Mystic Meadows Lesson Program

Summer camp and lesson space available!

Warmer weather is finally here and Summers coming!

Summer camps dates and packages available 🐎

Hello all!

We are a family run facility with many horse friendly options….

4-6 yo leadline classes

Recreational and Competitive programs.

Leasing, boarding if wanting to ride more or potentially own.

Summer camps

Day camps

Drop in lessons( pre booked/prepraid with 7 days notice)

Semesterly/Year Round Lessons

Ages 7+ for regular lessons.

Adult only classes- all welcome!

No experience necessary. We have beginner and intermediate horse and pony options.

Why us?

🐎Quality instructors and coaches- various certifications, insured, and background checks. It costs to run a proper riding school.

🐎 Safety and good horsemanship are paramount! Fun and riding come next. Horses first facilities always!

🐎 Fantastic schoolies- size appropriate for kiddos to be on wonderful ponies. Weight limit for adults is 200 lbs due to following the 10% rule for the horses well being.

🐎 Community facility! Everyone’s here for the love of the animals.

🐎 Properly cared for schoolhorses- which means they receive proper rest, fitted and safe equipment, vet care, bodywork, appropriately fed for their workload, and all handlers/riders must learn proper education and horsemanship to ride here.

We do require properly fitted helmets (Riding, ASTM) and boots with 1” heel as well. This is an insurance requirement!

Check us out ☺️

CR Horsemanship - Training & Lessons

Crhorsemanship.com

Let them 🙌🏼

We say we want capable adults. We have employers saying they want young people who:
• Can think critically
• Do not need constant direction
• Have work ethic
• Take initiative
• Go beyond the bare minimum

But those traits do not magically appear at 22. They are built at 7.

You do not raise a self-starter by solving every problem for them.
You do not build work ethic by removing discomfort.
You do not create critical thinkers by giving constant instructions.

You build those skills when they are small.

When they have to figure out the halter clasp.
When they are expected to clean the stall completely, not halfway.
When they notice the water bucket is low and fill it without being told.
When they try again instead of handing you the lead rope.

Capable adults are not created by accident. They are raised.

If we want confident, marketable, driven young adults one day, we have to start now. In small moments. In ordinary tasks. In places like a barn.

We are not just teaching riding. We are teaching initiative. We are teaching problem solving. We are teaching pride in doing something well.

That is not harsh. That is empowering.

And we are proud to be a part of it. Cause I'm not sure there's an easier place to learn these skills than the barn.

Fortunate to have many green flag students 🙌🏼

Green Flags: Signs You've Got a GREAT Student

Let's talk about the students who make this job absolutely worth it.
The ones who show up ready to work. The ones who listen, try hard, and genuinely make you love teaching. The ones who remind you why you became an instructor in the first place.

These students deserve celebration so let's name the GREEN FLAGS - the signs you've got a keeper because when we highlight what makes great students GREAT, maybe more riders will aspire to be exactly that.

Here are the qualities that make instructors grateful to teach you:

🟢 GREEN FLAG: THEY SHOW UP ON TIME (AND READY)
Not 15 minutes late with excuses. Not unprepared and scrambling. They arrive on time, boots on, ready to work.

Why this matters:
- Respects your time and other students' time
- Shows they value the lesson
- Allows full use of lesson time for actual teaching
- Sets the tone that this is important to them
Bonus points if: They text ahead when they're genuinely running late (with actual notice, not "I'm 5 min away" when lesson started 10 min ago).

🟢 GREEN FLAG: THEY ACTUALLY LISTEN TO INSTRUCTION
Not nodding while clearly zoning out. Not arguing about why they don't need to do it that way. Not interrupting with "but at my old barn we did it like this..." They listen, process, and then try what you asked.

Why this matters:
- Shows respect for your expertise
- Allows actual progress instead of wasting time debating
- Creates a productive learning environment
- Demonstrates coachability
Bonus points if: They ask clarifying questions to make sure they understand correctly.

🟢 GREEN FLAG: THEY TRY THINGS EVEN WHEN SCARED
Not refusing challenges and not making excuses to avoid hard things. They feel the fear and do it anyway, with your support.

