Horseback Riding Lessons

Lantern Lane Farm provides horseback riding lessons for people who want to learn to ride and horse training for horses who need an education. The philosophy of the farm is to teach people to learn to ride in the safest possible manner while introducing them to the different disciplines.

Balance seat riding (English or Western) is used to teach people who are new to riding. The rider learns to balance their body so that they are not hindering the balance of the horse. Riders start out on a lunge line (a 25 foot webbed line) which is attached to the horse for security measures. The instructor holds the lunge line while teaching the student the basics of learning to ride. Some portion of the lesson is spent off the lunge line, learning to steer. Steering and learning to balance are the two key components to being able to control the horse. When the student can control the horse in the arena without the help of the instructor, then they can ride with other riders and move on to dressage, jumping or a combination of both.

Western riders wishing to compete in shows or learn skills that will allow them to do cutting, reining or team penning, will move on to higher skills when ready.

Riders wishing to learn to jump will start riding over poles and cavalettis as soon as they are able to keep their balance in two point position and go back to rising trot without loosing their balance or the rhythm of the trot. A course of riding trot and canter poles will be followed by learning to ride over cross rails and then to small verticals. Once the student has learned to ride the individual fences, the instructor will put them together and teach them how to ride the jumping course. Huntseat courses will increase in difficulty as the students skills improve.

Dressage lessons will teach riders how to balance and supple the horse so he is more rideable. Riders can concentrate on the art of Dressage, Dressage Cross Country and competition Dressage. Riders wanting to take Dressage lessons will be able to start when they can:

• Steer the horse in basic changes in direction
• Sit the trot and keep their horse moving
• Canter the horse on the lunge line and around the arena

Once the rider has learned the control basics (training level), they can begin to learn the first level movements. Each movement is explained until the riders understand why you ride the movement, what the movement is, how do you ride the movement (aids), what if it doesn't work out right. Each movement will be practiced until it is confirmed in the riders mind and body.

After the first level has been learned successfully, the riders can begin to learn the second level. The same format will be followed. Dressage riders can learn how to take their movements out of the arena riding their horses cross country. We call this dressage cross country.

Horses get stronger behind and through their back when they work on the hills the Virginia countryside has to offer. The principal that riders learn while going cross-country is to keep the horse connected from the back to the front while still demanding athletic movements. Riders have fun and get more comfortable with their horses.

Once riders can work the horses cross country, they can go to schooling shows if they wish. All throughout the course of learning each level, riders will be learning to link movements together in order to ride a test. The Dressage test is designed to test the skills of the rider and the training of the horse. Showing is an option not a requirement.

The western riding program is wrangled by Anne Fulcher. Anne has worked with western horses for many years and developed a high point Paint horse champion in 2004.

Riders wanting to ride western will learn balanced seat western riding in the beginning. When the student can handle the horse at the walk, jog and lope, the instructor will take them out and teach them how to trail ride.

More advanced skills can be learned also. Riders wishing to learn cutting, reining and team penning will need to further their turning skills with their seat and legs. It is our hope to be able to offer team penning in the near future.

Lantern Lane Farm accepts horses in training from the earliest level of breaking the horse to the saddle to more advanced work. Our training philosophy is to take a sympathetic approach to the horse and teach him the basics of training that allow him to be ridden forward, turn and stopped with light aids from the rider. Keeping the young horse in balance is the key to being able to use the lighter aids. Emphasis is on balancing the horse so that the owner can accomplish these basics without harsh aids. Working with the horse from the ground to instill trust in people plus respect and manners is also part of this phase of training.

Horses also come into training that already have their basic training and are ready to move on. The training program progresses into getting more connected from the back to the front improving the process of getting the horse on the aids. This is accomplished while teaching the many different circle exercises, serpentines, more advanced changes of direction, leg-yield and canter exercises. The horse is schooled outside of the arena, through water, over bridges, poles and cavaletti and small jumps, if jumping is part of his program.

When horses have accomplished the level of training previously mentioned, then they are ready for learning the lateral movements and/or jumping bigger fences and courses. Horses progressing from first to second level will be taught collection, shoulder-in, traverse, and simple changes of lead, as well as counter canter. Jumping horses will learn to balance in tighter turns, collect their strides or extend their strides on the way to the jumps, jump bigger fences, and do cross-country jumping as well.

Horses in training are fed twice daily and given hay according to their weight and need. Horses are turned out four to eight hours per day except in really bad weather.

Owners of horses in training are taught how to ride their horses as they are trained. Owners are encouraged to watch training sessions whenever possible. If owners need to improve their riding skills in order to ride their own horses, riding instruction is available on schooled horses.

Overall, it is our goal at Lantern Lane Farm to bring horses and their owners closer together through the process of improving the horse's rideablity and the owners riding skill.

1. Select a subject that Interests you.

2. Print and fill out the forms below:

Enrollment Form (PDF format)
Release of Liability Form (PDF format)

Then mail it to us at:

Lantern Lane Farm, Inc.
16 Lantern Lane
Viewtown, VA 22746

or e-mail us directly: Info@LanternLaneFarm.com

Or call us at 1-800-360-3831 and enroll by phone.