Our Riding Lessons
Spruce Meadow Farm offers a riding lessons program for riders from beginner through advanced.
Riding Lessons
We take pride in developing beginner riders into effective horsemen and women, and competitive riders. Our horse riding lessons include instruction in horse handling, grooming and tacking up.
Students also learn how to cool out and properly put away their horse. We feel that riding and horse care go hand in hand. Proper horse care is the basis of good horsemanship.
Meet Our Instructors
Erin Cox
Erin is the head trainer at Spruce Meadow Farm. She has been riding at the farm for almost 20 years and teaching here for over 10 of those years!
Erin also works with our lesson horses and the Phoenix Rising Rescue Horses. She has ridden at Alfred University and has had the privilege of riding with Walter Zettl, Linda Todenhagen and currently trains with Kathy Wood-Copa.
Both children and adults enjoy her lessons and coaching. She coached the 7 horses and 8 students she took to this year’s Erie County Fair Horse Show to 70 ribbons including several Championship and Reserve Championships.
One of her best attributes is her love and care for all of the horses at the farm and her emphasis on students learning good horsemanship as well as good, solid riding skills.
Greta Hewson
Greta has been riding for 9 years and teaching for the past couple of years.
She began teaching as an assistant trainer under Erin and moved on to become the head riding instructor in the summer camp program.
While she continues to be the head camp instructor she also currently teaches her own students two days per week, as well as filling in for Erin when she is unavailable.
Greta is very enthusiastic about both her teaching and her students.
Horse Shows
We also hold several schooling shows each year here at the farm. This gives students an opportunity to prepare for “away” shows and also offers an option for students that may not be able to travel to off-site shows.
Do I Need Any Special Equipment?
If you are just starting lessons all you need are long pants to protect your legs from being pinched by the stirrup leathers and a shoe or boot with at least a 1/2 inch heel…not a flat sole.
You are also required to wear an ASTM certified equestrian helmet while riding. We provide helmets for students to use when they are starting out, so you don’t need to make any special purchases to begin riding lessons!
However, if you wish to purchase a good starter helmet just click here.
Release Form
We will need a signed release form when you come for your lesson. You can click here to download a form. Simply fill it out, sign it and bring it with you when you come!
Lesson Prices
30 Minute Private lesson $55
60 Minute Semi-Private $55/per person 2 people
60 Minute Small Group Lesson $45/per person 3-4 people
Pony Rides $25/per person 10-15 minutes
Please download a release form, if possible, and bring it to your first lesson. If you are unable to do so we can provide you with one at the farm…thank you!
If You Would Like To Schedule Please
Call Us At (716) 741-2346
Other Learning Opportunities
In addition to lessons we offer various types of clinics based on riding, different disciplines, horsemanship and horse health.
We have several lesson series including the Beginner Series, a Training Scale Series and a Horsemanship Series.
We also offer a horse day camp program during school breaks and summer vacation.
If you have an interest in becoming a working student please contact the farm and let us know.