Why this matters:
- Growth happens outside comfort zones
- Shows trust in you as their instructor
- Demonstrates genuine commitment to improving
- Inspires other students watching them be brave
Bonus points if: They tell you they're nervous instead of hiding it, allowing you to support them properly.

🟢 GREEN FLAG: THEY TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR MISTAKES
Not blaming the horse every time and not making excuses for why it's never their fault.

Why this matters:
- Self-awareness is required for improvement
- Shows maturity and accountability
- Makes coaching so much easier
- Creates a growth mindset instead of victim mentality
Bonus points if: They ask "what should I do differently next time?"

🟢 GREEN FLAG: THEY DO THE WORK BETWEEN LESSONS
Not showing up week after week with the exact same issues and not expecting you to fix everything in 45 minutes once a week. They practice what you taught (whether on their own horse, journaling their lesson experience, or reading books on the subject). They stretch and work on fitness. They think about riding between lessons.

Why this matters:
- Shows they're invested in their own progress
- Respects that YOU can't do the work for them
- Actually makes measurable progress
- Demonstrates dedication beyond just showing up
Bonus points if: They tell you what they worked on at home and ask for feedback.

🟢 GREEN FLAG: THEY'RE GRATEFUL
Not entitled and not taking your time, expertise, and horses for granted. A simple "thank you" at the end of lessons. Recognition that you're investing in them.

Why this matters:
- Teaching is HARD work and the appreciation fuels us
- Shows they value what you provide
- Creates positive energy in your program
- Models good character for other students
Bonus points if: They occasionally bring you coffee, write a genuine thank-you note, or leave a great review.

🟢 GREEN FLAG: THEY RESPECT THE HORSES
Not treating horses like equipment and not getting frustrated and rough when things don't go their way. They groom thoroughly and scratch the horse to thank them after rides. They care about the horse's wellbeing.

Why this matters:
- Horses aren't machines and they deserve respect
- Shows character and empathy
- Creates better partnerships
- Keeps your lesson horses willing and happy
Bonus points if: They notice when a horse seems off and alert you to it.

🟢 GREEN FLAG: THEY HELP WITHOUT BEING ASKED
Not waiting to be told to put their horse away, not leaving grooming supplies scattered everywhere, and not walking past trash on the ground. They clean up after themselves, help catch horses, and offer to help other students.

Why this matters:
- Shows they see the barn as a community, not a service
- Lightens your workload
- Sets an example for other students
- Demonstrates barn rat potential (the GOOD kind!)
Bonus points if: They stay after to help with barn chores just because they want to be around horses.

🟢 GREEN FLAG: THEY COMMUNICATE CLEARLY
Not ghosting when they need to cancel and not having their parent text you 5 minutes before the lesson. Not assuming you'll just "figure out" their schedule. They (or their parent) communicate changes promptly, follow your cancellation policy, and respond to your messages.

Why this matters:
- Respects your time and business
- Allows you to fill the slot or adjust your day
- Creates a professional relationship
- Reduces stress and frustration
Bonus points if: They give you advance notice of upcoming schedule changes (vacations, school conflicts, etc.).

🟢 GREEN FLAG: THEY SUPPORT OTHER STUDENTS
Not competing or tearing others down, not complaining about who got which horse and not creating drama in the barn. They cheer for other riders, offer encouragement and celebrate others' wins.

Why this matters:
- Creates positive barn culture
- Makes YOUR job easier (less drama management!)
- Shows emotional maturity
- Makes lessons more enjoyable for everyone
Bonus points if: They mentor newer students without being asked.

🟢 GREEN FLAG: THEY HAVE REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS
Not expecting to jump after two lessons, not comparing themselves to Olympic riders, and not demanding constant advancement without putting in the work. They understand riding takes TIME. Progress isn't linear and plateaus are normal.

Why this matters:
- Reduces pressure on you to push them faster than safe
- Creates sustainable, healthy progression
- Prevents burnout and frustration
- Shows maturity and patience
Bonus points if: They trust your judgment on when they're ready to move up.

