WELCOME TO THE ACADEMY!
From your first trip to the farm to the first time you sit on a horse to your first competition, learning to ride horses is a challenging and exciting adventure. Here’s everything you need to know to get your family started in riding horses and equestrian sports!
Learn more about our programs below.
Why learn to ride?
IT’S MORE THAN AN ACTIVITY; IT’S A SPORT AND A LIFESTYLE
Riding and horsemanship develop life skills that build a foundation for a person’s confidence, pride, focus and responsibility.
LIFE-LONG FRIENDSHIPS
Starting with the bonds created between horse and rider, to the relationships formed in the show rings, equestrian sports create friendships that last a lifetime.
SET UP FOR SUCCESS
Our unique structure ensures that your child learns to love the equestrian lifestyle while promoting healthy habits, social wellness, and mental well-being.
RIDING HORSES IS FUN
The encouraging environment that our programs provide helps kids grow as both horsemen and horsewomen while also having fun!
At the same time, they grow as teammates and as citizens.
About Us
Our mission is to train, educate, and inspire current and future generations of American equestrians in our region to be responsible, well-rounded horsemen and horsewomen, and citizens, by developing and maintaining a positive, healthy community of great people.
Our year-round programs teach beginners through advanced riders in programs that emphasize good horsemanship, sportsmanship and, above all else, safety.
Our riding academy is, first and foremost, a school that trains and educates, and connects students with each other, and then connects riders with opportunities to test their progress and abilities through testing and competition.
There are no grooms at CVF, so riders are taught how to care for horses as a regular part of our curriculum, and we expect our members to be actively involved in the teamwork required to properly care for and ride horses.
We value good horsemanship over competition at all costs, and our training programs reflect that spirit. While jumping is what attracts many people to riding horses, our instructors put a great emphasis on flat work, recognizing that without a good foundation on the ground, problems are sure to develop while jumping.
Our philosophy is that the more you ride, the more you will learn, and we encourage riders to ride as many horses as possible to learn to manage different personalities and develop better all-around balance. We also teach our students to be “thinking riders”-that is, riders who want to understand the how and the why behind all that we do.
Our Riding & Horsemanship Membership Program
Our membership program is designed for those who are ready to make a long-term commitment to developing their knowledge and skills as equestrians.
Similar to a gym or country club membership, our program offers additional exclusive members-only benefits. The benefits to membership are intended to provide our riders with more than just an hour in the saddle. In addition to regular riding lessons, our members benefit from:
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Unmounted lessons / meetings focused on horse management topics and learning that both prepare our students to be well-rounded and educated horsemen and women, and prepare them for horse ownership (if desired!).
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Guest speakers
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Community social events and benefits each month
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Access to our club lounge, classroom, and equestrian library
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And more…
We only offer one type of membership structure because we believe that offering fewer options ultimately creates a better learning experience for our riders and a better riding experience for our horses-without trying to schedule and mix multiple riding package options, we can schedule more consistently, have riders who are more capable, and have horses that are better off in the program. You win, and the horses win, so we all win.
Basic Equestrian Package
- 1 x Mounted Lesson (Ride) per week
- Unmounted Lessons / Meetings each month
- Academy Social Events Included
- 10% Discount at Schneider’s Saddlery
- $350 per Month
Motivated Equestrian Package
- 2 x Mounted Lessons (Rides) per week
- Unmounted Lessons / Meetings each month
- Academy Social Events Included
- 10% Discount at Schneider’s Saddlery
- $599 per Month
Academy and Lesson FAQs
CVF riding programs emphasize safety and fundamentals. We want your riding experience to be both positive and educational. Great care has gone into developing your lesson curriculum, and we take pride in offering patient and thorough instruction on quality horses suited to rider ability. Listed below are some answers to commonly asked questions.
What curriculum do you use to consistently train and educate your students?
We have chosen to use the U.S. Hunter/Jumper Association Registered Riding Academy and U.S. Pony Club curriculums as the foundation of our riding and horsemanship program curriculum, because they are progressive, well-rounded, standards-based, and recognized nationally and internationally. Both also connect our students with a wealth of information, great resources, and opportunities at the local, national, and international level.
