LC Riding School / Ry Skool

01/04/2026

Chlareis Loedolff

12/11/2025

This. 🫶🏻

31/10/2025

Why Teaching Kids to Ride Is the Best Job in the World 🐴💙
Can we take a moment to celebrate what makes teaching children so incredibly special?

There's something magical about watching a child connect with a horse for the first time. That wide-eyed wonder, the pure joy, the unfiltered excitement - it reminds us why we fell in love with horses in the first place.

What makes kids such amazing students:
✨ Their enthusiasm is contagious
They don't show up jaded or overthinking as much as their adult counterparts. They show up EXCITED. Ready to learn. Ready to try. That energy fills the arena!

✨ They have open hearts
Kids connect with horses on an emotional level that's beautiful to witness. They see horses as friends, not tools. That natural empathy is something we can build on.

✨ They're fearless (in the best way)
Most kids don't come with the baggage of "what if?" They just want to TRY. That courage is inspiring!

✨ Their love of ponies is pure
Watching a child's face light up when they see their lesson pony? That never gets old. Their affection is genuine and unconditional.

✨ They celebrate the small wins
First time posting? BEST DAY EVER. Successfully steered around a barrel? TELL EVERYONE. They remind us that every milestone matters.

Our role as instructors:
Yes, we teach riding skills. But with kids, we're teaching so much more:
1. Safety first, always
Channeling their exuberance safely is our responsibility. Teaching them that bravery includes being smart, not just bold.

2. Building confidence in nervous riders
Some kids need time. Patience. A quiet pony and a gentle approach. Watching a scared child transform into a confident rider? That's the ultimate teaching victory.

3. Teaching life skills through horses
Responsibility. Patience. Empathy. Problem-solving. Resilience when things don't go perfectly. These lessons extend far beyond the arena.

The incredible benefits kids gain from riding:
💪 Physical development: Balance, coordination, core strength, body awareness, fine motor skills
🧠 Mental growth: Focus, following multi-step directions, spatial awareness, quick decision-making
❤️ Emotional development: Confidence, managing fear, emotional regulation, pride in accomplishment
🤝 Social skills: Taking turns, encouraging others, barn community, making friends who share their passion
🌟 Character building: Responsibility for another being, work ethic, patience, humility, perseverance
🦋 Therapeutic benefits: Outdoor time, connection with animals, stress relief, sensory input, joy!

The moments that make it all worth it for us riding instructors:
- The nervous kid who finally canters and can't stop grinning
- The child who rushes to hug their pony before they even say hi to you
- The kiddo who brings their pony a carrot "just because"
- Hearing "This is the best day of my life!" after a simple trail ride
- The quiet child who opens up while grooming
- Parents telling you riding has transformed their child's confidence

For the nervous riders:
Some of the most rewarding teaching happens with the scared kids. The ones who need extra time, gentle encouragement, and a patient pony. Starting with just sitting on a pony while being led? That's not "less than" - that's building a foundation of trust and safety. Watching them go from trembling hands to asking to trot? THAT is teaching magic. Every child's journey is different. Some gallop ahead fearlessly. Some take baby steps. Both are valid. Both deserve celebration.

What kids teach US:
- To find joy in the simple things
- To celebrate effort, not just results
- That enthusiasm is a skill worth protecting
- That vulnerability and courage often look the same
- To see horses through fresh, wonder-filled eyes again

Teaching children isn't just about creating riders. It's about creating confident, compassionate, responsible humans who learn that hard work pays off, that animals deserve respect, and that they're capable of more than they thought.
Some will ride forever. Some will move on to other passions. But the lessons they learn in the barn? Those stay with them for life.

Teaching kids keeps US young, inspired, and connected to why we love this. Their joy is our joy. Their progress is our pride. Their love of horses reignites our own passion.

To all the kids in our programs: Thank you for reminding us why this work matters. 🐴💙

To fellow instructors: What's your favorite part about teaching children? What moment made you fall in love with teaching kids?

Drop your favorite "teaching kids" story below! Let's celebrate these amazing young riders! 👇

14/10/2025

🐴 Fun fact: Horses can actually tell time! ⏰
They remember routines and know when it’s feeding or riding time — often waiting right on schedule. Smart, loyal, and always on time. 💫

Good night!

www.foxrunequine.com

(724) 727-3481

We’re for the horse.

17/09/2025

02/08/2025

A mom once asked me why her 8-year-old should learn to ride when 'horses are dangerous.'

Here's what I told her... Horses don't just teach riding skills - they teach life skills.

When little Emma approaches a 1,200-pound animal and learns to communicate through body language, patience, and respect, she's learning confidence that will serve her in every classroom, friendship, and challenge she faces.

Yes, horses are powerful. That's exactly why learning to work with them builds such incredible character.

Several months later at that discussion, that same 'shy' little girl now leads her horse with her head held high and helps nervous new riders feel brave. THAT'S the real magic of what we do. ✨

23/07/2025

July Pony Camp Part 2!

Some snap shots of the kids riding.

We did mounted obstacle courses and mounted balance exercises.

The kids really enjoyed the obstacle course as this was a fun challenge for them.

23/07/2025

Sometimes, the world becomes too loud. Too fast. Too heavy. And all you want is to pause — just for a moment...

In those moments, you go where you know you’ll be understood without a single word. To the one who’s always there — with eyes full of calm and a heart that feels your pain better than anyone else.

You touch their warm muzzle, press a gentle kiss — and in that instant, the worry fades. You breathe deeper. Your heart steadies. Because your horse is your safe place. Your anchor. Your unconditional love.

This is more than affection. It’s a bond born of trust, of shared adventures, of silent understanding and thousands of wordless conversations through a glance.

Because sometimes, to feel alive again,
you just need to… kiss your horse. 🐴💛
⠀

23/07/2025

Sometimes heaven sends us angels — not with wings, but with hooves…

When the heart is broken, when the world feels too loud and cruel — a horse appears.
Not to speak. Just to be there. Quietly. Beside you.
⠀
They don’t ask what happened. They don’t judge.
They simply rest their warm nose on your shoulder — and somehow, the pain eases.

Because a horse is not just an animal.
It’s a soul that feels your sorrow. A calm in the storm.
A love that asks for nothing… yet gives everything.

Yes, horses are angels.
Heaven just knew that sometimes, we need a friend we can lean on — and hug with our heart.

23/07/2025

July Pony Camp Part 1!

This July Holiday we had a 4 Day Pony Camp.
The kids had so much fun and learned a lot of new things.

We learned about tack ,horse care and general horse knowledge.

We also had so much fun in the Jumping Arena.

22/07/2025

✨Ever noticed how your horse takes a deep breath… right after you do?

✨They feel everything.
✨Your tension. Your calm. Your thoughts before you even speak.

When you breathe deep, I breathe with you.
That’s when we begin to move as one.

It’s not just about the reins or the cues.
It’s about presence.
It’s about grounding yourself so your horse knows they’re safe to soften too.

⚡️The more we regulate us, the more they can trust them.

So next time things feel rushed or sticky…
Pause. Breathe.
That might be all it takes to bring you both back into rhythm.

💬 Do you notice a shift in your horse when you get calm?
Share a moment when your breath changed the ride.👇🐴