Lessons
Is your student ready to learn how to ride? Then you’re in the right spot! Southern Pines provides a comfortable, professional, and fun environment for both our riders and horses. All new riders begin with private 60-minute lessons to build a solid foundation. Once they become confident in basic skills and can tack up independently, they'll progress to our seventy-five-minute group lessons for a collaborative and social riding experience. Our instructors are trained and prepared to teach the ins and outs of equestrian care and horseback riding. The safety of both the horse and the rider takes top priority at Southern Pines as our instructors provide personalized instruction to reach equestrian goals. For more information or to book your next lesson, give us a call at (904) 515-5097.
Our Curriculum
At Southern Pines Equestrian, we aim for a strong beginner foundation focused on safety and basic horsemanship. We use a combination curriculum to best meet the needs of our students. Horse Sense Learning Curriculum provides many lesson plans that build on each other and provides leveled achievement learning. In addition, we focus on foundational dressage training to help our students obtain a base knowledge of harmony and communication with horses. We offer opportunities for students to compete in shows at a very low cost and also provide token reward challenges throughout the year that reinforce knowledge and skills. Once a student completes our program, they will be able to journey on into whatever horse discipline they desire.
Southern Pines Equestrian Lesson Goals:
Build solid foundations to create well-rounded students.
Teach safety procedures and habits that will last a lifetime.
Expose students to comprehensive horse care in preparation for potential horse ownership.
Create opportunities to facilitate independence and confidence in our students.
Mrs. Daley, Lead Instructor and Lesson Program Coordinator
Jen’s first ride was when she was 8 years old on a huge Chesnut horse named Papa King. Her mom's friend put her in the saddle and walked her around, she will never forget that moment when the joy of riding first filled her heart. After starting formal lessons at the age of ten, she learned the basics and balance taught to her by a former Cavalry officer. She then went on to ride for many years on the Blue and Gray show (smaller scale shows) as a Hunter equation rider. Her horse career continued to include becoming a founding member of the Blue Mountain Pony Club with a focus on general knowledge as well as riding skills. She took her focus from hunters to 3-Day Event and then moved into only dressage. Her focus is on great starts that make for great relationships and keep riders safe. Her background as a substitute teacher allows her to very well with children. Her style of teaching is safety first and foremost followed by fostering a natural approach based on respect and understanding. Her hope for all of her students is that they have good, healthy experiences with riding, and if they choose to, they outgrow their "first teacher" always keeping the good foundation that they worked on together.
Jenna Barnum, Instructor
I am a PATH Intl. Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning. I graduated from Flagler College with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology! I have had the privilege of teaching students with a wide range of intellectual and physical disabilities. My passion is helping children and young adults build confidence, resilience, and connection through the therapeutic relationship between people and horses. Whether through Horse Powered Reading®, STEM activities, life skills programming, or equine-assisted learning, my goal is to empower every student to develop meaningful life skills and a lifelong love of learning that reaches beyond the barn.
Dee Rudy, Instructor
Dee fell in love with horses at a very early age and started formal lessons at the age of 7. Her experience includes IHSA college competition & coaching, hunter / jumper competition, dressage and ranch riding. She has over 50 years’ experience and has been teaching a successful lesson program for 15 years. Recognizing a need in the community, in 2023, Dee became a Certified Equine Facilitated Learning (EFL) Practitioner through the HERD Institute and started Equine Insight LLC, offering EFL programs that focus on the benefits of connecting and relating to horses. In addition to riding instruction and EFL, Dee is also a certified Horse Powered Reading™ & Math Instructor.
Meet Our Lesson Horses
Sheba
Lola
Piper
Kash
Knight
Trooper
Tyme
June Bug
