Interstate Horse Center / Riding Instructor in Stoughton, Wisconsin

Have fun getting in shape this summer!
Riding is an excellent form of exercise with cardiovascular, muscle conditioning, psychological and social-emotional benefits. The unique motion of the horse engages deep postural muscles along the rider’s spine and pelvis as the rider’s body works to maintain balance in the saddle. The deep breathing and yoga postures we integrate into our lessons helps students release the stresses of daily life while teaching stress reduction skills that last a lifetime.
Students of all ages say that simply being on the farm helps them breathe more deeply and relax more fully. Paradoxically, many of these same people tell us that their personal leadership skills have grown as they learned how to be Alpha in a relationship without powering-over anyone. Parents often report remarkable improvement in their child’s ability to focus, self-regulate and develop new friendships.
Lessons at Interstate Horse Center stand apart from those taught at many area stables as the focus is on teaching from a holistic perspective. Licensure and classroom teaching experience as K-12 Teachers, combined with National certification in the field of Horse Assisted Activities and Therapy, allows us to teach more “traditional” riding students in a manner that allows each individual’s strengths to shine while turning challenge areas into the smiles of success.
Students can develop skills that allow them to volunteer in therapeutic riding programs on our farm and possibly at others. With further education and experience students can develop skills required by horsemanship camp counselors and instructors.
As you choose a riding lesson program… keep in mind that horsemanship is both an art and science. It requires an understanding of much more than the "how-to" of steering a horse around an arena or down a trail. It involves everything from understanding the psychology of horse behavior to feeding and caring for horses.
The true joy in working with a horse comes from the relationship you develop while caring for this gifted animal that humans are blessed to know. Relationships take time to develop. Time spent in a 'give-and-take' manner in which we give the horse loving care before and after each ride, and in return the horse gives us the exhilarating experience of riding him.
Our lessons teach true horsemanship, based on concepts of 4-H, US & British Pony Club, and the Vienna Riding School as well as our own theories of the sacred nature of the horse-human bond and wild-horse-herd psychology. Regardless of age, students' personal relationships often improve as they learn how to truly listen to, and become empathic to the needs of, their equine partner(s).
Hope to see you this summer!
Interstate Horse Center Summer Specials: $175 for 4 lessons, or $ 65 for a single lesson including ride on Nature Trail. Want to ride all summer on a limited budget? Full summer Package: 15 lessons for $ 500 + volunteer time on farm. Email Nikki at healinghorseman AT aol DOT com for details (sorry for spelling that out but spam is big issue).
Gift certificates adorned with horse-hair braid available.

Specialties

4-H Fair Prep Program Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy Horse Boarding Horsemanship & Riding Lessons Therapeutic Horsemanship Train Your Own Horse Programs