FAQ

A. Our lessons are 1/2 hour for Private or Semi-Private (1-2 people) and a full hour for a group (3 or more people). The lesson rate remains the same unless you are specifically booking special private sessions.

A. Within a few days of arrival, we will make an assessment of what your particular horse needs and come up with a game plan that matches your goals.

A. Every horse learns at a different rate. some need more attention than others at the start. Many horses show up having never been handled much, while others have had a good start lunging and being handled. One month can be sufficient for a very relaxed and confident horse, while others need 2-3 months for a good safe start. This also depends on how confident you are as a rider and what you plan to do with the horse afterwards. Every discipline needs to be tweaked a little differently, for example a trail riding horse needs to be exposed to some different scenarios than a show horse will be. Patience and perfect planning is what it takes to make a horse great. If you have those qualities your success rate will be much higher with your green broke horse.

For ELA:
Closed toed shoes is a must. Anyone wearing sandals will be forced into rubber boots. 
Please do not wear steel toes, although the thought sounds beneficial, if you are stepped on the steel can crush your toes into your boot. A closed toe shoe is perfectly acceptable. Pants are typically worn for EAL and a T-shirt. We recommend tying long hair in a pony tail and tucking in scarves. Dress for the weather. 

For Riding : 

Closed-toe shoes with a heel are a must. Long pants are a must and we recommend half chaps for English riding. Scarves should be tucked in and ponytails up or hair tucked into your helmet. Fitted jackets or tops are better for coaches assessing riders position. Dress for the weather!!

A. Yes, we do! we have a covered steel 200×80′ riding arena. During summer months the windows drop down and the fans come on to keep things cooled down.

A. By-law, you need a boot with a 1/2″ heel. We recommend a riding boot but it doesn’t have to be an official riding boot. Please be mindful you are not using a zippered boot that is on the inside of the leg as it will scratch the saddle or pinch the horse. Your boot should also not have too much grip as you do not want your foot to get stuck in the stirrup. We have safety stirrups to prevent an accident like this from happening. 

You will also, by-law, need a certified ridding helmet. These can be purchased at your nearest tack store. They come as low as $40.00 and have many great features such as adjustable dials for appropriate head sizing and can be adjusted from winter to summer riding. You or your child’s head is important, we always recommend buying a proper helmet at the price you can afford. Also if you’ve had a fall, it is important to replace your helmet immediately.

A. No, absolutely not, we welcome anyone but also love to help people reach their ultimate goals.

A. No, it is not recommended that you ride or work with your horse while it is being started under saddle. As long as you are not interfering with the progress of your horse, you are welcome to watch the odd session but we typically have a schedule to stick to. We are happy to plan visits for you to come view progress but on a day to day basis we don’t change our scheduled rides to accommodate viewings. We prefer that you do not show up and bring treats for your horse while he/she is being started in a program as the thing is extremely counterproductive.

A. No!!! You do not need any previous horse experience to participate in our EAL programs. If you’re a nervous person and you’re afraid of horses, we have the perfect matches to put you at ease. Our horses are extremely respectful of a humans personal space. We have small children as young as 6 years of age that handle these horses on a regular basis. They are all quiet and well mannered and easy to show you how to navigate a horse around the arena. 

All of our sessions start off with our clients leading the horses around and learning how to communicate with their equine partners. Once everyone has had a turn and feels comfortable we begin our sessions. 

There is also a briefing in the beginning about safety and what to do around horses. Our staff is also close by if any problems should arise. You are in good hands!

By-law, if you are under 18 years of age you are required to wear a helmet. Although we can not force you as an adult we highly recommend certified protective head gear and ALWAYS a boot with a heel.