Horse riding
Being around horses is great for mental wellbeing
Horse riding at Calvert
On the outskirts of Keswick, Calvert Stables offering accessible and inclusive equine experiences that appeal to people of all ages and abilities. Being around horses is great for mental wellbeing and whether riding, grooming or just spending time at the Stables, our guests get a huge amount of enjoyment from their visit.
Calvert Stables has an indoor arena, a small classroom and outdoor ring offering horse experiences during all weathers. Outside of the stables is a riding path for longer hacks that is suitable for riders, their grooms and horses with carriages. And of course, you can meet the horses in their stalls and read all about their likes and dislikes.
Some of the ponies belong to the Stables and others are on loan from other stables. Each has their own personality and most of them love the attention of our guests. Spending time at the Stables is therapeutic and horses are carefully matched with groups based on activities, temperament and needs to provide fun and safe sessions for guests.
Groups can choose to try horse riding, grooming, carriage rides and driving as preferred. Calvert Stables offer a supportive environment to meet the ponies, where participants benefit from both spending time outdoors and the calming effects of the horses.
Horse riding is great for:
Reducing stress and anxiety
Adaptive horse riding equipment:
Check out the adaptive equipment which allows all of our guests to experience our incredible activities.
Horse traps
Carriage driving
Mounting hoists ramps
Mounting hoists ramps
Looped reins
Supportive volunteers to lead horses
“Excellent. Appreciate being able to access a facility like this where it’s inclusive of all abilities to be able to see my son take part in things not possible elsewhere that he’s ever had the experience of is amazing”
Calvert Lakes Guest
“They were well managed and staff were very knowledgeable and friendly, and always willing to go the extra mile to help us feel comfortable, safe and secure, without being over cautious.”
Calvert Lakes Guest
“We had so much fun doing everything and it was all so inclusive “
Calvert Lakes Guest
“Activities were amazing, the equipment was top notch. The instructors were very knowledgeable and encouraged the children and adults all week. Our instructor Bea was always energetic and enthusiastic with the group and made accomodation for our child’s SEN.”
Calvert Lakes Guest
Horse riding FAQ's
Take a look at our most frequently asked questions.
Where does horse riding take place?
Calvert Stables is a Riding for the Disabled (RDA) stables located on the outskirts of Keswick in the Lake District. They offer equine experiences for people of all abilities. It takes approximately 5-10 minutes to get there by minibus from Calvert Lakes.
How long are horse riding sessions?
Stables sessions usually take around 2 hours and can be enjoyed as a morning or afternoon activity.
Are the horses friendly?
Our horses are specially selected for their calm temperaments and trained to handle lots of people, noises and distractions. They are very well cared for by a team of experienced staff and volunteers and love their job!
Who can enjoy horse riding?
Horse riding at Calvert Stables is best for children and young adults with a good level of mobility.
There is a weight limit of 12 stone/168 pounds/76 kilograms for riding our horses. Anyone over this can enjoy carriage driving or grooming instead. Carriage driving is also well suited to wheelchair users, and we have a range of ramps and hoists for people to get into and out of our carriages.
Do you qualify for financial support?
At Calvert Lakes, we believe that everyone should have the opportunity to experience the joys of outdoor adventure. We also understand that the cost of a residential stay can be a barrier. Thanks to the hard work of our fundraising team, we have regular releases of bursary funding that can further help support your residential stay with us.
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