FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q. Umm .... I was looking for The Stables at
Eagle Mountain?
A. That's us -- or rather, it used to be us! When
Coosawattee decided to put a 4-storey inflatable waterslide next to our
arena, it was time for us to find a new home. Fortunately, our
friends at Fowler Farm came to the rescue, and we were able to relocate
our riding school less than 10 miles from the Eagle Mountain gate.
Unfortunately, we couldn't keep calling ourselves "The Stables at Eagle
Mountain" -- but the name change is the only loss. Come see us at
this very pretty farm -- click here for
directions.
Q. Do you offer trail rides?
A. Sorry, no. Whenever we get calls from vacationers looking
for trail rides, we usually refer them to
Blanche Manor.
Q. Do you offer pony rides?
A. Well, yes and no. We won't do the typical
drag-a-kid-in-circles-on-a-pony type of pony ride; we have some
strong opinions about any activity that treats horses like vehicles.
We do offer introductory Pony Ride lessons, however, that are suitable for young children.
See our Lessons page for details.
Q. Do you teach Western riding?
A. No, our riding instruction is based on the English disciplines
of eventing and mounted games. However, we do occasionally have
events that are open to Western riders.
Q. How old must a child be to ride a
horse?
A. It depends upon the maturity of the child. Riders must be
able to follow verbal instructions and maintain focus for the entire
lesson. Some 4-year-olds are mature enough for a pony ride lesson
and
some are not;
if your child is easily distracted or intimidated, it would be smart to
wait a year or two.
Q. What age is appropriate for regular
riding lessons?
A. Both physical and emotional maturity come into play here.
Children aged 6-8, whom we refer to as "Rising Riders", start out at
Rainbow Level with 15-30 minute
lessons. In general, we suggest riders should be aged 8 or older to start regular
riding lessons, which begin with at Red Level; look over our
Red
Level curriculum to see the skills and abilities required to start
regular lessons. Occasional pony ride lessons are a good way
to start younger children; this gives them an understanding of basic
riding principles by the time their legs reach past the saddle.
Younger riders and their parents will need to be patient about progress
-- it takes physical strength -- and LEGS -- to control a 1000-lb horse!
Q. We're just visiting the area -- can
we take a one-time riding lesson?
A. Sure! We just need to work your lesson into our regular
schedule, so it's best to call us well ahead of time. This is
especially important in the summer when we are running a zillion day
camps. Also, please be aware of the
requirements for safe riding.
Q. Do you teach adults?
A. Yes! We usually have several adult students.
Q. When do you offer lessons?
A. We teach Wednesday - Sunday of each week, and all of our lessons
are by appointment only. New riders will start with a few private
lessons and then will join an appropriate group lesson where feasible.
Look over our lessons schedule, then contact us to discuss options.
Q. Can you do group events?
A. Possibly. We usually don't allow more than five
inexperienced riders in the arena at a time, however, so any riding
activities must be scheduled in consecutive groups. We can easily
accommodate larger groups for horsekeeping classes.
Click here for details.
Q. Do you offer birthday parties?
A. Yes, with the same restrictions as for group events.
Click here for details.
Q. What are the age requirements for
summer day camps?
A. Our youngest campers are the Rising Riders, aged 6-8.
Novice camps are for older kids, aged 9 -18. Both of these camps
are appropriate for riders with no horse experience and for riders
with walk/trot experience. More experienced riders can choose from
several specialty camps that focus on a specific discipline.
See our day camp page for details.