Our Lesson Program

Windwalker Farms is different from your typical horseback riding facility. We focus on teaching our students how horses perceive the world with their prey animal mentality through education and adventure! It is our job as horsemen to meet horses where they are at and communicate with them in a way that makes sense to them; instead of forcing horses to learn the way humans do, it's our job to understand how they learn and view the world. It is our mission at Windwalker Farms to bridge the gap between horses and people. We strive to teach our students the language of the horse and how to effectively communicate with them. With effective communication comes a very willing horse, and the horse-and-rider relationship that everyone dreams about when they begin riding. Our focus is not on speed or winning flashy ribbons, we want you to learn your horse's mind, and once you’ve done that, the sky’s the limit on what you and your horse can do.

Lesson Program Information

Weekly Lessons:

A standing weekly appointment in our lesson program (for example: every Wednesday @ 6pm). We offer lessons by appointment Monday-Thursday 10am-8pm and Saturdays 11am-6pm. We’re closed on Fridays & Sundays.

Occasional Lessons:

A single one time lesson or reoccurring lessons taken on different days and times on an occasional basis.

Recreational Guided Trail Lessons:

Please visit our: “Recreational Guided Trail Lesson" page for more information.

Trail Ride Information

Contact Information:

Windwalker Farms

9204 Valley View Dr.

Fenton, MI 48430

To schedule a lesson you can fill out the form at the bottom of this page or email, call, or text us at: (810)922-9055 windwalkeroffice@gmail.com

Lesson Inquiry Form

Lesson Cost:

Single/Occasional /Bi-Weekly Lesson: $70 for an hour lesson

Mini Rider Lesson (Ages 3-5): $40 for a half-hour lesson

Weekly Lesson Packages:

4 Lesson Pack: $220 | $55 lesson

10 Lesson Pack: $500 | $50 lesson

Mini Rider 4 Lesson Pack: $150 (Ages 3-5) half hour lessons | $37.50

*Lesson Packs are only available to students enrolled in a weekly lesson slot and must be paid in full upon starting the lesson package*

Age Requirements:

We offer lessons for ages 3 to 103.

Children under 8 can only do indoor lessons. Ages 8+ can trail ride after they have met the skill requirements during indoor lessons.

Additional Lesson Information:

No prior horse experience is required. If you or your child has had prior horse lessons you will experience horses here like you never have before!

Our lessons are 60 minutes and we schedule on the hour. The first 5-10 minutes is used for grooming and tacking, then a 40-50 minute lesson beginning with the ride simulator, followed by 5 minutes of untacking and grooming at the end of the riding lesson.

Lessons for our Mini Riders (ages 3-5 years old) are 30 minutes long. The main focus of these lessons is getting students comfortable around and on horses. Half of the lesson will be spent on the ground brushing the horse and doing balance exercises and the other half in the saddle.

Our lessons are semi private or small group lessons.

We have a weight limit of 220 lbs. if you are over 6' tall and 190 lbs. if you are under 6' tall. In a group ride, we can accommodate 1 rider in the 200-220 lb. range. Riders must have full mobility.

Ride Simulator Policy:

The ride simulator is a key part of our program and will be a tool we use at the beginning of every lesson.

The ride simulator allows us to teach you or your child what to do when they experience turbulence on a horse. It allows the rider to work through their natural instinct of locking up, shutting down, or completely panicking, and allows them to gain the skills needed to calmly think through difficult situations while, also growing the riders confidence! We will not allow riders off of a line until they can do the lowest level on the simulator. Check out the video below.

Ride Simulator Video

OUR LESSON CURRICULUM

Mini Rider: Building Confidence (Ages 3-5)

Intro: Laying The Foundation

Level 0: Begin Building

Level 1: Prep For Trails

Level 2: Introduction To Trails & Obstacles

Level 3: Trails & Obstacles

Level 4: Learning The Buttons

Level 5: Putting It All Together

Level 6: Finesse

Every student begins at Level Intro and progresses through the levels at their own pace. Every skill must be obtained before advancing to the next level.

We begin introducing trail lessons into the mix at the end of Level 1. We begin teaching students speed; gaiting at Level 3 and cantering at Level 4.

We highly encourage our students to attend training seminars to expand their knowledge on horse psychology. The education gained from these seminars will lay the foundation needed for advancing into Levels 2+. There is no charge for seminars!

Training Seminar Schedule

CANCELLATION & WEATHER POLICies:

Cancellation Policy:

We have a 24-hour cancellation policy.

With weekly lessons, we prefer a 1 week's notice for needing to reschedule a lesson so we can offer the slot to an occasional lesson student but require a 24-hour notice. Multiple cancellations or skipped lessons could result in the loss of your standing weekly lesson time slot.

If less than 24-hour notice is given but more than an hour (we understand life, sickness, and last minute things happen) we’ll take a punch off of your lesson card for that week and credit your account with a Horse Care Session. No-shows or last-minute cancellations (less than 1 hour before your scheduled lesson) will result in a missed lesson that cannot be made up with a Horse Care Session. Horse Care Sessions expire 30 days after a missed lesson.

Students that don't have a punch card or are out of punches will be required to pay for the missed appointment before booking any future lessons.

Please call or text (810)922-9055 to cancel, reschedule, or to book your Horse Care Session.

Horse Care Session:

The topics covered in a Horse Care Session might include; horse grooming, cleaning stalls, feeding horses and other farm animals, learning about and doing farm chores, putting extra time in on the ride simulator, watching a groundwork training seminar, groundwork games, learning horse psychology, learning horse anatomy, and brushing up on different skills.

Lightning / Hail Policy:

The safety of our students is our primary concern and because we have indoor arenas, we are generally able to hold lessons, rain or shine. However, if there is lightning, hail, extremely heavy rain, or the weather otherwise makes it unsafe to be riding in the indoor arenas, lessons will continue for the day as an unmounted Horse Care Session.

Winter Weather Policy:

If we will be closed or have an alternate schedule for the day, we will send a text to all students on the schedule.

If local schools are canceled due to hazardous driving conditions and you don't want to attend your lesson, you may reschedule your lesson with less than 24-hour notice without being charged. If school is not in session (break or weekend) and you do not feel comfortable driving, please notify us as soon as possible to reschedule.

You will not be charged for canceling a lesson with less than 24-hour notice if it's due to hazardous roads. However, if you are a no-call, no-show or cancel less than 1 hour before your scheduled lesson, you will be charged for the missed lesson.

What To Bring

We require riders to wear long pants or leggings.
Boots (riding boots, fashion boots, rain boots, winter boots). We prefer boots but old tennis shoes will work just no flats or sandals, please.
Thin garden gloves or riding gloves are recommended but not required.
Helmet (we provide helmets if you wish to use one of ours). Under 18 helmets are mandatory. Over 18 helmets are optional.
Waiver (you can print the waiver below or we have them available upon arrival).
Winter: Our indoor is heated in the winter but please bring warm layers (snow pants, gloves, coat).
Please read over our cancellation & weather policy above.
Address: 9204 Valley View Dr. Fenton MI 48430 | Once you drive under the Windwalker Farms archway keep going up the driveway past all the tan apartment buildings. You will come to a white sign on your right pointing you down to the main barn. Park where ever you would like.