mid Cornwall
17/08/2025
✨ We are so proud of Amber and our very own Coolkill Warrior (aka Mr P/Podge) for taking 2nd place at the JCB National Pony Club Eventing Championships 2025 in the 90cm class! 🥈🐴
As a Pony Club Centre, it makes us extra proud to see one of our own members and pupils not only qualify but shine on one of our own horses at this level. With so few centre members represented at the Champs, this is a real achievement and a huge moment for our yard. 💚💛
We hope Amber and Podge’s success inspires other up-and-coming riders - showing that opportunities like this are open and accessible, and can be the springboard for anyone who dreams of competing or building a future in our sport. 🌟
Congratulations again Amber & Podge - you’ve done us all proud! 👏👏
05/08/2025
🌟 Huge Congratulations to Lexi Payne! 🌟
We’re incredibly proud to share that Lexi has passed her Level 2 apprenticeship! 🎉
She’s worked so hard to reach this point, showing real determination, resilience, and commitment every step of the way. It’s been a privilege to support her on her journey and watch her grow in confidence and ability.
A big thank you to the brilliant team at Duchy College Equine for their ongoing support-your dedication really makes a difference. 💚
Lexi, we’re wishing you all the luck in the world for whatever comes next. We know you’ll go far!
It’s moments like these that remind us why we do what we do. We’re so looking forward to welcoming our next group of apprentices and helping them take their first steps too. 🐴✨
18/07/2025
🚨 When your child says “I don’t want to ride today”… it’s rarely about the pony.
It’s the knot in their tummy. The shaky hands. The voice in their head saying “What if I fall?” or “Everyone’s better than me.”
As a parent, it’s heartbreaking - watching them lose confidence, lose joy, and slowly pull away from something they once loved.
That’s why I’m SO excited to share this from Jenni at Flying Changes Mindset because this isn’t just a mindset course.
It’s a lifeline.
🧠 Brave in the Saddle, Strong in the Mind is a brand new programme for young riders AND their parents.
It helps kids understand their nerves, rebuild confidence, and feel safe in the saddle again plus much more.... and gives you, as a parent, the tools to support them.
✨ If your child is struggling with confidence, nerves, or just doesn’t seem themselves around horses anymore .... please check this out:
Let’s help them find their bravery again and bring the fun back into riding. 💛
24/06/2025
Got a sweet tooth and a soft spot for horses? 🍫🐴
We’re giving away a Hotel Chocolat goodie selection and entering is super easy!
I’ve created a free guide and launched The Equestrian Knowledge Hub ... a friendly, down-to-earth space for leisure riders, grassroots equestrians, and anyone who’s thinking about taking the next step toward horse ownership.
📌 Created by Lisa (who many of you know from the yard!), it’s full of helpful tips for those thinking of buying or loaning their first horse or anyone who just wants a little more confidence around horses.
Here’s how to enter:
Let’s build a kind, confident community and enjoy some chocolate while we’re at it.
Draw closes 21st July @ 10pm | UK only
19/06/2025
🌞 Summer Pony Camp Reminder! 🐴✨
The countdown is on for our 2025 Summer Pony Camp!
📅 Main Camp: 7th–8th August
✨ Bonus Half-Day for Advanced Riders: Afternoon of 6th August
If you’ve not put your name down yet, please head to the office to book and ask for details.
✅ Instalment payments available
✅ Open to all ages
✅ Limited spaces – don’t miss out!
Let’s make it a summer to remember 💛🐎
11/06/2025
🎠 “Can I have a pony?”
Those five little words that strike fear into the heart of many a parent.
They’ve had a few lessons, spent long days at the riding school or hanging out with pony-mad friends… and now they’re begging for one of their own.
“I’ll look after it, I promise.”
You’ve heard it. You’ve probably laughed (or cried) at it.
Meanwhile, they’re trawling every ‘horses for sale’ site on their phone while you’re doing mental maths on how many kidneys it would take to fund this dream.
Let me be clear - I’m not anti-pony. Owning a pony can be wonderful.
But I am here to say: there’s a lot more to it than the romantic dream.
