US HORSE EQUESTRIAN ACADEMY & CLUB

About the Equestrian Academy

For youth ages 6 - 18

This program is designed for children ages 6-18 who have a true passion for horses and want to learn all they can, including advancing their riding skills to learning about nutrition and important basic first aid. Students will also be enrolled in weekly private or semi-private lessons in addition to their group lessons and horsemanship classes on Tuesday evenings with other like-minded kids. The group lesson and horsemanship classes will be split 50/50 between riding and horsemanship/groundwork/academics. Students will be grouped according to their skill levels, allowing each child to flourish to their fullest.

Our Academy offers an outstanding opportunity for your child to grow into a well-rounded, well-educated equestrian. Blending riding, horsemanship, and husbandry provides our students with greater knowledge of the sport, increasing their ability to partner with the horses. This allows children to become better equestrians.

Level I (Beginner): Tuesdays 5:00-6:30 PM

Levels II & III (Intermediate): Tuesdays 6-8:30 PM

All Levels (Beginner & Intermediate levels) will meet for 12 weekly sessions on Tuesdays

Fall 2024: begins September 3, 2024 - November 19, 2024

Winter 2024: begins December 3, 2024 - February 25, 2025

Spring 2025: begins March 4, 2025 - May 27, 2025

Summer Intersessions (4 weeks each) will begin June 2 and run through August 23, 2025

Holiday “skip” weeks are built into the calendar.

The cost per 12-week semester is $1400, and the cost per 4-week Summer InterSession is $480.

Each student participates in a weekly private or semi-private riding lesson scheduled at your convenience with one of our instructors in addition to the group academy session held weekly. Students will be placed with others of equal riding skill. Beginners are welcome to stay and watch. We encourage parents to send plenty of water and perhaps a snack.

PLEASE NOTE: YOUR REGISTRATION FEE INCLUDES BOTH THE ACADEMY CLASSES & THE WEEKLY PRIVATE/SEMI-PRIVATE LESSONS REQUIRED TO ATTEND ACADEMY.

Program space is limited, permitting each student to receive individualized attention throughout all classes, build confidence and maximize their time here.

The programs run in all types of weather. Please dress to be outside!

Cancellations within 2 weeks before the original start date will be refunded 50% of the payment. No refunds are issued once the program starts.

Please email ushorsewelfare@gmail.com with any questions or for more information.

HOW IT WORKS

During each 3-month semester, students have 12 mounted private or semi-private lessons, one per week, in addition to a 2-hour group horsemanship and mounted class each week. This is determined by the instructor and the readiness of the student. There are built-in “skip weeks” during the semester for vacations, illness, etc. Students may also purchase additional weekly riding lessons during the semester if there is no skip needed so they don’t miss a beat before the next semester starts! Any riding lessons a student misses will need to be made up during the semester and are scheduled based on the instructor's availability. A limited number of open slots are available for makeups. Lessons are not carried forward into the next semester however, students are welcome to take more than one lesson a week. As always, lessons must be canceled 24 hours in advance to avoid being charged for the lesson. Group classes run for approximately 2 hours per week. On occasion they may run over depending on what they are working on. Private riding lessons are 30 minutes, and semi-private lessons are 45 minutes.

WHY JOIN THE ACADEMY

It is our philosophy that horses are not tools, but rather, they are your partner. Learning to listen to them is how one truly learns to ride, and therefore, we believe horsemanship is essential to becoming a good equestrian.

The Academy is designed to provide students, beginners through advanced intermediates, with weekly mounted lessons and horsemanship classes. Beginners learn everything from the basics of riding, safety around horses, proper grooming, and tacking up for starters, while more advanced equestrians focus on advancing their connection with the horse, dissecting their riding skills on the flat and over the jumps. In addition, students strengthen life skills such as patience, perseverance, confidence, focus, teamwork, leadership, and much more under the tutelage of our instructors. Horsemanship classes are largely conducted unmounted.

We allow open enrollment, permitting those new to our facility to enter the Academy on a prorated basis during a semester.

CLASS SPACE IS LIMITED. Please reserve your spot now.

MEMBERS: ACADEMY MUST BE PAID IN FULL PRIOR TO THE FIRST CLASS/LESSON. LATE PAYMENTS ARE CHARGED $10 a day. Your child’s weekly lesson time is reserved for them on an ongoing basis unless you or the instructor request a change in time. Once the semester starts there are no refunds.

**Please note: Program runs rain or shine. In extreme heat or cold, the instructor has the option to alter the mounted time in the best interest of the student and the horse and provide more horsemanship on a given day. The main barn is heated throughout the winter.

Email us at USHorsewelfare@gmail.com to sign up or for further information.