ENGLISH RIDING LESSONS
We teach riding and horse care here at HorseSense Riding Academy with the help of our own schooling horses, but we'll accept haul-ins if you prefer to learn on your own horse. We will also bring the lessons to your barn if feasible. Contact us for information about scheduling. If we don't have a current opening, we'll add your name to our waiting list.
Scroll down to discover the possibilities ... then click here to see our current lesson schedule.
REGULAR
LESSON PROGRAM:
(AGES 8 THRU ADULT)
We teach the classic balanced seat of English equitation, which gives
our students an established base of support for any type of riding. Our
instruction program includes basic flatwork and jumping, cross-country,
and mounted games. Students -- and parents -- can track their progress
through our exclusive Learning Levels
Program. Our students show in Dressage, Eventing, and Mounted
Games competitions.
Most students are scheduled for regular weekly lessons, starting with private lessons and eventually moving into a group lesson. Students are taught to tack up and untack their mounts independently, allowing approx. 60 minutes of riding time.
Lesson fees are $35 per private lesson or $30 for groups of 2 - 4 students.
Students are not required to show, but those who wish to show attend local dressage, combined test, and eventing competitions. Coaching fees for shows are $40 per day.
Tips for successful lessons:
We have detailed lesson program guidelines available to help you get the most from lessons.
We also have Study Guides available that can accelerate your progress through the Levels Program.
RISING RIDERS LESSON PROGRAM:
(AGES 5 -
7)
Younger riders may be eligible for our Rising Riders Lesson Program.
We offer these mini-lessons to teach young riders the basics -- while
waiting for their attention spans and their legs to grow! Rising
Riders start out at our Rainbow Level of Horsemanship and ride for 15-30
minute weekly or bi-weekly lessons.
Lesson fees are $20 per Rising Rider Lesson.
Tips for successful lessons:
Children at this age vary widely in physical and emotional development. We'll do an assessment lesson to see if your child is ready for regular lessons.
We have detailed lesson program guidelines available to help you get the most from lessons.
We also have Study Guides available that can accelerate your progress through the Levels Program.
PONY RIDE LESSONS:
(AGES 4 THRU ADULT)
We offer pony ride lessons as an introduction to riding for both
children and adults. Our pony rides are really mini-lessons -- just
enough instruction on a lead line to show you that riding can be safe
and FUN!
Young riders must be able to follow verbal instructions and maintain focus for the entire lesson. Some 4-year-olds are mature enough for a pony ride lesson, some are not; if your child is easily distracted or intimidated, it would be smart to wait a year or two.
And yes, we do have both horses and tall ponies for adults to ride!
Pony Ride Lesson fees are $20 per 15-20 minute ride. Please call for an appointment well ahead of time to allow us to work you into our schedule.
MOUNTED GAMES LESSONS:
(AGES 9 THRU ADULT)
We incorporate mounted games into our regular lesson program, but
clinics and specialized lesson programs are available for experienced
riders who wish to learn games skills for competition and fun.
For an explanation of mounted games, click here.
Mounted Games Lessons fees are $35 per hour or $30 per hour for 2-4 riders.
OTHER EQUINE EXPERIENCES FOR OUR STUDENTS:
We believe that ALL riders need to learn the basic principles of horsekeeping -- especially if they dream of owning their own horse. That's why we include a full horsekeeping track in our Learning Levels program. In fact, we have a stable full of HorseSense lessons to help you learn about horses -- even if you don't want to learn to ride.
If you're just visiting in Ellijay and want a one-time experience with horses, click here for possibilities.