Hello there! We are very excited to have you come learn about horses with us at Rising Oaks Horsemanship! The horses can’t wait to meet you (especially if you have snacks for them), but first, the humans in charge have a few things you need to know…

 

What should you wear?

• Closed toed shoes with a strong heel (Cowboy boots would be the best choice)

• Long comfortable pants that do not restrict movement (Blue jeans are ideal but leggings also work)

• Comfortable shirt and other weather appropriate clothing

• A hair tie (If you have long hair)

What should you expect when you arrive?

• When you pull in and cross the creek, you will see parking to the right, just before the arena. If parking there is full, pull around the back and you may park by the barn.

• Upon arrival, let the instructor know you have parked, and they will be with you shortly. While waiting, you are welcome to exit your car and sit near the arena. There will be lawn chairs, a swing, and playground steps all acceptable to sit on. If you have children, they may play on the playground, but please do not permit them to wander into the arena or round pen unless otherwise instructed.

• When the instructor is available to get you started, you will first need to sign a liability waiver. If you are the parent of a minor who is riding, you must sign for them.

• After the waiver is signed, the instructor will go over a few barn safety rules. Please make sure you and/or your child is paying attention when these are discussed.

• Lastly before riding, all minors are required to wear a helmet. Rising Oaks can provide helmets, but they are not guaranteed to fit, and therefore it is strongly recommended that you purchase your child their own riding helmet for the best fit and protection.

 

What will you learn at your first lesson?

• How to properly mount and dismount a horse

• How to ask the horse to move forward, steer, and stop

• Problem solving strategies to navigate the horse through obstacles

• How to use your body’s muscles properly to maintain good balance and form

• Intro to jogging (trotting) the horse

• And much more!

While everyone’s first lesson will look slightly different, depending on previous experience, mental and physical ability, and goals, this is a general idea of what to expect. As you or your child learns and grows in their skills, we will increasingly introduce more to learn and practice.

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Can you bring the horses a treat?

    Yes, totally, but make sure it is one of the following. Horses can be allergic to some human foods, or just picky eaters. Here are some horse-safe snacks we know they’ll love:

• Watermelon rinds

• Apples

• Carrots

• Oatmeal cookies

• Horse treats from any feed store like Murdoch’s or Tractor Supply

 

Other

• Please note that there are no restrooms available on site. We ask that you ensure all members of your group have used the restroom recently so that they will not need to do so during your time here. Thank you.

• Please review our barn safety rules below. If you are bringing a child to the barn, please go over the safety rules with your child at home, prior to coming to our barn, to best ensure understanding of our safety protocols. 

 

 

Thank you for choosing Rising Oaks! We look forward to seeing you soon!