Reaching Strides Equestrian Centre

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A Heaven For Any Horse Lover!

Lessons

Click here to download an assumption of risks form.

Gift certificates are available for all of our services year-round!

Our number one goal is to provide our riders and drivers with safety and fun while learning about horses!

Reaching Strides Equestrian Centre prides itself on our professional teaching staff and our large variety of lessons. We create riders and drivers that go on to excel at whatever discipline they choose. Our instructors and coaches have the option to teach lessons with our large string of school horses and ponies, or can provide you with a customized training program that will allow you to excel with your own horse in your preferred discipline.

Our lesson program is specially designed to educate students in both riding and driving technique and stable management skills. All students are expected to groom and tack up, as well as warm up and cool down their own horses. Although lessons tend to run from 1 to 1.5 hours in length, students are expected to be at the stable at least 30 minutes before and 30 minutes after their lesson times to tend to their horses.

All of our teaching staff are knowledgeable certified coaches and instructors that are interested in sharing their abilities, knowledge and experiences to help us give our students the best chance at reaching their personal equestrian goals.

Our school horse string ranges from 25 to 30 horses and ponies. They are all competent, safe mounts that have a wide range of abilities to give you a safe, fun and educational experience. We provide all tack for all of our school horses, grooming equipment, and helmets for beginners to make it easy for parents to assess whether or not their child will stay interested before purchasing all the necessities.

At RSEC we create riders and drivers who know the importance of fun when it comes to learning about horses in a safe, caring, family-like environment.

Lessons run 7 days a week (including evenings). We offer semi-private and private lessons with experienced school horses and ponies. We take riders ages 3 and up, from beginners to advanced. We also provide private driving lessons to adults and children ages 8 and up.

All lessons are run professionally, with certified instructors and coaches in our indoor arena or outdoor ring, with our number one goal being the safety of horses, riders and drivers. Instruction is available for whatever your riding or driving goals may be - anywhere from pleasure or trails to EC Gold National competitions.

We offer lessons in the following disciplines: Back to top

Ladies' Night

 

Are you a lady looking for an evening away from the husband, kids, work, worries of the day, or just a good workout?  Join us at the stable for horseback riding geared for ladies over 30.  It's a great way to relax, good exercise and an excellent way to make new friends. Come join the fun on Monday evenings at 6:00 pm. Beginners welcome!

NSEF/EC Rider Level Certification Program

We provide classroom sessions for students who are looking to enhance their horse knowledge by being tested through Equine Canada in the National Rider Level Program. Classroom sessions provide the student with the knowledge needed to be ready to take their exam for whichever level they are looking to challenge. Our lesson program focuses on getting the rider ready for the ridden exam, while the classroom sessions provide the knowledge for the oral and written portions of the testing process. Rider level testing is held annually for levels 1 through 10, usually in the spring when we bring in a certified EC coach that is qualified to do the testing. Instructor certification is also available.

Our classroom sessions are also open to the public for anyone wanting to enhance their knowledge of the horse, whether they are RSEC students or not. Everyone is welcome. We also provide an open testing where equestrians from outside RSEC are welcome to take their exam.

Classroom sessions are generally held once weekly, starting 3 months before the actual exam date. Please feel free to contact us for further information.

Trail Rides

Trail rides are available for everyone (ages 7 and up only) but must be booked at least 3 days in advance. Boots with heels (not wedges, and no sandals or sneakers) and long, well-fitted pants must be worn when arriving at the stable for your ride. We provide helmets at the stable, but if you have your own ASTM approved riding helmet you may bring that to wear during your ride.

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Therapeutic Riding at RSEC

We are pleased to offer a therapeutic riding program in a private lesson arrangement. Our versatile, safe school mounts ensure the safety, fun and maximize the experience for all involved.

The value of therapeutic riding is something that is simply indescribable. To see the happy faces of the rider when they realize that they can do something that everyone else can do is just priceless.

The many benefits of therapeutic riding are:

In our program we strive to provide a therapeutic and recreational horseback riding program for physically, mentally, and emotionally handicapped people, no matter what their issues are, and to promote some public awareness of the need and benefits of such a program.

Our Program

Our main objective is the safety and enjoyment of our students.

In addition to a riding instructor, our riders are given physical and moral support by volunteers, if needed. We can provide as many as three assistants for one horse/rider combination. We concentrate on keeping riders' fees at an absolute minimum to ensure availability to all. Riders in our program are taught normal principles of horse care and equitation.

Our Needs

In our program we always look for volunteers who enjoy people and/or horses. This can be anyone 14 years of age and over. We also provide a training program for volunteers at RSEC.

Financial contributions and donations of equipment, services and expertise are needed on an on-going basis.

Reins of Life

I saw a child who could not walk Sit on a horse and laugh and talk Then ride it through a field of daisies And yet he could not walk unaided I saw a child, no legs below Sit on a horse and make it go Through weeks of green And places he had never been To sit and stare Except from a chair I saw a child who could only crawl Mount a horse and sit up tall Put it through degrees and paces And laugh and wonder at our faces I saw a child born into strife Take up and hold the reins of life And that same child, I heard him say Thanks, God, for showing me the way. (By J.A. Davis, Arch. Phys. Med. Rehab., Oct. 1974) Back to top

Price List

Private Lessons
$30.00 (at RSEC)
$50.00 (at your barn)
Group Lessons
$25.00 (at RSEC)
$40.00 (at your barn)
Driving Lessons
$25.00
Trail Rides (1.5 hours long)
$50.00
Ladies' Night
$20.00
Classroom Sessions
$10.00 / session (RSHJC members)
$15.00 / session (non-members)
Therapeutic Riding Lessons (45 minutes long)
$25.00 - By appointment only
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