Vision Statement

“Riding a horse is not a gentle hobby, to be picked up and laid down like a game of solitaire. It is a grand passion. It seizes a person whole and once it has done so, he/she will have to accept that his life will be radically changed. ” - Ralph Wald Emerson

Riding School Program

Sanaa Pharayra Stables Riding School offers beginning thru advanced hunt seat (English) riding lessons for adults and children of all ages. Our curriculum is based on the belief that safety should always come first and that strong fundamentals provide the foundation not only for good riding but for building confidence in the student. Beginning riders are typically taught in private sessions until they are ready to ride in semi private or small group sessions. We take the time to make sure the student has gained confidence and competence at the current level before advancing them to the next one. All of our students are taught basic horsemanship skills to insure that they are able to become competent and well rounded equestrian.

Benefits of Learning to Ride

Learning to ride and participating in equestrian sports can provide the participant with some unique benefits, such as:

• Increased muscle tone, flexibility, stamina and eye/hand coordination
• Confidence building and self esteem development
• Learning responsibility thru caring for an animal
• It hones discipline and concentration skills
• Provides the participant with a physical, mental and emotional outlet
• Reinforces goal setting and hard work

What Makes Sanaa Pharayra Stables Riding School different from other riding schools?

The first and most important thing that sets our riding school apart is that we are a small, tightly run, quality based operation. We believe in giving our students as much one on one time with the instructor as possible. The second thing is that we maintain a very high quality of care for our school horses at all times. Because safety is so important to us, each new student is evaluated in a private session before we decide which type of lesson format (private, semi-private, or group) is best for their needs. Because it is appropriate for certain students to be taught in private sessions for extended periods (particularly young children) we do not charge extra for private sessions, once that student has reached a sufficient level of competency in their riding skills we will then move them into either a semi-private or group session.

Riding Lessons are scheduled as follows:

Private Session – 30 minutes (one on one with the instructor)
Semi Private Session – 45 minutes (two riders)
Group Session – 1 hour (3 to 4 riders)

You should plan on arriving 20-30 minutes before your scheduled lesson time and staying 20-30 minutes after your lesson ends so that you allow ample time for grooming and the tacking and un-tacking of your horse.

Lesson Cancellation Policy:

If you need to cancel or reschedule your time slot we require that you give us a minimum of 24 hours notice so that we can give your time slot to another student. If you are not able to provide ample notice to cancel your lesson you will be charged your normal price for your time slot.

Riding School and Pony/Horse Camp Program Information and Pricing:

• • Prices effective January 1, 2011 • •

• Introductory thru Intermediate Level Riding Lessons
Introductory thru intermediate level lessons are taught by one of our riding school instructors in either a 30 minute private session (one on one with the instructor), a 45 minute semi private session (two riders), or a one hour small group session (three to four riders). Lesson cost includes supervision of tack-up and un-tack, as well as grooming and saddling instruction.

$55/lesson
$200/package of 4 lessons ($50 per lesson) Package expires 30 days from purchase.
$360/package of 8 lessons ($45 per lesson) Package expires 60 days from purchase.

• School Horse Lease
Our school horse lease is an excellent way for you to get your feet wet with the experience of having your own horse without the long term financial commitments of actually owning one. Included in the price of this lease are three lessons per week, all taken on your leased horse. You will also have the ability to ride your leased horse in special events at our facility and take them to horse shows outside the barn. The advantage of the School Horse Lease is that the fee charged each month for the lease is all inclusive and you won’t have to worry about any additional costs such as shoeing and veterinary care. When you attend horse shows with your leased horse you won’t have to pay a “day lease” fee for the use of the horse; and best of all you will get to experience the bond that only occurs when you have your own horse!

$650/month

• Advanced Lessons
Advanced lessons are taught by Sanaa in either a 30 minute private session, a 45 minute semi private session, or a one hour small group. Tack-up service is optional for these lessons and it is provided at no additional cost.

$65/lesson
$240/package of 4 lessons ($60 per lesson) Package expires 30 days from purchase.
$440/package of 8 lessons ($55 per lesson) Package expires 60 days from purchase.

• Private Treaty Lease
Privately owned horses are also available for lease within our program. Leases on these horses have different prices and terms depending on the quality of the animal as well as its level of training and the needs of the individual owner.

