Creekview Stables has lessons for people of all ages, riding levels and abilities on our friendly horses. No two horses are the same just like no two people are the same. We believe that learning about horses should be safe, educational and fun. Our lessons are tailored to each rider’s individual needs and we try hard to match each rider with the most appropriate horse for their skill level. In addition to regular riding lessons we specialize in shy/fearful/anxious riders, junior beginners and plus sized riders. Instruction is provided in the barn, clubhouse or in our arena. Children must be 3 or older to join the lesson program. Children under 13 must be supervised by a parent or guardian at all times and minors who are not participating in lessons may not be left unattended.
Watch and Learn – free for prospective students and visitors, by appointment only. You can see the stable, meet the horses and if we have one available you can watch a lesson.
Lesson Program
Pay As You Go – come out and ride without the commitment of paying for a lot of lessons up front.
Packages – buy lessons in bulk for a discount, they don’t expire so you can use them whenever you want.
Specialized Lesson Groups
We take pride in creating a personalized lesson program for these special groups or riders. There’s no reason to feel out of place, afraid, or embarrassed about your riding skill level or the personal challenges you’re trying to overcome and goals you’d like to reach.
Shy, Anxious or Fearful Riders
Are you shy, anxious or fearful? Our lessons are perfect for anyone who feel like they have the weight of the world on their shoulders or seem to struggle with some of the basic challenges of stress in everyday life. Horses are a wonderful therapeutic outlet to help people of all ages find their way, become more assertive, and break out of their shell. Our lessons focus on horsemanship, horse care and group activities in order to teach responsibility, enhance communication skills and encourage riders to face and overcome their fears and become more confident in themselves and their abilities.
Our lessons are designed to include about 15 minutes for preparing the horse and 45 minutes of riding during a 1 hour lesson. However, learning to groom, tack, and care for the horse is an important part of the process, and the time spent on preparation can vary. New riders often need more time to get their horse ready, which may mean less time riding initially. It’s common for beginners to ride for about 20 minutes or less during their first lesson, but most riders become quicker at preparation after just a few sessions. Riders can have up to 2 hour lessons.
What to expect
Students arrive at the barn on time, check their horse assignments, and groom and tack up. Once ready, they head to the arena. Beginners wait for the instructor before mounting, intermediates mount and walk their horses to warm up, and advanced riders also incorporate trotting. The instructor begins the lesson with an exercise, transitions to the main lesson, and concludes with a cool-down. Lessons are tailored to each rider's needs, with feedback and adjustments throughout. Afterward, students return to the barn to untack, bathe the horse if needed, clean up, store their tack, offer the horse a treat, and grab a drink before leaving
Our program offers comprehensive instruction for all riding levels, covering safety, grooming, horse care, equipment parts, anatomy, gaits, movements, nutrition, stable management, training scale concepts, Western riding, English riding, rodeo events, showing events, and more.
Attire
Helmets are required while mounted, and we can provide one if needed. Bike helmets or other sports helmets are not allowed, as they do not offer sufficient protection in case of a fall. Mid to long-sleeved shirts or polo shirts that fit well are ideal, and spaghetti straps are discouraged. Footwear must be closed-toe, with a narrow toe and a heel no higher than 1 inch. Riding pants, or tights that fully cover the legs, or jeans are suitable, depending on your riding discipline. Half chaps, full chaps, and boots are optional but acceptable and encouraged. Steel toed boots are discouraged. Remove all jewelry and wear non-restrictive clothing you don’t mind getting dirty. In colder weather, gloves and a sweater, vest, or hooded jacket are recommended.
Lessons are canceled if the weather makes travel unsafe or if temperatures fall below °F or rise above 100°F. If the arena or round pen footing is unsafe, students will participate in alternative educational activities in the barn. Typically, we email the night before for severe weather cancellations or call at least an hour before the lesson for unexpected weather issues.
If you need to cancel or miss a lesson, please provide at least 24 hours' notice, or as much notice as possible, so we can offer the spot to someone else. Riders who frequently cancel or miss lessons without 24 hours' notice may lose the option to reschedule.