Horse Riding

Private Lessons

All new equestrian students (from vaulting graduates to adults) start in private lessons with an experienced instructor and an academy school horse on the lunge line.

VRA encourages private lessons a minimum of twice a week to ensure students develop confidence, strength and equestrian skills.  As students progress they are moved into beginning group lessons at the determination of the instructor. Please contact us to schedule private lessons. 

Responsibilities: 

• Equestrian students must arrive one half hour before each lesson to tack
• one half hour after each lesson to un-tack
• an additional hour of barn chores can be performed before or after the lesson

Private lesson fees:  

• $70/30 minutes
• $80/45 minutes
• $70/60 minute semi-private

Equipment: 

All riders must wear an ASTM/SEI approved riding helmet.  Riding pants, boots, (gloves are recommended).
 

Liability release: 

Parents or guardians of all riders must sign a contract and liability release. ?Private lesson students must give a minimum of 24 hours notice for lesson cancellation.  If a lesson is cancelled with less than 24 hour notice the lesson must be paid in full.

Vaulting Lessons

Equestrian vaulting or simply “vaulting” is most frequently described as gymnastics and dance on horseback.  Brought to the United States more than 35 years ago from Europe, VRA’s non-competitive vaulting lessons are uniquely designed to help a rider develop coordination, balance, strength, and creativity while working in harmony with the horse. 

VRA starts our youngest riders (six to eight years old) in vaulting to lay the groundwork for developing more solid riding skills after they turn nine years old.   Our instructors determine when students are ready for private lessons.

Vaulting lessons are conducted in a very controlled environment—a consistent, large circle—in our fully enclosed arena. The horse is attached to a lunge line that is controlled by one of our experienced instructors.

The horse, instructor and vaulter work as a team, with the instructor controlling the horse who performs at a continuous gait (either walk, trot or canter) depending on the vaulter’s level of experience.

The vaulter performs a series of gymnastics and dance moves on the horse as it navigates the circle.  Trust is also built between the instructor, horse and vaulter. 

Vaulters are responsible for a variety of horse duties after each lesson, depending on age and level.  Duties may include hoof picking, brushing, watering, and walking the horse back to the stall. 

Vaulting lesson fees: 

• $150/month.  Vaulting lessons are one hour and are held on Saturdays.

Equipment: 

Vaulters must wear ASTM/SEI approved riding or bike helmets (allowable for vaulting lessons only).  Riding pants and boots are not necessary for vaulting lessons, long pants and tennis shoes are standard wear. 

Liability release:

Parents or guardians of all vaulters must sign a riding contract and liability release prior to starting lessons. 

Group Lessons

Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced

VRA group lessons are an hour long and are based on ability, not age.  Riders just coming out of private lessons are required to take a minimum of two group lessons per week until an instructor determines otherwise.

Class level placement is determined by our instructors. We encourage all students to spend extra time developing bonds with the horses. Group lesson students are required to groom and tack horses, as well as help with barn chores.

Responsibilities: 

• students must arrive one half hour before each lesson to tack
• one half hour after each lesson to un-tack
• an additional hour of barn chores can be performed before or after the lesson

Group lesson fees:  

• $300/month (1 lesson/week)
• $475/month (2 lessons/week)
• $700/month (3 lessons/week)
• $80/single group lesson