Lessons: What To Expect
Private Beginner Lessons
Unlike most sports, horseback riding is unique in that the students’ teammate is a live animal with its own thoughts and feelings. In the beginning of the equestrian journey, participants will learn basic care of the horse which includes brushing & cleaning and tacking up for riding. Students will also learn that this is the time to look over the horse to make sure they are in a suitable state to ride, an example being scrapes, swellings, or abnormal behavior that they will learn to identify over time. The main goal of utmost importance is to instill safe knowledge and habits when working around the horses. This process typically takes about 30 minutes as students progress, but in the first learning stages can take longer.
Once the initial care is complete, it’s time for riders to mount up. All students learn in different ways and at their own pace, so there are no timeline expectations. In the first lessons, new riders get to experience the feeling of the horse moving underneath them, and the ways to balance their own body. Students will also learn basic skills used to communicate with their horse with regards to steering, stop, go, etc. This mounted part of the lesson is another 30 minutes, with additional time to cool down the horse properly and discuss the importance of this.
Following cool down time, riders are to care for their horse from the ground again, which also includes cleaning up after them, and properly putting away any gear that was used.
Amongst all the learning about horse care and riding, young students also quickly learn responsibility, empathy, work ethic as well as many other positive skills.
Progression
With the numerous different ages, personalities, goals, etc of students who begin riding, the variations of progression are even more vast. In basic terms, students will continue to learn greater communication skills with the horses. This includes an understanding of body language, expressions, and feeling of specific movements, and how we use our own body to respond in ways the horses understand. The old saying, “you need to walk before you can run”, is quite literal when learning to ride. Students learn to walk, trot, then canter, and jump if the desire is there. Equestrian is a sport where the learning never stops, no matter how many years of involvement there are. The sky’s the limit!
Effective February 1, 2024, the cost is $260 plus HST per four lessons (one a week for four weeks).
