By Johnnie Most
Contributor

Next time your wondering what new activity you can get the kids involved in to take them away from video games and TV, why not give some thought to horseback riding and equestrian activities. At Roseland Acres Equestrian Center in Tiverton, they specialize in helping novices become acquainted with the art and fun of horseback riding.

A full service year-round equestrian center, Roseland provides both outdoor and indoor lessons, trail rides, hayrides, ponies for special occasions, horse drawn carriages for weddings and other special events, and, if winter weather cooperates, horse drawn sleigh rides. Nancy White, who is the owner of Roseland, has operated the center for the past fifteen years, and she has over 40 years of riding experience and has been teaching and managing farms for over 20 years.

"Riding lessons are a nice after-school activity for kids," White says. "We recommend that kids start as early as five or six years old, but even if they start a little later they catch up quickly. "The interesting thing we've seen over the years is that after parents bring their kids in for lessons, they become interested themselves and they start taking lessons too. Eventually it becomes a family activity and people who have taken lessons with us go out on trail rides together. It's a positive family activity."

Roseland provides lessons in both English and Western, starting kids and beginners off with a gentle horse like a morgan or a quarter horse. More experienced riders move up to thoroughbreds or the larger warmbloods.

"Our trainer, Debbie Hoyt Banfield, does a wonderful job with kids and adults, and we have a number of junior instructors who have trained with us here," White explained. Trails which wind through nearby woods and meadows, afford the most enjoyable riding, White advised. You'll see an occasional dear as you're out riding," White said, "it's very pretty and it's a relaxing and exciting pass time."

Guided trail rides cost $25 an hour and are available in one hour and two-hour packages. The latter is a bit more challenging as guides lead you in a walk, a trot and canter. Roseland's hayride season last through Christmas, and they offer rides aboard wagons drawn by belgians and clydesdales both on the premises and at other sites.

Both trail rides and hayrides are by reservation only. If youre thinking of booking a horse drawn carriage for your wedding, you need to reserve one anywhere from six to 12 months in advance, White advised.

Roseland also offers an annual summer camp, with lots of equestrian activities and other normal summer camp fun. The camp is design for kids six to 16. If you're interested in becoming a competitive rider, Roseland brings some serious credentials to its training. Sixteen-year-old Mary Charette of Fall River, for instance, has been tapped as an Olympic team hopeful for 2004. She has been training at Roseland for seven years.

Emily Horvitz, 17, of Swansea, Mass., has been riding and training at Roseland for nearly 10 years, and she is preparing to enter national competitions soon. Another younger Roseland rider, Giovanna Bartone of North Providence, has won medals in South Shore competitions at age 11.

"We're proud of our kids and our programs," says White. "We encourage families to get involved. It's a lot of fun."

For more information or directions on how to get to Roseland Acres, call 401-624-8866.