Horse Lover's Day Programs

Come experience the joy and excitement at our stables! Whether you want to learn, ride, or have fun with horses, our programs offer something for everyone.

What to Expect:

• Engaging Activities: Enjoy a range of activities designed for all skill levels.
• Educational Experiences: Learn more about horses, riding techniques, and stable care.
• Memorable Moments: Create lasting memories with our friendly horses and passionate instructors.

Join Our Horse Day Programs: A Fun and Educational Experience!

At La Fleur Stables and Madison Riding Academy, we believe that horses, like people, are social beings with family-like herd dynamics. Our Day Programs offer an immersive experience where horse lovers of all ages can explore and learn about the fascinating world of horses.

What to Expect at Day Program:

• Be Around Horses: Spend the day interacting with our friendly horses.
• Horse Communication: Learn how horses communicate and understand their body language.
• Halters & Leading: Practice putting a halter on and leading a horse.
• Grooming: Discover the essentials of grooming and caring for a horse.
• Horse Sleep Habits: Gain insight into how horses sleep and their daily routines.
• Tacking Up: Learn the correct way to tack up a horse safely.
• Horse Anatomy: Get to know the basic anatomy of a horse.
• Primary Vet Care: Introduction to Essential Veterinary Care.
• Hoof Care: Understand the basics of caring for horse hooves.
• Horse Nutrition: Learn about proper nutrition for horses.
• Riding Fundamentals: Experience the fundamentals of horsemanship and equitation while riding.
• Lunging: Learn the technique of lunging a horse.
• Washing Horses: Discover how to properly wash and care for a horse’s coat.
• Stable Management: Gain knowledge about managing and maintaining a stable.
• Games: Enjoy fun games both on horseback and off.
• Buggy Rides: Experience the thrill of riding in a buggy.
• Lunge Line Lessons: Take lessons focusing on riding with a lunge line.
• Horse Movies: Watch educational and entertaining horse-related films.
• Feeding Treats: Have fun feeding horses treats.
• Stable Care: Learn about the daily care and maintenance of a stable.

Why Horses Help:

• Exercise: Engage in physical activity while working with horses.
• Self-Awareness: Increase self-awareness and personal growth.
• Skill Development: Learn new skills and take on new challenges.
• Stress Relief: Benefit from the calming presence of horses to lower blood pressure and alleviate stress.
• Mental Health: Experience support in managing anxiety, depression, and addiction.
• Emotional Skills: Develop communication skills, setting boundaries, overcoming fears, and building trust.

Our Goals:

1. Safety First: We prioritize the safety of all our horse lovers.
2. Fun Experience: We aim to make every moment enjoyable.
3. Horsemanship Achievement: We are dedicated to helping you reach your horsemanship goals, whatever they may be.

Join Us for a Day of Discovery and Fun!

Contact us today to sign up for our Day Camps and start your journey into the beautiful world of horses. We look forward to seeing you at the stables!

Calories Burned:

• Recreational Riding: Approximately 250-810 calories per hour.
• Competitive Riding: Up to 450-1,080 calories per hour.

Child Curriculum:

This curriculum is an excellent breakdown of how riding lessons can be tailored to different age groups and their developmental needs, including attention spans and physical abilities. Here's a quick overview of how attention spans typically align with the various age groups:

• Tiny Tots (3-6 years old): Attention spans are very short, ranging from 5-15 minutes. At this stage, lessons should be engaging and full of activities like games and toys to maintain their interest. Parental involvement helps with safety and keeping the child-focused.
• Childhood (7-8 years old): Attention spans lengthen to about 15-25 minutes, and children at this age are more capable of following instructions. Lessons should focus on building confidence and offering small, manageable challenges that keep them engaged.
• Middle Childhood (9-11 years old): Children can concentrate for about 30-40 minutes and are more capable of handling complex tasks. At this age, they begin to understand and apply what they’ve learned, making it a great time to introduce more responsibility to the horses.
• Tweens (12-13 years old): Attention spans increase to about 40-50 minutes, and tweens develop the physical and emotional maturity needed for more advanced instruction. Lessons should adapt to their level of comfort and development.
• Pre-Teens (14-15 years old): At this stage, lessons offer physical activity and emotional support. These students can handle more complex lessons that require focus and sustained attention for 50-60 minutes.
• Teenagers (16-17 years old): Their attention spans are generally well-developed, allowing for lessons that can be more intensive and focused on individual goals. Consistency and experience become key as lessons are paced to match the rider's abilities and commitment.

Understanding the typical attention span for each age group allows lessons to be designed to keep riders engaged, challenged, and excited about their progress.

• Your child may feel nervous yet excited. Encourage them positively and be supportive. They will learn to mount, balance, steer, and communicate with their horse. Lessons typically begin with a lunge line to help them develop balance and control.

Age Recommendations for Starting Riding:

• Never Too Old: Horse riding is suitable for all ages and is a great low-impact cardio workout. Adults interested in starting should speak with an instructor to tailor a plan.
• Children: We recommend starting riding at around 5-6 years old. Younger children may not complete a 30-minute lesson due to shorter attention spans.