Horses

Offerings

Riding Lessons, Clinics + Day Camps, Healing Effects, Boarding

Riding Lessons

River Heights Ranch offers a variety of lesson options. Whether you’ve never ridden, rode in the past, want to learn more about caring for and handling horses or want to enhance your horsemanship skills, we will customize your “Grassroots Lessons” to meet your needs and share our life-long learning experiences with you. All ages are welcome.

Dressage and Western Dressage lessons on your horse are available from Eileen N. Ostlund, a United States Dressage Federation Certified instructor. Lessons are targeted to your goals with an emphasis on correct basics and building confidence in horse and rider.  Whether you want to polish your skills for showing or just have more fun in your daily rides, all skill levels and breeds are welcome. 

Clinics/Day Camps 

River Heights Ranch offers experienced guest clinicians who focus on understanding the horse’s natural behavior, improving the relationship between horse and rider and developing the rider’s skill and ability to communicate with and control the horse. Becoming a student of the horse improves our communication and success with horses.

Day camps and clinic topics range from beginner safety, handling, communication and general horsemanship to western, english, dressage and 4-H show preparation clinics. All riders of all breeds, disciplines and abilities are welcome.

Healing Effects

Equine-assisted activities and therapeutic riding are widely accepted and endorsed methods of healing and transformation. Rhythms of Grace is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization dedicated to serving the special needs of individuals using the power of the horse to bring hope and healing. 

For people of all capabilities, research has shown that therapeutic horseback riding and horsemanship (horse care) provides numerous health and wellness benefits to individuals. Physically, a horse in motion, moves a rider rhythmically and naturally through space in a way that simulates the human walking gait. The simple rhythm of the horse’s steps loosens tight muscles and strengthens muscle tone.  The warmth from the horses’ bodies helps with circulation and digestion. Riding also lowers cortisol levels. This type of motion develops core muscle strength, balance and posture. Horseback riding also develops gross and fine motor control and promotes coordination. Mentally, horseback riding increases concentration, improves sequential thought processing and develops spatial awareness. Participants learn patience, responsibility, and compassion as they groom, feed, and ride the sweet-natured animals. Emotionally, horseback riding helps develop trust and reinforces appropriate behaviors and bonding. Socially, riding nurtures a positive self-image and self-confidence, independence.

Rhythms of Grace serves children and adults with diverse cognitive, physical, intellectual, learning, and social-emotional differences. To learn how you can assist, visit RhythmsofGraceEquine.org

Boarding

DAILY + MONTHLY BOARD, RETIRED HORSE CARE

At River Heights Ranch, you’ll find genuine, caring and friendly owners and a family atmosphere. The owners live on the property, managing the day-to-day operations. Rest assured your horse receives the same loving care you would personally provide. All grounds are security-monitored.

AMENITIES

Boarders enjoy these amenities: use of indoor and outdoor arena, round pen, turn outs, wash rack and secure tack area. Horse health and condition are checked twice daily. If there are any issues, owners are notified and the veterinarian called for peace of mind in the event of an emergency.

OWNER CARE

The secure tack room includes a private bathroom with walk-in shower. The tack room also includes a kitchenette area for potlucks and snacking.

HORSE CARE - nutrition

Each horse’s health and safety is our priority. Horses are routinely analyzed for body score and nutritional needs and receive exceptional quality hay and feed that has been individually prescribed by nutrition specialists consulting with owners.

horse CARE - STALL BOARD

Horses are bedded in a 12’x12’ stall with ¾” thick rubber mat flooring. Stalls are cleaned daily, stripped and sanitized on a regular basis. A generous portion of high quality hay and grain is fed twice daily along with continuous access to clean, fresh, filtered city water. Horses are turned out in groups 10-12 hours a day. Blanket application is provided in the cold months and in the summer, horses are sprayed daily for flies and mosquitoes with owner-provided spray.

HORSE CARE - PADDOCK BOARD

The paddocks are kept to a small community of 1-2 horses which are provided high quality hay, shelter and continuous access to clean, filtered, city water. Horses are checked twice daily, blanketed as needed and sprayed for flies and mosquitoes as needed with owner provided fly spray.

ECO FRIENDLY

Our love of horses naturally keeps us in tune with mother nature. After all, when caring for horses, we have always relied on mother nature to provide beautiful days for riding and green pastures for grazing. We look for ways to be eco-friendly in our operation that will pay dividends for us, our animals and future generations.

VENTILATION

Proper ventilation is another aspect of an eco-friendly operation. Ceiling fans above the stalls reduce the need for fly-control measures or chemicals, help control ammonia build-up and provide a healthier environment for animals. Screened windows in the arena allow for airflow and stall partitions have galvanized grills to allow airflow.  Stalls also open up to the roof to allow the hot air to rise out of stalls.

Thank you for your interest in Boarding.

There are currently 0 openings available for boarding.