Lessons that build confident riders.
Lessons for every level, built around you and your horse. I especially love riders who feel unsure at first, and the moment the switch flips.
The lessons
Your first ride
We start on the ground: meeting your horse, grooming and tacking up, then your first steps in the saddle.
Reserve this →Open times show my hours, a horse that suits your level and a free arena. Riders under 18 are booked by a parent or guardian.
What your child learns besides riding
- Patience with themselves and their horse.
- Responsibility, through grooming, tacking up and putting a horse away right.
- Courage, by trying something new at their own pace.
- Kindness, because a horse always knows.
Your first lesson
You'll learn to groom your horse properly and tack up with me beside you. Before you get on, we always check the cinch: a loose one slides around and can give your horse saddle sores. Once you're in the saddle, I'll walk you through asking your horse to walk, stop and turn.
If you're nervous
You're safe with me. Your horse knows its job and will look after you too. We go at your pace, and you'll leave more confident than you arrived.
See what you will learn
Every lesson follows a clear path of skills, so you and your family can see what you've mastered and what comes next.
Ground & Safety
- Approach and catch
- Halter and lead
- Tie safely
- Back up from the ground
- Yield the hindquarters
- Yield the shoulders
- Obstacles in hand
- Lunge on voice
- Long-line
- Liberty
Seat & Balance
- Mount and dismount
- Basic position
- Rising trot
- Two-point
- Sitting trot
- Canter on the correct lead
- No stirrups, walk and trot
- Seat-led transitions
- Poles and small fences
- Independent seat at all gaits
Aids & Control
- Direct-rein steering
- Walk, halt, walk
- Changes of direction
- Walk-trot transitions on a mark
- Leg yield
- Trot-canter transitions
- Turn on the forehand and haunches
- Shoulder-in
- Counter-canter
- Half-pass
- Flying lead change
Trail & Terrain
- Ride in a group
- Arena course
- Hills up and down
- Water and ditches
- Gates from the saddle
- Controlled canter in the open
- Composure under distraction
- Lead a trail ride
Horse Care
- Grooming order
- Pick out hooves
- Tack up and untack
- Temperature, pulse, breathing
- Body condition and soundness
- Feed and water
- First aid
- Saddle and bridle fit
- Plan a care schedule
Teaching
- Assist a beginner lesson
- Teach groundwork
- Teach a private lesson
- Start a young horse
Adults are welcome too. For adult programs, horse training and boarding, see Anything Horse. Anything Horse →
Riders under 18 are booked by a parent or guardian.