Welcome to our FAQ’s Page

We are only in a position to deal with genuine horse enthusiasts who are perfectly aware of the risks involved in horse riding and who are prepared to accept responsibility for their actions and choices.

This is why all riders seeking to ride at our premises must become members where our rules and regulations & Terms and Conditions must be accepted by all Members immediately upon becoming a Member.

Most certainly not! We are a Private Members Club and therefore there is a requirement for a Membership fee. We have kept this fee as cheap as possible at Only €2.00

Our aim is to ensure that no genuine horse enthusiast is excluded from enjoying the best horse riding experience(s).

Bookings can be made by email or phone. If you are not sure which would be the best type of lesson, hack, trek, excursion or grooming/pampering session etc., to book, or you cannot find the day/time that you would like, please email or phone us, we will be glad to help.

By email to info@necpmc.ie

By Phone:- 00 353 (0)86 869 8885

It is advisable to book at least 72 hours in advance, to avoid disappointment.

It only costs €2.00 to become a Member with riding privileges. (And if your a Spectator its FREE to become a member.) Our Riding/Lessons; hacks/Treks/Excursions; Birthday Parties; and Special Events, price list can be viewed at "0"

Given the fact that we are a Private Members Club, and that you freely accept our Terms and Conditions / Rules and Regulations, and the fact that all minors must be accompanied by an adult, and if the adult is the parent/guardian of the minor then common sense applies, if you feel your child is fit and capable enough to ride and or be led then this is your choice to make.

We offer guidelines (Not Rules etc) which you are free to consider. Children from 4 to 5 years of age can be reasonable riders, but they ought to be adequately supervised, and usually 30 minutes is ample riding time.

Generally children from 6 to 7 years of age and upwards can take part in 1 Hour Lessons etc. Again common sense must be applied to all instances owing to the varying abilities / skill levels of different children.

All children taking part in treks and or excursions must have the express permission of their Parents / Guardians

Yes. We welcome all levels of rider(s) here at NEC PMC. You cannot run before you can walk! All riders had to begin at some stage, so we put every effort into helping you on your Riding journey. We specialise in providing safe and suitable horses to make your first riding experience as safe and enjoyable as possible, and to build your confidence.

All our members requiring a horse are assessed to ascertain their ability. As a beginner you will be able to ride one of our beginner/novice rides.

Not if you don’t want to be. Generally speaking experienced riders should not be with beginner/novice riders unless you are riding with/in the company of a family member/friend whom you wish to assist/supervise. Where you are riding with a beginner/novice rider the pace must be to suit the beginner/novice rider.

There are plenty of tracks with and without jumps, we have dedicated fixed jump areas, and we have an outdoor sand jumping arena along with an indoor sand arena, all capable of testing the most experienced of riders.

Yes there are weight restrictions on all our horses in the best interests of the welfare and health and safety of our horses and the members riding them. Our horses are different heights and sizes, some are stronger than others just like humans, so we must match rider and horse.

We can generally cater for most riders, but if you do have any concerns, please feel free to contact us and we will be happy and able to assist you, so as to avoid any misunderstanding and or disappointment.

Yes, if you are a member of NEC PMC you most certainly can, as you are aware of and accept the dangers associated with same, the more the merrier!

No, especially if you are a spectator. You are free to borrow riding hats/helmets and or body protectors from other members particularly where you may be just testing the water. A lot of our members have made it known to us that they are happy to assist any new member with these vital safety items while they are in a trial phase etc. Some of our experienced members have on occasion forgot to bring their riding hat/helmet and or body protector, where they managed to acquire similar on our premises. We are unaware of any member failing to acquire the necessary riding hat/helmet and or body protector where the arrived without them. Notwithstanding same if you are a member intending to ride, and owing to the dangerous nature of horse riding and in your own best interests and wellbeing all riders require a properly fitting riding hat / helmet and a properly fitting body protector and appropriate footwear for each riding session.

A riding hat/helmet and a body protector are essential equestrian kit, and in our opinion your insurers would take a very dim view on any potential claims where you were not wearing these two vital pieces of safety equipment.

You cannot enter any construction site whether private or public single or multi unit without a safety helmet and high visibility jacket/vest. These are the facts of modern day society, where the law now imposes a common sense requirement on all persons engaging in risky / dangerous activities etc. So once you are sure that you are going to engage in horse riding on a regular basis, you ought to acquire said properly fitting riding hat/helmet and body protector without delay.

Absolutely Not! It would be a very rare occasion, where we would be compelled to cancel riding due to the weather conditions. ”There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing.” Don’t forget that we have indoor facilities also. Notwithstanding same, there may be occasions where a Red weather alert/warning may be in place for our locality where common sense will have to be applied. In such circumstances we will be in regular contact with members who have bookings, health and safety are of paramount importance to us here at NEC PMC.

Wherefore failing to turn up for your pre-booked appointment/lesson etc., on a poor weather day where our private members club is functioning does not entitle any member to any refund under any circumstances.

We choose the most suitable ponies/horses for members/riders based on the information provided by that member and or their parent/guardian at the time of registration as a member. We also take into consideration a members personal preference (ie, a quiet pony, or a more forward going pony/horse). We may in the interests of health and safety and the wellbeing of both member and pony/horse conduct an assessment in relation to the suitability of the pairing of pony/ horse and rider in the outdoor or indoor arenas before going on any hack, trek and or excursion etc. If a particular partnership doesn't appear to be reasonable / safe, then we will try a different pony/horse until the rider/member is 100% happy with their chosen mount.

Riding is a sport that requires a combination of acquired skills (through learning/lessons) most notably:- core strength, stamina, balance, fitness, mental strength and the important bonding between a rider and their chosen pony / horse. These things naturally come easier to some people and slower to other people. The word slower does not imply that something is wrong, take the bonding (which is a real thing!) if there is a failure to bond for whatever reason this may slow down the “learning to ride” process by a few weeks. Fitness and stamina play a huge part, as most people believe you just sit up on a pony/horse and pony/horse just telepathically takes you wherever you want to go. In fact the most irritating thing to a competent rider is when an uneducated person informs them that pony/horse riding is “Not a Sport” (Stand Back!) Make no mistake pony/horse riding is a formidable workout which requires specific fitness and stamina, combined with balance and strength, and confidence (mental strength) with a bit of love and respect (bonding) thrown in.

This is not a way for equestrian centres to “cash in” on extra lessons! There are so many factors (moving parts) but in general it takes in the region of 10 lessons to learn how to control a pony/horse while walking and possibly trotting. It takes a further 10 to 25 lessons to learn to canter properly. It really depends upon the rider, and their fitness etc. Fitness does not mean “athlete” (Some of the fittest athletes on planet earth have failed to complete a mere 5 minutes on a horse racing simulator! different muscles and muscle areas involved! So it really is “horses for courses”! A competent instructor will know if there are issues after the initial 5 to 10 lessons and will/ought to advise you accordingly. It is very rare that a person with a reasonable interest in ponies/horses and in riding ponies/horses would fail to achieve their goal.

In the event of cancellation of lessons etc., we merely ask that you provide us with a minimum of 48 hours notice.

In relation to bookings for “pony camp” “treks” and or “excursions” which require more organisation and or third party bookings etc., we require seven (7) days notice.

For late cancellation(s) and or no-shows the Full price of the “lesson(s)” and or “pony camp” and or “treks” and or “excursions” will be charged. No Exceptions.