A Horse Without Hassle

Any avid equestrian will be able to tell you that the initial cost of a horse is not what makes any form of horseback riding such an expensive sport. Horses must be fed, housed and properly cared for - all of which are ongoing expenses, on top of training and general equipment. With one piece of equipment, the Racewood Riding Simulator, a novice rider can now eliminate those ongoing costs while s/he learns to ride.

Such machines were previously only available to large scale training facilities and were limited in scope. This riding simulator is designed to walk, trot, canter and steer realistically, performing all levels of flatwork, a unique feat that is accomplished with the help of programming from Equitech Software.

As fascinating as this is, the simulator is no substitute for a real horse for someone who is genuinely interested in either competing or experiencing the joys of horse ownership. It can help to streamline the learning process, though, allowing the rider to work on his/her own technique without the aid of a formal trainer and without actually having to worry about controlling a half-ton animal. Of course, the initial investment is more than the cost of many horses, at £35,000 each, but the only protection this investment needs - quite unlike a real horse at that price - is a cover to shield it from the rain.