Welcome to Riding Lessons—Where the Horses Are Broke but the Kids Are Not

There’s something magical about teaching kids to ride. By “magical,” I mean chaotic, dusty, slightly loud, and 10% chance of someone crying (sometimes me). But hey… that’s ranch life.

Our lesson program is where dreams come true, reins get dropped, helmets go on backwards, and prayers get answered. We start with the basics: how to lead, how to groom, how to remember which end of the horse is the business end. The golden rule? Don’t stand behind the business end.

First-time parents always come in so hopeful.

“She’s horse-obsessed. Watches Spirit every night.”

Five minutes later:

Child is clinging to me like I’m a lifeboat and the 14.2 hand gelding is a kraken. Spirit who?

Some kids are timid. Some kids are feral. One sweet girl asked me if she could gallop in her second lesson. Another tried to call every horse “Sparkle” despite them being cranky 20-year-old geldings with resting mare face… bless her heart.

The horses? Patient. Saints, really… mostly.

I’ve had lessons where we never made it past the mounting block because we got sidetracked talking about how horses poop standing up. That same lesson kiddo had to clean up her first pile of horse droppin’s that lesson, and apparently had “THAT smell stuck in her nose for THREE DAYS.” I’ve had kids show up in shorts and crocs. One brought a stuffed animal for emotional support *respect*. Another, dead serious:

“I only want to ride horses that I can trick ride off of.”

And don’t get me started on the weather. If it’s 80 and sunny? Bugs. If it’s cool and rainy? Mud wrestling with a lesson pony. Winter? Ah yes, the thrill of teaching in a parka while your breath fogs up your sunglasses and your student asks if horses get snow days.

But through it all, something clicks. They find their seat. They learn how to steer. They trot for the first time and grin like they’re flying. And I remember why I do this.

Because teaching lessons isn’t just about riding. It’s about callous-forming grit day in and day out, shoulders-back confidence when you have to try and try again, and side-splitting laughter when those piles of horse business stay in your nose THAT long. It’s also about building cowboys and cowgirls who might one day help me catch a loose pony.

And maybe the best part? I was that kid once (see photo for reference). The one taking the lessons, never wanting to leave the barn. I remember the smell of leather and dirt, the way a pony’s trot felt like flying, and the trainer who believed in me before I ever believed in myself…. shoutout to Georgia at Prairie Creek Ranch😉 Now I get to be that for someone else… and that’s a kind of magic I’ll never get over.

So if you’re thinking about signing up… Bless your brave little heart. It’s gonna be a wild ride. Just remember: we’re Dead Broke Colt Company. The horses are trained. The trainer is caffeinated. And the kids? Well… they’re well on their way.