Horseback Riding
Personalized riding instruction, experienced staff, well-trained horses
Our instructors realize one size does not fit all when it comes to riding instruction. We carefully take age, size, and previous riding experience into consideration as we plan a rider’s lessons.
Riding Instruction
Riding instruction includes ring work that focuses on various aspects of riding including hunt seat equitation, dressage, and eventing. Classes are intentionally kept small to ensure a lot of individual attention. The rider to instructor ratio is usually 3:1 in regular class time and frequently we allow one-on-one time for less experienced riders. Students arrive at camp with varying abilities and are challenged at their own personal skill levels.
Lessons can include balance and pole work, gymnastics, courses, work on the lunge line and drill rides.
Campers in our riding programs enjoy trail riding, can be schooled on our cross country course, participate in pony club games and other fun activities.
All girls will learn the fundamentals of horse care and stable management during their time at Forrestel.
Our staff
Forrestel specifically searches out international instructors who have achieved at least their Pony Club “B” rating. Many of our instructors are also certified by the British Horse Society and have achieved their Assistant Instructor Certification, which requires the completion of 500 hours of teaching under the tutelage of a master trainer. Our instructors have also ridden competitively. Our confidence in them is complete.
Our horses
Whether a girl is in the Horsemanship 1 Program or the Horsemanship 2 Program, she is assigned her own horse while at Forrestel. By working with the same horse, riders earn the trust of their mount and develop their confidence. Campers also have the option of bringing their own horses.
We are extremely proud of our string of lesson horses, which includes mounts of all size, shape and skill level. The majority of our horses are Quarter Horses or Thoroughbreds, and almost all have had show experience at the local level. Many have participated in rated shows, and even more participate in the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association during the winter months. We choose our horses carefully. Safety and suitability is always of utmost concern.
Having happy, well trained horses means our campers are able to have a high quality horseback riding experience.
