Better Riding

                        Riding Lessons 

Experience:
  • Teaching Professionally Since 2005 
  • Over 16 years experience riding.
  • Over 14 years experience showing.
  • Over 6 years of experience retraining Standardbreds under saddle
Experience with:
  • Eventing & Combined Training
  • Hunters
  • Jumping
  • Hunt Seat Equitation
  • Dressage
  • 4H: English & Western
  • Pleasure Driving
  • Gaming (barrel racing, pole bending, etc).
     
  • Our program is Insured with Allen Financial
  • Accepting students of all ages
References available upon request. 
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If you'd like to come sit in on a lesson, or you would like more information or to schedule a lesson, feel free to contact Melissa at (207) 409-4641 or email her at magicishorses@aol.com. Please do not "stop in" without calling and speaking with Melissa first. Sorry, we do not offer trail rides or riding lessons to tourists, but children are welcome to attend scheduled horse camps.
 
Rates:
 
Private Lessons:
$18 for a half hour lesson
$12 for a 15 minute little rider lesson (3-7 years old)
 
Group Lessons:
$18 for an hour lesson
$12 for a half hour lesson
NOTE: Group lessons are only available to students Melissa feels are 100% capable of riding in a group. All students are started in private lessons.
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Trail Rides: $36 Lesson/Trail Ride 
Only available to riding students that are able to confidently and efficiantly ride walk/trot off of the lunge line. We DO NOT do "Tourist Trail Rides".
 
Show Fees:
$10 per rider (covers coaching, holding horses, cheering, and helping where ever possible)
$5 Show Jacket Rental (Goes towards purchasing more jackets to rent)
$10 Horse Rental for more than 3 classes or day long event
$5 Horse Rental for 3 classes or less.
$10 Clip, Braid, Bathe fee (Horses are always done up for shows, this takes approx. 2 1/2 hours to do!)
$2 a mile shipping fee to and from show
If sharing a horse, some horse related costs will be split between riders.

           A Letter From The Instructor

I want to thank you for considering our riding program. We are currently running the most affordable, fully insured riding program in this area. Though we certainly offer everything other programs offer, we believe every child should have the chance to learn to ride, so offer lessons for less. I offer a well rounded, encouraging, and safe approach to learning to ride. I like students to set goals and I work with them to help achieve them. I have a small group of horses that I have available for riding lessons. Two of these are talented jumpers and successfully competed in eventing and hunters. When students are to a point where they are ready for another level, I will go with them and their parents, to meet new instructors and try to find the best one for them to continue their riding education.

Riding wise, I teach basics through starting fences, but students also learn about how to care for and tack up a horse. Horses are 90% care, 10% riding. I cover everything from some of the basics of dressage, to jumping, eventing, hunters, hunt seat equitation, and trail safety. My more advanced students are just now starting to show and placing well. This year we are also hoping to host a few clinics on the farm, bringing in outside instructors to work with students. Riders are started on the lunge line to develop their seat, legs, position, and balance and then continue in private lessons off the lunge line. Later if they’d like too, students may take group lessons with other students at their riding level or we can hit the trails, which is good for both rider and horse alike.

Unlike some riding programs, I do not take students from private lessons and put them in a group lesson of 6-8 riders. I believe on one on one instruction even when in group lessons and it is very unlikely that I teach more than 3 students in a lesson at one time. I also believe in students only riding with other students of their level. While some other programs are putting children of all ages and levels of riding in one class, I think this is unfair and arrange my group lessons so that all riders can learn and advance together. I don’t want riders being rushed and I don’t want riders being left behind.

Showing is an option for all students, as the local shows also have lead line classes for those students not yet off the lunge line. They are a blast for all that attend! Students are encouraged to go to clinics and horse camps, to get more experience riding other horses and riding with other instructors, and I will research and recommend clinics and camps to go to as they become more advanced. I also allow students to borrow my horses for clinics that I have approved. I also encourage both students and parents to go to demonstrations and equine conferences.

Thank you for considering my small riding program and good luck with all that you and your family pursue with horses.
 
Sincerely,
Melissa Moran