Under the careful guidance of our head trainer, Coach Maddie, all students will learn how to practice safety around horses and begin building lifelong skills in horse handling, horse care and management, and horse riding techniques. We believe it is incredibly important for our riders to develop a firm foundation in Natural Horsemanship principles and to exercise compassion, both on the ground and in the saddle. As students progress through the program, we will address topics such as equine behavior, psychology, biomechanics, and training techniques. This will also include students spending time in the barn to master the practical skills of horse care and management that are necessary to both riders and horse owners, such as tack management, taking equine vital signs, and horse injury management.
This program is designed to create horse-men and -women who have a well-rounded understanding of the horse and what is involved in their care and ownership. We firmly believe that a good equestrian education involves all aspects of the horse's life, not just the time you spend in the saddle. Want to try it for yourself? Contact Coach Maddie to schedule some lessons!
All riders must be appropriately dressed for riding with long pants and closed-toe shoes (proper riding boots are required for more experienced riders who plan to ride without a leadline/handler). For those who are new to riding, we have ASTM-certified riding helmets that you can borrow during your first month (after that, students must bring their own certified helmet). All riders must fill out and sign a welcome packet before the first lesson begins. You can download the forms from our 'All Forms / Paperwork' section and bring them with you, or we have paper copies available at the barn upon request.
This program is designed to create horse-men and -women who have a well-rounded understanding of the horse and what is involved in their care and ownership. We firmly believe that a good equestrian education involves all aspects of the horse's life, not just the time you spend in the saddle. Want to try it for yourself? Contact Coach Maddie to schedule some lessons!
All riders must be appropriately dressed for riding with long pants and closed-toe shoes (proper riding boots are required for more experienced riders who plan to ride without a leadline/handler). For those who are new to riding, we have ASTM-certified riding helmets that you can borrow during your first month (after that, students must bring their own certified helmet). All riders must fill out and sign a welcome packet before the first lesson begins. You can download the forms from our 'All Forms / Paperwork' section and bring them with you, or we have paper copies available at the barn upon request.
Riding Lesson Options
Lessons can be purchased for riding students on a One-Time "Floater" basis or in a Monthly Lesson Package (available to Permanent Lesson Spot holders only), to be paid in full at the start of the month or on a pay-as-you-go basis. Currently we are offering private lessons to all ages and levels, and offering semi-private lessons to regular riders (age 7 & up) who are at a 'Novice' skill level or above. Price is reflective of the lesson type and rider type. Lesson payments are only permitted to be made through a Quickbooks invoice (emailed to the client and paid online) or through a credit card on the client's secure file (which must be set up in-person at the barn).
All lesson packages are for Permanent Riders on a monthly basis with a consistent day/time spot in the schedule. Permanent lesson students are permitted to re-schedule up to one lesson a month that is a 'Cancel Ahead' (notice given 24-hours or more in advance) to occur during the current or following month only. Client cancellations do not warrant missed payments, and do not replace any future lessons in the student's permanent lesson spot. All lesson packages have at least one built-in "In Barn" lesson for instances of inclement weather/equine complications that is not available for re-scheduling.
WHEN SIGNING UP FOR LESSONS please be sure to check out our Forms & Paperwork page for all necessary documents AND riding attire requirements - those who show up for lessons in improper attire will have a lesson that does not include riding.
All lesson packages are for Permanent Riders on a monthly basis with a consistent day/time spot in the schedule. Permanent lesson students are permitted to re-schedule up to one lesson a month that is a 'Cancel Ahead' (notice given 24-hours or more in advance) to occur during the current or following month only. Client cancellations do not warrant missed payments, and do not replace any future lessons in the student's permanent lesson spot. All lesson packages have at least one built-in "In Barn" lesson for instances of inclement weather/equine complications that is not available for re-scheduling.
WHEN SIGNING UP FOR LESSONS please be sure to check out our Forms & Paperwork page for all necessary documents AND riding attire requirements - those who show up for lessons in improper attire will have a lesson that does not include riding.
Tiny Tots (beginners ages 6 & under):
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For any child age 6 and under, the Tiny Tots program is designed for those who have very little experience working with horses – or none at all! Lessons are 45 minutes - 1 hour long and include grooming, horse handling, tacking up, and riding. Tiny Tots should be able to reasonably follow directions and physically support their own body. We encourage parents to watch lessons but ask that you please allow your child to fully focus on the instructor and horse.
