HORSE RIDING LESSONS

We teach the following riding types:

Western

Western Riding is very versatile and many people gravitate towards this style of horseback riding! The basics are easy to learn but in order to master the higher levels the rider requires tremendous dedication and skill.

Even though there are different Western disciplines, they all reflect the skills that cowboys had to use in their daily work. The work consisted of rounding, sorting, branding and caring for cattle and the cowboys needed a quick, nimble and intelligent horse that could quickly accelerate to high speeds, stop abruptly, and change direction instantaneously. Ridden with only one hand and a light touch on the reins so that cowboy’s attention could also be on their tasks, the horses needed to be controlled mostly by legs and weight. Since the cowboys were required to work long hours in the saddle, their equipment needed to be as safe and comfortable as possible. Therefore, the western saddle has a horn, high cantle and deep seat to provide the most comfort over long hours in the saddle over rough terrain.

Hunter

Hunter riding is judged subjectively. Many riders begin with Hunter in order to master the skill of correct striding, even pace, and smoothness of the round.  The courses are relatively straightforward, jumps are not intimidating as they are fairly low heights. Hunter is judged on style of the jump and smoothness of the round.

Obstacles for the Hunter’s course must be similar to those found in the hunting field such as natural post and rail, brush, stone wall, white board fence or gate, chicken coop, aiken, hedge, oxer, and so on. Therefore, a hunter must jump fences that are generally made up of 8-12 obstacles and must be set at the required height for each division.

The show hunter should maintain a good pace throughout the course of fences, but keep an even rhythm, neither speeding up nor slowing down. The horse is judged on its smoothness around the course, its movement, jumping form, and whether it reaches each “spot”, or the distance of takeoff in front of a jump, correctly.

Jumper

At Valle Vista Stables we teach Jumper horseback riding lessons. There is no subjective scoring involved for show Jumping – it’s all about the numbers. The horse and rider team with the fastest time and the fewest faults wins.

Where the horse and rider memorize a course of jumps and a jump-off course. If the horse and rider make it through the first round without any faults, then they jump the jump off. The horse and rider that jump the jump off the fastest with the least amount of faults win.

Jumpers are judged by how quickly a horse can complete a course of jumps with the fewest errors, called faults.

A show jumper must have the scope and courage to jump large fences as well as the athletic ability to handle the sharp turns and bursts of speed necessary to navigate the most difficult courses. Many breeds of horses have been successful show jumpers, and even some grade horses of uncertain breeding have been champions. Most show jumpers are tall horses, over 16 hands (64 inches, 163 cm)

Dressage

Another type of horseback riding lessons we teach is called Dressage. The objective is to train the horses to develop a harmonious and fluid movement that performs from almost faint signals from the rider.  The horse perfects his ability to perform so that he is confident, attentive, motivated mentally and physically.

Horses performing the discipline of dressage must have 3 free, elastic and regular gaits which are:  a four-beat walk with no moment of suspension, a two-beat trot with a moment of suspension between each diagonal beat and a three-beat canter with a moment of suspension following the 3 beats.

Furthermore, the rider needs to learn to sit in the saddle in a unique balance and use their weight, legs and hands to help their horse attain these goals.  It is a long process for both the horse and rider and during this time a very special bond of trust and understanding develops between the horse and rider.

Pleasure Riding

Pleasure riding encompasses many forms of recreational riding for personal enjoyment, without any focus on competition. In horse show competition, a wide variety of classes are labeled pleasure classes with judging standards based on the concept that horses exhibited be well-mannered and thus a “pleasure” to ride.

If you’re looking for fun, enjoyable horse riding Victoria BC, come to Valle Vista Stables!