Our daughter (age 8) and son (age 12) are keen riders and we were looking for a riding school as we’d just moved to Dublin. Nestled in the hills above Dublin at the start of the Wicklow mountains we found The Paddocks Riding Centre. It was everything we were looking for… run by a professional and passionate team they really look after the kids. The instructors are very good… careful but yet push the kids to what they are capable of. They’ve come on in leaps and bounds in the last few weeks. Special mention to Gina who’s been amazing with the kids. The facilities are top notch with great stables and multiple arenas… they can take the kids from basics to jumping with no problems. They even have a shop where one can get kitted out with riding gear… we got riding vests and helmets for the kids at very reasonable prices. We have yet to try out their day trails and camps but we will do so when we get the time. All in all we are very happy with the place and cannot recommend it highly enough. P.S. the place is so close to nature we see deers and hares every time we go there… kids love it…

For our daughter’s 3rd birthday we wanted to do something special and booked her into Pony Play with the Paddocks. We couldn’t have made a better choice. The session was very well set up. First you get ready, shoes and helmet and then our daughter got to meet Kelly the pony. She was so excited! The pony was the perfect size and my daughter got shown how to brush a pony before she was able to get on and went for a little “ride”. They went up to see some of the big horses along the way and the views were just stunning. The whole experience felt very safe and special for our girl. We will definitely be back because our girl keep talking about Kelly the pony and how Kelly is her best friend.

My nephew loved his Pony Play experience at The Paddocks- it was his first time with and on a horse. We had thought he might be hesitant to get onto the horse, but the time handling and grooming before mounting the pony seemed to put him at ease, so much so, he didn’t want his parents to go with him when he was led out on a mini ride by the instructor. The other kids stayed behind and had a great time looking at all the other horses and stable bits. We loved our trip out, and we’ll be back.

My first riding experience started and still continues with Paddocks Riding Centre🤩 I could not be more pleased to find the whole young! energetic! team, including Denise, very welcoming, extremely professional and what's most important for me🎈full passion about their work💛 Not to mention the incredible location🌄 in Dublin mountains with forest and some stunning views! Great introduction at start how to take care of horses and be comfortable around them🐎 I have been trained since the beginning by the beautiful blond Rachel🧡 talented and awarded young rider who is professional, compassionate and also demanding which is helpful when making progress😅 Great place for anyone who is looking for riding experience!

My daughter has just completed her 1st week of Pony Camp. It was the best week of her life. She enjoyed every minute of the whole experience. Not only did her riding improve, but she also learned about stable management, feeding, grooming, safety, and lots more besides. The Paddocks team are totally dedicated and professional at all times. They are what makes it such an amazing experience. I would highly recommend The Paddocks. We can't wait to get going with livery when we get back from holidays. Thanks to all the team. Suzanne.

I organised a trek for both my daughter's and their friends - it was absolutely an amazing, fun and well organised event. The staff are professional and fun, the ponies are just beautiful. The forests and scenery are wonderful. For a party experience or a day out with family or friends I would highly recommend the Paddocks.

We had an absolutely wonderful experience there! Our daughters were a little bit afraid, but the girls made it so easy for them and in no time they were on horseback.. we were blessed with a sunny day, the views were amazing! Sadly it's a bit pricey for a family, but worth every penny. Highly recommended.

Absolutely amazing! I have ridden in a few group sessions and was wanting to take it further by learning how to ride properly. I decided to book a private adult riding lesson with the paddocks and was not disappointed. I was given Selma as my instructor, who was awesome! She was very professional and reassuring. She was very knowledgeable and was able to judge my skill level and provide training accordingly, ensuring that I was comfortable and understood everything. Horses are well trained and used to inexperienced riders ensuring that you have a good experience and are able to focus on learning proper technique. Will definitely be back for further lessons. Cannot recommend enough!

We booked a last minute walkout during our 2 week stay in Ireland and they are so nice and professional. The girls who led our horses were very kind and the horses themselves were wonderful! Highly recommend for any age or riding level!

My two daughters aged 4 and 5 had 2 lessons with Rachel and Gina at the stables. They absolutely loved it. The teachers were fantastic and so lovely. The girls confidence and skill set grew so much in such a short space of time. We’ll definitely be going back and recommending to all my friends. Thank you!

My granddaughter has been attending classes in The Paddocks for the past 5 years. During that time, I have watched her develop in confidence and self esteem. The camaraderie amongst the girls and boys and staff is extraordinary. They help each other at all levels. The professionalism of the staff and their interest in each individual student is just wonderful. The laughter after each lesson is lovely to hear as they groom the ponies and collect the feed. But, most of all, the fact that this all takes place in a screen free and phone free environment, for the most part, is what forms the wonderful atmosphere in The Paddocks.

