Junior Polo Lessons and Horse Riding Development Squads in Surrey

At Minninnooka Polo & Riding School, we believe children make the greatest progress when they experience more than one riding lesson each week.

Confidence and genuine ability develop through consistent coaching, riding a variety of horses, learning practical horsemanship, spending time at the yard and becoming part of a team.

Our Junior Polo Development Squad provides a structured pathway for young riders who want to improve their riding, learn to play polo or progress towards competitions. Based at our polo and riding school in Chobham, our programme offers junior polo lessons and children’s horse riding development in Surrey without requiring families to own a horse.

More Than Weekly Horse Riding Lessons for Children

Individual lessons are an important part of learning, but a development squad provides something more.

Riders receive regular coaching and follow a clear development plan. They learn to adapt to different horses, take responsibility for their preparation and care, and practise their skills consistently.

We are seeing significant improvements in children who ride a varied selection of horses and learn in different ways. Each horse teaches a rider something new. One may help develop balance, another may require clearer aids, while another teaches greater confidence, patience or feel.

This varied experience helps children become capable, adaptable riders rather than learning how to ride only one familiar pony.

Junior Polo Lessons and Development in Surrey

The Minninnooka Junior Polo Development Squad creates a pathway from a child’s early polo lessons through to confident match play and competition.

The pathway is:

Foundation → Development → Advanced → Minninnooka Teams → Pony Club and SUPA → HPA polo

Riders are placed according to their current ability, confidence, commitment and individual development needs—not simply their age.

Every level follows the Minninnooka Method: honest assessment, a clear development plan, consistent coaching and technique established through repetition before greater speed or pressure is introduced.

Foundation Junior Polo Squad

The Foundation level gives children a positive and well-rounded introduction to horses and polo.

Riders work on:

• Basic horse care and safe handling

• Riding position and balance

• Confidence and independence

• Introductory stick-and-ball skills

• Group exercises and mini chukkas

• Everyday stable routines

• Their first experience of match play

The focus is on building secure foundations and developing a genuine love of horses and polo without unnecessary pressure.

Development Junior Polo Squad

At Development level, riders begin building the skills needed to become independent polo players.

Training includes:

• Riding and flatwork

• Stick work and shot technique

• Polo rules, positioning and game understanding

• Horse care and management

• Instructional chukkas

• Match-play opportunities

• Greater responsibility at the yard

There is more structure and repetition at this stage, preparing riders for Advanced training, Minninnooka teams and appropriate Pony Club polo opportunities.

Advanced Junior Polo Coaching

The Advanced Squad is for riders who are genuinely committed to developing their polo.

The programme can include:

• Advanced riding and collection

• A full range of polo shots

• Tactical play and game awareness

• Riding several different horses

• Young-horse and retraining work

• Polo fitness

• Horse management and practical yard skills

• Match and competition preparation

Advanced riders complete a minimum of one group lesson each week. Depending on their membership, they may also have access to one or two additional confirmed yard rides each week.

Every visit includes responsibility. Riders prepare, tack up, groom and put away their allocated horses under staff direction. Horses are not simply handed over ready to ride.

Junior English Riding Development Programme

Minninnooka also offers a Junior English Squad for riders who want a more complete equestrian education but do not wish to focus primarily on polo.

This structured horse riding development programme takes riders beyond the limitations of an occasional weekly lesson.

The journey has three stages:

Stage 1: Building Strong Riding Foundations

Riders work with multiple horses to improve their position, balance, confidence and feel. They begin to recognise that different horses require different aids and ways of riding.

Stage 2: Learning to Bring On a Horse

As riders develop, they may be carefully matched with a suitable horse to bring on. They learn about the horse’s individual character, establish a consistent routine and help develop it through structured schooling.

Stage 3: Producing and Competing

Riders combine regular riding, coaching, horse care and practical horsemanship while working towards genuine competition readiness.

Horse ownership is not required. Minninnooka has a large and varied group of horses, allowing each rider to be matched with appropriate horses as their confidence and ability develop.

Why Riding Different Horses Improves Children’s Riding

Riding several horses is central to both our polo and English riding squads.

