year-by-year overview​​

Freshman Year

  • First semester we focus on proper body position of both horse and rider, lunging, horsemanship and showmanship.

  • The curriculum is designed to accommodate students that are new to the industry as well as those who have had several years of experience.

  • Second semester we focus on trail, line driving and preparation for flying lead changes. This helps prepare the students for the sophomore year of colt breaking.


    Freshman tack list​


    Class and work schedule:

  • Classes meet from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday 

  • Freshmen work three weekends each semester (two are paid).  Work includes feeding, stall cleaning and other chores. 

 

Sophomore Year

  • Students are assigned an unbroken colt to work with the entire semester. Most colts are sent by outside owners.
  • First semester, we focus on resistance-free, natural horse training.
  • Second semester, colts are taught to lunge and line-drive before they are ridden.
  • Sophomoretacklist (1).pdfSophomoretacklist (1).pdf


Class and work schedule: 

  • Classes meet from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m., Monday through Friday. Each class has a riding, showmanship and stall cleaning hour. 
  • Morning feeding 
  • Stall cleaning Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
  • Sophomores work three weekends per semester (two are paid).


Junior Year 

  • Junior year allows students to begin to specialize and gives them the opportunity to request horses in a desired discipline, breed or training level. 
  • Juniors are assigned up to three outside horses, plus a lead changer and a cutter.  Lead changers and cutters rotate bi-weekly. 
  • Juniors share their riding hours with seniors.
  • Second semester, juniors are required to train at least one horse on trail obstacles. 
  • Students may develop a hunter under saddle as English lessons are given every Tuesday and Friday. 


Class and work schedule: 

  • Classes meet from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Friday. Demonstrations on Thursdays with a test two weeks later. 
  • Stall cleaning Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
  • Juniors work three weekends per semester (two are paid). 

Sims_Ryan_Stables72dpi.jpgSenior Year

  • Senior year allows for diversity and specialization. 
  • First semester, seniors are assigned at least two outside horses and a school reining horse. 
  • Second semester, students are allowed to choose their school reining horse. 
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Class and work schedule: 

  • Classes meet from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Friday.
  • Seniors work two weekends per semester and both are paid. 
  • On Sundays, seniors may choose to supervise either a morning or afternoon feeding and also administer medications during their weekend shift.
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All students are required to have an annual physical prior to being allowed to ride.   


Our Instructors:


We are proud to have instructors that have decades of experience as professional riders and trainers.  Many are also judges and all are respected throughout  the equine world as knowledgeable and accomplished.  Instructors in the western riding program are: 
  • Clark Bradley
  • Steve Brown
  • Cindy Morehead
  • Art O'Brien
  • Meri Sheffler
  • Mark Smith