Horseback riding lessons are offered in Hunt Seat and Western, specializing in barrel racing and reining. Ages three and up are welcomed (young students must be able to reach the stirrups) to take lessons. Walker Training Stables gives horseback riding lessons to encourage a life long love of horses and a sense of achievement. Riding lessons are tailored to the experience of the student and their goals. We have 3 riding instructors at Walker Training Stables, each with a specialty to offer. Always know the credentials of your riding instructor. Know what instruction they have had and what they have accomplished themselves. We offer private instruction only for beginners. We rarely give more than two students lessons at the same time as the more students, the less productive the learning.

Beginning students will learn about horse safety, grooming, and tack, and horse care. The will concentrate on learning balance on the horse in the safe enclosure of our round pen without the distraction of guiding the horse. They will be taught how to guide the horse, reverse directions, stop the horse, and back the horse with the reins, legs, and seat while in the round pen. Once in the indoor arena, the lessons will progress to walk-trot, trot-canter transitions, and lateral movements. Riding instruction will include correct control of the horse’s body parts: head, neck, shoulders, hips, and rib cage. Fun exercises will be incorporated at each learning stage including work over poles, tiny jumps, around barrels, around cones, trail obstacles, etc. You will also have patterns to practice. When you are ready, you can go on a trail ride and/or advance into specialties.

More advanced riding lessons offer specialties such as: halter, showmanship, western pleasure, horsemanship, hunter under saddle, equitation, reining, trail, barrel racing, team penning, jumping, and many levels of dressage. Natural horsemanship following the doctrines of Clinton Anderson is also taught to interested students.

Private lessons cost $40/hour.