Horseback Riding Lessons
An Adventure That Lasts A Lifetime
Discover the joy of horses and achieve your riding goals with personalized instruction at The Backyard Barn Waxhaw. Our lessons are designed to create compassionate and well-rounded equestrians in the saddle and on the ground. Through a unique blend of hands on skills, foundational ground work, and essential equine care, we nurture the bond between rider and horse. With this holistic approach we build confident, knowledgeable equestrians in and out of the ring.
Our Method
At The Backyard Barn Waxhaw, our lessons extend far beyond just riding. We believe in continual learning combining comprehensive horse care and equine behavior with classical skills to give you the knowledge to become a great rider. Our teaching philosophy centers on: Balance, Empathy, and Quiet Aids: We teach you to communicate subtly and effectively, developing a refined feel and better seat. Understanding Natural Equine Behavior: Learn to connect with horses with a deeper understanding. True Horsemanship: Our progressive learning approach ensures you become a capable equestrian.
Beyond The Saddle: Deeper Horse Knowledge
Our commitment to true horsemanship extends beyond your riding time. We offer dedicated barn days and utilize inclement weather as unique learning opportunities. During these times, riders have access to the barn during their scheduled lesson to practice hands on skills with cleaning tack properly, understanding feeding practices, participate in basic horse daily upkeep, horse bathing, and engage in other fun educational activities.
Who Our Lessons Are For
We warmly welcome riders of all levels and backgrounds. Our program is particularly well-suited for developing riders who are ready to refine their skills. Beginners who are eager to learn about horses, an intermediate rider looking for guidance beyond the basics, or an aspiring show rider aiming to perfect your course work and keep your horse from running out of jumps, you’ll find a supportive and challenging environment here. Our goal is to help riders understand every aspect of the equestrian sport from groundwork to casual riding, to the show ring. Mastering the timeless art of keeping the horse between you and the ground.
Our Approach to Success: Beyond the Ribbons
At The Backyard Barn Waxhaw, our definition of success extends far beyond just the love of local horse shows and aiming for those well-deserved ribbons. It’s about the joy of learning, the camaraderie with fellow riders, and the profound connection with your horse. We offer diverse opportunities for riders to experience from casual trail rides, to the thrill of a foxhunt. It means celebrating every improvement, big or small, and ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to achieve their induvial goals regardless of their current level. On Saturday’s we frequently attend events, whether it’s an open show, a foxhunt, a trail ride, or just going to enjoy any other equine sport even as spectators!
Your Lesson Experience
At The Backyard Barn Waxhaw, your lesson is about so much more than just riding. We believe in teaching true horsemanship from the ground up. Here’s a peek at what you can expect during your scheduled lesson with us: You’ll arrive about 15 minutes before your scheduled ride time to truly immerse yourself in the barn experience. This crucial time is dedicated to all the basic steps required before riding. Starting with learning how to safely catch your horse from the pasture. Once your lesson horse is comfortably settled, it’s time for grooming. You’ll learn how to thoroughly clean your horse one of the most important steps. After grooming we move on to tacking up, where you’ll be guided through the proper way of bridling and saddling that individual horse, ensuring their comfort and your safety. Then comes the best part: Your riding lesson! For the next hour you’ll receive personalized instruction, focusing on developing your skills, balance, and communication in the saddle. After your ride, the learning continues please allow for another 15 minutes here. You’ll participate in cooling and caring for your horse which is vital for their well-being. This includes untacking and giving them a good post-ride grooming ensuring they are comfortable before you take them back for their turnout.
Your Path To Riding: Lessons & Costs
We offer flexible lesson options to suit your learning style and schedule, all on a convenient pay as you go non contractual basis. All lessons are specialized to provide the best learning experience for each student.
Private Lessons: Enjoy one on one instruction
Costs: $75 per hour
Open Lessons: For those who are open to letting other riders that schedule the same time join
Cost: $50 per hour
Show/Event Participation: Everyone gets a chance to go!
Cost: $50 for the day fee, plus the entry fee.
Dress Code Required: Riding boots, or paddock boots, long pants, and a helmet. We have items available to borrow until purchase, please reach out to us about anything you may need help finding or purchasing.