By: Cherylene Chan
Looking to saddle up and get your horse riding fix in Singapore? You won’t be let down – believe it or not, the island has a small but satisfactory equestrian scene that you can get stuck into (if you’ve got the pennies). Check out these spots for a trot.
EL Top Tip: Riders Lodge
If you’re after a brilliantly cheap stable, we recently enjoyed an afternoon at Riders Lodge, just a short trip across the Malaysian border. It’s amazing value for money, with hourly lessons and trails start at $53 per person, plus they offer heaps of options that cater to different group sizes and durations. Fancy a short break, so you can explore and tuck into their amazing cuisine? You can book a package that includes a set amount of riding, plus accommodation and meals – with a one-night weekend stay currently priced at S$287.17 per person.
Singapore Turf Club Riding Centre
1 Equestrian Walk | 6879 3600
Whether or not you have riding experience, the Singapore Turf Club’s Riding Centre is fairly accessible. First-time registrants who are new to riding will be shown the ropes in a seven-week riding programme, while more experienced folks will be assessed and assigned to the best class for their level. Once you’ve settled in, private lessons can be arranged at $130 each (normally booked in sets of 10) and you’ll have a pick of 40 ponies or horses. They also have a café and a tack shop, which stocks all the equestrian supplies you need. Note: Hacks aren’t offered.
Gallop Stable
100 Turf Club Road | 6463 6012
A wide range of lessons is available, including group lessons (gather your friends… or you know, your kid’s friends!) and 20-minute pony rides for kids aged three and above. Hour-long hacks on the lush trail along Fairways Green Track or Fairways Sand Ring are $85 a pop. If your wee ones adore animals, you can also book a stable tour where they can pet the horses and learn about caring for them.
Bukit Timah Saddle Club
51 Fairways Drive | 6466 2264
Want to give your cherubs a birthday they’ll remember forever (or until next year, at least)? Booking this stable’s birthday package should work like a charm. It’ll give the birthday kid and their pals as many pony rides as they can squeeze in an hour, accompanied by an experienced handler. No hacks here, but they do conduct riding lessons for groups of four to eight ($400 for four sessions) and let experienced riders lease out horses if they’d rather ride unaccompanied. For equestrian-loving couples, they even offer wedding photo shoots with one of their maned beauties, set against the scenic forested backdrop.
Singapore Polo Club
80 Mount Pleasant Road | 6854 3999
Although you need a membership here ($1701.20 a month), it could be worth forking out if you’re a serious horse rider looking for schedule-friendly lessons. Classes are held every Tuesday to Sunday from 7am – to 7.45pm. You can also call ahead to arrange hacks along jungle trails near the club. When you’ve worked up an appetite, the club has three restaurants (also open to non-members) offering both local and western grub. We recommend dining in The Verandah’s al fresco area for a view of the green.
National Equestrian Centre
100 Jalan Mashhor | 9753 8739
Hacks aren’t possible here, but these guys do offer riding packages for both children and adults ($640 for Singaporeans, $800 for PRs and foreigners – each eight lessons). One of their more interesting programmes is a pony playgroup for kids aged three to five ($80 per child). During the 90-minute session, kids will learn and play with all things pony-related, from arts and crafts to riding and cooking pony meals.
