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Building Confidence Within Yourself While Learning Riding Skills
Lessons
Riding is secondary to teaching our students about the care & handling of the horses in the safest way possible. We base our program on natural horsemanship and use techniques from many natural & classical horsemen, past and present, that we’ve studied for over 35 years.
We tailor our program to people’s individual style of learning.
(Some learn by watching, others by doing, some by reading, etc.)
At our farm we have a way of teaching that incorporates these styles into
easy-to-remember riding & ground handling simulations.
Learning how all aspects of your body's balance affect the horse's movement & attitude is the key to successful riding. This is how we teach the mechanics of riding BEFORE getting on a horse's back. Our program is unique as we use methods from Centered Riding(TM) for body balance, rhythm, & responsiveness while
Natural Horsemanship Training (Parelli, Anderson, Hunt & others) helps with
ground handling skills to give people an overall understanding of the basics of why horses do what they do, insights into how they are motivated to be with
humans, and simple ways to keep safe while being with these lovely creatures.
IN ALL SESSIONS: For your safety you MUST wear boots with a heel, long pants, and an ASTM/SEI approved helmet. Helmets are provided by LPF
Adults are encouraged, but not required, to wear ASTM approved helmets.
All sessions are 1 hour in length.
Minimum age requirement is 4 years old.
All Single Lessons & Lesson Packages are good for 30 days from day of purchase unless otherwise noted.
Riding and Ground Work Lessons
English - Western - Gaited
| Private (Beginner) | $50 |
| Beginner lessons will cover all aspects of grooming & tacking as well as riding. |
| Private (Intermediate) | $50 |
| Private (Advanced) | $50 |
The definition of an intermediate and advanced rider is that they are capable of grooming and tacking the horse without assistance.
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For intermediate and advanced students only:
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| Semi-Private (2 students) | $40 each |
| Group (3 or more students) | $35 each
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| Lessons (your home, your horse) | $70 each horse/rider |
(Travel fee within 50 miles included in price.)
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| Lesson Package (4 Private Lessons) | $160 |
Save $40 off regular prices when you purchase a lesson package!
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Accelerated Lessons
2 hour intense riding & horse handling session designed for children and/or adults with busy schedules that do not allow them to ride as often as they would like to. These lessons are designed for the student who wants to accelerate their learning with extra instruction & practice time, or to get a better idea of what is involved in our horse leasing program, or they can be a great way to explore the idea of horse ownership altogether. Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced Riders are WELCOME!!
2 hour private sessions~ $85
$155 for 2 people (semi-private)
You may exchange 3 lessons from a previously purchased lesson package for 1 Accelerated lesson.
Save $20 when you purchase 2 accelerated lessons.
Must be used within 30 days of purchase.
Please call or email to schedule your block of time.
Please call or email to schedule your block of time.
NEW - Learning Lease Program Please Click Here!
LPF Lesson Progression for Riding & Horsemanship
Beginner – Intermediate – Advanced Levels
NOTE: This is our personal lesson plan here at LPF. We consider theses skills (through intermediate level) to be essential for safety around horses as well as required knowledge for basic riding.
BEGINNER
* Tie a rope halter knot
* Lead the horse with confidence
* Keep horse from invading your “hula-hoop” of personal space
* Lead the horse in and out of gates
* Properly tie lead rope for grooming
* How to walk around horse safely while grooming and tacking
* Proper & efficient grooming techniques (tools & order of use)
* Be able to touch horse all over with hands
* How to pick the horse’s feet up
* Know what the horse’s mood is by reading his body language
(Happy, curious, nervous, obnoxious, bored, cranky, etc.)
* Be able to keep your horse at a safe distance from other horses
* Parts of the horse’s tack
* How to saddle the horse
* Proper girth tension before mounting
* Setting correct stirrup length
* Mounting from both sides of the horse from mounting block/bench
* Understand about “energy up & down” to change speed/gaits. (stop to walk to trot to walk to stop only)
* Steering Progression Cues at the walk & trot- (1) look with both eyes, (2) hand softly directs rein in direction of eyes while (3)opposite leg helps “push” horse in the desired direction.
* Adding other body, vocal, & rhythm cues to motivate a reluctant horse.
* Stopping & backing horse 4 steps (‘hot potato’ rein release)
* Emergency stop (disengaging the hind quarters)
* Emergency dismount (vault off & push away)
* Introduction to ground games 1-7 (Parelli method) for warm up communication between partners before riding
Bonus Moments! (promotes confidence)
Learn how to:
* Safely give horses treats
When the beginner level is passed, the student is welcome to start leaving the arena on guided trail rides at the farm!!
INTERMEDIATE
More proficiency at all the beginner skills PLUS:
* Mount & dismount from fence & other obstacles (w/saddle)
* learn sitting & posting trot
* trot & steer around objects smoothly
* able to trot straight lines and large round circles
* learn 2-point / half-seat (for up-hills on the trail or small jumps in the arena)
* trot without stirrups
* Start the Canter (on the lunge line progressing to a large circle by yourself off-line)
These skills promote better balance & rhythm and are added to the program at this time to accelerate progress:
* Ground games 1-7 with a focus on 5 & 6 for ‘pick up’ rider skill
* Mount & dismount from fence & other obstacles using ‘pick up’ rider technique (w/bareback pad)
* ride bareback at the walk, halt, circles & serpentines
* ride ‘short bursts’ at the trot bareback (15 steps or less with bareback pad)
Bonus Moments! (promotes bonding)
Learn how to:
* graze horse on lead line
* mix horse’s grain and give it to them after the riding session
When the Intermediate Level is passed, the student is allowed to trail ride off of the property with LPF during their day & overnight rides.
ADVANCED
VERY proficient at the walk, trot, canter in the arena. Able to traverse easily around and over small obstacles. Understands Parelli method Ground work and fluent in games 1-7 on a 12 ft line & some games on a 22 ft. line for warm up communication.
This level is working on the following:
* Leg yields at the trot (posting & sitting)
* Know canter leads
* Know the correct diagonal when riding posting trot
* Learn Counter Canter
* Change canter leads through the trot (bow tie exercise)
* Flying lead change exercise (canter circle to halt in center, leg yield in opposite direction , lift to ask for new lead)
* Extend the trot through the diagonals
* Learn more collection in horse at all gaits
* Jump 2 consecutive jumps not over 18” (trot in- canter out)
* Trot around the arena in 2-point / half-seat
* Canter the arena in half-seat
* More proficiency in body control & arena etiquette to be able to start competing in shows & competitions
Liberty Prairie Farm
Mary and Kevin Price
7003 State Rt. 140
Edwardsville, IL 62025
Barn/Cell: (618) 781-1468
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