Equine
The Art of Horsemanship
Greenacres Equine Center offers a safe place for children, ages eight and eighteen, to learn to ride without the financial pressures of owning a horse. As an official United States Pony Club Riding Center, we strive to produce not only confident riders, but students who have a complete understanding of the horse and horsemanship. The Equine Center also supports learning about horses as livestock within managed grazing systems and partners with local emergency personnel through First Responder Training, preparing responders to safely work around horses in emergency situations.
Waitlist Closed
Due to extremely high-demand our waitlist is currently closed while we move riders off the list. If you have questions, please contact us.
Offerings
Mounted Lessons
Active Students Only
The multi-level lesson program develops students who can ride with a basic balanced position and in an arena or across the natural landscape. Students receive mounted evaluations for each level, as well as a written test on safety rules, general horse and tack knowledge, and horse behavior. Safety for horses and riders is our number one priority, so the time spent at each level may vary from student-to-student.
Unmounted Lessons
Active Students Only
Unmounted classes are classroom based and customized to the needs of participants. Some examples of past classes include, Colors, Markings, and Breeds: Learn about common and unusual colors, breeds and markings. Braiding: Learn how to braid a horse’s mane for a horse show. Parts of the Horse: Learn and be able to identify all of the different parts of a horse. Tack Puzzles: Learn how to properly clean your tack and put it back together correctly.
First Responder Training
Teaching first responders how to deal with fires and other emergencies in the stable. In emergency situations, experience and comfort level with animals can mean the difference between saving the animals or not. This program will acclimate emergency workers to horses by teaching them about a horse’s natural instincts, behavior, and proper handling techniques. Staff solicits emergency workers suggestions on how to make the stables safer and easier to protect.
FAQ
How do the sessions work?
Winter Horse Ownership Camp: Open to Greenacres Pony Club members only.
Spring/Fall Sessions: These sessions are 13 weeks long, that are curriculum based (each lesson plan is designed to build on the lesson before). Payment for these classes is due BEFORE the start of the session.
Summer Camps: Open to the general public. Available to riders between the ages of 5-13 and all levels of riding. To learn more about our summer camp offerings, click here.
How long does it take to graduate from each level?
We do not hurry our riders along here at Greenacres. Each rider will progress through the levels at their own pace. We use Checklist Skill Cards for each rider. These cards are filled out by the instructor on a regular basis as the instructor sees that a rider has MASTERED a specific skill. Once all the skills for the level are mastered on a variety of horses, the rider will be moved to the next level.
When will my rider start jumping?
Riders begin pre-jumping exercises and ground poles in Level Intro 2C. Cross-Rail jumping begins in Level 2C.
When can my rider join Pony Club?
Pony Club here at Greenacres is by invite only to our Level 3B graduate riders. Riders do not have to join Pony Club in order to continue lessons at Greenacres. Pony Club membership is required to participate in off-site shows, clinics, and off-site schoolings.
Can parents watch?
Parents/Guardians are welcome to watch lessons anytime. Visitors are NOT permitted in the stable. There is a designated Viewing Area at the white table in the courtyard for watching the tacking/untacking process. Visitors are welcome to watch from the comfort of the Indoor Classroom or anywhere behind the green wall in the indoor or on the outside of the arena when the doors are open. Viewing areas in the Cross Country course and Jump Field are at the discretion of the instructor teaching the class. Parents/Guardians will be dismissed from viewing classes if they are disruptive to the class or are coaching from the rail.
How can I schedule an equine field trip experience?
We offer field trip experiences that explore horsemanship, horse behavior, and the role of horses in managed grazing and agricultural systems, while also connecting learning to real-world applications in math and problem-solving through horse care and stable management. These hands-on visits take place in a working farm environment and provide students with opportunities to engage in measurement, ratios, geometry, data interpretation, and other practical skills alongside equine stewardship. Request a field trip.