Riding School

“Horses are large and powerful animals – they provide a natural opportunity to overcome fear and develop self-confidence. Working with horses offers the unique experience of developing a deeper understanding of yourself and how others perceive you, what motivates you, your adaptability and flexibility in changing situations, your innovativeness, level of commitment and initiative and ultimately your ability to understand and lead others. The best lessons learned from horses are those that allow us to adapt our behaviours to be more balanced and co-operative. Horses teach us to be conscious leaders!

To truly lead others you must first understand yourself and recognize your areas of strengths and areas for development.  What makes learning with horses so different is that learning takes place on the spot. The impact and learning are more powerful than the traditional methods of classroom training. Participants are taken out of their comfort zones and are so much more open to the process of self-discovery. Funnily enough, they are more willing to accept feedback from a horse than from another human being.” -Yolanda Sing is a professional coach, equine facilitator and author of the book ‘Power In The Paddock’.

The 1212 Polo and Turf Resort has created the Equestrian Scholars Club as a partnership with schools within the Abuja metropolis. This is to add to the club activities which schools offer students, but at a further discounted rate (over 30%) to encourage them to try something different. Riding, and a general relationship with horses, is proven to have multiple (developmental and corrective) benefits for children. For details on how to partner and join our program, kindly contact us for the package and guidelines.    

Unlike polo, players are allowed only to play one horse, except in the case of injury. There is no restriction on the horse's height, although polocrosse horses are generally smaller than 16hh. Horses of all breeds play polocrosse. Stallions are not permitted to play. A team consists of six players, divided into two sections of three who each play either 2, 3 or 4 chukkas of six to eight minutes, depending on the rules of the tournament, with the two sections from each team alternating on and off the field each chukka. A match comprises four, six or eight chukkas. The three players in each section play the position of a No. 1, attack, a No. 2, midfield (a combination of defence and offence), or a No. 3, defence.

Air guns are similar to BB guns. Instead of firing a copper or steel BB, however, air guns fire plastic or ceramic projectile that is round like a BB but of a slightly larger size.

With a dedicated horse racing field perfect for thoroughbred flat races, jockeys from Nigeria, and beyond particularly enjoy racing at 1212 and make great use of the stables, paddocks, and clubhouse as well as top-of-the-range riding equipment. Major races in Nigeria include the prestigious Ahmadu Bello Cup, which is run on a 12-furlong distance track, and the Northern Derby in which teams from the Northern States Turf Clubs Authority (NSTCA) come together to compete. The Northern Derby is run on a 10-furlong track with the venue of the race rotated between members. 1212 will be hosting several horseracing derbies during the course of every calendar year.