Riding School

Zia Park Equestrian Centre in Gidgegannup, in the Perth Hills operates a Riding School with a variety of school horses and ponies available to clients of all ages. We pride ourselves on offering a safe and secure environment where aspiring students learn to ride with confidence while gaining all the skills to progress to more advanced levels.

Zia Park has produced and supports many riders competing successfully in dressage, show jumping, eventing, mounted games and endurance riding.  Many of our riders belong to one of the local pony clubs or adult riding clubs and regularly attend rallies, training days, interclub competitions and official EA competitions.  Zia Park rider Milly Patton represented Austraila in three international tetrathlon events in England and Ireland this year.  Zia Park rider Vivian Pinter is a successful one star event rider and has brought on several quality young horses in eventing.  Klara Bennington rode a Zia Park horse, Bindii, at state level mounted games and novelties in 2010 and currently competes at PCAWA C grade eventing on another young Zia Park horse, Loki.  12 year old Zia Park rider Rosie Tooby has had many successes at novice level dressage and D grade eventing in 2011 and 2010 on her pony Thorne Park Dance Man. 10 year old Matilda Hathway is already winning ribbons at D Grade eventing and recently won the Preliminary/Novice Freestyle dressage test at the PCAWA State Dressage Championships on her young pony Wendamar Trafford.  Zia Park staff are active competitors in several disciplines.

Zia Park Instructors hold internationally recognised teaching qualifications or are working towards achievement of qualifications.  Gail Simms, the chief instructor and proprietor of Zia Park is an Equestrian Australia NCAS Level II coach, Coach Educator, and NOAS dressage judge at Advanced level with many years of experience in competition riding and coaching competition riders.  JayJ is completing a Horseriding Coach .com Instructors and Trailriding Guide certificate.  Jane Daniel holds a BHSAI qualification and has many years of experience coaching young riders. 

Group Riding Lessons

Paricipation in group lessons is a great way to meet people who share your interests and enthusiasm for riding.  Riding with other horses is an important aspect of horse control that all riders should learn and become confident with. Our lessons may include training in horse control, rider position, dressage, showjumping, cross country jumping, mounted games, bushriding and horse management.  All lessons are designed to fit the skill level of the class members so that riders develop at a pace that enhances their confidence. We teach our students to ride confidently in and out of the arenas.

Children’s Group Lessons are held on Saturday morning and every day after school. Adult Group Lessons are held on Saturday afternoon and  Tuesday morning. Group lessons may be purchased by the term at a discounted rate. Our terms coincide with WA state school terms. Riders who do not wish to purchase a full term of lessons may join a group lesson on a casual basis if a spot and horse are available.

Private and semi-private riding Lessons

Private Riding Lessons and Semi Private (two or three riders) Riding Lessons can be arranged by appointment any day of the week. Options include

30min (Beginners Lesson).   Riders are taught how to safely groom, tack up, mount and ride a quiet horse. Riders learn basic horse contol, theory and applicaton of the aids, correct position at walk, trot and canter.  They practice these skills on quiet well educated horses. Once they are competent and confident with these basic level skills, we encourage our riders to join a group lesson.

Private Lessons (50 minutes) are available to riders on Zia Park horses or with their own mounts. The material covered will depend on the rider's skill, experience and interest.  Most competition riders choose this option as the lesson can be tailored specifically for their needs.

Lunge lessons (30 minutes) for position work are offered to experienced riders who wish to work on balance and agility.  Lunge lessons are useful for identifying and correcting weaknesses in rider position.  All riders can benefit from lunge lessons, as good rider position and an independent seat are crucial for correct applicstion of the aids.

Semi private riding lessons are available for riders who wish to choose one or two partners to work with.  This option is suitable for friends or partners who want to ride together at a particular time.   It is also a popular choice for competition riders who are preparing for a particular event or examination.

If you are interested in participating in our Riding School activities, please contact us

Zia Park Upcoming Events:

Riding for Juniors

Most children are fascinated by horses and are keen to give riding a go.   Children develop the coordination, strength and balance needed to ride effectively at different ages.  The acquisition of riding skills is also to some extent influenced by the amount of practice the child gets.  This is why children who come from families with horses usually pick up riding skills at a much younger age than children who only get occasional opportunities to ride.  

We suggest pony orientation classes for most children under the age of 8. We use exercises, mounted games and short trail rides to develop the young riders’ confidence, agility, balance and coordination in a safe and fun environment.  Parents are encouraged to get involved with their child’s learning.  We teach parents how to check correct fit of the saddle and bridle, how to handle, groom and lead a pony safely and effectively, and how to assist and encourage their child to develop correct riding technique under the supervision of the class instructor.  Many of the activities we do will require parents or helpers to lead or hold the pony.

Our goal for riders in this age bracket is to give them good foundation skills that they can build on as they mature in strength, size, coordination and understanding.  Above all, we try to make the learning process fun and safe.  Parents should be mindful of the need to nurture confidence and enjoyment and try not to focus on progress at this stage of their children’s riding. 

Pony orientation classes are held on Monday and Wednesday after school and on Sunday morning at 10AM.  Before joining a group, we require riders to attend one or more private lessons to ensure that they and their parents are confident and understand the basics of pony control and safety. 

Holiday Camps

Zia Park Equestrian Centre in Gidgegannup offers non residential School Holiday Riding Camps throughout the year.

Riding Camps are usually held for 5 days (Monday-Friday) during spring, summer and autumn school holidays and include a variety of activities.

The Ziapark Equestrian Centre School Holiday Riding camps are suitable for children and teenagers from the age of 6. Qualified instructors, certified in working with children and teenagers, organise each day with many activities around horses, including riding education, pony games, vaulting, tuition in horse care. Other activities include swimming and bush riding and depend on season.

Students arrive daily at Zia Park Equestrian Centre around 8 am and the activities usually conclude around 4pm. Morning and afternoon tea are provided, students bring their own lunch. Parents are welcome to participate in selected activities.

Zia Park Equestrian Centre’s school horses are available for camp participants. Students are also welcome to bring their own horses or pony.

If you are interested in more information regarding Holiday Riding Camps at Zia Park Equestrian Centre, please contact us.

Zia Park Upcoming Events: