June 1st - September 30th, 2024
At Spirit Creek Arabians, we have an authentic approach to horsemanship taught by Celeste Bergum who has been teaching people to ride since 2009. Starting from the ground up and creating a great foundation of understanding for both the mental and physical wellbeing of each horse and human. Making it a fun, informative, at your own pace, and comfortable environment to learn in. Our lessons are suitable for anyone striving to seek knowledge or improve their horsemanship.
Minimal skills you can learn in our lesson program:
- Safety of horses & being around horses
- Learning to put safety of yourself and the horses first.
- Safety while working the horses on the ground and in the saddle.
- Horse terminology
- Equipment terminology
- Horse care
- Handling
- Safe tying practices
- Tacking up
- Groundwork & exercising
- Equitation
- Balance work and riding exercises
- Skills under saddle such as softness, looking for a feel, learning pressure and release.
- Basic understanding of reading a horse
- Building confidence around horses and building your horses confidence
- Thinking and problem solving
- Minimal training skills that will better prepare for a life with or for just occasionally riding horses.
- Natural horsemanship
- Positive reinforcement horsemanship
- Connection-based horsemanship
Lesson Options:
All students are required to wear their own, appropriate, riding apparel which includes:
Family, friends, guardians, etc. in relation to riding students:
- Private Lessons: $50/hour per person
- Ages 12+
- Semi private Lessons: $50/hour per person
- Ages 12+
- Group Lessons: $40/hour per person
- Ages 12+
- Private lessons are great for one-on-one learning time.
- Semi private lessons consist of only 2 riders and is perfect to learn together with a friend or family member at the same time!
- Group lessons consist of no more than 4 people at max per group lesson. They're also only offered once a student is considered an intermediate rider within our lesson program.
- Consistent lesson students get priority over schedule availability and more opportunities to ride.
- If you arrive 15 minutes early, you can have more time to groom, spend time with, and prepare your lesson horse.
- If you're late for a lesson, your lesson will be docked by how late.
- Make up lessons are available only with a 24-hour cancelation notice prior to said lesson.
- I don't accept no calls, no shows. If you can't be considerate enough to allow somewhat of a notice you won't make it, you will no longer receive lessons from me. Of course, emergencies are understandable to a believable amount.
- A liability waiver needs to be signed prior to handling any horses.
- Safety is #1 at our facility, if any student partakes in any behaviors or actions that are deemed unsafe or dangerous to themselves, other people, or our horses, lessons will no longer be provided to said student.
- We ask that our BARN RULES are followed at all times.
- We ask that there is no jewelry worn, easily accessible clothing that would get caught on any part of the saddle (holey jeans, pants, shirts).
- Payment is due in full prior to lesson or at the time of lesson before it starts. No payment means no lesson even if you show up.
- Cash only, no checks, etc.
- All lessons are weather dependent and will need to be rescheduled when better suited. We can make rainy days possible using the indoor, but keep in mind it is loud and makes hard for hearing.
- Any severe weather warnings result in an immediate cancellation.
- We do not do any riding in lessons where days are hotter than 90 degrees. Those lessons will be on the ground.
All students are required to wear their own, appropriate, riding apparel which includes:
- Certified horse-riding helmet (ASTM or SEI approved) that is correctly fitted.
- Jeans, Leggings, Fitness leggings, or breeches.
- A boot with a heal that is at least 1 - 1 1/2 inches tall. Cowboy boots, horseback riding boots, etc.
Family, friends, guardians, etc. in relation to riding students:
- Anyone of relation to a riding student is allowed to stay and watch said lesson or leave until the lesson is over if they would like.
- We ask that anyone that stays is within sight or stays in their vehicle. We do not want people wandering the property, getting into things they shouldn't, or messing around with any of our animals unsupervised.
- Any kids brought with MUST be consistently watched at all times and not allowed to run all over causing havoc.
- We do not have a restroom available to the public, but we are conveniently 5 minutes away from Wanamingo that has restroom options as well as a great place to stop by for lunch on Mainstreet! (Area 57).
- For the safety and health of our horses, we have a proportion / weight restriction of 200lbs.
- Riders must be physically able to mount and dismount a horse without assistance.
- Our apologies, but at this time we're not able to accommodate people with special needs, disabilities with physical limitations, or people with limited mobility.
FAQ
do you offer discounts for multiple students?
No, we do not offer discounts for multiple students due to the time and level of instruction each student receives.
Can I bring my own horse for riding lessons?
No, we do not allow other horses onto the property in hopes to prevent transferrable health risks from horse to horse. As we do not know where your horse has been or what it has been in contact with.
Can I bring my own tack to ride in?
No, being instruction is based off of horses we own, we deem it is in their best interest to only use tack they're used to. There could be saddle fit issues, there could be something wrong or not up to par with your tack that is even unknown to you at the time that could hurt or injure our horses causing a dangerous situation and we're not willing to take that risk.
what if i accidentally forget my riding apparel or money to pay for the lesson?
Unfortunately, your lesson will be cancelled for that day, and you will need to be better prepared for next time.
Do you offer riding apparel to students who may not have any?
No, we do not offer any riding apparel to our students due to believing if someone is serious about taking lessons and learning, they should be properly prepared for the lessons they would like to receive. We also would prefer a student is able to find properly fitted apparel to themselves instead of borrowing some they may not be.
can my friend come along to ride with me?
If they would like to participate in lessons, of course! We do not allow anyone to ride unless they're currently receiving lessons.
CAN I BRING MY DOG OR ANOTHER PET ALONG?
No, we do not allow anyone's animals onto our property for our animal's safety, other people's safety, your animals safety. This is not acceptable to do at our facility at all regardless of reasoning.