riding lessons

Riding Lessons

Academy Stables is a small, family owned barn and we offer riding lessons to all ages and abilities.

Our mission at Academy Stables is to provide a safe, inclusive, and enriching environment where riders of all ages and skill levels can learn to ride, connect with horses, and cultivate a lifelong love for horseback riding. Through expert instruction, compassionate care for our horses and a commitment to horsemanship we strive to cultivate a community of confident, skilled riders, that promotes respect, confidence, and deep appreciation for the art of riding.

Our goal is to teach good foundational riding and an understanding of the mechanics of riding. We believe riders should not only be able to execute the skills, but actually understand what they are doing. In order to accomplish this, we have a diverse herd of horses that offer good, solid beginner horses, to advanced show worthy horses. We take a very systematic approach to teaching and we start with the foundations and then move on from there.

Because of our small size and the demand, we primarily offer group lessons. Our groups are comprised of no more than 4-5 similarly aged and skilled riders. This allows us to offer the best learning and teaching environment. It also provides a safety oriented atmosphere where riding arenas are not over crowded and horses are not overused

We also offer specialty or advanced riding lessons for those who want to want to take their skills to the next level. Lessons are groups of 4 riders or less. Riders in each group are similarly skilled and aged.

CLASS DESCRIPTIONS

Intro To Horses

The objective is to familiarize new riders with the barn and begin learning about what’s involved in riding horses. The lesson will include time in the saddle but riding is not the main objective. We will learn and practice grooming and the tools of grooming, the basics of tack and tacking a horse. And we will learn basic horsemanship to begin the process of building a horse/human partnership including communication for the mutual respect and enjoyment of both horse and rider.

IN THIS class we will learn the basics of getting on and off a horse, how to hold the reins, correct foot position, correct posture and how to start and stop a horse.

Beginner 1

Continue to practice the skills learned in Intro to Horses. Emphasis on grooming and tacking without as much assistance as Intro kids need. Learn and practice the “Four Aids” as part of basic riding. Practice Walk with good seat, good leg position and good hand position. Begin learning how to trot. Be able to correctly lead a horse.

Beginner 2

Continued practice of Beginner Basics with emphasis on learning control without as much assistance as Beginner 1 students need. Fine tune posting the trot (English & Western). Riders at this level ca mount independently, ride at the walk independently. Riders will fine tune their trotting skills

Advanced-Beginner 1

Continued practice of all the above with emphasis on learning control without as much assistance as Beginner students need. Practice of consistent proper body position at the walk, trot and canter. Practice control and achieving the desired gait and speed on several different horses. Learn “light hands” with more controlled balance. Sit the trot bareback without a sidewalker.

Advanced-Beginner 2

Practice control with various individual and group exercises and more difficult horse choices. Trot safely together as a group. Continue practicing “seat” for balance & control. They will learn cantering on the correct lead. English riders will practice precision, dressage, and beginning jumping. Begin learning how to canter on the correct lead.

Advanced-Beginner 3

Students are challenged with learning control by riding harder horses and working up to their “Goal Horses.” Learn cantering on the correct lead. English riders will practice precision, dressage and jumping. Western riders will begin learning reining. More difficult class xercises. Canter bareback on more difficult horses.

Intermediate Rider

Can ride any of our horses safely, with control. May still be “fine-tuning” riding their “Goal Horses” with ease and “relaxed control.” Students are still learning the finer points of horse/human partnership and communication for the mutual respect and enjoyment of both. English riders are able to take most horses over higher (2.5’) jumps with confidence. Go over small jumps bareback

Advanced Rider

Advanced students can ride any of our horses with confidence, balance, and relaxed control. They have learned the basics of leadership for each horse, and can build the trust needed to ask the horse to do something outside its comfort zone. They are learning training skills and perfecting their talents at jumping, reining, or other advanced disciplines, including “Natural Horsemanship” techniques. They are comfortable with advanced bareback riding, including jumps.

INSTRUCTORS

ASHLEE ALTENBORG

Ashlee, a Colorado native, began her 17+ year riding career at Sun Pony Ranch, learning the fundamentals of riding from trainer Ginger Fedak. After developing the basic principles of horsemanship in a western saddle, Ashlee switched to English riding to pursue a career in hunter/jumper and equitation. As a teenager, Ashlee moved to Oregon and showed as a rising star in the Oregon High Desert Classic Circuit . Ashlee received one of the only High Point Awards in their closed circuit show; for all blue ribbons in 1.10 meter Junior Jump Class, and Hunt Seat Equitation. In Oregon, Ashlee holds expierence in Three Day Eventing, developing skills in Dressage, Cross Country, and Show Jumping. Ashlee also spent her time in Oregon developing skills in natural horsemanship, working equitation, and equine therapy under trainer Sandra Vaughn. After her time in Oregon, Ashlee moved back to Colorado, went back to her roots teaching camps, lessons, and clinics at Sun Pony Ranch until the doors closed permanently. Shortly after, Ashlee began a career as a Park Ranger servicing the front range, and used her equine experience to train and develop a Mounted Patrol Progam. In her free time now, Ashlee does dressage training with her own horse, “BB”, aka CMS Bold & Beautiful, who is currently boarded at Academy Stables.

With her diverse background, Ashlee is passionate about using natural horsemanship to create calm, confident, and skilled riders who love what they do.

GINGER FEDAK

GINGER hails from TEXAS where she competed as a barrel racer in college. Ginger was the owner & Operator of Sun Pony Ranch, a small riding stable in Berthoud, CO. Sun Pony offered year round lessons and Summer Horse camp. She taught several of our teen riders. Pony closed its doors in 2017 at which time Ginger turned her attention towards advocating for wild mustangs and burros. Her lessons and camps at Sun Pony were such a source of inspiration for Academy Stables that we asked her to join our teaching staff. Ginger teaches on Saturdays and continues to work her magic and inspire riders young and old!

NEW RIDERS

We take a very systematic approach to adding riders to our program.

Have experience? Adults & Teenagers with previous riding experience are required to take a 30 minute 'skills assessment' lesson. One of our trained instructors will assess your current riding skills and your goals in order to find an appropriate group lesson.

Please note our program is primarily group lessons. Due to space and horse limitations, as well as the high demand for lessons, please understand we are not able to offer ongoing private lessons during peak times (afternoon, evenings, weekends).

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NOTE: The maximum weight for a rider taking a lesson is 200 pounds.