We offer the highest level of expertise for serious riders to develop their skills and love of riding. Periodically instructors and judges from other states are brought to our facilities to run special clinics and events for our clients.
Our goals are to create a fun and safe environment, while recognizing the abilities in each of our riders and helping you to reach your full potential.
Adult Riding Programs at Hilltop Farm
We have a great group of adult riders, both novice and advance riders, who all enjoy riding together and often hang out after their ride! Hilltop is a boutique equestrian facility, not a lesson-mill. Although we offer children’s riding and specific focused time with children’s group lessons where the kids enjoy riding together, we don’t hold children’s camps. Most of the time when you come out to ride, you’ll be in our large, quiet arenas with limited distractions from other riders. We purposefully keep our Group lessons small, to be sure that you will get quality one-on-one attention during your ride.
Many of our adult riders are just now getting back into their riding, after years out of the saddle – you’ll feel very welcome here. Everyone in our barn is super supportive of each other, and they enjoy hanging out after a ride or getting together to celebrate after shows. You won’t be a stranger here at Hilltop after the first day with us – you’ll be part of the Hilltop family!
Children’s Riding Programs at Hilltop Farm
The relationship between your child and riding instructor is one of the most important bonds he or she will develop outside the family. The relationship will shape the child’s attitude toward riding and the confidence he or she brings to the stable each day. Riding lessons, furthermore, provide a foundation for any other kind of discipline that the rider wishes to pursue. The general understanding of horses and of one’s responsibilities with regard to horses transcend all riding disciplines.
Our training program is a progression based on the individual needs of each rider while encouraging confidence and the desire to help individuals reach their personal best in riding.
Our special children’s riding programs on weekday evenings allow time for the kids to ride together, leaving the daytimes free for Adults to school in our quiet arenas.
The first step is discovering what your child wants to accomplish with horses. We encourage young riders to become true horsewomen with correct position, competitive skills and knowledge of all aspects of riding and horse care; to enable competition to further their education; to have fun and develop good sportsmanship throughout.
Our assessment process is important to understand where your child is and where they want to be in the future but it is also important that parents develop realistic expectations with the instructor as well. Working together the right choices for your child can result in a well-adjusted, confident young rider, whether or not a child ultimately chooses to ride for pleasure, to show competitively, or to prepare for a career in horses, the skills learned during the formative years can be carried into other life endeavors.
Call us today at 512-653-9090 – or fill out our scheduling form and make an appointment for you and your child to come by our stables, meet our lesson horses, and take an introductory rider assessment lesson. Then we can work out a lesson program that suits your child’s needs – whether it just be fun learning to ride, or a serious interest in horse showing competitions.
Hunter Jumper Lesson Program
What You’ll Learn:
Schooling on the flat, starting over jumps, progressing to combinations, perfecting your long and short release, demystifying correct form over oxers, learning to walk a course, mastering lead changes and how to properly prepare your horse and yourself for a horse show, are just a few of the many skills we can teach you.
At the Intermediate and Advanced levels, riders can compete, locally or in recognized USEF AA Hunter/Jumper Circuit shows.
Dressage Lesson Program
What You’ll Learn:
We teach competitive Dressage riders. Dressage novices will learn Dressage basics and how to perform the required maneuvers for the Green as Grass and Introductory to Training and First Level tests. We find dressage also helps our hunter/jumper riders become better horsewomen and horsemen by developing better balance, feel and timing in the saddle
At all levels, riders can advance to competing at home, locally or in recognized United States Dressage Federation shows. If you’re an accomplished hunter/jumper, learning dressage can help you advance into competing in 3-Day Eventing.
Horse Showing at Hilltop Farm
Hilltop Farm riders often compete in both schooling shows and recognized USEF/USDF shows. Our hopes are that your participation will help promote your advancement up the training pyramid while promoting education and good sportsmanship. Through our program, we will help you prepare and compete in the appropriate level with true confidence.
How to Get Started Riding with Us
We require that all riders begin their experience at Hilltop Farm with one private riding evaluation lesson. After one or more private lessons, you can be placed into a semi-private or group lesson with other riders of similar experience if interested. Space is limited for group lessons and riders will only be accepted upon approval from their trainer.
Call us today at 512-653-9090 – or fill out our handy contact scheduling form and we’ll get your first lesson scheduled!
LESSON PACKAGES
- Riding Skill Evaluation Lesson (Private): $95
- Private Hunter/Jumper or Dressage Lesson: $70
- Semi-private Hunter/Jumper or Dressage Lesson (up to 3 people): $60
- Hunter/Jumper or Dressage Group Lesson: $50
Lesson Horses
Well schooled lesson horses and equipment are available for use during our lessons.
Our school lesson horses are also available for your use at horse shows – so you can be horse showing without owning your own horse!
- Daily $50.00 per ride (Practice ride)
- Horse Show Usage of a Hilltop horse $50.00 per day
Leasing A Horse
We can help you find a show or schooling horse to lease, to tune up or improve your riding skills and to practice what you have learned in your lessons and get more time in the saddle. This is also a great alternative to those not quite ready to purchase their own horse. Monthly lease cost varies with the quality and skill level of the horse and the length of the lease. Please contact Gina directly for assistance at 512-653-9090 – or fill out our handy contact form.