We start people who have never been around horses as well as coach advanced riders.
Lessons are normally scheduled for one and a half hour time blocks. Students learn to groom, tack up, and un-tack. Actual riding time may vary depending on the skill level and stamina of the rider in addition to the fitness of the horse.
Advanced riders often take lessons to school their personal mounts on specific skills.
As with any sport, improvement occurs faster the more one practices. Most people find they need at least one lesson a week. Experienced riders are encouraged to practice more often by leasing or bringing their own horse.
Our groups are small, usually 2 - 4 riders. We attempt to schedule people together with relatively similar skill levels. However, groups are based on when people can come as well as horse and instructor availability.
We give private lessons only on request. Private lessons work best for individuals who are working on very specific skills, usually advanced training for dressage or jumping.
Lessons are given Tuesday - Sunday.
Most lessons are scheduled for hour and a half time blocks.
Clients are expected to arrive at the appointed hour to catch and tack up their mounts. They ride for about an hour, then cool out and put the horse and tack away (all of this is taught to beginning riders).
Normal lesson times are 9:00 am, 10:30 am, 1:00 pm, 2:30 pm, and 4:00 pm (also 5:30 pm during Daylight Savings Time).
Text 805 217 1549 to make an appointment.
Children younger than 7 generally are too small and immature to safely complete a regular lesson. However, we offer one hour private lessons / riding experiences for 4, 5, and 6 year old children. The student assists the instructor with grooming and will most often ride on a lead line for about 25 minutes. Members of Riverview Pony Club give these lessons under supervision of an adult. A $35 donation to RVPC is requested for each lesson.
Children may mature enough some time during age 6 to switch to regular lessons.
School horse lessons are more expensive in order to pay for the upkeep of the horse and tack.
A rider may lease a school horse and lesson prices drop to the same as a personally owned horse.
Often riders with their own horses take lessons on how to train their mounts for specific skills.
Lessons may be purchased individually, but that is the most expensive way to buy them.
Four lessons to be taken on your own schedule may be purchased as a package.
Weekly lessons may be purchased by the month; we call this our Riding Club Program. Missed lessons may be made up as long as monthly payments continue. Payments are due at the beginning of each month.
Two lessons a week in the Riding Club Program is paid every 10 lessons (about once a month).
There is a 10% discount for the second family member for all lessons.
Students need to be within height and weight ranges which our current lesson horses will easily handle. We recommend that students are at least 7 years old for regular lessons.
Students must wear long pants, hard soled shoes with heels, and ASTM approved helmets. We have a few helmets available to borrow. However, purchasing a helmet is the cheapest insurance you can buy!
EVERYONE COMING TO THE RANCH MUST WEAR CLOSED TOED SHOES; NO SANDLES OR BARE FEET!
LEAD-LINE LESSONS FOR THE VERY YOUNG
$35 Paid at the time of the lesson.
GROUP LESSONS ON A SCHOOL HORSE
Purchase Single Lesson: $80
Prepaid 4 Lessons: $300 ($75 / lesson)
Riding Club weekly lessons / monthly rate: $280 ($64 / lesson)
Riding Club twice a week / pay every 10 lessons: $560 ($56 / lesson)
PRIVATE LESSONS ON A SCHOOL HORSE
Purchase Single Lesson: $120
Prepaid 4 Lessons: $430
Riding Club weekly lessons / monthly Rate: $400 ($92 / lesson)
Riding Club twice a week / pay every 10 lessons: $800 ($80 / lesson)
GROUP LESSONS ON YOUR OWN OR LEASED HORSE
Purchase Single Lesson: $55
Prepaid 4 Lessons: $200 ($50 / lesson)
Riding Club weekly lessons / monthly rate: $190 ($44 / lesson)
PRIVATE LESSONS ON YOUR HORSE OR A LEASED HORSE
Purchase Single Lesson: $88
Prepaid 4 Lessons: $317 ($79 / lesson)
Riding Club: $303 ($70 / lesson)
TRAINING - ON YOUR HORSE OR LEASED HORSE
Half Training (3 days / week): $669 / month ($51 / lesson)
Full Training (5 days / week): $869 / month ($40 / lesson)