Level 3 – Riders’ Academy

This is a combination between our youth “Pony School” class model and private riding lessons. It is meant to give students flexibility in developing their riding skills while still having access to group riding activities and non-riding educational opportunities.

Riding Lessons

We have realized that once students have a grasp of the basics (tacking, grooming, basic seat position, ground handling, etc) they may need individualized instruction to develop as a rider to the next level. This program offers the student the ability to customize their riding lesson experience between private lessons (both half hour intense lunge line lessons or traditional 1 hour lessons) and group riding lessons with peers. This is also a benefit for those students limited by budget to enable them to take less expensive group sessions, while occasionally indulging in a private hour or half hour riding lesson.

Unmounted Lessons

The downside of a traditional private riding lesson is not having access to non-riding related education/topics and lack of fellowship among peers. This program attempts to bridge that gap, even for adult students or our boarders. Non-riding activities such as clinics, lectures and hands-on demonstrations also offer fellowship opportunities.

How The Program Works/Fees

Riding
For group riding activities / group lessons students must have completed Level 2 skills. Group riding activities will always focus on general topics that all riders need to know, or revisit. Students can RSVP for these classes on our calendar as well as view the lesson plan. These ‘riding lessons’ will not typically focus on non-riding related topics (such as tack, horse care, etc). Cost of “Riders’ Academy” group/pairs riding lessons is $20.00

Students can also schedule 1 hour or half-hour private lessons directly through email with the riding instructor.

Riders’ Academy PLUS! program
Additional topics such as horse care, ground work, showing etc, will be handled in special classes. These classes are organized and listed as ‘PLUS!’ events on our calendar. The costs of most these classes are substantially less than the cost of riding lessons to encourage student participation. Students can participate in whatever supplemental classes they choose, as often or as little as they choose. The benefits of these classes are fellowship with peers and becoming a well rounded equestrian. This program is also another way students can remain active during the winter months when riding lessons may be limited due to weather.

How do I get my child started?

First, the student will need proper gear. Students will be required to have;

• An ASTM-SEI safety helmet made for equestrian use (bike helmets are not suitable).
• Comfortable pants that cover the student’s entire leg, and allow them freedom to move (tight jeans will restrict the students ability to mount/dismount safely and may also cause rubbing from the larger inseams). Generic leggings, yoga pants, track pants, stretch jeans with minimal inseams or riding breeches are acceptable.
• Proper foot wear is designed to keep a students foot from becoming trapped in the stirrup iron, give the student ankle support and arch support and protect their feet on the ground. Proper riding footwear includes paddock boots/shoes or Ariat Terrains and similar ‘hybrid’ shoes made for horseback riding that offer ankle support and arch/foot bed support (tall rubber boots and generic western boots tend to be too loose in the ankle and often slide down/off while riding and do not give the student adequate ankle support). I find the hybrid boots fantastic because you can wear them hiking or even out in public and they are often more comfortable and more durable to do barn chores or ground work in and don’t require the additional care that leather boots do.

Please consider visiting Double L Tack & Feed on Hwy 55 just outside of Coats for your riding gear needs.

How Do I Enroll?
Contact the stable to inquire if there are openings in the program and set up a first private intro session (if you are a new student please DO NOT use our RSVP system to sign up for class, our program is small and we have limited spaces available). At this time $30.00 sign up fee will be paid plus $20.00 for the intro session, a release of liability will be signed and you will be given your welcome packet / workbook which will include a 20% discount off the purchase of your helmet or your foot wear at Double L Tack.

RSVP for Class, Fees & Cancellations**

Riders’ Academy classes will operate on an RSVP, ‘pay as you participate’ system.

1. RSVP to attend a specific class using our barn calendar or clicking on a class listed at the top of this page (how to use our RSVP system »)
   1. Riders’ Academy group classes open for registration 10 days before and close 2 days before the class date.
   2. When class is open for registration a blinking “RSVP NOW” button will be visible. Clicking this will take you to a form where you will fill in parent & student information. Submitting this form will add you to the class list.You should receive a confirmation email with in a few hours. Please make sure @startingpointstables.com is on your ‘friendly’ email list. This emial will provide you with class time/date and a link to the class status page. Also, if you did not receive an email confirmation, you can also check the event’s page to see your students’s name on the list.
   3. If a class has been filled a red notice will be shown on the RSVP page.
   4. When the class RSVP date has passed, there will be a final status on the class for those who did RSVP;

   • “No Class” / not enough participants
   • “YeeHaw” / we’ll see you in class!

   Close RSVP Process Info^

2. $20.00 fee per participant per Riders’ Academy class, due at class. Cancellations or ‘no shows’ after RSVPing are $10.00.
3. Class length is determined by the number of students in class; 1 student = 40 minutes, 2 students = 1 hour, 3 students = 1 hour 15 minutes.
4. Riding may be canceled during bad weather, however, if multiple classes can be combined there is always a stable management lesson to go over. Non-riding Riders’ Academy classes will be charged $10.00 (1/2 of the normal fee) per student. Changes due to weather will be made and notices sent via email as soon as possible.
5. Cancellations for severe weather or an instructor’s ‘emergency’ will be done via announcement on our website on that classes calendar listing and through email.

Riders’ Academy PLUS!

These are special activities, such as our new ‘Halter Class’ horse show team. See our calendar

Fees are on event listings