Sundance Manor Farms Thinking Horsemanship Lessons:
- Platinum Lessons in saddleseat or western is approximately two hours of ground/riding time. Single lesson, Packages of Four to Sixty Prepaid Discount Lessons and Major Discount Lessons with our Annual Lesson Contract are available without horse ownership. Major Discount Lessons with your horse are available. Contact us for details.
- Gold Lessons in saddleseat or western is approximately one hour of ground/riding time. Single lesson, Packages of Four to Sixty Prepaid Discount Lessons and Major Discount Lessons with our Annual Lesson Contract are available without horse ownership. Major Discount Lessons with your horse are available. Contact us for details.
- Silver Lessons in hunter seat is approximately one (A) or two hours (B) of ground/riding time. Single lesson, Packages of Four to Sixty Prepaid Discount Lessons without horse ownership and Major Discount Lessons with your horse are available. Contact us for details.
- Bronze Lessons in saddleseat or western is approximately half hour of ground/riding time for Preschoolers and Senior unable to handle the above plans. Single lesson, Packages of Four to Sixty Prepaid Discount Lessons are available without horse ownership. Major Discount Lessons with your horse are available. Contact us for details.
- Partnership Lessons are contracted lessons approximately two hours ground/riding time per lesson. This a super deal for you, your family and friends as you create your group lessons with at least two riders and a maximum of six riders. Horse ownership is not necessary but this also includes our boarders who want to include lessons not training with the board of their horse. Major Discount Lessons with your horse are available. Contact us for details.
- Apprentice Discount Lessons are the same great lessons offered in our regular lesson program but taught by an Apprentice Instructor under the supervision of Master Instuctor(s).
- Driving Lesson is approximately one to two hours in ground/driving time and horse ownership is not necessary.
Riding and driving lessons is one of the most economical ways to enjoy horses.
Our lessons are for recreational or competition riding and are given on a variety of breeds including the versatile American Saddlebred. We teach Saddleseat, Hunter Seat, and Stock Seat (western) equitation, which is judging the rider. The style of riding was developed for safety reasons based on discipline you are using your horse; if you are one who wants to do recreational riding, proper riding makes your experiences with horses safer and more fun.
There is no pressure on students to show and our extra curricula activities include but not limited to trail riding, tournaments, clinics, shows, and other equine events. Those who select to show are usually very successful winning first in everything from schooling shows to AA-rated shows in both riding and driving. Some of our staff's previous students are now World Champion trainers and instructors, some do their own training and won World Champion title, while others have successfully competed in Endurance Competitions winning some big ones.
Our farm teaches Thinking Horsemanship from our "horse whispers" on staff. One enrollment allows you to ride at both farms as well as being allowed to participate in the extra curricular events offered through either location.
Saddleseat is an English style of riding that is used on many breeds.
Through the years we have found this seat to be the best to learn first so that you are able to ride the widest variety trained horses. There are techniques of the other styles of riding that will get you in trouble if the horse is not trained for that discipline. One of our students, who had more than 15 years of hunter experiences and operated a public barn elsewhere, got in trouble when invited to trail ride her neighbors TWH type racking horse. The horse pitched a fit, which shocked the horse's owner and the rider. The hunter rider called us and we taught her saddleseat and how to ride a five-gaited horse. We have not seen the troubled horse, but the "hunter rider" riding saddleseat returned and successfully rode her neighbor's horse. This is the style that is used on the fun, fantastic, five-gaited horse as well as many others.
(Photo by Doug Shiflet shows saddleseat on main Camps, Lessons, Parties page.)
Hunter Seat is another Englsih style of riding, that has some increased danger over other styles since you are going over "jumps." A few minor changes from saddleseat puts you in the correct style to jump fences in either the hunter or jumper divisions. Both divisions make the horse and rider jump over a series of creative fences but they are judged differently. The hunter division is more exhibitor oriented than jumper since hunter is judged how they approach and arc over the fence, etc. The jumper division challenges the pair in a different way and the fences can go much higher than that of the hunter division. Due to the division's objective, there are some difference of the fences and courses. (Photo by KC shows hunter seat on main Camps, Lessons, Parties page.)
Stock Seat is western equitation and once again there are minor changes from saddleseat.
We train horses for western pleasure and working western pleasure but we do not currently train reining horses and rodeo events.
(Photo by Doug Shiflet shows stock seat on main Camps, Lessons, Parties page.)
Our discount lesson program is the same great lesson program that we are known for but is taught by a hand picked apprentice. Our Apprentice Instructors are people that have shown an interest in teaching riding lessons and have been thoroughly tested by us to ensure a consistent teaching philosophy of Thinking Horsemanship. The apprentices also have proven to be very responsible and safety conscious in a variety of situations with us prior to being considered as an instuctor in the apprentice program. This program is an economical way for parents to see if their child wants to commit to riding as well as a economical way for rider in our regular lesson program to get some extra saddletime.
We have students who successfully ride all three seats. Most of those that are in this elite group say they prefer saddleseat. Over the years we have worked with many horse lovers. Some arrive with little or no experience with horses. Some have had negative experiences prior to calling us. With our individualized instructional program, we have been able to help the rider overcome their fears or problems created by lack of knowledge, poor or no instruction, or a negative experience. Some are professionals who find that their time working with our staff is very positive for them.
Sundance Manor Farms is one of the few lesson programs that has an instructor with a Masters in Education from UVA and 26 years of classroom teaching experience. With this blend of educational knowledge and extensive equestrian experiences, including but not limited to TWHs, gaited horses of variety of breeds, Hackneys, Standardbreds, Quarter horses, Morgans, Arabians, NSH, Thoroughbreds, minitures, warmbloods, some draft breds, and of course the beloved ASBs benefit the Sundance Manor Farms students by developing good solid thinking riders. The advantage to our students is a flexible lesson program to suit the needs and experiences or lack of experiences of the individual rider.
The cost of lessons depends on the plan selected. Plans can start as low as $10.00 per person, which is a great deal for you and your horse loving friends or family.
