EQUISCAPES
~Home of Double J Farm~
Riding Lessons and Show Coaching
At Double J Farm we work with each individual student to find what their personal goals are. Whether it be to ride pleasure or if they would like to show in classes or events.
Our Mission with Students:
We would like to start out in saying that we like to refer to Riding Lessons as “Riding Therapy”. Horses can be great stress relievers and great teachers on how to embrace peacefulness. Having said that, we at Double J Farm aim to be a stress-free environment and we embrace this concept even with our competitive students. Most of our students come to have fun and relax with the horses. Whether it be the mom who wants to take time for herself to do something she enjoys or the young high school student that comes to relax from all the peer pressure that they have to constantly deal with in school. Our goal is to instruct how to work with the horse, instead of commanding the horse. Each student learns to read horses and every person is capable of learning this technique to better ride and work with horses. For example, I used to be a driven competitor that would work very diligently to get those blue ribbons, trophies and money prizes, and while I am still a great competitor now, I have learned what it truly means to work with a horse. My horses do this because they enjoy pleasing their owner, they love the reward of a rub down, or the praise that I give them for a job well done. While some barns may have horses that you may have to use a crop or spur on, this seems to be harsh and it almost seems like the horses have checked out and they hate their life as a lesson horse. (This may not be true for all horses and barns, but still bares a bitter truth) Our horses on the other hand, want to work, play and please you. Students learn to communicate clearly with the horse both bare back and in saddle. Riding bareback is not a form of punishment, but a reward to be more in tune with your horse. The correct form and cues are still important to us, but we mainly want to change the next generation of horse people to get back to the days where the horses were not only your work mate, but your confidant and companion.
Our instructors are extremely qualified to teach lessons to our students and are willing to travel to other barns to instruct lessons (with mileage fee, dependant upon location). Students are encouraged to trailer in their horses and use our facility. Here is a little about our instructor.
Jaime Curtis has shown for almost twelve years in the western pleasure, hunter jumper circuit and Judged local shows. She is confident that working with students and horses is her passion. She specializes in teaching the beginner fundamentals that are very important to every horseman. From the grooming and tacking to the basic beginner riding skills needed to be successful in riding the horse. Jaime teaches all the western lessons, from pleasure riding to the advanced level of instruction and competition. She also teaches the English flat work and the Hunter Jumper lessons. She is actively eager to learn more about horses and how to progress with her own riding skills. Jaime has experience in teaching ground skills to young horses and beginning young horses under saddle. Whether you want to learn for pleasure riding or you want to be more competitive and show, she will be able to help you accommodate your personal goals.
What does Double J Farm teach?
First and foremost the student will learn how to conduct themselves around their horse and horse handling.
Second, horse care and management of both the horses and the stable. The student will also learn the safety that both the horse and stable require.
Thirdly, riding education where the student works with the horse to learn the skills needed to be a successful rider and have a good partnership with their horse.
Accepting Students
We only accept students seven years old and older. However we do have a riding session that we call a "Leadline Session". The parent or guardian will assist in this session. Basically it is thirty minutes of fun filled action for ages 3 to 6 years old for a low base cost.
Lessons for the Children: Jaime Curtis notes that "Teaching is my passion. I love to teach the skills and fundamentals of raising and owning a horse. The more "horse people" we have the more "stable" we will be in the future. Horses have a calming sense about them and that is why they are also used for therapeutic reasons." Jaime states "I have given lessons to small children, teens, troubled teens (who found this a way of release) who really enjoy the lessons. It is such a great feeling to watch the students grown in their lessons and become more independant as riders."
Lessons for the Adults: Double J Farm welcomes all ages and disciplines of riding. It is never too late to start riding horses. Some adults like this activity because, believe it or not, it is a great work out but at the same time, relaxing. This is a great after work activity or on the weekends to get away from it all.
We ask that our student be dedicated and to understand that riding does not come over night and that anything worth having is worth working for. So if you work hard at learning the skills you will be a great horseman. When you’re riding skills have improved, we do encourage that you not only ride during your lessons but to ride at other times too, of course under the supervision of an adult or use the buddy system if you are an adult.
While students should be physically and mentally capable of taking horseback riding lessons, we do not wish to discriminate, but we simply are not experienced or qualified for teaching horseback riding to truly handicap individuals or those with significant impairments that may hinder their safety.
- Western- For people who like trail riding and pleasure riding.
- English- Balance seat, critiqued posture and communication with the horse.
- Hunter Jumper- Beginners must master the English riding before moving to Hunter Jumping. In this discipline, the horse and rider work together over obstacles.
- Dressage- The horse and rider are communicating on a multiple level of cues and pressure to instruct the horse to move in a beautiful fashion.
Although Jaime Curtis does not instruct Dressage, lessons can be arranged through an instructor that we work closely with.
- Purchase an ASTM-SEI certified Equestrian Riding Helmet ($45.00 and up)
- Purchase / wear proper equestrian footwear (paddock boots/shoes, riding sneakers/all terrains, leather boots - NO RUBBER BOOTS)
- Wear appropriate riding clothes (Wrangler-type jeans without heavy inseams, stretch pants, riding breeches, and any appropriate gender specific support or padded undergarments, a tidy shirt).
Lesson Options Lessons Available for Beginner through those more Advanced.
Below you will find the many different options you have as a student. Riding Lessons are pay as you go, per appointment. Please Email (doublejfarmlessons@gmail.com) or call (336) 421-1556 to inquire on lesson rates.
Jaime Curtis is also available for coaching at shows and events. She will be your personal coach at an event for $100.00 a day. For events that are not local, Jaime will be glad to carpool with the student to the show.
Beginner Lessons- 1 hour - For Western and English discipline ~ This will inlcude 15 minutes of tacking up, 30 minutes of riding and 15 minutes of
untacking and cooling down the horse. $40.00 for a horse that is provided by Double J Farm and $35.00 for a horse that is provided by the student. Students will learn balance, communication, health and anatomy of the horse.
Intermediate to Advance Private Lessons - 45 mintues - English or Western disciplines ~ Each rider must be capable of grooming, tacking and warming the horse up by themselves. The lesson time begins when the instructor steps in the ring and begins to instruct. Lessons on a Double J Farm provided horse is $50 and on a horse that is provided by the rider $45.
Intermediate to Advance Private Lesson - 30 minutes - English or Western disciplines ~ Each rider must be capable of grooming, tacking and warming the horse up by themselves. The lesson time begins when the instructor steps in the ring and begins to instruct. Lessons on a Double J Farm provided horse is $35 and on a horse that is provided by the rider $30.
Group Lessons Available for discounted rates. Please contact us for more information.
Reminder for Students
All students are responsible for grooming, tacking, cooling the horses down, and putting tack back in it's place.
SHOW COACHING
Need a set of eyes from the ground? We can travel with you to a show and give you touch up suggestions before you go in the ring. $100.00 for the day.