Thrilled with our experience at The Paddocks! The staff, when booking were incredibly accommodating and patient, ensuring my young child had a delightful first riding encounter. Particularly Sophie (a professional instructor) who’s wealth of knowledge and experience shone through, as she engaged my daughter in educational conversations, going the extra mile to tap into her imagination by spotting imaginary fairies in the forest. The day was a magical blend of education, fun, and with the added bonus of a 360 panoramic views of Dublin City Moreover, the journey to The Paddocks was effortlessly straightforward, and complemented the overall positive experience, ensuring accessibility and enjoyment throughout. Thank you, Paddocks, for a delightful adventure and for creating such a memorable day! We look forward to returning soon

I took out work experience here and I had such a great time with all the staff and horses it really built up my confidence working with them. Everyone was super nice and helpful and working on the pony camp with everyone was great fun. They are amazing with kids and their riding lessons are great. Would definitely reccommend coming here no matter the age or riding stage you are at they have it all. Will miss it for definite

My daughter has livery on one of the paddocks palominos and absolutely loves it! It’s suitable for all levels of riders from beginners to advanced and the lessons are excellent. There are different options for livery to suit everyone.There is a great variety of horses to choose from and they are all very well looked after. Denise and the staff are all extremely knowledgeable and helpful.Highly recommended.

Our daughter did a "Pony Play session" here and it was just magical! She is horse mad and it was so wonderful to see her interacting with a pony for her first lesson ever. All of the staff were extremely friendly and gave her so much attention. She got to spend time grooming her pony first and learned about putting on the saddle before going for a beautiful lead-rein trek in the surrounding mountains. The facilities are great with plenty of out door arenas and we got to see some of the Paddocks Palominos being turned out while we were there too. We will definitely be back for more lessons.

We spent such a lovely afternoon on a “walk out” the kids just loved it, the horses were so calm and friendly, beautiful horses and the views were stunning from the forest all the way to the see. The staff weee so friendly from start to finish and made sure the kids were safe and well equipped on the horses. A very positive experience all round

Really enjoyed the walkout in the forest! The atmosphere there is amazing, it feels like you are a character from a Disney movie or Harry Potter books. Views are breathtaking! The people there are super nice, and the horses are beautiful and well looked after. As a beginner I felt very safe. Recommending to those who want a change of scenery or enjoy wonderful views.

Exceptional riding centre which caters for all levels. Super team of riding instructors who are passionate about learning and sharing their experiences. The horses are beautiful, friendly and so well cared for. Our daughter loves her group lessons and is really excited to do the summer camp in August which is a fantastic experience. Well done Denise and team.

Watching my daughter going for her first riding lesson with Rachel. Rachel was unbelievable her clear and positive instructions filled me with confidence. From the moment we booked with I think it was Lorraine who was very nice. what a great place needs to be more stars so I can give a better review. Extremely happy parent! Thanks a million.

Although it was my first experience, I enjoyed very much thanks to Ingrid. She was really good and friendly.. horses were gorgeous, the view was amazing. My advice to those who will go is to bring your own boots and helmet. because theirs are too dirty and shabby. It seems impossible to find suitable boots for your feet. Especially the boots were too messy

Our six year old son went the second time to the pony camp at the Paddocks Riding Centre and absolutely loved it! Everyone at the riding centre is so friendly, welcoming and brilliant with kids. The whole camp is such an amazing experience and so well organised! They learn so much about how to care for horses next to the fun riding classes. All the ponies are really well trained and so well looked after. On top of all the location is so beautifully set in the mountains and one of the highlights is always a little ride out/walk into the forest. We just booked another week of pony camp this summer as our son had such a wonderful time! Can highly recommend! Thanks to Rachel and her fabulous team!

Very nice place with beautiful horses 😍 We took walkout for 2 people. Very scenic and gentle walk on the Dublin mountains and forest. Recommended to anyone ❤️

Had great experiences with two kids 6 and 8 doing group beginner lessons. Ms. 8 got scared in her first lesson after a fall and the teacher kept her behind at the end of the class and helped her get back on, walked around, spent a good 10 minutes just talking her through it, told her "You can be both brave and scared at the same time." They've just finished 10 lessons and are both happy and getting more confident on the horses. Denise (manages the place) has been very responsive to questions, asks after how the kids are getting on, and was very helpful getting them fitted for boots and helmets we bought there. Highly recommended!