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Frequently
Asked
Questions
Riding lessons have been a time-honored tradition among kings and aristocrats
since the Renaissance, & not just for transportation. It was recognized
then and is still true now, that an education that includes horses is the best
one to cultivate the qualities of a good leader. Here are a few traits
that have been observed over many years to be nurtured or revealed through
regular contact with horses:
- Compassion
- By caring for an animal, getting to know the animal as an individual
personality, one can't help to begin to feel something on an emotional
level. This is compounded by the fact , though horses are so big, they
rely on us to meet their needs. Awareness of a horse's vulnerability
rarely fails to trigger a sense of...
- Responsibility
- Feeling needed is quite foreign to most children, for they themselves,
are dependent on others. It is most important for a child to feel
important. A good instructor will encourage development of this trait
by offering the student the opportunity to act responsibly.
- Honor
- The relationship between horse and rider grows strong over time.
When the above qualities become strong, the horse becomes a physical
representation of the rider's conscience. The student will come to
realize that regardless of input offered by others, the student ultimately
answers only to themselves. The student will want to make decisions
that will make him or her proud.
- Work Ethic
- Your child will begin planning in advance in order to have more time
spent with their horse. They will look forward to the work being done,
and take pride in a job well done. In so many aspects of life, the
phrase "you get out of it, what you put into it" holds true, but requires
delayed gratification. Children are not good at waiting, and can not
make the "connection" between efforts and results. In riding, this
connection is very clear and is usually immediate, in addition to positive
results that happen over time.
- Respect
- Even kids who have a habit of being disrespectful suddenly feel
vulnerable their first few times on a horse. They instinctively
respect the size of the horse and therefore, the people who confidently
control them. They realize they are dependent on their instructor and
suddenly develop the ability to listen and to be humble.
- Courage
- True courage comes from conquering one's fears and discovering one's
strengths.
- Self-confidence
- This is usually noticeable within the first few lessons.
- Assertiveness
- Riding requires a great deal of decision making. Do I want to make
a transition now or at the end of the ring? If the rider fails to
decide or be assertive in making a decision clear, the horse will make a
decision that the rider may not appreciate.
- Level Headiness
- Sometimes things get a little scary around horses, but riders quickly
learn to keep their wits about them in order to maintain control.
- Patience
- It takes a while to learn to ride well. Muscles need to be
stretched and strengthened, old habits need to be broken and new ones
formed. Disobedience on the part of the horse is usually the result of
fear or confusion. Patience is required to determine the basis of the
problem and to formulate a solution.
Students learn many of these qualities from the horse himself. A good
guide will help them get the most of the
 experience, so it is important to
choose the best instructor available.
So powerful is the horse's influence that he is being used to rehabilitate
criminals, both adult and juvenile offenders. Increasingly common too, are
programs for at-risk youth that utilize horses t promote and teach self-esteem,
life skills, and strength of character.
Riding lessons are not just learning to control a horse; they are truly an
investment in a child's future
The most obvious difference between "English" and "Western" riding is that
reins are typically held in only one hand in western riding. This is a remnant of Western
riding's origins in the American West, where one hand controlled the horse, while
the other was used to perform other work-related tasks, especially on cattle
ranches. The reins provide some slack, and riders usually use fewer leg
cues to direct the horse. The saddle is larger and heavier to accommodate
long hours in the saddle (again a remnant of use on Western cattle ranches).
We recommend that you bring:
- Riding boots
- Jeans that fit
- Jacket (appropriate for the weather)
- Clothes that can get dirty
- Leather riding gloves (optional)
At Owl's Acre, we encourage riding for persons of all ages, so whether you
are 5 or 75, we will be more than happy to work with you.
Yes. We offer full service boarding in our facility for $275.00/month.
We have a variety of programs available, including:
- Private Lessons
- Semi-private Lessons (no more than three individuals at a time)
- Day Camp for children (4 days plus 1 sleepover)
- Birthday Parties including:
- Horse ride
- Face painting
- Hayride
- Games
- Roping on foot
- Group sessions for scouts, Schools, Day Care, and MRDD including:
- Horse care program
- Lesson and horse rides
- Nature hike
- Hay ride
We have several trails on our 60-acre facility. Trail ride rates are
$35.00/person/hour including a snack.
Do you train horses?
Our trainer is Brent Semingson of the
Smoke Rise Ranch Resort, an expert
horseman and trainer with many years of experience. Brent is a John Lyons
Certified trainer, whose family has been training horses using the natural
horsemanship method since the 1930s.
Do I have to own my own horse to ride?
At Owl's Acre Equine, we have a number of horses available for lease, with
terms ranging from daily, to monthly, to annual leasing periods
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