Horses and Ponies
Equine Programs
Bowers Farm Riding School
An equine program for adults and children. Students can develop skills over a 6 step program from beginner to advanced. As riders progress through the program they will master equestrian abilities with confidence along the way, learning proper equestrian techniques and equine care.
Why Bowers Riding School?
Introduce students to the world of equestrian
Have a keen understanding of horse behaviors
Develop a keen understanding of riding and handling
Learn equine care and first aid
Learn proper grooming and saddling techniques
Help foster strong relationships between the students & horses
TO HAVE FUN AND BUILD CONFIDENCE
Riding Classes will resume in the spring!
Join Equine Explores below during the winter to learn further equine understanding.
Equine Explorers Program
Join us this winter for furthering your equine education and experiences. Lou takes students into the classroom for some equine education necessary for the thriving equestrian, along with hands on experiences.
These courses are designed for all ages, whether you just love horses, you are a new horse owner, beginning lessons or an equine enthusiast looking to expand your knowledge this course is for you. Stay connected all winter long with our Bowers Riding School students and local equestrian enthusiasts with this fun, interactive classroom course. An excellent balance of science based classroom work and hands on horse activities (weather permitting, classes may include working with live horses).
Sign up for the full 8 sessions at a discount to fully dive into the world of horses. You may alternatively pick and choose what classes work best for you.
Ages: 8 - adult
Session 1: Care Management on December 3 -
In this course you will learn about the basic principles of equine husbandry practices health, nutrition and environment.
Proper management of the health and condition of horses in various situations and conditions
Understanding horse behavior
Brief discussion about environmental nutrition
Environment
Health care
Managing stress in horses
Session 2: Nutrition on December 17 -
In this course you will learn about many aspects of horse nutrition, including caloric requirements, understanding feed labels, nutrients, nutritional requirements, evaluating and balancing a ration, diseases affecting nutrition, and feeding management.
The digestive anatomy, ingestive behaviors of a horse, foraging.
How the major nutrients are digested, absorbed and used by equine
Evaluating the nutritional status of your horse
Forage, grains and supplements
How to read feed labels
How diseases can affect the nutritional requirements of a horse
Session 3: Anatomy on January 7 -
This course is filled with different interactive learning activities to test you on all the different horse colors and markings. In this course you will learn about the muscle and skeletal structures of equine anatomy. You will receive beginner knowledge of surface anatomy, veterinary terminology, the muscular and skeletal systems, and confirmation flaws.
Vocabulary, parts of a horse
Basic understand of the skeletal structure
Major muscles and ligaments
Leg and hoof structure
Common confirmation flaws
Session 4: Breeds, Colors & Markings on January 21 -
In this course you will learn about popular breeds, colors, and identifying markings. Horses come in a variety of colors with many different markings that can help with the identification of individuals. Knowing the names of those colors and markings not only makes you knowledgeable about horses, it helps you communicate with others in the horse industry.
Popular breeds and their history/ breed use
Horse coat colors
Identifying face and leg markings
Session 5: Tack & Equipment on February 4 -
Gain a basic understanding of different tack styles: English vs. Western. Their history, all about bits, and how to maintain your equipment for safety and longevity.
Different styles of saddles/brides and their uses.
History of different discipline styles.
Bits
The different styles and types of bit
The different materials from which bits can be made
How different bits work in the horse’s mouth
How to choose the right bit for a horse and its rider
How to clean and maintain your equipment
Session 6: First Aid on February 25 -
This course teaches how to monitor vital signs, respond to medical emergencies, including: colic, burns, eye injuries and minor cuts. and participants learn how to perform physical exams, bandage limbs, and use equipment like stethoscopes.
Learn the essentials of monitoring temperature, pulse, and respiration, and how to assess foot pain accurately
Gain knowledge on handling lacerations, eye injuries, lameness, and diseases like colic, strangles, potomac and more
Understand the key components of an effective equine first aid kit, including pain relievers, anti-inflammatories, and bandaging materials
Learn how to administer oral, intramuscular and intravenous medications safely and effectively
Session 7: The World of Showing on March 4th
A horse show is a judged exhibition of horses and ponies. Many different horse breeds and equestrian disciplines hold competitions. In this course you will be introduced to the world of horse showing from local 4H shows to national level breed competitions, what to expect and how to prepare.
