Does Desert Palm Equestrian Centre have anything for children?

Yes. Barn Buddies is a supervised one-hour session for children aged 6 to 12, with pony care, grooming and a 30-minute pony ride, every Tuesday during school term from 4:30 to 5:30PM. The centre also offers 30-minute pony rides and lead-out rides with a handler for riders under 70 kg.

How much does Barn Buddies cost?

AED 290 per session, and booking is essential. Prices for pony rides and lead-out rides are not published, so ask the admin office.

Can my child have riding lessons there?

The centre's riding lessons are for riders with their own horses. For children without a horse, the options are Barn Buddies and pony or lead-out rides.

How do I book, and when is the office open?

Call the admin office on +971 50 451 7773 or email ridingschool@desertpalmllc.com. Office hours are Tuesday to Saturday, 6-11AM and 4-7PM. These are office hours, not session times.

On the Desert Palm Estate off Al Aweer Road (E44), Dubai, where Meliá Desert Palm is. Its Google listing shows a wheelchair-accessible car park and entrance.

Desert Palm Equestrian Centre

Q: What should my child wear?

The riding dress code asks for a correctly fitted, approved riding helmet, tall or short riding boots with a heel, close-fitting long trousers and a long- or short-sleeved top, and all riders must dress modestly. Ask the admin office whether a helmet can be borrowed.

EquestrianHorse Riding

Checked Sept 2026Details checked September 2026

International City

Ages6–12years old
PriceAED 290a session, lowest price
OpenAskNot published yet
WhereInternational CityOpen in Maps

Desert Palm Equestrian Centre sits on the green Desert Palm Estate off Al Aweer Road (E44), home to the Meliá Desert Palm hotel. It describes itself as a private equestrian facility: a private livery stable and an events venue that runs dressage, showjumping and hunter trial competitions through the season. For children, the main programme is Barn Buddies, a supervised one-hour session for ages 6 to 12 on Tuesdays during school term, from 4:30 to 5:30PM. Children learn about ponies and how to care for them, see what goes on behind the scenes at the stables, groom the ponies and enjoy a 30-minute pony ride. It costs AED 290 a session and booking is essential. The centre also offers 30-minute pony rides and lead-out rides with a handler, for children and adults weighing under 70 kg. Its riding lessons are only for riders with their own horses. Bookings go through the admin office on +971 50 451 7773.

Instagram

The activity

Horse Riding, explained

Horse riding for children usually starts on the ground and on a pony led by a handler. Young riders learn how to approach, groom and care for a pony, then sit in the saddle while an adult leads, getting used to the walk, their balance and the feel of the pony moving. As confidence grows, lessons move on to steering, trot and canter, and later to jumping or dressage. Riding builds balance, core strength, patience and a sense of responsibility, because looking after the pony is part of the fun. A correctly fitted riding helmet and boots with a heel are standard kit. Starting ages vary between stables, so check with each one before booking.

Who it's for

Barn Buddies is for children aged 6 to 12. Pony rides and lead-out rides suit children and adults weighing under 70 kg, with a handler alongside. Riding lessons are only for riders who have their own horse, so children without a horse join through Barn Buddies or a pony ride.

What to expect

A Barn Buddies session runs for an hour, 4:30 to 5:30PM on a Tuesday in school term. Children learn about ponies and how to care for them, see behind the scenes at the stables, groom and spend time with the ponies, and finish with a 30-minute pony ride. Pony rides and lead-out rides last 30 minutes with a handler. The centre's riding dress code asks every rider for a correctly fitted, approved riding helmet, riding boots with a heel, close-fitting long trousers and a long- or short-sleeved top, and riders must dress modestly; riders without the right clothing and equipment can be turned away. Ask the admin office whether a helmet can be borrowed.

Highlights

Barn Buddies for ages 6-12: Tuesdays in school term, 4:30-5:30PM, AED 290 a session (Instagram)
Each Barn Buddies session covers pony care and grooming and includes a 30-minute pony ride (Instagram)
30-minute pony rides and lead-out rides with a handler, for riders under 70 kg (Instagram)
Dressage, showjumping and hunter trial competitions through the season, starting October 2026 (Instagram)
Set on the green Desert Palm Estate off Al Aweer Road (Instagram)
4.1 on Google from 50 reviews

Why parents rate it

What parents say on Google

Desert Palm Equestrian Centre is rated 4.1 on Google from 50 reviews. 32 reviewers gave 5 stars and 4 gave 4 stars, while 6 gave 3 stars, 2 gave 2 stars and 6 gave 1 star, so opinions are mixed.

The facts

Ages: Barn Buddies: 6-12 years. Pony rides and lead-out rides: children and adults under 70 kg.
Prices: Barn Buddies: AED 290 per session. Pony rides and lead-out rides: ask the provider.
Schedule: Barn Buddies: Tuesdays during school term, 4:30-5:30PM (booking essential). Pony rides and lead-out rides: book through the admin office.
Trial: Ask the provider
Where: Desert Palm Estate, Al Aweer Road - E44, Dubai (Warsan Second - Warsan 2)
How to book: +971 50 451 7773 · [email protected]
Opening hours: MonClosed
Tue–Sat6–11am, 4–7pm

Questions parents ask

Good to know

Riding lessons are only for riders with their own horses (Instagram)
Booking is essential for Barn Buddies; contact the admin office (Instagram)
Dress code: approved riding helmet, riding boots with a heel, close-fitting long trousers; riders must dress modestly (Instagram)
Admin office hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 6-11AM and 4-7PM (Instagram)
Wheelchair-accessible car park and entrance (Google listing)