Sienna Ranch Horse and Equestrian Program
For horse and equestrian program class session dates and registration ,click here

At Sienna Ranch, our goal is introduce our students to the world of horses safely, fostering caring and respectful relationships with the horses in our herd.  For that reason, our comprehensive horsemanship program is not only about riding, but includes instruction on all aspects of horse care, grooming, and handling.  As students progress through our curriculum, they gain a solid, well-rounded foundation of horse knowledge and skills that they can apply to any riding discipline they choose.  We use Natural Horsemanship techniques to help students become confident leaders who communicate clearly as they learn to safely interact with horses on the ground.  Our riding lessons then blend those same Natural Horsemanship techniques with dressage, hunter/jumper, vaulting, and trail riding skills.   

Program 1: Horse Experience: Riding and Groundwork

ages 7-14

Spend two hours each week immersed in the horse world at Sienna Ranch. At our small ranch, your child will have an opportunity to become intimately familiar with each of our friendly horses. Students will gain confidence as they spend time grooming, leading, and caring for horses of various sizes and breeds.

The Horse Experience program has been developed with a unique purpose- to give students confidence handling horses and to introduce them to a variety of horse related topics in addition to riding- horse equipment, breeds, anatomy, feeding and care, poisonous plants, and horse drawing.  Additionally, we schedule special visits by vets and farriers during Horse Experience classes in order to give participants a “behind the scenes” understanding of the special needs of their equestrian friends. Students will be introduced to extensive ground work, which is practiced throughout the sessions.

Riding instruction is taught English style.   Students will also have an opportunity to learn and try "vaulting".  Horse Experience is appropriate for beginning students who have never interacted with horses, students who have ridden before but would enjoy gaining a more in-depth understanding of horsemanship, and for experienced students who enjoy the social dynamics of being with other young horse enthusiasts. 

Upon completion of Horse Experience, your child will be well prepared to enter a private or group lesson riding program either at Sienna Ranch or other nearby stables.

Since some of Horse Experience is classroom style instruction, our instructors are prepared to hold classes rain or shine! Sienna Ranch provides all special equipment for class including helmets, but students are required to wear pants and closed toed shoes with a heel.

Program 2: Fun With Horses:  Just Horsing Around

ages 6-12

How do you teach a horse to do tricks? What “spooks” a horse, and how do you train them not to be scared?  What are the signs of a healthy horse on their teeth, hooves, and gums? How can you tell what a horse is thinking and feeling?

In this afterschool class, we will learn the answers to these questions and more.   This class is designed to expose students to interesting and fun horse-related topics which aren’t introduced in most riding programs.  Students will learn from the horse “teachers” at the ranch and enjoy interacting with the horses in a new and fun way.

Fun With Horses allows for lots of horse grooming time(a favorite activity) and instruction in special braiding methods for the mane and tail.

In each session of Fun With Horses, students will enjoy an opportunity to ride the horses they have grown to know and love while their friends show off their horse-handling skills in a horse “obstacle course” designed and built by the students.

Program 3: Private Horse Lessons
ages 5-adult

One hour private lessons teach the fundamentals of horsemanship and riding.  Students will progress through our leveled skills booklet designed by the experienced equestrians at Sienna Ranch.

Options:

1 time Try-it! Lesson- $65

8 lesson package-  $425

When purchasing an 8 lesson package, please note the following:

Missed-Lesson Policy for Private Horse Lesson Packages:
In each 8-week session, the student is allowed a maximum of one make-up lesson for a missed lesson (for any reason including schedule conflicts, sickness, travel, weather, etc.)  Make up lesson must be scheduled within one month of the missed lesson. In order to be considered a lesson which can be made up at no additional charge, the instructor must receive notification no later than 9 am on the morning of the day of the lesson; however, more advance notice is always appreciated.

Private lessons will be offered in ALL WEATHER.  If weather prevents riding, we will provide vaulting instruction on the vaulting barrel indoors in addition to instruction from the horsemanship curriculum on topics such as breeds, colors, anatomy, tack parts/care, footfalls of walk/trot/canter, etc.

If more than 2 lessons in the package are non-riding lessons due to the weather, we will offer a make-up riding lesson on a Friday in addition to the normal classes at your scheduled time (at no additional charge).  Make-up lesson must be scheduled within one-month of the 3rd non-riding lesson in the package.  All make up lessons are offered on Fridays, between 1:00 and 6:00.