Horseback Riding Lessons

Evergreen Stables Equestrian Center in Scottsville, NY with evergreen trees

Lesson Information

Aladdin being ridden in the outdoor arena

We offer Western riding lessons and ranch style lessons. We start horseback riding lessons at 9 yrs old. Adult Students are also very welcome to start up horseback riding lessons. You are not too old to start. We have safe lesson horses that will teach you what you need to know about how to control the horse in many situations. Our emphasis is on the equitation (how you look and ride the horse) of the rider and horsemanship (how well you work as a team) . We believe that if the rider has good equitation, then the rider could ride most any horse or discipline.

Our horseback riding lessons are only private (1 rider) or semi-private (2 or 3 riders) lessons. We rarely do private or group lessons (more than 3 riders). You can have a horseback riding lesson on your horse or one of our lesson horses. It’s $45 for a 45 minute semi-private (2-3 riders) lesson or $60 for a 45 minute private lesson. We teach everyone how to tack, untack and care for the horse. That includes, grooming, tacking, warming up, riding, and cooling down your horse. We want you learn how to take care of a horse in the event you would ever want to buy one or even lease.

Weather

We teach horseback riding lessons year round but we do cancel when the weather is too hot or too cold. Generally when the temperature is below 25 degrees and above 85 degrees. Of course, if you have to cancel for any reason, let us know as soon as possible. The best way to do this is through text or calling. If you do have to cancel for any reason, you can always ask for a makeup later in the week or the next week. If you cannot get a makeup lesson in, we ask that you pay a minimal $20 cancellation fee. We will make sure to save your lesson spot for the next week. This only applies if you cancel, not us. Please check Facebook group and Instagram for any cancellations and other topics of interest.

Schedule

We have horseback riding lessons during the week in the evening for most everyone's convenience. Lessons are Monday through Friday from 5pm-8pm and Sunday mornings at 9am. Please call, text or email for availability.

Horseback riding lessons are usually once a week, for as many weeks as you would like to do. Keep coming and taking lessons, but let us know if things change and you no longer want to continue with lessons. We will understand. There are no sessions to sign up for. You are also welcome to come watch a lesson before taking any for free. Just let us know and we can tell you when lessons are going on.

Jennifer riding Rosemary bareback

A student riding Aladdin Western

A student riding Bandit western outside

Riding Apparel

TuffRider Women's front zip paddock boot — TuffRider Women's Start Front Zip Paddock Boot

Minimal equipment is needed to start taking horseback riding lessons.

We provide riding helmets.
Long pants are a must. Jeans are usually the easy solution, but feel free to ask if you'd like to ride with something else.
A boot with a heel is required. You don't have to get official riding boots or western boots but you can.
You are welcome to wear chaps (long or half).

not boots — Please do not wear these while riding

Trail ride lessons and clinics

We only offer trail rides here as part of a lesson or the occasional trail riding clinics we hold for current students at Evergreen Stables. If you'd like to take a trail ride and you are not a current lesson student, please call or text me for the list of places in and around Rochester that host trail rides for the public.

Lesson Horses

Here is a basic list of our lesson horses that we have here at Evergreen Stables

Aladdin: March 15th, 2005, 15.2 Hands, Black, Thoroughbred Gelding Rides English and Western and Ranch. Turning into a nice beginner horse who has been great with all riders. Enjoys being ridden and getting out of his stall to be ridden in the arena or going on trail rides.

Bandit: Born in 2009, 13.3 Hands, Black and white Arabian Tennesee walker cross Gelding Rides English and Western and Ranch. Bandit is a great pony but not for any beginner student. He is a wonderful ride for advanced students. He also does trail rides.

Cutter: Born in 1993, 14.1 Hands, "black", PasoFino cross Gelding Rides English and Western but prefers Western. A wonderful bombproof beginner horse with the smoothest canter/lope around. Super slow. Loves to be groomed and go on trail rides.

Danny: Born about 1998, 16 Hands, Chestnut, Criollo/Hanovarian Cross Gelding Rides English and Western and Ranch. He likes to be ridden by more advanced students but will take a more experienced beginner around the arena. Don't let his age fool you. He still looks and feels like he's 12.

Happy: Born March 2000, 14.2 Hands, Black and White, Paint Mare Rides English and Western and Ranch. Overall good beginner horse who knows what she needs to do for most riders and more fun for the advanced students as well.

Mac: Born Feb 2001, 16 Hands, Bay, Thoroughbred Gelding More Advanced English horse but could be ridden Ranch. He needs someone confident to ride him.

Norman: March 29th, 2001, 14.3 Hands, Sutty Buckskin, Quarter Horse Gelding Rides both Western and English and Ranch. He's pretty much bombproof. He's also a bit stubborn to ride but everyone seems to enjoy him anyway. He loves trail rides and when kids ride him. He's a wonderful ranch riding horse too.

Rayne: Born about 2000, 15.3 Hands, Red and White paint mare Rides Western. She's pretty much bombproof. Very forward horse that needs a lot of strong cues but smooth as silk to ride. She loves trail rides and will go almost anywhere.

Rosemary: Born April 30th, 2000, 15.2 Hands, Chestnut, Quarter Horse/Paint Mare Rides English and Western and Ranch. She does both equally well. She loves to teach walk-jog beginner students.

Sage: May 20th, 2006, 15 Hands, Cremello, Paint Gelding Rides both Western and English and Ranch. He's a forward horse that advanced riders enjoy. He's a wonderful ranch riding horse.

Sandy: May 29th, 2006, 15.1 Hands, Palomino, Quarter horse mare Rides both Western and English and Ranch. She's a mixture of slow and fast that riders who have been riding a bit can move up to. She also doesn't seem to be scared of anything around the barn. She's a perfect ranch riding horse.

Strider: Born about 1994, 16.3 Hands, Bay, Thoroughbred Gelding rides English and western. Mostly retired but will do the occasional lesson and the occasional trail ride.

Our barn kitty, Autumn. Loves to be petted and loved on. Will lay in your lap while you watch lessons.