Behind every cute stable pic is a lot of mud, money, and more money.
This is for you if any of these sound familiar:
👧 They want a real pony - not the cute plush kind that lives at the end of the bed
🧹 They struggle to tidy their bedroom, but swear they’ll muck out every day
💸 You’ve already googled “cost of DIY livery” and had to sit down for a bit
🏡 You’re eyeing the back garden as potential grazing (unless it's five acres… maybe not)
🧠 You’ve heard “we’ll learn together!” and winced, because lessons for both might be a weekly thing
Before you make any big decisions…
Download my free guide:
7 Mistakes New Horse Owners Make (and How to Avoid Them)
It’s packed with practical, kind advice, so you can go into pony ownership with eyes open and confidence intact.
👉
Feel more confident with your horse—starting today. Get the FREE guide
04/06/2025
If the horse world had a swear jar… what word or phrase would cost you the most?
“I’ll just pop up for a quick ride.”
“Bombproof.”
“They said he’s good to catch...”
“It’ll only take five minutes.”
“The rug will dry overnight.”
“It’s just a little spook.”
In our world, it’s “I just wanted to book for a little ride.”
When did rides become big or little?! 🤷♀️
Let’s be honest, either way- we’d all be bankrupt. 😂
👇 Drop yours in the comments, the phrases that make your eye twitch or your day derail.
And if you love this kind of real talk (plus proper help for horse owners that doesn’t sugarcoat the reality) come and join us over on The Equestrian Knowledge Hub.
Buying your first horse can feel like planning a wedding... you’re so focused on the dream that you forget the bill comes later.
But here’s the part no one tells you: that heartbreak doesn’t just cost you money – it can shatter your confidence before you even get started.
I’ve watched new owners lose thousands of £££'s (and their nerve) because they didn’t have the full picture from day one.
I’m not here to sugarcoat it. If you’re serious about making this work and don’t want to lose your confidence (or your savings), you need to know the 7 biggest mistakes that trip people up.
I’ve put them together in a free guide so you’re ready from day one!
👉Get the guide. Start your dream without the heartbreak.
Feel more confident with your horse—starting today. Get the FREE guide
30/05/2025
Curious about choosing your first riding helmet?
We’ve put together a video over on TikTok that covers:
✅ Why a skull cap can be a great first helmet
✅ Why getting it properly fitted is essential
✅ Why we always say “no” to secondhand helmets (you never know what they’ve been through! 😉)
💡 P.S. – We always recommend booking an appointment so I’m there to fit your hat properly (otherwise, I’ll be off bribing the dog with treats or hiding from the tea run!). 🐴😉✨
Let us know if you have any questions after watching!
Check out spoilthorsecompany’s video.
29/05/2025
How to be more confident and feel more capable—no riding required!
If you ever:
✨ Find your mind running in circles, making you doubt your abilities
✨ Feel like nerves or performance anxiety stop you from enjoying your time with horses
✨ Worry about cantering or hacking out because it feels like too much
Then this Flying Changes Mindset Core of Confidence workshop is for you.
We’ll cover:
🧠 Why fear shows up—and how to stop it from taking over
🔍 How to separate what you can control from what you can’t
🌟 Practical tools to feel calmer and more capable, no matter what
This is a small workshop on purpose—so you get personal attention and space to ask questions, without feeling overwhelmed.
Non-ridden – held at Barguse tomorrow from 1:30–3:00pm—no overrunning, promise!
Two spaces left. £30.
For more information, just drop me a DM or call the office. Let’s make it happen!
22/05/2025
🌟🐴 Stable Stars Experience – Book Your Spot Now! 🐴🌟
Calling all pony lovers! 🐎✨
Our Stable Stars Experience is back this half term with a full day of pony fun—riding, stable management, and plenty of pampering! It’s the perfect way to spend time with ponies and friends while building confidence and skills.
📅 Date: Thursday 29th May
🕙 Time: 10am – 4pm
💷 Cost: £40 (Includes a ridden session, stable management, and pony pampering!)