Tiny Tots Monthly Package (on a Pay-As-You-Go plan): $65.00/lesson Tiny Tots Monthly Package (on a Paid-In-Full plan by the 1st of the month): $240/month (For standard 4-week month) (Our most popular option, this plan is designed for a 4-lesson month. Any month where there are more than four scheduled lessons does not come at any extra cost. A fifth lesson in one month will be taken off of the schedule by the Instructor with no re-scheduling necessary - which one of the five lessons is to be pulled from the schedule to-be-determined by the Instructor.) Tiny Tots "Floater" Lesson: $65.00/lesson (For students who do not have a permanent lesson spot or for permanent lesson students wishing to pick up an extra lesson). Riders 6 and under who wish to be enrolled in hour-long "Regular" lessons must pass the Tiny Tots Proficiency Exam before being permitted to change over. |
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Welcome Lessons (ages 7 & up):
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For riders of any age, children to adults, who have little to no experience working independently with horses. These lessons are to teach students the absolute basics of riding and horsemanship. Lessons are one hour in length and include catching / leading horses, grooming, tacking up, and some riding. These lessons are meant to be a short-term stepping-stone to help students build a solid foundation in horsemanship and prepare them for our "Regular Rider" lessons. As such, these lessons are not eligible for the Monthly Paid-In-Full lesson package option.
Welcome Lesson Monthly Package (on a Pay-As-You-Go plan): $65.00/lesson (For students who do have a permanent lesson spot.) Welcome Lesson "Floater" Lesson: $65.00/lesson (For students who do not have a permanent lesson spot.) |
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Regular Riders (ages 7 & up) Private Lessons:
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For any riders of any age, children to adults, who have any level of experience working independently with horses (from a little to a lot!). Regular lessons are offered for a half-hour or one-hour lesson length. All regular riders are expected to arrive 30 minutes prior to their lesson to catch, groom, and tack up their horse and are expected to stay after the lesson as long as necessary to take care of their horse and tack. Regular students who do not complete these tasks to the degree and quality required by the instructor will find time being used within the lesson to teach and correct these problems until they no longer occur, or may be asked to take supplementary lessons. Those who have previous riding experience, please be honest about your ability to prepare for a lesson and work with a horse unsupervised!
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THIS IS A RIDING CLASS - Please come properly dressed to ride! Those who arrive in attire unfit for safe riding will have an "In Barn" lesson day with no riding and will not have the option to re-schedule that lesson.
Regular Rider Private Lesson Monthly Package (on a Pay-As-You-Go plan)
Half Hour: $55.00/lesson
One Hour: $90.00/lesson
Regular Rider Private Lesson Monthly Package (on a Paid-In-Full plan by the 1st of the month)
(Our most popular option, this plan is designed for a 4-lesson month. Any month where there are more than four scheduled lessons does not come at any extra cost. A fifth lesson in one month will be taken off of the schedule by the Instructor with no re-scheduling necessary - which one of the five lessons is to be pulled from the schedule to-be-determined by the Instructor.)
Half Hour: $200.00/month (For standard 4-week month).
One Hour: $340.00/month (For standard 4-week month).
Regular Rider "Floater" Private Lesson
(For students who do not have a permanent lesson spot or for Permanent Lesson students wishing to pick up extra "one-time" lessons.)
Half Hour: $55.00/lesson
One Hour: $90.00/lesson
Regular Rider Private Lesson Monthly Package (on a Pay-As-You-Go plan)
Half Hour: $55.00/lesson
One Hour: $90.00/lesson
Regular Rider Private Lesson Monthly Package (on a Paid-In-Full plan by the 1st of the month)
(Our most popular option, this plan is designed for a 4-lesson month. Any month where there are more than four scheduled lessons does not come at any extra cost. A fifth lesson in one month will be taken off of the schedule by the Instructor with no re-scheduling necessary - which one of the five lessons is to be pulled from the schedule to-be-determined by the Instructor.)
Half Hour: $200.00/month (For standard 4-week month).
One Hour: $340.00/month (For standard 4-week month).
Regular Rider "Floater" Private Lesson
(For students who do not have a permanent lesson spot or for Permanent Lesson students wishing to pick up extra "one-time" lessons.)
