I understand that the cost of riding does deter some people, and a lot of people, especially beginners, simply don't understand why riding is so expensive, aside from knowing that horses are large animals that are expensive to feed. I can assure you that it isn't high because I'm trying to gouge clients to get rich. I am also not trying to justify unreasonably high rates with this blog entry, as mine are in line with average prices in my area. I do, however, want to explain why reputable, safe facilities like my own are usually not the cheapest options.
Putting aside the cost of purchasing a farm and the countless hours and expense I have invested in my own training with some of the top riders in the country, there are several other reasons why riding at my barn and at other respectable facilities isn't "cheap."
Safe, Quality School Horses are Expensive. First and foremost, in horseback riding, the horses are the most important part of the equation. Safe, healthy, sound, well-trained school horses that can patiently accept different riders on them every day are difficult to find and expensive to acquire. I go to great lengths to find safe, appropriate school horses for my students, and I don't sacrifice soundness, a good mind, or good training for the cheapest option. While they may not be the fanciest show horses around, they are experienced, well-trained horses with a quiet, safe disposition. They also have the patience to deal with beginner riders and the athleticism to allow more experienced riders to also learn on them. They have no vices like regular bucking, rearing, bolting, excessive spooking, or refusing or running out on jumps. While they aren't the most expensive horses on the planet, they aren't inexpensive to acquire or maintain.
![]() |
Our school horses work hard and deserve the best care possible. Here, one of our school horses is having his legs iced after giving a jumping lesson to an advanced student. |
My School Horses are Not Overworked. My barn is not a lesson factory. I don't teach dozens of large group lessons, and I don't expect my school horses to work for more than 2 lessons per day. When they do work two lessons in a single day, they are never expected to give back-to-back lessons. I also arrange it so that they don't have to give two advanced or jumping lessons on the same day. If one of their lessons is with a more experienced rider, the other will be a lower-intensity beginner lesson. Lesson barns should have and stick to a school horse policy dictating the amount and intensity of the lessons their horses can do. There are unfortunately some barns that expect their school horses to give 4 or 5 or more hour-long lessons in a day, sometimes with multiple lessons scheduled back-to-back. While fit horses can certainly be expected to work hard, expecting a horse to do that many lessons with that many different riders in a single day can take a physical and mental toll on the horse. I want my school horses to be sound, fit, and willing partners for their riders, not sore and ring sour from being overworked. I will not sacrifice the physical and mental well-being of my horses simply to make more money per school horse. Additionally, all of my school horses get at least one day off per week. This is essential to their physical and mental well-being.
I Ride My School Horses at Least Once a Week. School horses that are ridden only by beginner and intermediate riders can quickly get sour and develop bad habits. I school each of my lesson horses once a week to give them a tune-up and to make sure they aren't developing any bad habits. Yes, this is one less lesson each horse can teach in a week, but it makes sure that the horses are safe and appropriate mounts, so my riders can have the best learning experience.

My Facility is Not Overcrowded. I keep the numbers at my barn low for a reason. First, this makes sure that the horses have enough turnout space and my pastures don't become overgrazed. Second, this allows me to make sure that every horse gets the time, attention, and care that it needs.


Most barns, like my own, try hard to offer affordable services, while still maintaining a high standard of care for their facility and animals. I completely understand and respect that riding is a luxury and everyone has a budget. I also want to stress that there are many reputable, responsible barns out there that take the same great pains to keep their facility, their animals, and their riders healthy and safe. Asking the cost of lessons and/or boarding is certainly a reasonable and very important question to ask when looking for a trainer or a barn. Just make sure that you also take into consideration the experience of the trainer, the treatment and lifestyle of the barn's horses, the training and temperament of the barn's lesson horses, and the time and attention given to maintaining the farm's facilities when making your decision. I also always encourage people to visit a prospective lesson barn before committing to a lesson to meet the trainer and see the facility and horses in person.