We offer riding lessons for beginner to advanced riders, both English and western styles of riding. "We teach you how to ride the horse..not the saddle" is our motto, and therefore we welcome all styles of riding, believing that the basics are the same for all. You will see a strong "dressage" influence in our teaching, which we believe is essential for successful communication with the horse. We agree with and follow the education and safety format of the United States Pony Club. In fact, we recommend that all students of our stable purchase and read the USPC Manual of Horsemanship, D-Level, written by Susan Harris.  

We have instruction in hunt seat, dressage, carriage driving, eventing, jumping and western styles of riding. 

Our instructors all can perform and demonstrate the skills that they are teaching and are ready to get on a horse to "show you how". 

Taking lessons at our stable are riders at 6 years of age, right up through retired adults. Most of our lessons are taught in our beautiful large indoor arena. As students progress, we also teach lessons in the outdoor ring, on the cross country jumps, in the outdoor dressage ring, and out on the trail. 

In this area of New York, Gale is one of the only instructors to be Level III Hunt Seat and Western Riding certified with The American Riding Instructors Certification Program. In fact, there are only about two dozen people in the United States with this particular certification.   Gale also has her Level III Certification in Recreational Riding specialties as well.  She is certified at the Level II rating for Dressage instruction and Level I for both Carriage Driving and Eventing.  There are very few people in the United States that have obtained this many certifications with the ARIA, and in fact, Gale was honored by the ARIA to be one of the Top 50 Instructors in the ARIA in 2007.

Gale uses her nearly 40 years of riding instruction experience to specialize with working with adults learning to ride and with adults returning to riding after being away from horses for awhile.  Her nitch is to work with the working adult professional that is trying to juggle all aspects of life in "too short of a week".  She offers flexible lesson schedules to accommodate the busy adult. 

About Kristen....

Working as an independent instructor  for our lesson program is Ms. Kristen Schehr. 

Kristen is a 2003 graduate of SUNY Morrisville with a Bachelor's Degree in Equine Sciences.  She started in our barn in February of 2006 as a trainer for Gale's young horses.  Her success with training Elizabeth and Cheri gained her recognition in our barn, and she has picked up additional training work of our boarders.  Because we were so impressed with her training skills, we asked her if she would also considering teaching lessons - both western and English.  Kristen's show skills will be very useful for our boarders who wish to compete in the Open and 4H Levels of competition.  Her instructor- ship skills have earned her a membership in the American Riding Instructors Association.  Her students are confident, and are having fun in her growing lesson program.  Kristen is excellent with working with youth and adults as they enter the horse world.  Kristen is also available for training of young horses. 

Kristen makes her own appointments for interviews, lessons and training,  Please call the barn at 607-796-9821 for contact information for Kristen.

The pretty winter photo was taken by Deannda Neufer of "Gimmeaminute Photography". 

Our lessons encompass much more than just the riding portion of horsemanship. We believe that true horse people should be able to prepare their mount for riding including grooming and tacking-up, and should also be able to take care of their mount and the equipment after the ride, therefore our lessons, time wise, might be a bit longer than the standard lesson program.

Lessons are arranged by appointment with the instructors. If you are a new rider, most likely you will have a private lesson. After a few rides, and you become comfortable to maneuver the horse on your own with walking skills, and some trotting, you may select to advance to a group lesson.

Carol On Casey

Helpful Hints

Students should dress for the weather.  In cold weather, layers are best, so you can shed a few when you warm up during your rides.  For starting out, new students should wear jeans or other sturdy long pants, high socks and a sturdy shoe with a small heel.  Fingered gloves are also recommended to protect hands and improve grip on the reins.

We will require your execution of a liability release prior to your activities at the stable.  We also will require the you read and memorize our Quick List Rules.   For those with a lot of reading time on your hands, you can review the nearly 60 page long (BIG Adobe Reader File) of our Operations & Procedures Manual.