Silver Eagle Stable Offers Educational Riding Lessons for Children

Madeleine Hammond in red leads her horse to the arena.

Written by Stacy Shaw

Silver Eagle Stable, a 72 acre riding and boarding facility in Nokesville, held a lessons for homeschooled students on Feb. 6 from 10-11:30 a.m. The class, which meets every week, consists of children aged 7-12. In it they studied, cared for the horses and got their first opportunity to ride.

For homeschooling parents the class is appealing in two ways. Riding satisfies their physical education requirement and there is also a classroom segment that fulfills part of the science requirement students have.

Students learn their science lessons in a loft classroom.

Students spent the first half hour learning about the horse anatomy in the classroom. Paige Keiser, who led the class, gave each child a handout with a diagram as she taught from her laptop. She introduced the various parts of a horse, comparing them with human anatomy. At the end of the lesson, she asked the students review questions.

One of the mothers, Irene Ogburn, said she appreciates the educational aspect of the course, which she should help her children gain the credits they need to progress in their education.

She also said the class was a perfect fit for her children.

“My daughter loves horses. She wants to be a vet, and my son is just learning about animals,” she said.

Keiser leads one of the horses into the barn to get cleaned and saddled by the children.

Stable owner Tom Russell said he believes the animal science portion of the class should benefit all of the students. Older children may gain more knowledge, but for younger children it is a nice introduction to learning about animals. Russell plans to have his furrier and veterinarian Dr. Todd Burdick as a guest speakers.

After finishing their lesson, the students headed out to the barn to learn to care for the horses. After equipping them with helmets, Keiser showed them how to brush the horses, using soft brushes their faces and corse brushes on their backs, bellies and legs.

She also instructed the children on horse safety, telling them never to stand directly behind the horses, and showing them how to handle the horses in a way that would not upset or spook them.

Caitlyn brushes dirty off a horse.

Parents thought this approach was ideal. While the children were eager to ride, they also wanted to make sure their children also had a full understand of the responsibility involved in caring for an animal.

When it came time for riding, each child had the choice of learning English or Western style. These children chose Western. Then, Keiser took the children into the arena. She brought two seasoned horses, Chip and Dandy, a mature gelding and mare.

Paige, who is only twenty-years-old, said she had been riding at that very stable since she was eleven. Having learned herself as a young child, she seemed to know how to introduce the children to the horses and the horses to the children.

Those who had ridden before went first so that they could model the correct behavior for their peers.

Keiser and Victoria head from the barn to the arena.

The older children seemed to have prior experiences with horses that made them want to take riding lessons, while the younger children were eager to participate in an activity their older siblings enjoyed.

Madeleine Hammond, 9, had taken riding lessons in the past and caught the riding bug then, trying to learn everything she could about horse.

“I had two other riding lessons, about a year ago, and I have a book about riding horses and how to do it,” Madeleine said.

Victoria Mewes had ridden her cousin’s horse Glitter, and since sought opportunities to get on a horse again, at fairs and carnivals.

Soon riders were trotting around the arena.

Rene Stillwell of the neighboring farm, Gaited Manor, stopped by to see the children on horseback. Stillwell said she started riding at five.

Madeleine walks and trots with her horse.

“I just knew it was the place for me,” she said, saying, the children will just know whether or not they love riding.

Drew Van Hook joined Paige and the children. He told them the importance of taking control of the animal, looking in the direction they wanted the horse to move in, use their leads and tap the horse with their feet to direct them to turn.

When time was up, the children returned to their parents, and Paige and Van Hook took the horses back to their stables.

Russell said there is still room in the class for more students, and if there is enough interest, he would open a second class.

Caroline begins to lead her horse in the arena.

Silver Eagle Stable also offers a monthly 4H riding program that meets the second Sunday of every month, scout riding program on the weekends that includes a camp-out on the property and an after school riding club offered weekdays from 3 to 5:30 p.m..

“Of course, we also offer the full spectrum of private lessons,” Russell said.

To sign up for a class or schedule a private lesson, contact Silver Eagle Stable at 703-594-4328. Readers can visit their website at sestable.com.