🟢 GREEN FLAG: THEIR PARENTS ARE SUPPORTIVE (Not Hovering)
Not helicopter parents arguing with every assessment, not undermining your teaching, and not using lessons as free childcare.
Parents who trust you, respect boundaries, and support their kid's learning without interfering.

Why this matters:
- Allows you to actually TEACH
- Creates healthy student-instructor relationship
- Reduces stress and conflict
- Shows the family values your expertise
Bonus points if: Parents ask how THEY can support their child's progress at home.

🟢 GREEN FLAG: THEY CELEBRATE SMALL WINS
Not only caring about ribbons and big achievements and not dismissing progress as "not good enough." They get excited about posting correctly, staying balanced through a turn, or finally getting that diagonal.

Why this matters:
- Shows they value the PROCESS, not just outcomes
- Makes teaching joyful
- Creates positive momentum
- Demonstrates healthy goal perspective
Bonus points if: They remember to celebrate YOUR wins too (your horse doing well, your birthday, etc.).

🟢 GREEN FLAG: THEY'RE CONSISTENT
Not flaky about showing up and not disappearing for months then expecting to pick up where they left off. They commit to a schedule and stick to it (barring genuine emergencies).

Why this matters:
- Consistency creates real progress
- Allows you to plan your schedule and income
- Shows they're serious about riding
- Builds actual skills instead of constantly restarting
Bonus points if: They prioritize lessons even when life gets busy because riding matters to them.

🟢 GREEN FLAG: THEY'RE COACHABLE
Not defensive when corrected, not "yes-butting" every suggestion.
They receive feedback as HELP, not criticism. They try corrections immediately.

Why this matters:
- Coachability is THE #1 predictor of success
- Makes teaching effective instead of exhausting
- Creates trust in the instructor-student relationship
- Shows humility and growth mindset
Bonus points if: They THANK you for corrections and feedback.

THE ULTIMATE GREEN FLAG COMBINATION IS A STUDENT WHO:
✅ Shows up on time, ready to work
✅ Listens and tries what you teach
✅ Takes responsibility for mistakes
✅ Respects horses and other students
✅ Communicates clearly
✅ Has realistic expectations
✅ Is grateful for instruction
That's a unicorn student and if you have even ONE, you're lucky.

TO THESE STUDENTS:
- You make this job worth it.
- You remind us why we became instructors.
- You make us BETTER teachers because teaching you is actually rewarding.
- You're the ones we think about when we're considering quitting on hard days because students like you are why we stay.
- Thank you for being coachable, grateful, hardworking, and kind.
You are appreciated more than you know.

TO INSTRUCTORS:
Take a moment right now and think of your green-flag students.
Text them and tell them you appreciate them. Let them know they make your job better. We're quick to complain about difficult students. Let's be equally quick to celebrate the great ones.

Instructors: What green flags did I miss? What makes YOUR favorite students stand out? Let's celebrate the riders who make teaching a joy!

An open letter to riding school riders and parents.

We know that the vast majority of riders and parents of riders have a deep respect for horses and care for their wellbeing.

We also understand that paying for riding lessons is a considerable expense, especially when compared to some other activities which don’t involve partnering with a 1/2 tonne of sensitive prey animal.

We also understand that riders and parents want to feel that their time and money is resulting in tangible ’progress’. We desperately want that too. One of the biggest welfare ‘wins’ for our horses is to get riders as quickly as possible to the point where they can move with the horse in balance whilst giving clear, light cues (signals to the horse sometimes referred to as aids). The reality is that, whilst riders are still in the ‘messy middle’ of developing balance, body awareness and understanding, the experience for the horse can be mentally and physically challenging. Add in the additional challenge of carrying multiple riders per week who are all at different stages and applying cues differently and it becomes very easy for horses to have a negative experience of being ridden. We know that you don’t want this and neither do we!

The reality is that getting to the stage where riders can ride independently, with understanding and softness takes a significant amount of time for the vast majority. Riding is:
A sport (the physicality of balance and suppleness)
A science (understanding how horses learn and the biomechanics of horse and rider)
An art (uniting in harmony with the horse to create beautiful movement)
A responsibility (ensuring that the horse’s experience of being ridden comes ahead of the rider’s experience of riding)
A commitment (riding is a lifelong learning journey which has no end point)

Our coaches are balancing the sometimes conflicting needs of ensuring lessons are safe for riders, avoiding as much discomfort for horses as possible AND making lessons fun, challenging and tailored to individual needs. Safety and horse comfort HAVE to be the number 1 priority (an uncomfortable horse is an unsafe horse).

