Our groups are small, two to four students, so we can offer individual
attention to each rider.
Whether your interest in riding is for recreation, or you would like to compete
in horse shows, we have a program for you. Everyone is welcome to sign up for
our public lessons. We can start your child riding at the age of six and
mature children (adults) of any age are also welcome. Perhaps our largest
interest group is 8 to15 year olds. Some of the benefits this sport provide
this age group include, discipline, time management, responsibility and
compassion, all while fostering self esteem.
Many of our show riders started in our public lesson program. Sandi, and Eve take
great pride in finding their riders compatible horses when the time comes for them
to purchase a horse of their own.
Gift Certificates - Please contact us, by telephone, to purchase gift certificates
for riding lessons at Windsong Stable. Pre-payment is necessary. Certificates can
be made for any denomination or for group or private lessons. Phone 269-979-4621.
Hey kids, meet another Windsong school horse. "Dandy" is our number one teacher.
If you learn to ride at Windsong, you will
most likely ride Dandy for your first few lessons.
Do you know how many inches are in a hand? (answer: 4 inches).
Do you know where to measure a horse? (answer: From the ground to the top of
the horses withers) Do you know where the horses withers are? (answer: At the end
of his mane, the opposite end from his ears.) The front of your saddle (the pommel)
would sit just behind your horses withers and you want to check that your saddle sits
up high enough in the front so it doesn't rub on your horses withers.
stresses safety, while
learning to be an all around horse person. Our students learn everything
from grooming to tacking to riding on our lesson horses... "Dandy",
"Bru", "Elmo", "Ripple", and "Milo".
All of these horses are available to our students to ride in horse shows also. We
offer private and group lessons.
Private 1 hour lessons
$50
Group 1 hour lessons
$35
Hey Kids meet "Brewster". He is one of the favorites of all our riders. He is an aged
(over ten years old) chestnut gelding. Because he has a lot of different breeds in him,
we refer to him as a "grade" horse. This is similar to a mutt when describing a breed
of dog. Brewster is easy enough for beginners to ride, and talented enough to take our
students to horse shows. He has his own version of a flying
lead change. Most judges don't mark him down for his unique style at the beginner rider
level. A flying lead change is when, during the moment of suspension between two canter
strides, the horse changes from one lead to the other lead without breaking stride.
There is no trot step involved. Sometimes you will hear a trainer or rider say that the
horse was "late behind" with his change. This means that the horse changed his lead with
his front legs and then two or more strides later changed his lead with his hind legs.
Still, none of this is done with a trot step. When a lead is changed by trotting, or even
walking, this is called a simple change.
Dandy is a brown quarter horse, whose
favorite treats are apples. He has been in our lesson program for about 20 years.
He will be celebrating his 32nd birthday this year. He likes
going out in the pasture with "Pete". Dandy
believes that the ring pretty much belongs to him. Dandy likes little kids a lot,
although he is the perfect size for most people, not too big, not too small. He
is 14.3 hands.