We offer english and western riding lessons for both children (aged 8 and up) and adults. All abilities are welcome! All riding classes are group lessons in 6 week sessions, using our wonderful crew of lesson horses. Each group lesson is 1 1/2 hours long, with a portion of each class to include grooming and tacking up. All lessons are on a first come first served basis, so sign up early to reserve your spot.

We also offer one-day clinics that introduce participants to the concepts of horses, barn keeping, grooming, tacking up and a little bit of riding. These clinics are available for the younger kids (ages 5-7) as well as up through adults.

Check Cancellation Status for the current weekend's lessons.

The 2008 Lesson Session Schedule is:

Please call 970-532-4040 for availablity

• Children - Age 8 to12
• Youth - 13 to 17
• Adult - 18+

Read on below, for more information on:

Lesson Cost and Structure

Our Lesson Philosophy on Safety, the Horse & Rider Partnership, and Group Lessons

Rules, Policies and Waiver

Meet our instructor - Ginger Fedak

Lesson Cost & Structure (As of August 2008)

Cost: 6-week class session is $210.00 for a 1.5 hour lesson every week, with up to 6 students in a group.

"Custom" Group Lessons are available at the above rates for any groups or families that would like to take a 6 week Class Session together. We will customize the class, including day and time, to your group. Weekday evenings are also available as daylight allows.

Private Lessons are available by appointment at $50.00/hour.

Semi-Private lessons for 2-4 students are available at $35 each student for 1 hour.

Gift Certificates are available to purchase lessons for a friend or family member.

Please contact us for more information: spr-info AT sunponyranch DOT com

Our Lesson Philosophy

Safety

Fun, enjoyment, and learning are important components to our program and they are always implemented with safety as the foremost consideration. We understand that it is possible to have lots of fun while still paying strict attention to Safety. Every lesson and skill we teach, whether to our oldest Adult student or our youngest Day Camper, is first and foremost, how to be safe around horses.

• All students must wear Certified ASTM Equestrian Helmets which we provide.
• All students and visitors must comply with the Safety Rules posted in the barn.
• All students must, to the best of their ability, follow the directions of their Instructor.
• Safety discussions are part of every lesson, with explanations as to the "Why."
• Our school horses are not "slow" or "lazy," but they were chosen for their gentle natures and patience for human errors.
• Our equipment and tack is kept in safe, working condition.
• Students are not pushed beyond their comfort levels or limitations.
• Abilities and contributing factors (such as weather conditions) are all considered for every lesson.
  
  

The Horse and Rider Partership

Becoming a good rider is not simply learning how to stay on a horse and "make" the animal obey the will of the rider. In fact, we believe that imposing one's will, only through strength and intimidation, is not good riding.

At the core of our philosophy is learning to understand the horse and what the horse is thinking. Once a rider learns to understand the signals and "language" of their mount, the partnership and bond of trust between horse and rider becomes a beautiful thing, where working together as a team shows the abilities and potential of both.

This partnership and bonding begins before the student ever mounts up to ride. That is why all our lessons are 1 ½ hours and include a portion of "Ground Work." Working with the horse from the ground, even with simple relationship building such as grooming and tacking up, will enhance the entire experience for both.

We believe that learning the Physical aspects of riding is important, and we will teach our students to sit, balance, and ride the horse at different gaits and under differing circumstances. We will teach them to ride with skill, confidence, and consideration for the comfort and ability of their mount. However, just as important, is learning to understand the Mental and Emotional state of mind of the horse. As each riding student advances in his or her training, we will teach them how to recognize the feelings and thinking of the horse.

For examples, why does your horse not want to cross that stream, go over that jump, go through that gate, transition smoothly from a walk to a canter, step onto a bridge, go by that bush, or take the correct lead? The answers to those questions may be as wide and varied as the response the rider should take to the "problem." Too many riders respond to situations such as these with the "universal solution" of kicking and whipping and forcing the horse to "obey." While this may provide the desired short-term result, it may also create more long-term problems.
Since we teach our students to understand the "Why's," they will become more adept at "problem solving" issues that come up during riding situations. There are many reasons a horse may exhibit behavior undesirable to the rider. Examples of some of the questions the rider should understand the answers to are: Is the horse just being "stubborn?" Or, is he afraid? Is he "testing" the rider? Or is he just in a playful mood? Has he lost his concentration? Or, is the rider giving him incorrect signals? Is he confused? Is he being "mean and ornery?" Is he tired? Bored? Hurt? This list goes on, and becoming a good rider depends upon understanding the horse and his reasons for acting the way he is acting. Once a rider learns to understand the reasons (and they may be different from one time to the next, with the same horse and situation), the rider can then work with the horse to overcome the problems or difficulties.

Learning the language of the horse involves watching and feeling many things simultaneously while doing ground work and while riding. Students at Sun Pony Ranch will learn to recognize ear movements, eye and body movements, muscle tension, and many other signals of the horse language to help them become better riders in partnership with the horse. Learning to feel the horse's muscle tension or relaxation under the saddle comes with lots of experience and lots of pointers from the instructor.

Depending upon the horse's behavior and language signals, the rider should be able to know how to react. Should the rider show authority, encouragement, sympathy, direction, confidence, or what? The students at Sun Pony Ranch will learn these things all along the way, in conjunction with improving their physical riding skills, as they advance in their lessons.

We believe that the key to becoming a good rider is learning to understand the horse and learning to get the horse to understand you, the rider. Our lessons are always full of the explanations as to the why's: Why the horse is doing something and why the rider should react in such a way. The students are never told to do something without the explanation of why it is important. Building a trust and confidence between horse and rider to forge a true partnership will enable a joyful experience for both.

Group Lessons

Group Lessons are excellent for many reasons. More opportunities for learning are available in Group Lessons because students can watch each other as they ride. Many exercises are done one at a time, and each student can watch and see what it looks like when another rider and another horse are doing what they also will do. They can learn not only from the instructional directions and explanations for their situation, but also from other student/horse situations in the class. They can learn and understand how other horses react with other riders in performing exercises that they are also doing with the horse they are riding. If more than one student in the class has the same thing to work on (example: keeping heels down), they can see what it looks like on another.

Group Lessons also contribute to a fun atmosphere to learn in. Being in a group with others who are interested in the same goals and joy of riding is not only educational, but social as well. Students bond with each other as well as their horses. Many classes stick together for multiple sessions and advance together in their abilities and enjoyment of riding.

Adult Beginning Western Lesson

Our Group Lessons usually have between 4 and 6 students riding and learning together. This number allows for enough opportunity to learn from each other and have fun, while still affording enough individual attention to work on skills and understanding.

Rules, Policies and Waiver

The following files are available at the barn, but they are here for your convenience. All students under 18 must have a Liability Waiver signed by a parent or guardian. If your child will not have a parent or guardian bringing them to their first day of lessons, please print and sign the waiver below and have your child bring it with them.

Liability Waiver v Barn Rules v Lesson Policies

Meet our instructor - Ginger Fedak