Horseback Riding Lesson and Horsemanship Programs, General Information
What does Starting Point Stables teach?
We teach much more than horse-back riding. Starting Point Stable's niche is the beginner to intermediate level students that REALLY wants to have a solid foundation with no holes in their basic equestrian-education. We believe that everyone should become a well rounded horse-person and that is the basis of our equestrian educational program. After reading this information please visit the related links at the bottom of this page for more detailed reading on this subject and see our stable's blog.
Horse Handling
We use techniques similar to Lynn Palm or Linda Tellington-Jones. I believe people who become confident and skilled at handling a horse from the ground will be more confident in the saddle. Horse handling is more than leading a horse from point A to point B with out losing total control of him. Ground work is THE foundation where all other horsemanship learning builds from.Riding Education
We focus on the dynamic, balanced seat - very useful for dressage, jumping, trail riding and working western disciplines. I follow the principles that Lynn Palm, Sally Swift, Susan Harris (and the like) promote for rider equitation. Biomechanics, how the body works in motion, is very important.Also, student learning styles are taken into consideration. Our program never 'bullies' a student thru fear issues or not understanding concepts. We also want to build a students physical abilities gradually to avoid improper technique and fatigue/injury.
We address horse training theories and follow classical horsemanship combined with modern bio-mechanics and resistance free techniques. We want students to have a working understanding of how horses 'learn' and understand, a logical system of 'aids' and how to ask the horse a question, how to 'reward' and when to discipline. More advanced topics include training the horse as an athlete.
We provide all lessons given on our school horses in balanced seat all-purpose english saddles (we do not offer western tack or use flat close-contact type english saddles). Most people tend to find balanced all-purpose english saddles quite secure once they are introducted to the proper sitting position.
Horse Care & Stable Management
We focus on common sense, keeping up with the evolving horse care industry standards passed down by research facilities, vet schools etc.
Accepting Students & Expectations
Starting Point Stables is a small facility with one instructor, a limited number of lesson horses and hours in which to teach. We only take on small number of students and are very interested in catering to students who want to learn all aspects of horsemanship, not just riding.
STUDENT AGE
Private & Semi-Private Riding Lessons:
Adults, kids 12+ years, and kids between 7 - 11 that have complete our "Pony School" program.
Group Programs:
STUDENT DEDICATION
Students must be willing to be dedicated. Horseback riding is not a 'quick return' activity. It takes hours of dedicated and enthusiastic practice if you want to enjoy riding as a sport and progress. If you are interested in a short term 'experience' please see our other horse learning programs.STUDENT HEALTH
Students must be WILLING to get to or keep at a satisfactory personal level of physical fitness, for themselves and the horses they will be riding. This is a life style! :-) At this time we we only have small and medium sized horses in our lesson program and must restrict the size of our students to under 200 pounds and/or 6ft tall (an 18" english saddle).All students should have had a health screening from their doctor before starting horseback riding. Regretfully we can not offer riding instruction to to individuals with significant mental or physical impairments. We do not have the facility nor the training for dedicated equine related hippothearpy.
Required Equipment
- Purchase an ASTM-SEI certified Equestrian Riding Helmet ($45.00 and up)
- Purchase / wear proper equestrian footwear (paddock boots/shoes, riding sneakers/all terrains, leather boots - NO RUBBER TALL BOOTS PLEASE)
- Wear appropriate riding clothes (Comfortable pants that do not pinch or rub, and any appropriate gender specific support or padded undergarments and a tidy shirt)
Private & Semi-Private Riding Lessons Length & Fees
Private lessons are total time including tacking up and untacking. Beginner level students will naturally spend more time in the grooming up/down phases & learning ground handling skills and thus will take time out of their riding time. More advanced students will be more efficient in the tacking up & down process and will have more riding time.
Beginner starter lessons thru intermediate riding / Private 1 hr 15 minutes | Ages 12 - Adult
Grooming, handling the horse on the ground around the stables, tack and equipment, general basic riding skills on the lunge line and/or riding arena.
$35.00 our horse / $25.00 your horse (haul in or boarded here).Intensive Equitation Lunge Line Lesson / Private 40 minutes | PS grads 7+ years - Adults
To address strength, balance, flexibility and coordination of the aids, the session is tailored to work on a students particular weakness so they can advance their independent riding.
$20.00 our horse / $15.00 your horse (haul in or boarded here).*Semi-Private Lessons (2 students, 1 hr 15 minutes) | 12 years- adult students
$20.00 our horse / $15.00 your horse. (*When an appropriate combo of students & horses can be paired)
Please see the Adult or Youth page for detailed information about our group horsemanship programs.