Local 4H show. Meet riders and parents from local 4-H and open horse shows
Develop a checklist of what to bring with you to a horse show
Learn what you need to do leading up to a competition
A brief look at what a show day will look like and what classes to expect
A brief look at national level competitions
Session 8: Careers on March 18th
In this course you will have the opportunity to speak with equine career professionals. Learn about their daily routines, their educational paths, and tips and tricks for making it in the equine industry. ‘Equine careers’ covers a range of topics related to working with horses, including: Veterinary services, Riding instructor, Equine physical therapist, equine nutritionist, ferrier, saddle fitter, show outfit designer, barn manager, horse show manager, horse trainer etc.
Guest speakers will give you first hand experience of different equine careers
Their daily routines
Annual salary standards
Schooling standards
And their personal tips and tricks for making in the equine industry
Spring Break Day Camp
HORSE CAMP
Ages: 10 - 15 yrs old
Cost: $550 for the week
Date/Time: March 24 - 28, 2025 at 9:30a - 3:30p
This introductory horse camp includes hands-on activities with the horses while learning the basics of horse behavior, anatomy, and care. It will foster strong relationships between camper and horse, and give campers the skills needed to create these relationships in the future. After this camp, participants will have a general understanding of how we care for and bond with horses. Riding will occur daily, weather permitting. No prior riding experience required.
Campers will leave with confidence, new friendships, and an unforgettable week of equestrian adventure.
The part of the week will focus on the history and many styles of English Riding discipline, including jumping, Dressage, racing, Saddle seat, endurance riding and polo! Experience the horses up close and personal during grooming and English tacking sessions and of course learning proper equitation of English riding.
The second part of the week will focus on western riding styles. Do you know what the horn is for on a western saddle? Want to learn to lasso? Let us teach you about the history of western riding and why cowboys wear chaps! Learn all about all the different contests that take place at a rodeo and western horse shows.
** Campers must bring a lunch and 2 snacks each day, along with appropriate clothing for outside and farm work (long pants and closed shoes/boots required)
FAQs
Riding School
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Wear something you don't mind getting dirty! Long pants such as jeans, leggings, or breeches are highly recommended. Boots with a heel are ideal, but close-toed shoes are required. You do not need to purchase clothing for this course, but if you would like to continue through the riding school program in the future, Arizona Saddlery on Woodward is a local tack shop that you can visit. Amazon is also a good resource.
If the student has long hair we recommend putting it in a low ponytail or braid is ideal so it is tied back for a helmet to fit on their head.
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Close-toed shoes are required
Clothing that is OK to get dirty
Recommendations:
Long pants such as jeans, leggings, yoga pants, or breaches are preferred
Boots with a small heel-at least 1/2 inch heel are preferred
A water bottle. We also have water fountains to refill water bottles
Sunscreen
A hat for when helmets are not being worn
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If you do have your own horseback riding helmet feel free to bring them! Make sure it is ASTM F1163-15/SEI certified and manufactured within the last 5 years. If you do not have a helmet, one will be provided for you!
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Please do not bring treats for the horses as they all have unique diets and restrictions.
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On the first day of camp we assign students to each horse. We do our best to match campers' personalities and abilities to their horses. However, no two horses or people are the same so we may need to change which horse the student rides. This is to ensure both the student and our horses are paired with someone they get along with!
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Yes. We require that all students start at this level to learn about the horses and rules of the barn. You still can enjoy your horse time.
Click HERE to see all the equine updates and photos:
Saddle Up in September
Bowers School Farm is offering an immersive horse riding school taking place during the month of September, for horse enthusiasts ages 10-15. We will take a deep dive into the world of equestrian. Led by our Camp Coordinator, Ms. Lou, who offers a lifetime of show horse experience. Students will get hands on with our horses here at Bowers. They will learn the differences between various riding styles such as western, and English. They will have a overview of horse safety and care while building relationships with the horses. This session will also connect students to the world of equine vet science by teaching them how to provide basic first aid and daily care to horses. Group riding lessons will occur every day of class (weather permitting). The goal of this special progressive style school is for riders to learn to build proper equestrian technique and display their learned equestrian skills at the end of our 4 week course, in front of a live audience at our Fall Festival.
This program is now FULL.
Meet your equine instructor, Louise:
Ms. Lou, as commonly called by her students, is also the Camp Coordinator at Bowers Farm and Johnson Nature Center. She lives on a horse farm with her family. Lou has an educational background in Child Development: Early Childhood which allows her to be comfortable in classroom management, child behaviors, parent relationships. Her other passion comes with a life time of equestrian experience both as a hobby and on a professional level. She has been showing horse in the UK and US since a child. Lou has run horse camps, riding lessons and running horse facilities for many years. She also coached Milford High School Equestrian Team for 14 years leading them to many state championship titles.
“My mission is to improve the quality of life both physically and emotionally of both adults and children of all ability levels through equine-assisted activities.”
