For ages 6 - 18
Nod Hill Equestrian Academy for Youth
A division of US Horse Welfare and Rescue
This program is designed for children who have a true passion for horses and want to learn all they can, from advancing their riding skills to learning about nutrition and important basic first aid.
The Academy is designed to provide beginners through advanced intermediate students with weekly mounted lessons and horsemanship classes. Beginners learn everything from the basics of riding, safety around horses, proper grooming, and tacking up, while more advanced equestrians focus on advancing their connection with the horse, dissecting their riding skills on the flat and over the jumps.
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 where students will be grouped according to their skill levels, allowing each child to flourish to their fullest.
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.
Academy Programs
All students (beginners through advanced intermediates) will meet for 12 sessions on Tuesdays. Each student should also enroll in a weekly private or semi-private riding lesson scheduled at your convenience with one of our instructors in addition to the weekly group academy session. Lesson packages for the private/semi-private weekly lesson are purchased separately. Students will be placed with others of equal riding skill. We encourage parents to send plenty of water and perhaps a snack.
Tuesdays 5:30-7:30 PM
Fall 2025: begins September 2025
Winter 2025: begins December 2025 - February 2026
Spring 2025: begins March 11, 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 $720, and the cost per 4-week Summer InterSession is $240.
PLEASE NOTE: YOUR REGISTRATION FEE DOES NOT INCLUDE THE WEEKLY PRIVATE/SEMI-PRIVATE LESSONS. SEMESTER LESSON PACKAGES ARE PURCHASED SEPARATELY.
This program is designed for youths 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 should 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.
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! Our main barn is heated to 45-50 degrees so in the event of extreme cold, the academy will be held in the main barn. Riding time will be made up if it is missed due to extreme cold or heat.
Please email ushorsewelfare@gmail.com with any questions or for more information.
Watch for exciting news regarding the academy and our new curriculum, new divisions, new team of trainers!
About the Academy
Email us to sign up or for further information.
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.
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.
Enrollment
AGES 6-18. 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.
Class Times and Frequency
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.
How does it work?
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!
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.
Cancellation Policy
As always, lessons must be canceled 24 hours in advance to avoid being charged for the lesson.
Program Cancellations within 2 weeks before the original start date will be refunded 50% of the payment. No refunds are issued once the program 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.
Make an impact today
Proceeds from our programs go to saving abused, neglected, at-risk, & slaughter-bound horses across the country and providing top-notch care for the horses here at our sanctuary and rescue.
