Lessons

Lessons Integrating Groundwork, Stewardship, and Riding

Non-competitive, horsemanship based riding and groundwork program

Lesson Offerings

All aspects of our lesson program are centered around the horse and student first. Unlike highly competitive or traditional programs, our top priority is teaching best practices in biomechanics, horse care, equine behavior, and the foundations of riding so that our students are equipped to excel in their riding career, no matter where they choose to take it.

Our students work through a series of 4 “levels” as they grow in their skill designed to bring a student from first ride through early horse ownership (if they so choose).

Greenhorns are just starting out. This level is focused on safe horse handling, learning to saddle and unsaddle independently, and building confidence both in the saddle and on the ground.

Riders feel confident handling their horses and begin to develop more groundwork skills and start building some speed with more trotting, basic obstacles like ground poles, and riding in groups of 2-4.

Equestrians are working to refine their skills. They are comfortable at higher speeds, handling more challenging situations on the ground and in the saddle, and begin to ride off property on field trips and maybe the show ring.

Stewards are our most advanced students both in the saddle and on the ground. They are working on advanced obstacles, mastery of their knowledge around horse behavior, biomechanics, tack fit, and they likely already have their own horse, either owned or leased.

When I was a kid it was taught to me as “the cowboy code: ”always take care of your horse before you take care of yourself.” Our horses take care of us, and we, in turn, must care for them.

However I think there is a much broader message here. We, as humans, choose this sport. We ask a lot of our horses. The same could be said for the enormous strain we put on any part of the natural world we interact with. There are many horsemanship philosophies that assume human entitlement to this expectation. Yet I believe that it is also our duty to give back as much as we take. While horses aren’t merely vehicles for us to use and disregard, I also believe that horses deserve to be treated as horses, not as a humanized version of such.

That is why the horse is the center of our approach to riding education. Our students learn not only the mechanics of riding, but also horse behavior, management, husbandry, and leadership skills. 

Our riding instruction centers around a horse and student first approach to learning. We understand that neither horses nor humans can learn when they feel threatened or fearful, and that tactics of shame, humiliation, or comparison have no place in horse training or riding instruction. However, we do hold students to a high standard of work ethic, effort, critical thinking, and cooperation. 

Little Riders 3-7 Years

  • 4x30 minute sessions per month. These sessions include leadline riding, fundamentals of horsemanship, horse grooming and care tasks, horse and barn safety, and becoming confident on and around horses.

    $190 per month

  • 4×45 minute sessions per month. These sessions include leadline riding, fundamentals of horsemanship, horse grooming and care tasks, horse and barn safety, and becoming confident on and around horses.

    $270 per month

Greenhorns

  • Weekly 60 minute sessions each month. These sessions include riding, fundamentals of horsemanship, horse grooming and care tasks, horse and barn safety, and becoming confident on and around horses. Students may ride off the line and begin advancing in their skill level at the walk and trot.

    $350 per month

  • Weekly 60 minute session plus one weekly 30 minute private session each month. These sessions include riding, fundamentals of horsemanship, horse grooming and care tasks, horse and barn safety, and becoming confident on and around horses. Students may ride off the line and begin advancing in their skill level at the walk and trot.

    $540 per month

  • Two weekly 60 minute sessions each month. These sessions include riding, fundamentals of horsemanship, horse grooming and care tasks, horse and barn safety, and becoming confident on and around horses. Students may ride off the line and begin advancing in their skill level at the walk and trot.

    $680 per month

Riders

  • One 45 minute private lesson plus one 30 minute small group lesson weekly. At this stage students work towards riding in the open and in groups, and learning to walk, trot, and canter, adding basic obstacles, and more.

    $422 per month

  • Two 45 minute private lessons plus one 30 minute small group lesson weekly. At this stage students work towards riding in the open and in groups, and learning to walk, trot, and canter, adding basic obstacles, and more.

    $680 per month

  • Three 45 minute private lesson plus one 30 minute small group lesson weekly. At this stage students work towards riding in the open and in groups, and learning to walk, trot, and canter, adding basic obstacles, and more.

    $950 per month

Equestrians and Stewards

  • One 45 minute lesson plus one 45 minute group lesson weekly. Students at these stages are working to refine their feel, timing, rhythm, adding advanced obstacles, and working on advanced groundwork maneuvers, as well as learning about horse ownership and regular care and maintenance through leasing or early horse ownership.

    $485 per month

  • Two 45 minute lessons plus one 45 minute group lesson weekly. Students at these stages are working to refine their feel, timing, rhythm, adding advanced obstacles, and working on advanced groundwork maneuvers, as well as learning about horse ownership and regular care and maintenance through leasing or early horse ownership.

    $745 per month

  • One 45 minute lesson plus one 45 minute group lesson weekly. Students at these stages are working to refine their feel, timing, rhythm, adding advanced obstacles, and working on advanced groundwork maneuvers, as well as learning about horse ownership and regular care and maintenance through leasing or early horse ownership.

    $1015 per month

Barn Hours

Each student is required to contribute to the barn by attending at least one “barn hours” session per month and helping with level/age appropriate tasks around the barn, including grooming horses, cleaning stalls, cleaning tack, etc. Barn hours are Wednesdays and Sundays from 2:00-6:00 through May and Wednesdays and Sundays 7:00-12:00 for Summer. Tasks may include grooming horses, mucking stalls, cleaning tack, etc and will be listed inside the tack room for reference. This is an opportunity for students to learn hands on care activities for horses, practice being in community, and make friends at the barn.

FAQs

  • All riders must wear ASTM/SEI certified helmet while riding (we have some to lend out if needed), boots with a heel, and pants. Otherwise, we have everything else.

  • We have a small herd of school horses for students to ride. Their instructor will select their horse at the time of their lesson. That said, students in “Equestrian” and “Steward” levels may choose to lease or purchase their own horse with the help of their instructor.

  • You are welcome to drop off as long as the instructor is aware of when you will return and how to contact you.

  • Unfortunately we don’t rent trail horses, however we are happy to give you some names of great local trail companies.

  • Students who work their way through all four levels move on to do a full spectrum of disciplines and sports. When students make it through our “stewardship” level, the fourth and final of our series, we happily send them on to trainers specialized in the field they want to pursue, armed with the tools to develop their skills with biomechanics, horse behavior, and stewardship at the center of their work.

  • Every rider is different. So many factors go into their progression including age, experience level, unforeseen obstacles, and so much more. Kids can expect to spend a year or more at each level, especially “Greenhorn” and “Rider.” Adults may move through these in a matter of months. We like to focus on your own success metrics, rather than timeline, as you move through your own individual riding career.