Riding/ horsemanship Lessons
learn to patner with another living being who shares their freedom and power with us and helps us learn grounded, kind and authentic ways of being. Let our flexible, adaptive and creative teaching style support you in experiencing your dreams.
Mountain Horse School offers private, semi-private and group riding/ horsemanship lessons. We use english style tack, but integrate insights and techniques from across all disciplines to provide an environment where the students' enthusiasm, interests and confidence can lead the way. From riders looking for a first experience/encounter with a horse to more seasoned horse people looking to further their awareness and connection with their mounts, let us guide you to something unforgettable.
Our way of teaching adapts to follow the students and their horses into the present moment, and includes the whole experience: your lesson begins the moment you arrive a the barn which includes greeting, catching, and getting your horse ready to ride. This helps us learn equine body language, behaviour and psychology, and gives our nervous systems and psyches time to settle and come into resonance with our horses. Think of it as an opening ceremony for your ride.
private LESSON PRICING:
Private lessons are available for ages 3- adult. In these 1 on 1 lessons, we can work toward your or your child's goals and really support attunement and a true understanding of horses, horsemanship and the nuances of riding.
1 HR PRIVATE $135
Can be booked for any level of rider 3 years old and up. For riders under 6, a parent must be present and able to assist both for emotional support and any hands-on elements of the lesson.
1.5 HR PRIVATE $190
Can be booked by any level of rider age 6 and up.
GROUP Class PRICING:
kids' class Series $135/class
The kids' group class series gives your child a 2hr lesson each week for 4- 8 classes, depending on the semester you are booking. Any new students wishing to register for any class other than beginner need to take a 1 hour private lesson for assessment purposes. Because of the sizes and physical considerations of the horses in our herd, these classes are only available for ages 8-16 at this time. Sorry!
The classes are grouped into the following levels:
BEGINNER: Riders who've never been on a horse or need more experience and time to develop their confidence and steering. This stage is all about learning to relax and enjoy the experience and magic of riding, as well as learning body language cues that help us know what our horses are thinking and feeling. At this level we spend a lot of time on the ground learning to be comfortable approaching, catching, leading, grooming and tacking up our horses.
INTERMEDIATE: Riders who are comfortable at a rising trot without assistance and are able to guide their horses with quiet hands. This stage is all about putting in the miles until it becomes easy. Riders will build a foundation to be comfortable and balanced following the horse over varying terrain (including hills). Those who are ready can start to practice simple canter transitions. At this level, riders are starting to be comfortable catching and grooming their horses with little assistance, but may need more support tacking up as it takes a lot of practice to get the little details right.
ADVANCED: An Advanced rider is stable and confident in riding simple canter transitions, and is beginning to work on jumping technique over cross-rails. This is the stage where we start to grow our awareness of how the horse is moving under us and how to shape their body so they can be more comfortable carrying us. We'll introduce bending, laterals, and impulsion as baby steps for starting to understand what it means for a horse to soften and come onto the bit. At this level, riders should be able to confidently catch and get their horses ready without assistance.