Question 1

Do I need prior horse experience to take lessons?

Accepted Answer

Not at all! We welcome students of all levels of experience, including brand new beginners.

Question 2

Is there a minimum or maximum age to take lessons?

Accepted Answer

For riding lessons, we do have a minimum age of 5yrs. There is no maximum age!

We also offer Pony Playdates (a shorter, child-led lesson, for younger children to learn about horses in a fun, safe manner).

Question 3

Do I need my own horse?

Accepted Answer

No, we are fortunate to have a herd of 5 lovely, kind lesson horses in our herd. Based on the answers you provide in your intake form, we will pair you with an appropriate equine partner. That said, we do offer coaching and training for clients with their own horses as well.

Question 4

Do I need to buy my own equipment?

Accepted Answer

We supply all the tack and equipment needed to ride and work with our horses - this is included in your lesson or lease fees.

That being said, we do require all students to wear horse-safe attire, which we do not supply.

While some students choose to invest in a new wardrobe right away, it is by no means necessary, as most of the items you will need are most likely in your closet already (with the exception of helmets)!

We do offer loaner helmets for up to the first three lessons.

Question 5

What happens in bad weather?

Accepted Answer

We are fortunate to have  a top notch covered arena, as well as multiple barns and indoor spaces, so we do not cancel for inclement weather.

We do recommend dressing for the weather however, as you will still need to bring your lesson horse from the paddock to the barn, and down to the arena.

Question 6

Is there a weight limit for riders?

Accepted Answer

Yes, our current weight limit is 170lbs for riders. This limit is based on the age, size and capacity of our current lesson horses.

We also offer unmounted lessons, which of course have no weight restrictions.

Question 7

Is horseback riding safe? How is risk mitigated?

Accepted Answer

Riding is a high-risk sport! That being said, there is lots we can do to minimize and mitigate that risk.

The first, is a solid understanding of our horses; their individual personalities, histories, and needs, as well as equine behaviour and body language as a whole.

Second, is progressive skill building; we believe strongly in developing a strong foundation before moving up to more challenging skills.

Third, are safe environments, tools, and equipment; securely fenced riding arena, safety release stirrups, and breakaway tie rings are a few examples of this. We also require students to wear ASTM/SEI certified helmets, and appropriate riding attire, and are happy to recommend additional safety equipment (such as MIPS helmets or air vests) to those who are interested.

And lastly, we believe in keeping excellent records, and conducting regular risk assessments and safety plan reviews.

Question 8

What training methods do you use?

Accepted Answer

We believe strongly in putting the horse first.

When training our horses (and teaching you how to work with them) we utilize a combination of rewards-based training and gentle negative reinforcement.

We believe that ethical horse training should be informed by science, aim to minimize the use of aversive tools and methods, and place the horses' welfare and emotional experience at the forefront.

Lastly, we believe in constantly learning, growing, and improving our training skills, for the sake of our horses.

What we offer

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