“The horse should always be encouraged to think,
which means it is allowed to find the right answer through trial and error in a dialogue with the rider.”
- Thomas Ritter
Yes, it’s about the riding.
But it is so much more than that.
A glimpse of what we do…
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It's about the Horse
A horse, much like any athlete, requires a comprehensive approach to maintaining its health and well-being. This involves careful attention to nutrition, exercise, training, and overall management.
A balanced regime that includes proper nutrition, regular exercise, time for grazing, rest, and enrichment can support a horse in leading a healthy lifestyle akin to that of an athlete. Monitoring and adjusting the program for each horse is essential for ensuring their health, performance, and overall well-being. A horse’s training regimen should be tailored to their individual needs, which can vary based on factors such as workload, age, fitness level, and any medical conditions.
This holistic approach promotes optimal performance, longevity, and quality of life for the horse.
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It's about the rider
The rider must cultivate both mental and physical fitness to ensure effective communication and connection with the horse. This involves not only maintaining personal health through regular exercise but also developing patience and empathy during the learning process. Understanding the horse requires a deep awareness of its needs and responses, which can only be achieved through consistent practice and reflection.
Physical fitness is crucial for controlling posture and balance. A rider's body influences the horse's movements significantly; therefore, a strong core and good balance are essential. Riders should engage in exercises that enhance flexibility, strength, and coordination to improve their riding skills.
A rider must stay mentally present, adapting to their horse's cues and changing needs. This mental agility fosters a compassionate approach, allowing the rider to build trust and understanding.
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It's about the relationship
A relationship founded on patience and respect creates a solid groundwork for mutual understanding and growth. This foundation encourages individuals to assess their own needs and boundaries, fostering a sense of awareness that is crucial for both partners.
A rider needs to be dedicated to deepening their understanding of the horse’s behavior and instincts. This pursuit establishes a connection that transcends spoken language, relying instead on subtle cues and empathetic awareness.
This ongoing pursuit improves your riding and enriches the overall experience shared between horse and rider, leading to a more fulfilling partnership centered on mutual respect and connection.
Our Program.
Focuses on ensuring that our horses ARE well schooled, conditioned, and content in their work so that our students can concentrate on improving their skills and progressing towards their goals.
Boarding & Full Training Program
Our Boarding and Full Training Program is designed to help students become thoughtful equestrians who cultivate strong relationships with their horses. By encouraging our students to think critically and intuitively about their training, we empower them to reach new heights together. Here’s what you can expect:
Comprehensive Horse Care
To provide the best foundations for learning, we ensure each horse receives exceptional care.
Daily Stall Cleaning: A clean and comfortable environment for your horse.
Feeding Program: Horses receive timothy mix hay 2-3 times per day. After forage, they are fed grain twice daily prepared with their individualized supplements programs. We feed a variety of different grains and added greens to keep their gut healthy.
Coordinated Activities: Our team schedules all horses daily activities, like turnout, hand walking, ground work, etc. in addition to their training sessions. We also handle scheduling for veterinary and farrier visits.
Full Training Program
Our comprehensive training program is thoughtfully structured, designed to develop riding skill and encourage critical thinking about equine behavior and training. It consists of a minimum of one training ride per week, with up to five lessons.
Weekly Training Structure:
Weekdays are generally private lessons.
Tuesdays: Focused flatwork.
Wednesdays to Fridays: A diverse mix of flatwork, gymnastics, and various exercises to enhance versatility and adaptability. Exercises are adapted throughout the day to tailor the the level of each horse and student.
Saturdays: We work in groups and focus on course work. Putting together all the training from the week.
Sundays: Our more experienced students flat their horses on their own. Riders are encouraged to develop training plans that incorporate their readings, fostering critical thinking and strategic planning.This process prompts them to reflect on difficulties they may be encountering and consider specific exercises that can help address these issues.
Developing Independent Thinkers
A key focus of our program is to cultivate a deeper understanding between horse and rider. By encouraging riders to think critically about their approach to training, we help them establish stronger bonds with their horses. Our Sunday sessions prioritize this connection, having students participate in self-guided flatwork where they are prompted to make their own lesson plan. This encourages students to actively engage with their learning process. Rather than strictly follow a prescribed plan, students are guided to think and feel their horse’s behavior, utilizing the tools and exercises from previous lessons. This approach nurtures a deeper understanding of how to influence and communicate effectively with their horse.
The Benefits of Our Program
By participating in our Full Training Program, students can focus on improving their riding skills and achieving their goals, while we ensure their horse is well cared for. Our structured approach ensures that every horse receives the attention, training, and care they deserve. Our students will enhance both their riding abilities and their ability to communicate with their horse. Our commitment to fostering critical thinking and intuitive problem-solving enables rider to develop greater confidence and understanding, ultimately leading to successful partnerships.
Contact us today to learn more about our full training program.
Lesson Program
Our Lesson Program is a welcoming entry point for beginner to novice riders looking to develop a strong foundation in both riding and horsemanship. Whether you are brand new to horses or returning after time away, this program is designed to build confidence, skill, and a deeper understanding of equine care and communication.
A Strong Start for New Riders
Each student begins with a few trial lessons, allowing us to get to know your goals, experience, and learning style. From there, we offer monthly packages that include 2 to 4 sessions per week. Every session includes not only riding instruction but also guided horsemanship, as we believe great riders start from the ground up.
Program Highlights
Private Lessons: All instruction is one-on-one, allowing for individualized attention and a pace that suits each rider’s confidence and progress.
Lesson Horses Available: Students are thoughtfully matched with experienced school horses that help them learn safely and effectively.
Horsemanship Education: Riders participate in grooming, tacking, and daily care routines before and after each lesson to deepen their understanding of their horse and become more knowledgeable and capable caretakers.
Progressive Curriculum: As students grow in ability, lessons evolve to include more advanced flatwork, introduction to poles and small gymnastics, and problem-solving exercises to build independent thinking.
Our Lesson Program is not just about learning to ride — it’s about learning to understand and communicate with the horse. It’s an excellent first step toward joining our Full Training Program or simply becoming a capable, confident horseperson.
