🍂 Welcome to Fall Riding School – Week One Round-Up! 🐴🍁

Sep 10

Let the hooves hit the dirt – we’re back in the saddle again! WEEK 1

Hello students, parents, horse lovers, and curious bystanders who just love a good pony pic – welcome to Week One of Fall Riding School! Whether you’re brand new to the farm or practically galloping into the arena on instinct, we’ve got something exciting for every level this week.

So, what have we been up to? Well, here’s a peek into all the dirt, dust, and delight happening in each level:

🟢 Green Level I – Our Bold New Beginners

This week, our Green Level I students took their first official steps into the world of horses – and we mean that literally. They met their equine teammates (many of whom are just as curious as their riders) and began learning horse safety, how horses “speak” with body language, and how to groom like pros-in-training.

🧼 Fun Fact: Grooming isn’t just about looking fabulous – it’s also how we check for cuts, scrapes, and sore spots. It’s like a horsey spa plus a health check-up!

They also learned how our farm program works, from feed time to horse nap time (yes, they nap standing up and lying down – jealous?).

💗 Pink Level II – Building Bonds and Balance

Our Pink riders are no longer “newbies” – they’re horse partners-in-progress! This week, they met their horse partners and started creating real bonds. We’re talking brushing, leading, tacking up (putting the saddle and bridle on), and of course, learning how to communicate clearly with their equine BFFs.

🐎 Riding Review Time:
We’re reinforcing key basics like:

Mounting and dismounting (with grace… or at least giggles)
Proper seat position (sit up tall, heels down)
How to hold the reins (not like spaghetti, please)
Steering and stopping at a walk
Balance and muscle work – cue those core-strengthening exercises!

💡 Horse Fact: Horses have nearly 360° vision – but there’s a blind spot right in front of their nose and directly behind their tail. That’s why we always talk to them when approaching!

⚪ White Level II – Trotting into New Territory

This week, our White riders took things up a trot – literally! They’re continuing with their horse partners, reinforcing that growing bond, and learning how to start and stop a trot with confidence and control.

📚 In the barn classroom, we covered 10 Key Parts of the Horse:

Poll
Withers
Barrel
Croup
Frog (not a real frog – it’s in the hoof!)
Forelock
Mane
Muzzle
Pastern
Cannon Bone

🐴 Fun Equine Fact: The frog acts as a shock absorber for the horse’s foot. It’s squishy, weird, and super important!

White Level students also explored the parts of the saddle, including:

Pommel (the front rise)
Cantle (the back part)
Stirrup and stirrup leathers (where your feet go)
Girth or cinch (what keeps the saddle from becoming a horse-hula-hoop)

💛 Yellow Level – Trotting Like Pros, Canter in Sight

Yellow students are really moving now! With lots of trotting time in the saddle, these riders are building serious muscle, balance, and stamina. We’re focusing on independence, refining trot control, and drumroll please – getting ready to introduce the canter on a lunge line.

🌪️ Canter Quick Tip: It’s a three-beat gait and feels like flying – with a seatbelt made of confidence and thigh muscles!

We’re also working on transitions (walk to trot and back), keeping heels down, and steering with subtle cues – no tugboats here!

🔴 Red Level – Our Advanced Youth Riders

Red riders are our top-level youth, and they are 🔥on fire🔥 this fall! They’re focusing on:

Independent riding (no instructor micromanaging every step)
Lots of trotting and smooth canter work
Circles, changes of direction, and transitions with finesse
Starting to learn more about fluidity, timing, and feel

🎯 We also began discussions about soft hands, proper timing with aids (legs, seat, hands), and how to ride like you're part of the horse – not just on top of one.

🐎 Advanced Fact: Horses can feel a fly land on them – which means they definitely feel it when you shift your seat. Subtlety is everything at this level!

🧡 Adult Classes – From First Rides to Fancy Roping

🐴 Advanced Adults:

Our seasoned adult riders put on their cowgirl/guy hats and tried roping this week! Swinging a lasso isn’t just fun (and hilarious) – it also builds coordination and confidence. Plus, who doesn’t love pretending to be in a rodeo?

🐎 Beginner/Intermediate Adults:

These riders are building trust with their horses and learning:

Proper tacking (saddle and bridle like a champ)
Mounting/dismounting without panic
Solid basics like steering, stopping, and understanding horse movement
Developing an independent seat and relaxed posture

💬 “I didn’t realize my legs would be sore in places I didn’t know I had,” one adult student said this week. (Totally normal. Totally worth it.)

🧽 Pro Tips from the Barn:

🐎 Always approach a horse at the shoulder, never from behind.
🐴 Keep your grooming tools clean – horses appreciate it!
🧵 Check tack before every ride – saddle security = safety!
🥕 Yes, horses love carrots. No, they don’t love fingers. Feed with a flat palm!

🎉 That’s a Wrap for Week One!

It’s been a week full of firsts, fun, and lots of horse hair. (Seriously, you’ll find it in your socks, purses and probably your dreams.)

We’re so proud of all our students for kicking off the Fall session with energy, courage, and curiosity. Stay tuned for Week Two where we’ll dive deeper into riding skills, horse anatomy, tack care.

Until then – heels down, eyes up, and ride on!

🐎💬

Happy Trails!

Ms. Lou