Chester Riding Club

Today my younger daughter and I are off to a 6-year-old birthday party at Chester Riding Club in Chester, NJ. I've attended one other birthday party there, back in October with my older daughter, who has an unfortunate horse allergy....but we knew that going in and dosed her with Benadryl. The earlier party was a "girl party" (birthday girl invites the girls in her class as well as other gal pals) and I suspect this one will be as well. The girls had a blast....at least at this age, no serious riding takes place. Three or four of the girls at a time don helmets, mount mid-sized horses, and an instructor leads each one around the horse ring. Parents and the other party-goers can watch from behind the glass windows at ground level or up in the second floor party room.

Due to the horse allergies, we haven't signed up our girls for riding lessons, but Chester Riding Club offers them for all ages. Several of the other Roxiticus Desperate Housewives' children (from age 6 through high school age) do take lessons there. The moms, while warning that riding is an expensive habit, highly recommend the Chester Riding Club for its quality instruction.

According to their brochure:

Jamie Maillet, who founded the Chester Riding Club in 2005, was raised in a family with a long, established equestrian history (unlike mine). He continues the tradition by encouraging his students to reach the best of their riding abilities and aspirations. Chester Riding Club's instructors share a life-long passion for horses and are active in their students' success. The lesson program is personalized to each student's needs and accomodates a wide spectrum of skill levels from the true beginner to Grand Prix competition. Quality instruction offered for all skill levels in the hunter, jumper and equitation disciplines.

Chester Riding Club is a year-round equestrian facility on 30 acres in the heart of Morris County. Facilities include an outdoor arena with all-weather footing, turn-out paddocks, heated indoor ring with European-style lounge viewing area, and Grand Prix jumping field.

Chester Riding Club is located at 80 US Highway 206, Chester NJ 07930. Phone: (908) 879-0578.