09/06/2026
Thinking about riding lessons -- or simply getting horses back into your life? What is right for you?
Here are some of the things worth thinking about:
1. What do you want horses to become in your life?
Are you looking for a weekly recreational activity? Competition and horse showing? Eventually leasing or owning? Or are you more interested in connection though groundwork, grooming, learning horse behaviour and simply spending meaningful time around horses?
2. What kind of riding interests you?
English or Western? Dressage, hunter, jumper, trail riding, or general recreational riding? A program that covers as much of the fundamentals as possible will prepare you for a wide range of future opportunities.
Erica at Sky Haven has a background in high-level dressage competition, including competing at the Young Riders level. Dressage is essentially the gymnastic training of the horse.
She has also studied natural horsemanship with Monty Roberts in California. Her experience is valuable for riders who are interested in developing strong fundamentals to support a variety of disciplines.
3. How do you want to learn?
Private, semi-private and group lessons all have advantages. Just as important is the instructorâs teaching style.
At Sky Haven, lessons are private which allows Erica to adapt to each individual rider. She places a strong emphasis on helping riders understand why things are happening and encourages questions. She believes it's important that riders understand what the horse is communicating as well as where your hands, legs and body should be.
4. How much do you want to learn about the horse â outside of riding?
Some programs focus on putting riders in the saddle. Others include more groundwork, grooming, leading, tacking, horse behaviour and stable skills.
Neither approach is wrong, but it is worth knowing what you want.
At Sky Haven, new riders begin with a Horse Experience Session so they start learning about the horse on the ground as well as in the saddle. Ericaâs training in Monty Robertsâ natural horsemanship methods also informs the way she approaches communication, groundwork and the relationship between horse and human. Learning to notice the horseâs body language and respond thoughtfully can become an important part of becoming a confident, capable and safe rider.
5. Who will be teaching you, and how do they approach safety and progression?
Qualifications and certification are worth asking about, but so are experience, judgment and communication.
6. What kind of barn community feels right?
This part is easy to overlook.
Some barns are highly social. Some revolve around competition. Some have mainly children and teens. Others have a strong adult community. Some riders want barn friends, shows and a busy social life; others want a quieter, more individual experience.
You are choosing an instructor and a riding program â but to some extent, you are also choosing a horse community.
Sky Haven is a quiet barn with primarily private lessons. We focus on building a strong foundation for horse experiences at all levels, with a view to developing skills that will support horsemanship, recreational riding, competition and eventual horse ownership.
There are many good ways to be involved with horses.
The goal is not simply to find a riding barn.
It is to find the kind of program, horses, teaching and community that fit what you hope horses will become in your life.