You can accelerate progress between lessons by:
Learning anything and everything you can about horses. The more you understand them the better partner you will be.
Spend time preparing your body for riding. Yoga is brilliant for developing balance, suppleness and body awareness.
Utilise mechanical horse lessons. They are the ideal way to develop correct movement patterns in a welfare positive way.

In those lessons where you may feel not much progress is being made, consider this: the rider is learning to respect the needs of their partner and put their needs first. They are learning patience. They are learning kindness. They are learning to be a trusted partner and friend. Surely that’s worth investing in?

Christmas packages! 5% off if prepaid and booked before Christmas!

8-16 weeks at a time on schoolies, for group or semi private.

Privates book 4-8 weeks at a time- consecutive pricing or flex plan.

Groundwork/horseplay lessons, sold in packages of 6. For people who cannot/do not want to ride, but love horses, learning and if able, exercise.

How old does my kid need to be before they can start riding?

I get this question A LOT.

It’s a hard question to answer because it really depends on the child.

If you are wanting a situation where your toddler will simply get used to the idea of being around horses, petting, grooming and some assisted riding, then we can do as young as 3. Children need to be able follow simple instructions and act promptly when asked. Those are really the biggest requirements. Lessons are shortened and focus primarily on motor skills and learning through simple games. Riding at this age does come with significantly more risk. Children’s spinal cords don’t fully develop until around age 5 so a simple fall from the height of a horse could seriously injure a toddler.

To start real riding lessons, a student needs able to have the balance, strength, and coordination to execute the motions being described. This usually comes about the same time they are able to ride a bike, unassisted and without training wheels.

Another part of this is your specific child’s attention span. Can they focus on one single task for an hour? Do they lose interest in things in 20/30 minutes?

Finally, do they have an actual interest in horses? If they do, it is much easier for the instructor to keep them engaged.

So no, we don’t have a set age to start lessons. Children at young ages mature as such different rates that it’s hard to have a set age. Instead we follow these simple guidelines to help evaluate if your kiddo is ready to start riding.

We have the following times opening up! Nov 1 to 2nd week December

Christmas packages available now!

Group beginner or intermediate:

Tuesdays X 1 @6

Tuesdays X 1 @7

Adult riders welcomed!

Saturdays 10 am- ages 7-12, 2 more spaces

9 am- 3 spaces or make a semi private with a friend!

Privates- varied Saturday options.

Competitive team- 2 horses available for lease at the moment. 3 beginner ponies. 12hh-14.1hh.

Adult groups- 9 am or 12:30 Sundays

780 819 0975

The art of accepting “no”

My job as a teacher is to ensure the rider’s safety as a number one goal. The horse’s wellbeing is another very strong goal. And so when I work with people, these in my mind will always come above the rider’s fun, immediate wants, and sometimes even feelings.

It is never my intent to hurt anyone’s feelings or to make anyone feel bad. But an unfortunate side effect of keeping the rider and horse both safe and well is that feelings can and do come up.

In today’s world especially of immediate gratification, quick loss of interest and flipping between programs, many people can become disheartened or hurt when their desires or goals are shot down, because we lack so greatly a big picture goal. We don’t usually see training start to finish, and I rarely meet people who have been studying the same program and progressing for any real length of time: people bounce around enough that it is normal.

Dealing with plateaus, lack of progress or regression, and shut down of immediate desires becomes very hard to deal with.

In no way do I think riders should deal with teachers who never let them progress, or only tell them no - but in order to become a decent rider, a student has to develop the skill of hearing and accepting some degree of “no.” A teacher with a good education and strong principles will preserve the rider even in spite of themsleves.

I think it’s always great to ask why you got the no, to get an explanation and a plan for what it requires to get to a yes. But if you can’t handle hearing no, you aren’t going to make it far with a horse.