Both experienced riders and complete novices can polish their skills by saddling up on a horse that is guaranteed never to present any problems. It can’t bite, bolt or kick out because it’s not made of flesh and blood - it’s a mechanical horse.

Nervous or inexperienced riders obviously need a calm, well-disciplined horse who will do what he is told, with no threat of unpredictable behaviour. And the way to guarantee this is to saddle up a mechanical horse which always has a steady, rhythmic pace.

FINDING the right riding school either as a beginner or someone wanting to improve their skill in the saddle - can be a tricky business.

So where do you start?

The golden rule is to make sure you select a riding school that belongs to either the Association of British Riding Schools (ABRS) or the British Horse Society (BHS) - or, better still, both.