Our program is hands on and personalized. We strive to teach riders to care for their horses in addition to riding all while promoting the most fun and enjoyable environment. We offer both private and small group lessons. Many of our students have graduated from the lesson program and gone on to be successful competitors and horse owners. Whether riding is a childhood pastime, a return to the sport, or the fulfillment of a lifelong dream, Twisted Tree Farm’s quality horses and ponies along with our instruction can help you achieve your goals.
- Initial Lesson
- We start all new riders with individual attention with a personal trainer in a private lesson. This allows us to assess your current skill level and is a great time to discuss your goals so we can come up with a program that suits your needs.
- For your first lesson you will need to wear long pants, a sleeved shirt, and boots with a heel. We have helmets to borrow if you don’t have your own yet.
- *Please arrive 30 minutes early before your first lesson to sign all the necessary paperwork.*
- Level I
- This is a starting class where riders will learn the necessary skills to tack up and un-tack their horse (i.e.: Leading, grooming, saddling, bridling, etc).
- Riding skills will include mastering how to handle their horse/pony at the walk and trot. The more experienced riders at this level will be able to successfully maneuver their horse around a course of poles, with independent hand and seat aids.
- Skills they will learn at this level
- Riders will learn how to fix their stirrups from the ground and mount both correctly and safely.
- How to correctly hold the reins, and lengthen/shorten them
- How to do a jumping/two-point position at walk and trot
- How to do a posting trot on the correct diagonals
- Using the arena and navigating over a course of poles in jumping position
- How to put on and take off the bridle safely, put on the halter, and correctly putting on and taking off the saddle
- Grooming (learning the different types of brushes and what they are used for)
- Introduction to putting on polo wraps/boots for horse’s leg protection
- Cleaning tack and properly putting it away.
- Level II
- A class for Intermediate riders. This class is for riders who are beginning to trot small fences and learning to ride the canter gait. The more experienced riders at this level will be able to successfully maneuver their horse around a small cross-rail course, at either the trot or canter.
- Skills they will learn at this level:
- Riders will know how to trot on the correct diagonal and also be able to sit the trot
- Riders will begin to learn to canter and discuss correct leads.
- Starting to jump over small fences at the trot.
- Cantering will be introduced once they can hold a good jumping position over the crossrail at the trot.
- Using their arena and be able to change the lead or diagonal while riding around a course of fences
- Safely leading horses to their stall and blanketing horse correctly if necessary.
- Learn how to properly wrap horse’s legs after they have jumped
- Level III
- This level is for our more experienced lesson students who have mastered level I and II. The more experienced riders of this level will be able to navigate around a small course of jumps at the canter with changes of lead either through the trot or with a lead change.
- Skills that will be taught at this level include:
- Cantering/trotting around full courses of jumps of varying height
- Learn how to do adjust canter stride (lengthening and shortening)
- No stirrup work at trot and canter
- More advanced transitions, (i.e. walk to canter, trot to halt)
- More advanced horsemanship.
- Leasing/Owning
- This is the next step for riders that have graduated through the above levels. However, it’s never too early to lease or buy if you a have a passion to advance quickly through the levels and attend horse shows. To make scheduling easier and give riders more opportunity to lesson we never guarantee the use of one sole lesson horse, but rather we let riders know they may be on a few different horses from week to week. Leasing provides the opportunity to build a connection with one horse, which might appeal to some riders. We offer years of expertise in finding the right matches for riders to reach their desired goal. Having goals will help us guide you in the right direction to achieve your riding goals.