CHILDREN’S PROGRAM

 

 

What does it involve?

Do you have a child who wants to start riding lessons? Does after school, weekends or during school breaks work best for you? Do you feel that instructors should be Nationally certified?

Pine Ranch’s after school, weekend and school break riding program offers safe instruction that is geared toward independent riding skills using Cheyenne’s only level III certified riding instructor.

Our sincere desire is to instill in our students the spirit of sportsmanship, accountability and responsibility – things that will live a lifetime in their character. We want to bring out the values of teamwork and fun; so closely associated with the affection felt for our friend, the horse. Children will build life skills, memories and friendships that will last a lifetime.

 

Summer Riding Program (Only a few spaces left!)

This program is available for children who really love horses and whose strong desire is to learn to understand and enjoy horsemanship. Each student will have a horse carefully selected for them. The student will learn the responsibility of proper care and, under supervision, will gain knowledge of all types of horses. Students are welcome to bring their own horse if they wish to have help with their individual problems. See lesson page.

BEGINNERS

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INTERMEDIATE

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ADVANCED

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SPECIALTY

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Beginner: Someone who has never ridden before, has attended camp or vacation trails. Little or no knowledge of horsemanship.

Intermediate: Someone who has taken lessons, walk, trot and canter. Beginning jumping and have ridden school horses. Campers who have ridden for under 2 years. Moderate knowledge of horsemanship and stable management skills. Must be able to do an emergency dismount, an emergency one rein stop, turn both directions, stop, back up, groom unaided, ride a simple circle (not an oval) at walk.

Private Classes (Class by yourself) $65 an hour/participant. Plus $100 travel fee if I go to your location. Package price-ten private lessons $600. Add $100 per person if you need to use one of our horses off location.

Semi-Private Classes (Class with one of your friends) $60 an hour/participant. Plus $100 travel fee if I go to your location. NO PACKAGE PRICE AVAILABLE. Add $100 per person if you need to use one of our horses off location.

Group Classes (Class with at least three participants that you bring for your class.) $55 an hour/rider. $100 travel fee to travel to your location. NO PACKAGE PRICE AVAILABLE.  Add $100 per person if you need to use our horse off location.

*****BEGINNING JANUARY 1st, 2024, ALL LESSONS WILL BE THE SAME PRICE PER PERSON REGARDLESS OF PRIVATE, SEMI-PRIVATE OR GROUP.*****

You or your student may be placed into a group setting to enhance your/their experience or knowledge.  The price of $65/hour remains even though you are in a group setting.  The group pricing occurs when you bring a group of your own to participate with.

Additionally…The first safety lesson costs the same amount as a riding lesson.  My time is every bit as valuable as yours.  My time costs you $65/hour no matter if we do a ground lesson, a saddle cleaning lesson, a team building lesson, a safety lesson or a riding lesson.

We operate on a fully functioning Ranch.  We do not have a credit card reader.  Please come prepared for payment for services with a payment method other than a credit card.

You may use your lessons in back to back sessions every day until your package is used up.  You may spread your package out over a couple or even several months.  Lessons in the lesson package can easily be carried over to the next week, month or even year. While we make every effort to accommodate students, schedules and weather, PLEASE MAKE NOTE THAT REFUNDS FOR LESSON PACKAGES ARE ONLY GIVEN IN THE EVENT OF THE INSTRUCTOR’S DEMISE.  Please DO NOT make the commitment to purchasing a lesson package if you have intention of relocating.

There is no refund for lessons purchased but not taken. Registration and lesson fees are non-refundable.  Sale or transfer of riding lesson or credits is not permitted.
The money you have spent toward packages remains available as credit for you to use.  Lesson prices do increase with the increase in cost of feed, vet and farrier care. These rate increases can happen without prior notice. The money you have available as credit will be used toward lesson fees at the current lesson rate at the time you take each lesson.  Please keep in mind that the current rate could be different from the initial rate at which you purchased the package.

Please be VERY certain you are committed to using the money here at the Ranch before you commit to a lesson package because, as stated previously, there are no refunds REGARDLESS of the situation.

Anyone arriving more than 15 minutes late will be considered absent and will not be able to participate. You will be charged for a full lesson if you are considered absent.

Beginner to advanced classes. We start with the basics and concentrate on classic, balanced seat. You will better understand how a horse perceives the world and thinks.  You will learn proper use of aids and cues. You will gain confidence through knowledge in a safe, laid back environment. You will leave with a better understanding of communication with your equine partner.  Safety is our top priority.

Western and English lessons available.

Working students welcome.  LIMITED SPACES AVAILABLE AND USUALLY FILLED UP BY APRIL 1ST.

Hours flexible to accommodate work and school schedules.

 

 

What does my child need to bring?