For private treaty horse availability and pricing contact Sanaa

Pony/Horse Camps

• Week Long Camps

Week long camps run Monday thru Friday from 9am to 4pm on prescheduled weeks throughout the summer as well as winter and spring school breaks.

$400/week - See Pony/Horse Camp page for additional information on camp curriculum as well as available dates.

• Day Camps
Camps can be scheduled throughout the year for a group of 3 or more riders, day camps are even a fun and educational alternative to having a birthday party!

$100/day - See Pony/Horse Camp page for additional information on camp curriculum; contact Sanaa if you’d like to schedule a day camp.

Frequently Asked Questions

1) What about the Instructors?
Our instructors provide attentive, articulate, and positive instruction that is cohesive with the training principles of the Advanced Training and Competition Program of Sanaa Pharayra Stables. All of our instructors are trained in First Aid and CPR, and hold their current first aid cards.

2) What about the School Horses?
Bar none, we have some of the finest school horses in the industry. Our roster of horses includes animals that have been imported from Europe, as well as multiple championship winners. Our school horses receive the same quality of care as the show horses in our Advanced Training and Competition Program, and we wouldn't have it any other way. We feel this is an important principle to teach our students because a sense of compassion and understanding for the horse’s welfare is fundamental in the development of every great rider!

3) What ages of students do you accept into your program?
We do not have age restrictions for either children or adults that ride in our program. Young students will be evaluated to determine that the student is of sufficient size and physical ability to ride safely.

4) What are the different levels I will go thru on my way to becoming an advanced rider?

Introductory - This level encompasses the very basics of riding and horsemanship: proper leading and handling of the horse, basic grooming as well as properly saddling and bridling the animal, correct mounting, rein placement and stirrup placement, principles of position and balance, learning to control and steer the horse at the walk and trot, posting and 2-point position at the walk and trot, and beginning to canter.

Intermediate - At this level riders will continue to refine their abilities at the canter and go on to learn the more complex concepts of steering, including all of the basic “figures” of riding (across the diagonal, circles, half and reverse turns, serpentines, etc…), riders will be introduced to gymnastic exercises over poles (called cavaletti) and when they are ready the will learn how to ride to and properly balance themselves over small jumps.

Advanced - Students that go on to this level will be training in much more detail on the gymnastic principles of jumping as well as strategies for successfully riding a course of jumps in competition. In conjunction the riders will learn the more complex mechanisms of balancing the horse on the flat, including riding a horse “on the bit” as well as lateral and longitudinal suppleness.

5) What about Competitions or Horse Shows?
In Equestrian sports, competitions are called “Horse Shows”. As part of our Riding School Program we will introduce our students to the exciting world of horse showing. Not only is it fun to compete, but showing can be a very useful tool for goal setting to help you along the road to success in you or your child’s riding. Our school horses are available for students to “day lease” to take to local horse shows. For more information on showing costs see Show Services and Fees under our Advanced Training menu.

6) How do I get started, and what equipment and apparel will I need?
Getting started with riding lessons is simple! We provide the school horse and all of the horse’s equipment and tack (saddle, bridle, etc…) that you’ll need for your lessons. All you need to do is contact us to schedule a time for your first evaluation lesson. If you’d like to come out for a free tour of our facility first, you are welcome to set that up with us as well. We will refer you to a “Tack Store” (horse and rider equipment store) near you so that you can purchase the needed apparel to start your riding lessons. We recommend that each new student have the following:

-ASTM/SEI approved Riding Helmet
-Paddock Boots and Half Chaps or Tall Leather Boots
-Riding Gloves
-Riding Breeches (riding pants)

If you’d like to hold off on purchasing the equipment listed above until you take a lesson or two, we do have a few riding helmets that we keep on hand for students to borrow. You will however need to wear long pants and a shoe that goes up over the ankle and has at least a ½” heel (i.e. hiking boots).

7) How often should I take lessons?
Most of our students like to start out with one lesson per week. The more often you take lessons the faster you will progress, so we highly encourage our students to take as many lessons as possible and it is not unusual for serious students to lesson up to three times a week.

8) What happens if I am interested in buying my own horse?

Purchasing a horse can be a considerable investment and is also a big commitment. Finding the right horse is not always easy, and having professional guidance during the scouting and decision making process is one of the best ways of insuring that you find the perfect equine partner. We can assist you with all aspects of the shopping and sales process, for more information on purchasing a horse please contact Sanaa.