Half Hour: $55.00/lesson
One Hour: $90.00/lesson
Regular Riders (ages 7 & up) Semi-Private Lessons:
Available to riders who are at the 'Novice' level or above. Lessons are one hour in length and shared between two students. Students in semi-private lessons do not have to be at the same skill level as their lesson partner, but must be able to handle and prep their horse independently for lessons and must be able to safely stop, steer, and manage their lesson horse in the arena so as not to be a danger to the other rider. Any new incoming students who wish to join semi-private lessons must first schedule at least one private lesson to allow the instructor to evaluate a rider's skillset and eligibility for semi-privates.
If one student in a semi-private lesson cancels, the other rider will automatically have a lesson length of thirty minutes (unless they wish to upgrade their lesson that day to an hour-long Private Lesson and pay the price difference). Re-scheduled lessons will either occur as an hour-long semi-private lesson with another student, or as a thirty minute private lesson.
Regular Rider Semi-Private Lesson Monthly Package (on a Pay-As-You-Go plan): $55.00/lesson
Regular Rider Semi-Private Lesson Monthly Package (on a Paid-In-Full plan by the 1st of the month): $200.00/month (For standard 4-week month).
(Our most popular option, this plan is designed for a 4-lesson month. Any month where there are more than four scheduled lessons does not come at any extra cost. A fifth lesson in one month will be taken off of the schedule by the Instructor with no re-scheduling necessary - which one of the five lessons is to be pulled from the schedule to-be-determined by the Instructor.)
Regular Rider Semi-Private "Floater" Lesson: $55.00/lesson (For students who do not have a permanent lesson spot or for permanent lesson students wishing to pick up an extra lesson).
SEMI-PRIVATE LESSON SPECIAL!
Any Semi-Private students who are enrolled in a Permanent Lesson Spot may take advantage of the semi-private lesson special, where the student can enroll in a second Semi-Private lesson (as another Permanent Lesson Spot, on a different day/time of the week as their original lesson) at a discount of $10 off per lesson (new pricing is reflected below). This special is only available to Permanent students, to be used to attain a second permanent spot per week, with the intention of giving the student more frequent riding opportunities and a stronger chance to advance up the levels. We want to see our students succeed in their riding goals, and (like most other sports) that can include practicing multiple times each week!
Regular Rider Semi-Private SECONDARY Lesson Monthly Package (on a Pay-As-You-Go plan): $45.00/lesson
Regular Rider Semi-Private SECONDARY Lesson Monthly Package (on a Paid-In-Full plan by the 1st of the month): $160.00/month (For standard 4-week month).
(Our most popular option, this plan is designed for a 4-lesson month. Any month where there are more than four scheduled lessons does not come at any extra cost. A fifth lesson in one month will be taken off of the schedule by the Instructor with no re-scheduling necessary - which one of the five lessons is to be pulled from the schedule to-be-determined by the Instructor.)
If one student in a semi-private lesson cancels, the other rider will automatically have a lesson length of thirty minutes (unless they wish to upgrade their lesson that day to an hour-long Private Lesson and pay the price difference). Re-scheduled lessons will either occur as an hour-long semi-private lesson with another student, or as a thirty minute private lesson.
Regular Rider Semi-Private Lesson Monthly Package (on a Pay-As-You-Go plan): $55.00/lesson
Regular Rider Semi-Private Lesson Monthly Package (on a Paid-In-Full plan by the 1st of the month): $200.00/month (For standard 4-week month).
(Our most popular option, this plan is designed for a 4-lesson month. Any month where there are more than four scheduled lessons does not come at any extra cost. A fifth lesson in one month will be taken off of the schedule by the Instructor with no re-scheduling necessary - which one of the five lessons is to be pulled from the schedule to-be-determined by the Instructor.)
Regular Rider Semi-Private "Floater" Lesson: $55.00/lesson (For students who do not have a permanent lesson spot or for permanent lesson students wishing to pick up an extra lesson).
SEMI-PRIVATE LESSON SPECIAL!
Any Semi-Private students who are enrolled in a Permanent Lesson Spot may take advantage of the semi-private lesson special, where the student can enroll in a second Semi-Private lesson (as another Permanent Lesson Spot, on a different day/time of the week as their original lesson) at a discount of $10 off per lesson (new pricing is reflected below). This special is only available to Permanent students, to be used to attain a second permanent spot per week, with the intention of giving the student more frequent riding opportunities and a stronger chance to advance up the levels. We want to see our students succeed in their riding goals, and (like most other sports) that can include practicing multiple times each week!
