Training, Boarding, Lessons & Guided Trail Rides
At Meadowlane Stable, we take the health of the horses very seriously. Any horse coming onto the farm must have a valid Coggins test. Boarders and horses that come for training must be healthy and vaccinated. We reserve the right to turn away any horse that shows signs of illness.
TRAINING
Dena starts horses of all breeds (gaited and non-gaited) under saddle and can get them going down the trails.
Dena uses Natural Horsemanship methods, such as those taught by Pat Parelli and Clinton Anderson. Natural Horsemanship teaches horses to be calm and respectful using ground-control exercises that transfer to control in the saddle. She would be happy to demonstrate these techniques for prospective clients, using one of her horses at Meadowlane Stable.
See the Videos page of this website for short clips of Dena working with horses using Natural Horsemanship methods.
References are available.
Training fee: $500 per month, for horses stabled at our facility
($550 for Thoroughbreds or other hard keepers to compensate for the extra grain and hay)
Fee includes full board. Clients' horses are kept in private paddocks with a run-in shed. The paddocks are fenced with 5' no-climb horse wire.
I commit to working with the horse five days a week. Depending on where the horse is in its training, this may involve groundwork or groundwork/riding. If weather or emergencies cancel any of those days, I will tag on any missed days at the end of the training period at no extra cost. Owners are welcome to watch me work with their horses at any time. For those who cannot do so, I will keep them updated with videos. At the end of 30 days, the average horse will walk and trot (or gait) and perhaps canter under saddle and back up a few steps. The horse will have had considerable desensitizing with tarps, a bag of cans, the cowboy curtain (which simulates walking through vines on a trail), a makeshift wooden bridge, ropes run all around its body (including legs to desensitize to getting caught in vines), etc. The horse will longe over tarps and jumps and will flex its neck and bend through its body. At the end of 60 days, you can expect your horse to cross water and generally ride well on the trails.
Training fee: $35 to $45 per one-hour session (depending on the driving distance), for horses stabled at another facility
Below: The progression of a client's horse at Meadowlane Farm: longe-line work, ground-driving, her first ride and on the trails.
BOARDING
Horses are boarded in paddocks with run-in sheds. Private or shared paddocks are available.
Boarding fees:
$10 per day for private paddock and shed
($12 per day for Thoroughbreds or other hard keepers to compensate for extra grain and hay)
$7 per day for sharing the fields
($9 per day for hard keepers)
Only full board is available. Fee includes grain, ample good-quality hay, use of the arena and access to the adjoining trails.
Dena occasionally has opportunities for students and boarders to work off part or all of their riding or boarding fees by mucking paddocks, cleaning water troughs and other such farm chores.
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We do not have facilities to accommodate stallions for either training or boarding.
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LESSONS
Dena gives basic English and Western riding lessons on gaited and non-gaited horses.
At Meadowlane Stable, we take safety very seriously. All students must wear a helmet and boots or shoes with heels. We have a few helmets available at the stable. Children may wear their own bicycle helmets for arena riding only--not on the trails.
Lesson fee: $25 at Meadowlane Stable on our horse or yours
Lesson fee: $35 to $45 at another facility, depending on how far Dena has to drive
Some of Dena's students, ages 8 to 60+:
GUIDED TRAIL RIDES
Dena will give guided trail rides to approved riders only. These include her students who are ready to ride the trails and experienced riders who have demonstrated good riding skills.
All riders must wear helmets and boots or shoes with heels. We have a few helmets available at the stable.
Trail riding fee: $25 per ride. Rides range from one to two hours, depending on the physical condition and skill of the horses and riders.
Two of Dena's young riding students on their first trail rides from Meadowlane Stable:
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Training & Boarding