Your child is required to come to class with sneakers or boots, jeans and at least a short sleeved shirt. Students who come to class in Capri’s, shorts, tank tops, Crocs, sandals, slippers, or any type of open toe shoe; WILL BE DISMISSED and sent home AND CHARGED THE FULL LESSON FEE FOR THE RESERVED CLASS TIME.  NO EXCEPTIONS!! These dress requirements are necessary to maintain safety for the students. Wyoming weather can become inclement quickly at many times during the year. I recommend that each student bring with them several layers of clothing to assure their own comfort. Students, children especially; have a difficult time learning if they are focused on being too cold and trying to stay warm.

 

 

Personal Conduct

Additionally, we here at Pine Ranch are “Old School”.  The main focus is sharing equestrian adventures with students in a strictly safe environment. Come expecting the time of your life but be mindful that social expectations and conduct are very much that of a couple of generations ago. All who enter are expected to come with a good attitude and an open mind.  ALL students are welcomed regardless of ability.  Students are not labeled on Pine Ranch by ability or disability and the notion will NOT be tolerated from other students, parents or spectators. This being said, students will be dismissed from class for the following poor conduct no matter their ability or disability.  Poor conduct as it pertains to Ranch activities include but are not limited to, bullying, temper tantrums, fit throwing, dishonesty, refusal to groom the horse, endangerment of ANY kind to fellow students, and not following instructor directions. Verbal or physical abuse to the animals, instructor or fellow students by adults or children are grounds for immediate dismissal. Students will be excused from class for not adhering to ANY safety rules and guidelines set forth by the instructor, the staff or the industry standards.  The instructor’s main focus is your child’s safety.   Unfortunately, the insubordination of ANY student cannot be tolerated.  This guideline is set to ensure the safety and enjoyment of everyone involved.  Continuous disregard (three strikes principal) of this boundary will sadly result in permanent dismissal from the program.  The primary focus of the Ranch is to keep everyone safe.  NO EXCEPTIONS, NO NEGOTIATIONS!

 

 

 

Anne’s Thoughts

For the beginner and intermediate sessions, all students will be tested on the first day of the session for appropriate placement in the riding program. Horses and riders are matched according to individual requirements and degree of training.

In addition to the daily horse care and riding, students will learn about talking to and approaching horses using “horse language”, about equine conformation,  equine colors and markings, fitting tack appropriately, feet and shoes, mouths and bits, first aid and safety, boots and bandages, feed and feeding, and human first aid. These specific classes will be taught for approx. one hour in a classroom setting following up with hands on ground work with the horses and equipment in the barn.

From the program’s start, students learn how to handle themselves around horses and how to keep themselves and their horses safe. Students learn how to catch, halter, lead, groom, saddle and bridle. Independence is encouraged and will be required by the end of the beginner class. Independence is MANDATORY to enter intermediate class.

Periodic evaluations are made so that each student has the opportunity to advance as their ability increases. We encourage students to stay for more than one session, as progress tends to compound with each successive session.

Advanced students work at their own accelerated pace keeping goals in mind and close at hand. Pine Ranch offers a stringent and intense program for Advanced Students that challenges them and prepares them for competition or other programs.

 

 

Ranch “Time”

Time ceases to exist at Pine Ranch.  The Instructor does NOT wear a watch and refuses to.  Do not come to the Ranch for your lesson with anywhere else to be.  This will assure that you and your family will spend less time grumpy with the instructor for not following a strict schedule.  The instructor teaches as long as her students maintain physical comfort and mental interest.

 

 

Special Weather Concerns

I have specific rules that I adhere to regarding teaching during weather events.  I will NOT teach during high wind, rain, mud, thunder, lightning, snow and ice.  This is for the safety of everyone involved.  We do not currently have an indoor arena to continue teaching in inclimate weather.  CALL BEFORE YOU COME FOR YOUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED LESSON.

 

 

About the Instructor

Does certification automatically produce a better professional? No. But it does mean that an objective third party believes the professional has met predetermined standards for safety, knowledge, and ability to serve clients.

Anne is an AQHA Professional Horseman and is ARIA and Richard Shrake certified. She holds a number of additional therapeutic certifications as well. Anne has been teaching horses and riders to work harmoniously for over thirty-three years. She has mastered a technique that allows horse and human to understand each other. “If we are going to work with horses, we need to think more like horses.” Her specialty is teaching children and those who are nervous around horses. Anne is a current member in good standing of the following associations:

AQHA, ApHC, POAC, SMR, North American Handicapped Riding Association, American Riding Instructors Association, AQHA Professional Horseman’s Association, Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association, Nebraska Horse Council and Colorado Horse Council. Anne is also an approved 4-H and Open horse show Judge.

 

If you have any questions, please feel free to email Anne.

307-286-7975