What to Bring to Your Lesson

We want your time at Rosario Ranch to be fun, safe, and stress-free. Please arrive 10–15 minutes before your scheduled lesson time so you have time to check in, use the restroom if needed, and get ready to ride.

Required Attire

  • Long pants or breeches

  • Closed-toe shoes with a small heel (riding boots preferred)

  • Weather-appropriate layers

  • Hair secured away from face

Helmets

ASTM/SEI-approved riding helmets are required for all mounted riders. If you do not have your own helmet, we are happy to provide one for your lesson. Riders are also welcome to bring their own bicycle helmet or snowboarding helmet.

Recommended Items

  • Water bottle

  • Sunscreen

  • Rain jacket during wet weather

  • Gloves (optional)

  • Carrots or apples if you’d like to give your horse a treat after your lesson

Please Avoid

  • Sandals, Crocs, or open-toe shoes

  • Shorts while riding

  • Dangling jewelry

  • Running or rough play around horses

Parents of young riders are welcome to stay and watch lessons.

What to Expect During Your Lesson

Lessons at Rosario Ranch are designed to build confidence, horsemanship skills, and safe riding habits while creating a positive experience for both horse and rider.

Typical Lesson Format

  1. Meet & Groom Your Horse

Students will learn how to safely approach, groom, and prepare their horse for riding. This helps develop horsemanship skills and creates a connection with the horse before getting in the saddle

  1. Tack Up & Safety Review

Students will assist with tacking up when appropriate for their experience level and review basic safety procedures before mounting.

  1. Riding Instruction

Mounted riding time may include:

  • Position and balance exercises

  • Steering and control

  • Walk, trot, and canter work (as appropriate)

  • Pole work and obstacles

  • Trail and ranch skills

  • Horsemanship and horse care education

Each lesson is customized to the rider’s age, experience, goals, and comfort level.

Please note that not all lessons are guaranteed to include mounted riding, especially for participants in our riding program. We believe groundwork is just as important as saddle time and may incorporate unlimited showmanship lessons, longe line lessons, grooming instruction, horse handling, and other horsemanship activities as needed.

In cases of windy or inclement weather, or whenever deemed necessary by the instructor for safety or educational purposes, lessons may focus entirely on groundwork, showmanship, or longe line instruction.

Mounted ride time is dependent on each student’s ability to retain and demonstrate knowledge of grooming, horse care, safety, and ground education. Students who wish to spend additional time grooming, learning in the cross ties, or building confidence on the ground are encouraged to do so. Instructors will adapt lessons to the student’s needs and interests and will not push a student into saddle time before they are ready.

  1. Cool Down & Horse Care

Students will learn how to properly cool out, untack, and care for their horse after riding.

  1. Review & Homework

At the end of each lesson, instructors will discuss progress, answer questions, and provide suggestions for continued improvement.

Lesson Length

Lead-Line Lessons: 30 minutes

Beginner & Youth Lessons: 30–60 minutes

Intermediate & Advanced Lessons: 60 minutes

Please note that mounted riding time is only one part of becoming a well-rounded horseperson. Grooming, horse care, safety, and horsemanship are valuable parts of every lesson experience.