At Tamarack Farms we offer Riding Lessons for Children ages 5 and older and adults of all ages! I am a qualified level 2 Coach with a Certified Horsemanship Association Qualification and Membership.  I specialize in teaching beginner lessons and I would say that my focus is providing a safe, enriching and enjoyable riding experience for all. 

I am also a qualified Child and Youth Worker and an Early Childhood Educator with many years of experience working for School Boards in Ontario.  I offer programming for Children and adults with special needs. I also enjoy helping riders with confidence issues or riders who haven’t ridden for a while and want to get back in to the saddle. 

Our Riding Stable offers a barn with two stalls for grooming and tacking the horses. I have a fully fenced full sized outdoor arena where I teach lessons.  I also have a large outdoor sand arena which is also used for teaching lessons.  As we ride and teach outside, we are dependent on the weather.  I do teach lessons all year round, except when it is raining heavily, the ground is icy or in extreme hot or cold temperatures. 

Tamarack Farms Philosophy

As an owner and instructor, I believe that taking lessons isn’t just about riding a horse.  I strive to make your experience an authentic one, that includes horse safety, handling, grooming, tacking and basic care.  To fully appreciate the horse, we need to have a basic knowledge of how they behave and learn. 

So, what are the benefits of riding and spending time with horses?

In fact, there are many benefits.  Of course, the obvious benefits are spending time outside, exercise, fitness and relaxation. 

However, there are many more benefits that develop from simply spending time with horses.  As an instructor, I have witnessed many positive changes. Most of my students are young women.  Some arrive nervous, hesitant and somewhat in awe of such a large and powerful animal.  Some wonder if they can even get on to the horse much less learn to ride.

Learning to ride is definitely a journey.  I have seen such transformations, from shy to assertive, from unsure to confident.  I have seen frustration and Aha moments when everything clicks and makes sense.  There are so many benefits including but certainly not limited to, improved communication and building respectful relationships, following directions and problem solving. The ability to use initiative.  Over time there is also an improvement in balance and physical strength These are just a few of the many benefits that horses and horsemanship can offer.