Learning through leadership. Working through emotions.
Goals of our program
Leadership and Professionalism
It takes a lot of emotional and physical control to work with horses. They look to you to be a good, fair leader to guide them through a training session. Speaking up in a group lesson and giving feedback to me and other riders is another great way to work on leadership.
Biomechanics and Self-awareness
I will always look for a better way to explain something that isn’t making sense instead of the traditional telling students over and over again to ‘put their heals down’. It just doesn’t work. We study how our bodies work athletically along with the horse and use exercises that act on our subconscious to help us ride better. Sometimes if the weather isn’t cooperating, we will do a hybrid lesson where we ride briefly and do some classroom learning and you will get some homework!
Therapy and Mental Health
While we do not offer therapy, horses can be therapeutic! We like to open our barn up to be a safe space to talk about mental health and what is going on with you. Horses know when you are anxious, sad, happy, etc and they will show you! It’s really cool to see horses teach people about themselves.
Most importantly- FUN!
Riding and learning about horses should be fun. We can be professional and good leaders and still have a good time! We should laugh at our silly mistakes and be happy for others when they are doing well and accomplishing goals.
Club and community setting
While private lessons are always available and will be the first thing offered, there may be other students coming and going or riding with you if you choose. It’s very important to ride with others under instruction as well. Talking together about ideas and ways to make certain tasks easier can even surpass my coaching or give me more ideas to better explain. I don’t remember how I personally learned how to post, or how to canter. I learned that stuff 15 years ago and it’s second nature now. My students are going through the process of making it automatic to ride well and can easily explain how they are working through it to their peers in a way they understand.
We have started operating as more of a club setting as of 2022. We have many group lessons, overlapping lessons and there are as many as 3 riders here working at a time. Our club, should you choose to be a part of it, has monthly events for ADULTS and children and plenty of learning opportunities.
Lesson Schedule
Monday -Wednesday from 4-8pm with Alana
Thursday – Saturday with Maggie
We run March through December depending on weather.
We will NOT have regular lessons during these weeks:
- Midwest Horse Fair Week(3rd week of April)
- 4th of July
- Thanksgiving
- Christmas
- Memorial Day/Labor Day TBD yearly
B AL-right Equine 