LESSONS (Beg-Int-Adv)
Horseback Riding Lessons for You!
Horseback riding lessons at North Road Farm are for beginner, intermediate, advanced lovers of horses looking for quality horses and expert, patient, kind teachers.
Our preference is to teach private, one-on-one lessons as students crave the immediate feedback and guidance. Private lessons are also the safest and most satisfying.
Semi-private or small group lesson may be arranged with instructor approval. Please contact Courtney, Coordinator of Horses with your special request.
Students are given the opportunity to execute independently as much of the entire riding lesson as safely as possible.
Lessons include time to bond with horse through student handling, grooming, tack-up, cool down, un-tack, bathe or blanket depending on season. Horses are not ridden in consequetive, back-to-back lessons. Nor, are horses pre-tacked up, waiting for you to mount and ride.
Your satisfaction is our guarantee.
Start Here! Get your questions answered with this private, one-on-one, hands-on horseback riding lesson: bond, handle, groom, equipment and ride. Satisfaction guaranteed.
This comprehensive lesson is for beginners who love horses! Dig into equine fundamentals: horse psychology, groundwork, riding equitation.
- What makes horses behave?
- How should you behave?
- The safe and correct way to halter, lead, groom.
- What saddle to choose and why.
- How to mount and dis-mount.
- How to ride with simple, clear cues.
- English or western style – or bareback!
- Fun interactive games to make learning fun 🙂
This lesson is great for both the student rider and accompanying adult (friend, partner, family) who want to learn and grow together with horses.
Note: students 190 lbs or less in physical weight qualify for this lesson.
Beginner skill level: learning ground work, groom, tack-up, mount, walk, trot.
Duration: 120 minutes
Riding Frequency: upon the completion of this Learn How to Horseback Ride lesson the student schedules a Book of Lessons.
Get back in the saddle! Time has passed since your last ride. Now, get ready to move and love riding like before. You’ll be paired with a well trained mount and coached using classical concepts. Call on your past skills and amp up to build confidence and improve technique.
This lesson typically can include:
- Saddle choice: jumping, dressage, western, bareback pad
- Stirrup length
- Mounted sitting and standing (1/2 seat) balance
- Use of your physical weght (seat bones, legs, torso)
- Independent ride or lunge line
- Walk, trot, canter gaits
- Ground cones or poles
- Yoga stretches
Beginner, Intermediate skill level: has ability with ground work, groom, tack-up, mount, walk, trot, learning canter.
Note: students 190 lbs or less in physical weight qualify for this lesson.
Duration: 45 – 60 minutes
Riding Frequency: After completeion of the ReFresher Lesson, student schedules a Book of Lessons. Student will also qualify for a Book of Practice Rides with approval of instructor.
The Pre-Ride Prep lesson is a required prerequsite to a beach or trail ride. Your safety is our top priority! You will ride independently as the leader on your horse. This is not a head-to-tail, follow the leader format common in “dude ranch” rides.
In this essential lesson, you will learn how to:
- Choose the correct saddle.
- Mount and dismount from saddle.
- Sit in the saddle balanced.
- Hold and use the reins.
- Cue the horse to go forward, turn, speed up, slow down, stop, halt.
- Post at the trot if skill and ability appropriate.
- Not fall off.
- Execute the emergency turn!
Beginner skill level: learning ground work, groom, tack-up, mount, walk, trot.
If you are an intermediate to advanced rider, you do not have to take this lesson prior to a beach or trail ride.
Note: riders 200 lbs or less in physical weight qualify for this lesson. Please contact Courtney, Coordiator of Horses if you have questions about rider weight limit.
Duration: 45 – 60 minutes.
Riding Frequency: the Pre-Ride Prep lesson is completed prior to a beach or trail ride.
As an advanced rider, you will gain performance and pleasure with one-on-one coaching to reach your goals and path to achieve them. You will ride quality horses and be guided by skilled, patient teachers.
Ramp up! Take your riding to the next level working on skill areas of your choice from flat work, dresaage, jumping and cross country . Tune into your horsey intuition and gain more performance and pleasure in your horseback riding.
Note: students 190 lbs or less in physical weight qualify for this lesson.
Intermediate, Advanced skill level: ground work, groom, tack-up, mount, walk, trot, canter, jump, dressage, cross country.
Duration: 45 minutes
Riding Frequency: student schedules a Book of Lessons. Student also qualifies ford a Book of Practice Rides with approval of instructor.
Yes, do it! Reward yourself! Get fit with a horse! How much fun is that!? Burn calories in this healthy, outdoor workout with your new 4 legged best friend. Satisfaction guaranteed.
Benefits include:
- Weight loss
- Strength, balance, flexibility
- Improved mental health
- Low impact aerobics
No worries – this is an unmounted gound based workout with horse in-hand. You are not on the horse. Activities with the horse include:
- Horse psychology and behavior
- Horsemanship – working a horse in-hand
- Ground driving a horse
- Lunging a horse
- Yoga with a horse
Beginner skill level.
Duration: 45 minutes.
Fitness Frequency: Upon completion of this Let’s Get Physically Horse Fit lesson, student schedules a Book of Lessons.
Just for youngsters (parents included!) crazy about horses will love this gentle hands-on lesson with our adorable pony. Perfect for those little ones – siblings invited too – with short attention spans. A wonderful experience for wee ones are not ready for a full lesson. Brush, braid, feed treats and ride!
- How horses think and behave.
- How to act safely around horses.
- How to feed carrots and apple treats.
- How brush, comb, braid the pony.
- Horse body parts including feet.
- Lead line ride on pony
The Mighty Mini beginner lesson is great for both the child and accompanying adult(s) who want to learn and grow together with horses.
Beginner skill level
Duration: 40 minutes
Reservation Required
Book of Horseback Riding Lessons
A Book of Lessons is purchased and completed within a 12 week seasonal term: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter.
Lessons are not carried over to the following term and must be completed within the term.
Book of Practice Rides with approval of instructor
A book of Practice Rides is purchased and completed within a seasonal term: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter.
Practice Rides are not carried over to the following term and must be completed within the term.
- 4 Rides
- 8 Rides
- 12 Rides
Horseback Riding for All Ages
Are you:
- A horse crazy youngster?
- A new person just starting?
- Experienced but rusty?
- Planning a special experience?
- A competitive rider?
- Looking to get fit?
- A parent of a little one?