Lessons are 30 minutes of mounted instruction, with time spent before and after the lesson to spend time preparing and retiring your horse from your lesson with grooming and taking care of the equipment.

Acceptable treats for the lesson horses are apples, carrots, and sugar cubes or commercially purchased horse treats that you can find at your local Agway or our favorite, Flemings Feed and Hardware!

New riders to the program begin on very quiet lesson horses, on a longe line, and eventually independently, in a small enclosed area, in a private lesson one on one with the instructor, until they can walk and trot, stop and steer with confidence and capability. Once they meet those capabilities they can move into a group lesson with a maximum size of three riders.

Cost: The cost of a private lesson is $35. A group lesson is $30. A lesson consists of 30 minutes of mounted instruction with time before and afterward permitted for grooming, brushing and tacking and untacking the horse.

ASTM-certified riding helmets are required. If you do not have one you may borrow one of ours. We also require short riding boots or a similar sturdy boot with a heel, and pants without an inside leg seam as they will chafe the rider's legs. After a few lessons we will be happy to refer you to local tack shops where you can purchase the appropriate items.

Age: Riders are welcome beginning at age 5.

For more information, e-mail Sharon at info@villastables.com.