A child who only rides one familiar pony may become comfortable, but that does not always produce an adaptable rider. Working with different horses teaches children to adjust their balance, aids, timing and approach.

This experience can develop:

• Better balance and an independent seat

• Clearer communication with the horse

• Greater confidence

• Improved feel and awareness

• Patience and problem-solving

• A better understanding of horse behaviour

• The ability to adapt in lessons, matches and competitions

Our aim is not simply to help children complete exercises. We want them to understand the horse beneath them and become thoughtful, capable horsewomen and horsemen.

Horsemanship Is an Essential Part of Rider Development

Our squad programmes include much more than mounted training.

Riders are expected to learn how to prepare, tack up, groom, untack and care for their horses with suitable supervision. Advanced riders also contribute to appropriate yard duties and the daily routine.

These responsibilities teach practical horse care as well as independence, teamwork and respect.

At Minninnooka, horses are not treated as sporting equipment. Understanding their needs, welfare and management is an essential part of becoming a good rider or polo player.

From Junior Polo Lessons to Pony Club Competitions

As riders become ready, they may be considered for Minninnooka teams, instructional chukkas, matches and selected competitions.

Squad membership does not guarantee selection. Opportunities are based on ability, readiness, attendance, attitude, sportsmanship and commitment to the team.

The purpose of the programme is to bridge the gap between lessons and genuine competition. Riders can gradually gain match experience before progressing towards Pony Club, SUPA or HPA polo when they are ready.

The Pony Club’s polo pathway includes training, friendly tournaments, qualifiers and championships, giving committed young riders opportunities to develop within a recognised national structure.

Who Can Apply for a Minninnooka Development Squad?

Squad places are offered individually rather than on a first-come, first-served basis.

We look for riders who demonstrate:

• A positive attitude

• Consistent attendance

• Willingness to learn

• Good sportsmanship

• Respect for horses, staff and teammates

• Commitment to personal improvement

A squad place is earned through commitment, attitude and a willingness to develop. It is not simply another lesson slot.

Riders are also expected to attend at least one group lesson each week, arrive on time, participate in theory sessions and make the most of the opportunities available to them.

Junior Development Squad Membership and Prices

Foundation and Development membership costs £45 per month and includes:

• An initial individual assessment

• A simple rider development plan

• 15% off the standard lesson rate

• Priority access to squad lessons, camps and training days

• Group theory sessions

• Eligibility for Minninnooka teams and selected competitions

• Supervised horse preparation and care linked to booked sessions

Lessons and activities are booked and paid for separately. Foundation and Development membership does not include unrestricted yard access or guaranteed additional riding.

Advanced riders can choose:

• Advanced Weekend – £225 per month: up to one additional confirmed yard ride each week on Saturday or Sunday

• Advanced Full – £325 per month: up to two additional confirmed yard rides each week from Tuesday to Sunday

Advanced riders must also attend one weekly group lesson, booked separately at the Advanced Squad rate of £40.

All additional riding is subject to confirmation, horse suitability, horse welfare, weather, staffing and daily capacity.

You can view the complete programme, membership options and squad expectations on our Junior Polo Squad information page.

A Clear Pathway for Young Riders in Surrey

Our Junior Development Squads are designed for families looking for more than occasional children’s horse riding lessons or one-off polo sessions.

They provide a clear, supportive pathway built around:

• Consistent coaching

• Varied riding experience

• Practical horsemanship

• Individual development plans

• Teamwork

• Responsibility

• Match and competition opportunities

Most importantly, the programme helps children become confident, capable and responsible riders who understand that real progress comes from consistency, effort and time spent learning both in and out of the saddle.

Apply for a Junior Polo or Riding Squad in Surrey

Minninnooka Polo & Riding School is based at Smarts Meadow, Pennypot Lane, Chobham, Surrey, GU24 8DL.

If your child is interested in junior polo lessons, children’s riding development or joining one of our squads, please view the Junior Polo Squad programme and register your interest.

Children who already have a horse on livery at Minninnooka are also welcome to enquire about squad opportunities.

Squad enquiries: kirstie@minninnooka.co.uk

General enquiries: polo@minninnooka.co.uk

Telephone: 07557 343355