Welcome to the lesson program at Seabrook Stables! We do everything we can to make every ride safe, fun and challenging for our students. We welcome riders of all ages and abilities to our team, competitive or not, and we look forward to helping you reach your riding goals.
COVID19 update – unfortunately we are not able to take beginner riders into our lesson program right now. We can’t safely instruct beginners while maintaining a 2 m minimum distance, and our insurance coverage depends on following all the social distancing guidelines. Hope to be able to get back to normal soon and thank you for your patience and understanding!
Lessons are $75 each ($60 with your own or a leased horse) and run for approximately 45 minutes. They may run longer or shorter depending on the day, because we always want to end on a good note.
Riders should arrive at least half an hour early to have time to prepare the horse for riding, and usually take about another half hour after the lesson to clean up and put away the horse. About 2 hours need to be set aside for a lesson!
Small children who are unable to prepare the horse on their own will have the horse ready and waiting for them. They don’t need to arrive early, and their lessons are typically 30 minutes long. They will remain on a lead until their instructor decides they are comfortable without it.
Getting Started
All new students start out with an orientation lesson. This private lesson is an hour long and gives us a chance to get to know you. Beginner riders learn how to safely handle a horse from the ground, and how to properly prepare the horse for riding and care for it afterwards. Experienced riders get a chance to show off their skills so that we can place them in a program that suits their abilities and needs.
Beginner riders start out on a lead line so that the instructor has control of the horse at all times. They progress to a long lead, then graduate to riding independently. Beginners also start by riding in the ring, as it is an enclosed space and therefore easier to control the horse or pony. More confident and experienced riders graduate to riding in a field with jumps in the summer months, and have the option to head out on the trails. Safety is always the top priority, and everyone moves at their own pace.
New students don’t need to purchase a lot of expensive equipment! All they require is a helmet (a properly fitted bike helmet is fine), a pair of comfortable pants and a pair of sturdy boots with a heel.
For more information or to set up a lesson, please email.
Everyone who comes to the barn, even if they aren’t riding, needs to sign a waiver – this is required by our insurance. Please print up and fill out either our Over 18 or Under 18 versions of our waivers. There are also printed copies available at the barn.