Regular Rider Semi-Private SECONDARY Lesson Monthly Package (on a Pay-As-You-Go plan): $45.00/lesson
Regular Rider Semi-Private SECONDARY Lesson Monthly Package (on a Paid-In-Full plan by the 1st of the month): $160.00/month (For standard 4-week month).
(Our most popular option, this plan is designed for a 4-lesson month. Any month where there are more than four scheduled lessons does not come at any extra cost. A fifth lesson in one month will be taken off of the schedule by the Instructor with no re-scheduling necessary - which one of the five lessons is to be pulled from the schedule to-be-determined by the Instructor.)
Riding Lesson Level System
All students in the Happy Hiccups Equestrian LLC Riding Program will be regularly evaluated to ensure that they are placed in the proper class and difficulty level. In order to progress to the next level, the student must demonstrate that they are able to complete all of the current level’s objectives (small tests meant to demonstrate a specific skill). If a student is missing a skill or does not competently display a skill from lower/previous levels, that student’s lessons will focus on those missing skills until they are caught up. A rider who is currently missing a previous skill cannot progress to the next level.
Riders who are new to the program or returning after a long absence will be evaluated on their first lesson and will have their class and difficulty level assigned after that. For the safety of both riders and horses, we ask that you please be as honest as possible when describing your previous experience and what you are familiar with and competent doing with a horse. The evaluation is meant to give us a safe starting point for your lessons – it is not designed to limit your riding or what you can and will learn! Here we have provided some samples of our Riding Lesson Skill Charts. To view all of our current skill charts, please visit our All Forms / Paperwork page and scroll to the bottom of the page!
Riders who are new to the program or returning after a long absence will be evaluated on their first lesson and will have their class and difficulty level assigned after that. For the safety of both riders and horses, we ask that you please be as honest as possible when describing your previous experience and what you are familiar with and competent doing with a horse. The evaluation is meant to give us a safe starting point for your lessons – it is not designed to limit your riding or what you can and will learn! Here we have provided some samples of our Riding Lesson Skill Charts. To view all of our current skill charts, please visit our All Forms / Paperwork page and scroll to the bottom of the page!
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Current Riding Lesson Schedule
The schedule listed below will ONLY contain our Permanent Lesson Spots for those who are taking consistent (weekly) lessons. Lesson spots that are 'Available' for a new Permanent student are projected as available within the next 30 days or less but may be temporarily filled until then with make-up lessons from other students. Please reach out to Coach Maddie with any scheduling questions!
Current Permanent Lesson Schedule
MONDAY |
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No Lessons (Training / Barn Management Day)
TUESDAY |
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1:00 p.m. Full
2:00 p.m. Open - One Hour Private Lesson, Any Level
3:00 p.m. Full
4:00 p.m. Full
5:00 p.m. Full
6:00 p.m. Full
7:00 p.m. Full
WEDNESDAY |
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1:00 p.m. Open - One Hour Private Lesson, Any Age, Any Level
2:00 p.m. Full
3:00 p.m. Open - One Hour Private Lesson, Any Age, Any Level
4:00 p.m. Full
5:00 p.m. Full
6:00 p.m. Full
7:00 p.m. Full
7:30 p.m. Open - Half Hour Private Lesson, Age 7 & Up, Any Level
THURSDAY - No Lessons (Barn Always Closed)
FRIDAY
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1:00 p.m. Open - One Hour Private Lesson (Any Age / Level)
2:00 p.m. Full
3:00 p.m. Open - One Hour Private Lesson (Tiny Tot 50 lbs. or less OR Adult Only)
4:00 p.m. Full
5:00 p.m. Full
6:00 p.m. Full
7:00 p.m. Full
2:00 p.m. Full
3:00 p.m. Open - One Hour Private Lesson (Tiny Tot 50 lbs. or less OR Adult Only)
4:00 p.m. Full
5:00 p.m. Full
6:00 p.m. Full
7:00 p.m. Full
SATURDAY |
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9:30 a.m. Full
10:30 a.m. Full
11:30 a.m. Full
1:00 p.m. Full
2:00 p.m. Full
3:00 p.m. Full
4:00 p.m. Full
4:30 p.m. Open - One Spot in One Hour Semi-Private Lesson, Age 7-17, Novice Level & Up Only
5:30 p.m. Full
SUNDAY |
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