Your first lesson · from age 3
Your first riding lesson, from the ground up
Lessons start with Level 1 Foundational Horsemanship: groundwork first, then riding, at the barn and in the arena. Western, in the vaquero tradition. No experience needed.
Booking opens on leydenhorsemanship.com, our booking site. Same barn, same team.
The Leyden method
Level 1, taught like a trade
Level 1 runs like a trade school, with a textbook and a skills logbook, in four courses: Course 100, Equine Science and Care; Course 101, Ethology and Safety; Course 102, Ground Mechanics; Course 103, Applied Equitation.
Three things run through every course: feel, timing and balance. The language is pressure and release, and the release is what teaches. A skill counts only when you can do it on your own, with no coaching; we call that the Zero Assistance Standard. Above it all sits one rule: the horse comes first.
Soft is strong. Clarity is kindness. From Soft Is Strong: The Art of Horsemanship, by Zachary Leyden with Kalea Leyden.
Book a lesson
Lesson options
1 hour
Horsemanship Lessons
Our standard single lesson on the Level 1 path, groundwork first.
Monthly membership
The Lesson Club
For regular riders: lesson points land in your account each month and apply at checkout. Read the plans and the membership terms before you join.
Prices show on each booking page. Lesson Club members, sign in before you book so your points apply.
Not sure which fits? Read about kids riding lessons, adult beginner riding lessons and private riding lessons on the Leyden Horsemanship site.
Before your first lesson
What to know
Age
Lessons start at age 3. They stay at the barn and in the arena, so the age-8 minimum for trail and beach rides does not apply.
Riders
240 lbs or less, able to mount and dismount with minimal assistance.
Arrive and wear
Arrive 20 minutes early. Long pants, closed-toe shoes with a slight heel, layers, water and sunscreen.
Helmets and the waiver
ASTM-certified helmets are provided and required under 18. Everyone signs the OVS Participant Agreement; a parent or guardian signs for a minor.
Free online courses
Start at home, free
The four Level 1 courses are online and free, each with an exam at the end. Create a free account to start, and come to your first lesson already knowing the language.
Do I need any experience?
No. Every student starts at Level 1, on the ground, and your instructor builds from wherever you begin. Course 100 says it plainly: start here even if you have ridden for years.
How young can a rider start?
Age 3. Lessons stay at the barn and in the arena, so the age-8 minimum for trail and beach rides does not apply. A rider aged 3 to 7 can take a lesson but not a beach or trail ride.
Is there a weight limit?
Yes. Riders must be 240 lbs or less and able to mount and dismount with minimal assistance. We match each rider to a suitable horse from the herd.
What should I wear, and when should I arrive?
Long pants, closed-toe shoes with a slight heel, and layers; the coast is cooler and windier than the city. Arrive 20 minutes early to check in and fit a helmet. ASTM-certified helmets are provided. Riders under 18 must wear one.
What if I need to cancel a lesson?
Rescheduling and cancelling are set out in Section 8 of our Terms. Read Section 8 of our Terms
How does the Lesson Club term work?
The membership term, and what happens if you end it early, are set out in Section 10 of our Terms. Read Section 10 of our Terms
Start with one lesson
Book a single lesson and see how we teach, groundwork first.
Booking opens on Leyden Horsemanship, our booking site. Same barn, same team.