Lessons

GROUP LESSONS
$30/lesson
$100/set of four lessons

Our group lessons are scheduled on the hour starting at 5:00, 6:00 and 7:00 PM, Tuesday through Friday and at 10:00, 11:00, 12:00 AM and 1:00 PM on Saturday. We try to limit the size of our lessons to 6-7 students to insure individual attention. Our facilities include an outdoor and indoor arena. Everyone starts in the western saddle, focusing on rhythm and communication skills with the horse. Please contact us for current lesson openings. We welcome riders in our group program from seven years old through adult, and we do offer adult-only lessons. PeeWee lessons are available for younger riders. For special needs riders, please see the information on our modified programs.

As an integral part of our lesson program, ground work such as catching, leading, tying, grooming and saddling your horse is a component of the educational process. The majority of the first lesson will be on the ground, learning safety around horses, basic grooming, saddling, bridling, leading, mounting/dismounting, and very basic communication. Every lesson after that, the student needs to be at the barn 15 minutes prior to the lesson to get his/her horse ready. If you have a younger student who may have difficulty with some of these areas, we do encourage parental involvement. Students will have the opportunity to ride different horses to expand their riding experience.

Whenever people and horses are together, safety must always come first. A horse is a big, powerful animal with instincts and a mind of its own. Even the most gentle and well trained horse is unpredictable. The best way to be safe around horses is to become an educated horse person and establish good safety practices ALL OF THE TIME. Far from stopping the fun, this lets everyone enjoy riding.

Riding lessons, as in all lessons, require the student’s full concentration. At Bunker Park Stable, we believe every rider should start with a good foundation of basic skills and knowledge and have plenty of experience and confidence at one level before trying to move to the next. However, some people get into trouble because they want to try more advanced activities before their basics are solid. We will continue to move forward with skills and knowledge and work with exercises that will enhance both. We want your time at Bunker to be fun and educational. Please ask lots of questions and do not be afraid to say that you don’t understand something.

Thank you for your interest in our lesson program. We’re excited to share our love and knowledge of horses with others!

PEEWEES LESSON PROGRAM
$100/set of 4

Have a young horse-lover who just cannot wait to ride? We are offering an introductory lesson program open to ages 5-6 on Thursdays at 3:00 and 4:00. Sessions will be one hour long and include grooming, saddling, horse safey and structured riding instruction. Please call for more information and availability. 

SEMI-PRIVATE LESSONS
$35/person
1 hour

Available for groups of 2-3 people for hour-long lessons, this program is great for everyone from young beginners to adults. We schedule around our regular activities, so contact us for availability.

PRIVATE LESSONS
$35/person
30 minutes

Looking to work on a specific area or individualized attention? Then private lessons are perfect. They are available to students as young as 5 years old through adults. Our instructors will take care of the saddling and provide one-on-one teaching. We recommend half hour lessons, but we can modify the lesson length as needed. We schedule private lessons around our regular activities, so contact us for availability.

PHOTOS FROM THE 2008 SPRING FUN SHOW

An article in the 2008 April edition of the National Walking Horse Association magazine from a former lesson student:

My name is Bria Olson, I live in Ham Lake, Minnesota, I am 13 years old. I started riding when I was 9. I took lessons at Bunker Park Stable for a few years and then I decided to join the 4-H program in Isanti. Shortly after joining I found my best friend and love of my life, my 16 year old Tennessee Walking Horse Black Beauty Mae, Beauty for short. She is a dream to ride and a joy to train. When I bought her she was a trail horse that didn’t know a lot about anything. Keep in mind this is my first horse and first time training a horse. Beauty and I worked very hard through the long hot days of summer, but always together. Pretty soon the Isanti county fair came around. Beauty and I showed there. We took first in showmanship, sixth in western pleasure, first in barrel racing and keyhole race, second in pole weaving, and the high point trophy in games. I feel we were judged fairly being as we were showing against non gaited horses. It has been a joy owning Beauty and it will always be!