Education · Children

Children's Equestrian School

Equestrian education for children and young people aged 5 to 17 in Arona Sur, Tenerife. The horse as a teacher of values, discipline and genuine self-confidence.

About the programme

The Children's Equestrian School at Riendas de Esperanza is not primarily about producing riders — it is about what happens to a child in the process of learning to ride. The horse demands presence, patience, consistency and genuine communication. These are not traits you can fake in front of an animal. They have to be developed, and the equestrian setting provides an unusually demanding and honest context in which to develop them.

Based at our facility in El Calvario, Arona, the school accepts children from 5 years old and young people up to 17. Groups are organised by age and ability, with small class sizes to ensure individual attention. Participants from across South Tenerife — including Arona, Adeje, San Miguel and Granadilla — attend regularly throughout the year.

Children with special educational needs (SEN) are fully integrated into the programme where appropriate. We have experience adapting activities for children with attention difficulties, emotional and behavioural challenges and mild developmental differences. Placement in a mainstream group versus an adapted group is decided individually.

Programme levels

Beginners (5–8 years)

First contact with horses and basic riding skills. Sessions focus on ground work, animal care and developing confidence around large animals. Short, playful and structured.

Intermediate (9–12 years)

Mounted work develops progressively. Participants learn basic equestrian technique alongside stable management and horse behaviour. Group and individual tasks.

Advanced (13–17 years)

Deeper technical riding, understanding of horse physiology, and introduction to competition preparation for those who want it. Growing responsibility for horse welfare.

SEN and adapted groups

Individually designed participation for children with special educational needs. Activities are adapted but the setting and expectations are real — we do not lower standards, we adjust the approach.

What children learn — beyond riding

Responsibility

Horses need care regardless of how a child feels that day. Showing up consistently and doing the work — even when it is unglamorous — builds a form of character that is difficult to develop in a classroom.

Patience and emotional regulation

A horse will not respond to rushing, frustration or force. Children learn — by direct experience — that a calm, clear approach is more effective than intensity. This translates.

Non-verbal communication

Working closely with a large, reactive animal teaches children to read body language and manage their own physical presence. These skills underpin confident communication.

Self-efficacy

There are few things as concrete as successfully communicating with a 500-kilogram animal. The confidence that comes from this is earned, not given.

Care and empathy

Regular involvement in the practical care of horses — feeding, grooming, noticing when something is wrong — develops attentiveness and genuine concern for another living being.

Common questions

No. All levels are welcome, including complete beginners. Placement in the appropriate group is determined at the initial visit, not by self-assessment.

We accept children from 5 years old. The youngest groups have sessions specifically designed for their attention span and physical development.

Safety is the non-negotiable foundation of everything we do. Horses are selected and managed for suitability, equipment is always checked, and staff-to-participant ratios in practical sessions are kept low. That said, equestrianism is a physical activity, and we are honest about that.

Many can, yes — with appropriate preparation and communication with the family. Children who would benefit from a more adapted approach are placed in a small, specifically designed group. We discuss placement individually.

Contact us to arrange an initial visit. We will meet the child, discuss the programme and identify the right group. Use our contact form or call us directly.

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