Many other riding schools and programs have tried to develop their own curriculums, but we believe that none are as thorough as the USHJA and USPC and that if a curriculum is not recognized by others, it has far less value beyond the facility implementing it. For more information, please visit our Chagrin Valley Pony Club page or www.ponyclub.org.
Do I have to be a U.S. Pony Club member, participate in IEA, IHSA or shows to ride at CVF in the Academy riding and education program?
No, you don’t! These programs are all optional.
What is covered in mounted lessons?
A rider will learn to guide a variety of horses through straight lines, turns, and circles at all of the gaits while maintaining the proper position and balance. They learn how to correctly space their horses on the rail, as well as the fundamentals of posting, backing, diagonals, leads, and a balanced position. Once a rider is balanced enough on the flat, he/she will learn to jump over small cross-rail fences. When a rider maintains a strong position and can effectively jump a variety of horses over cross-rail fences, he/she will be moved to the next level.
What is covered in unmounted lessons and why do these matter?
Our memberships included unmounted lessons as an expectation for our students because we have seen that riders who have a more thorough understanding of the training, care, and physiology of horses are better able to ride and care for the well-being of their equine partner, and have more realistic expectations of them. Our unmounted lessons are based on the U.S. Pony Club Horse Management curriculum. Example subjects include: horse anatomy, emergency first aid, feed and nutrition, conditioning, etc. The unmounted lessons/meetings have the added benefit of bringing our riders together to socialize and meet the rest of our community.
It's raining; are there lessons today?
We rarely cancel due to rain. We ride on cloudy days, in the mist and in light drizzle, or move inside. Only in cases of heavy rain, lightning, or thunder, do we cancel. Never assume lessons are off; please check your email and call the office first.
What is CVF's lesson cancellation policy?
Lessons cancelled within 24 hours are not re-scheduled as a rule, but riders are allowed one make-up ride per month to account for sickness, unexpected problems, etc. Our lesson coordinator will work to schedule make-up lessons with students and parents as soon as possible after a missed lesson in a time slot that is best suited for the rider’s ability level. We do our best to work with our customers, but please understand that last minute cancellations create unfilled lessons and excessive make-ups disrupt the training of others.
Additionally, only one lesson can be carried over to the following month if all of package is not used in the current month
What if I don't get the horse I want?
Our staff and instructors may need to adjust horse and rider scheduling. There are many reasons for this. Please accept these occasional changes as an opportunity to try out a new horse, or ride one you haven’t had in a lesson for a while. You may just find a new friend!
What if I don't get the instructor I want?
Instructors may change or may be out for a variety of reasons, so it’s important for our students to understand that they will not always have the same instructor. We believe that taking lessons with different instructors is a positive, healthy part of the learning experience, because other instructors may explain concepts in a different way that’s easier to understand or that leads to questions that help a rider understand better. We ask that parents help us to develop and reinforce this mentality with their children. Lastly, as riders progress in their development, they may be assigned another instructor (such as when a beginner student progresses toward the intermediate or advanced levels)
What should I wear? Do I need riding equipment?
For riding, long pants(breaches preferred and expected within your first few rides) and a shoe with a heel are required. For girls and women, long hair must be pulled back in a ponytail or bun to avoid interfering with a rider’s vision. We have helmets and crops to loan if you do not have your own, but whether you borrow a helmet or buy your own, you’ll need to make sure that your helmet fits you properly. Also, no bicycle helmets, please. Chewing gum, baggy clothing, and dangling jewelry are not permitted while riding. If you wish to purchase your own equipment, we encourage you to speak with an instructor first for recommendations.!
Aside from riding clothing, you do not need to bring anything. Some riders choose to bring a personal saddle pad for a bit of personal flair, which is allowed, but not expected!
What time should I arrive?
You should arrive at least a half hour before your lesson. This allows time to check in and find your assigned horse, select a properly-fitting helmet and pick up a crop (if needed), groom, and tack up your horse. After you mount, our tacking assistants and instructors will do a tack check to ensure you are safe to begin. You will then walk your horse around the ring to limber him up. If you are going to be late, give us a call so that we can give you an extra hand to get you into the ring quickly, but please don’t make it a habit!