We do things differently at Bramblewood — for many reasons:

• The horse world is changing and we’re leading the way. Horses are sentient creatures with their own complex emotions. To truly learn how to ride, you must first learn how to speak to the horse — in their own language. That’s why you’ll find an emphasis on groundwork and horsemanship at Bramblewood. We want our riding students to think like horse trainers and not just “riders”. We want you to know the how’s and the why’s of what you’re doing so that you can tap into your power and truly dance with the horses while you’re on their backs.

• In a world where attention spans are small, the horses need us to learn how to pay attention to our environment and breathe, soften, and listen. Our riding lessons are not just able riding. They’re a place for children and adults to become more present and enhance decision making skills while discovering agency, empathy, and how to listen to your gut. Horses have so much to teach us in the modern world.

• Gone are the days where recreational riding — where you just hop on a horse and do what you want — is allowed. School horses have tough jobs working through the demands and emotions of a variety of people they may see for a single ride or maybe once a week. True riding is about building relationships and growing as a human. It’s about learning to speak horse. We take things slowly at Bramblewood for a reason. We want our school horses to thrive and we want our clients to learn to ride the right way, the educated way, the way that considers the needs of both horse and human.

• It is a privilege to ride a horse and we don’t take this gift for granted. Allow us to guide you and trust our combined decades of knowledge so that we can provide the best experience for you and/or your child. Our trainers are always expanding their knowledge and nothing makes us happier than sharing that wisdom with you.

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Classical horsemanship is the heart of the Bramblewood Riding Program. We want you to be a true partner with your horse, being sensitive to the horse's needs, progressing through the training scale with empathy and understanding. We like to remind riders that they are training when they're doing nothing more complicated than walking or leading their horse to the ring. Classical horsemanship makes better riders, better students, and is beneficial to all disciplines.  When we use the word "dressage" we understand it in its literal form which is "training."

Lessons at Bramblewood are taught by ARIA Level III hunt seat instructor, Kimberly Carter and Sarah Farris alongside Tricia Arthur, Lakin Khamis, Michelle Higdon, and Caitlin Nihart . You can learn more about our instructors here. Our style of teaching is systematic with an emphasis on correct flat work. Students of all ages and abilities are welcomed. From your first ride you will find our program is a haven where all students are equal and where each is given the chance to become a knowledgeable and complete rider from the barn to the ring to the field.

Classical horsemanship transcends the boundaries of disciplines.  To promote this, Bramblewood offers lessons in various Western styles as a compliment to our traditional English riding program.  

Lessons at Bramblewood are fun - whether you're a child or a seasoned pro. The mood in the ring is lighthearted but our emphasis is on safety first and foremost. Riding is hard work, but each building block leads our riders up through the levels as they gain a complete understanding of their own physiology and a greater sense of the world around them. Our school horses are our greatest teachers.

So whether you're a parent looking for a knowledgeable and safe environment for your child to explore the world of horses, a lifelong rider looking for an alternative to the sometimes grueling world of competitive riding, or a beginning adult rider looking to fulfill a lifelong dream - come visit our horses and watch a lesson. 

Lessons are offered in one-hour segments throughout the day, Tuesday through Sunday. Everyone rider is placed with an instructor for private sessions after an initial horsemanship session. Make-ups are available only when 24 hours, or more, notice is given. Lessons canceled with less than 24 hours notice are non-refundable. Pre-payment for all sessions must be completed to confirm and book your sessions.

PLEASE NOTE: We do not offer tours at Bramblewood Stables. All new riders, no matter their experience, are required to attend a Respite Session. Respites are one-hour, unmounted, deep-dives in our horses, training philosophies. They’re a way of balancing your energy so that you’re better able to communicate with the horse. Many people decide to stay in Respite Sessions for a while because there is a world of horsemanship to learn. Also, Respites are their own world and can be taken with no intention of joining the riding program. We have some visitors who book a Respite Session once a month or more just to spend quality, peaceful time with our horses. In both sessions, you can meet and greet the horses and spend time grooming and working on ground-work skills.