Whether you're looking to boost your confidence, learn more about caring for ponies, or just enjoy a fabulous day with your favourite four-legged friends—this is the one!
🚨 Priority Booking for Barguse Riders until May 24th!
After that, remaining spaces will be opened up to external riders—so don’t wait!
📞 Spaces are limited! Call 01208 831817 to book or for more info.
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When I’m standing knee deep in mud, in the pouring rain, I often wonder why we own a riding school!! It’s a question that I ask myself a lot and probably so do most other riding school proprietors because it’s definitely not for the money!! Most operate on a shoestring and do a sterling job despite all the odds! The reason if I’m honest is because I feel so passionately about getting bottoms in saddles so that others can feel the sheer joy of riding and being round horses!
Some of my best memories are of my sister and I as kids being at our local riding school. We didn’t come from a horsey background but immediately we fell in love with this pastime, (much to our parents’ dismay). We never cleaned our bedrooms but I can guarantee the stables were immaculate and the ponies were groomed to within an inch of their lives!! We spent nearly all our waking hours there, we learnt to ride (and fall off, rather a lot) and met a fantastic array of delightful (and odd) people on the way. It gave us so many opportunities to grow in confidence and taught us how to care for something other than ourselves! It formed a lifelong love for these creatures and over the years has helped keep me sane and centred throughout various events in my life. Even now, my husband says “go ride, you’re grumpy”!
So when my husband and I had the opportunity to move down to Cornwall over 11 years ago, we happened across Barguse! My husband was a vet so he didn’t need a job and he told me that “No, I was too young to retire” and had to do something to earn the keep of my horse! I had owned and run a livery/competition yard for years back in Berkshire and didn’t want to do that again and as I always enjoyed teaching (or coaching as the sports bodies prefer to call it) and seemed quite good at it, the thought of a riding school seemed very appealing! If we could provide kids and adults with some fantastic memories and a new skill on the way, just as I had discovered all those years ago then it was well worth the hard work and expense. So that’s how our version of a riding school was born!
We now own and care for 26 horses in the beautiful countryside of Cornwall. We actively want everyone possible to try our sport regardless of your age, background, physical ability or disability. Riding provides huge benefits from a fitness point of view and for your mental health. Whether you are starting out riding or looking to improve your existing skills, we provide a session for everyone. We work with all ages and have experience with children and adults with sensory processing issues (SPD), autism, Asperger syndrome, OCD, DCD, dyspraxia, dyslexia, learning and physical difficulties and tailor sessions for the individual. Whether you ride for fun, are aiming for the stars or just enjoy the social aspect, we will help you on your journey. For it’s your journey and whatever you choose, we are happy to support you on the way.
We pride ourselves on our friendly staff and family atmosphere. We hope that we get the balance right between being professional but inviting and welcoming. We also provide those who are interested with the opportunity to learn how to care for horses and put as much emphasis on this aspect as the riding. Throughout the year, we try to run different events showcasing all the various sports that can be done with horses so that riders can try their hand at different equestrian disciplines. We hold residential camps, own a pony days, are accredited as a Pony Club centre, run tiny tot sessions, adult only sessions, in-house competitions for those interested and birthday parties! The list is endless but the aim is to try to be as diverse and inclusive as possible! We are always open to new ideas and very approachable so feel free to give us a call and have a chat! Yes that also includes if you have a complaint. We cannot deal with it or offer a solution, if we don’t know about it!
I hope that our story gives you some idea of what we do and why we do it! We may not always get it 100% right but our aim is to get as near to that magical marker as we can. We measure our success by how riders develop and the self-assurance that comes with that. Yes, some of our pupils have gone on in their equestrian careers and look set to achieve great things but equally, we are justly proud of those who through their riding sessions; are able to overcome great difficulties and have found a new confidence in dealing with everyday life. It’s the reason I am able to get up every morning and drag myself out in the worst of weathers (cursing) and I suspect why countless other riding schools do the same!!
"A horse is the projection of peoples' dreams about themselves — strong, powerful, beautiful — and it has the capability of giving us escape from our mundane existence.
