Freedom Rides

We love new students! We first of all evaluate the student’s level and what they want to learn. Then we introduce them to the horse they will ride and fit them into a helmet. 

Students get involved right away in catching the horse and putting on the saddle and bridle. Then off we go to the arena for our lesson! 

We have owned horses for a lifetime! We have competed and spent hundreds of hours riding in woods, trails, beaches and mountains.

Our family has been running horse ranches for a decade. We’ve taught children, youth, teens, adults, disabled, veterans and the homeless how to ride safely. 

We also train horses and we have rescued 6 horses from abuse. We are horse experts!

Our prices are variable, depending on our students’ needs and ability to pay. 

Most children over 10 do best with hour long lessons, which are $60

Children under 10 get tired sooner so we offer 45 mins for $45

Toddlers and younger children are $30 for 30 mins. Some of our siblings have popped onto a horse for 10 minutes when they were 1 year old - with parents holding them of course. This has been a wonderful experience for the whole family. 

I have been teaching since I was 5! I’ve always been telling people what to do!

Seriously though, as a teen I exercised race horses. I was a  high school student camp leader and I’ve been teaching ever since. 

All types of student have benefited from my love for people. From babies to the elderly, age doesn't matter. 

I've been especially successful with children and adults with special needs.  Horses make riders pay attention and focus. Every muscle is used. And emotions calm down when riding. Horses respond to peaceful people. Even rebellious teens have learned to adjust their behavior in life through horsemanship. Veterans with PTSD have found a place to heal and suicidal folk have been given a reason to live. 

There is no person who wouldn't benefit from riding a horse! 

One 13 year old girl, Shannon, had a severe brain disorder. She was born with only one side of her brain.  Her body was distorted on one side. She had limited use of her hand and arm, and was hunched over and she couldn't walk. She hardly spoke and was very nervous and shy. 

After three months of riding, her body strengthened and straightened. She began using her left arm and leg. She started to talk to us! Best of all her brain grew new neurological pathways on the hemisphere that had no brain function! Due to her strengthening and straightening and the way a horse walks is exactly like the human gait... she was able to walk! 

This was a natural miracle. Shannon became such a confident rider that she was the life of the party. She laughed and talked with the girls in her group lesson and hung out at the barn for hours every day. What a joy is it to see horses help humans. 

Find a teacher who is relaxed and happy. Horses are very sensitive. They don't like fast paced, loud people in their space. They respond to the person on the ground as much as the student in the saddle. I've seen horses throw a fit when an abusive teacher entered the arena. Every horse wanted to get out of there. 

Watch the horse's demeaner. No student wants to be yelled at. Firmness isn't mean spirited. Teaching should come with love, patience, helpfulness and grace.