Riding Lessons
Horseback riding lessons are of the many services provided here at Diamond C Stables. We offer lessons to all ages and at affordable prices. Lesson types include beginners, western, barrel racing, reining, trail riding, and western pleasure. The best part of taking lessons is that you do not have to own a horse. If you don’t have a horse, we provide one that fits your level of riding at no extra cost. We try to keep students grouped together by ability so more advanced riders aren’t bored and less advanced riders don’t feel uncomfortable. Your instructor will make a determination as to your skill level and place you appropriately. The main concern of our instructors is safety. For that reason they will make the determination as to when you’re ready to progress to the next level. We want you to have a good time and stay safe.
Download Important Documents
Please complete all the following forms and bring them with you to your first lesson.
“This barn is the best! I grew up riding as a “ back yard rider”. Literally a no fear bare back rider who rode my own horse as well as other kids horses. Little did I know there is a “ right way to ride” I have been riding at Diamond C stables for a few months and love every minute of it. Nobody laughed when at 62 I stated I wanted to do a cattle drive and I wanted to learn to do pole bending. Mikayla the instructor is able to meet you where you are at. I wanted to learn pole bending so she taught me. She never said my goals were un attainable. She showed me how to handle the horse, tack them up brush them and clean their feet. She is always pleasant and extremely patient. Her confidence is contagious. The horses respect her. I am lucky to have found such a wonderful place to further my horse riding adventure”
Tracy
Beginner
You’ll learn the basics – appropriate behavior around a horse, haltering, tying proper knots, and grooming. Then you’ll be ready to go out to one of the round pens for your first ride. As your early lessons progress, you’ll learn balance – even to turn all the way around while sitting on your horse. As you further progress, your instructor will teach you to ride at a trot and a lope on a lead-line at first then on your own.
Intermediate
Once you’ve advanced to this level, you’ll be spending most of your time riding in the large arena…you’ll even have the opportunity to spend some time riding in the back pasture. You’ll also learn to cool and bathe your horse and turn them out.
Advanced
Now you’re ready to work on the fine tuning and decide what kind of riding you want to do – competing, trail riding, reining or maybe you just enjoy the stress relief of grooming a horse.
Western Lessons Pricing
Lessons
Group Lessons for 5-80 year olds $60.00 per person / per hour
Private Lessons: 4 years $35.00 for half hour 5 and older $100.00 for 1 hour
Mon. – Sat. All Lessons are by appointment only
Play Days & Camps
2 & 3 Day Horse Camp 9am-2pm
We know you LOVE horses, but do you know how to properly care for them? Join our experts this summer for fun and informative hands-on lessons. You will learn the proper way to feed and bathe a horse, as well as learn how to care for and clean the saddle, bridle, stirrups, reins and other tack. Learning to care for your horse and equipment properly will build your self confidence and increase your bond with your horse.
- Oct. 14th – Play Day – 9am-2pm $125
- Nov. 25th – Branden’s Barrel Clinic – 9am-2pm $250
- Nov. 29th – Play Day – 9am-12pm $125
- Dec. 27th – Play Day – 9am-12pm $125
- Jan. 2nd & 3rd – Camp – 9am-2pm $250
- Jan. 6th – Branden’s Barrel Clinic $250
- Jan. 20th – Play Day – 9am-2pm $125
- Feb. 17th – Play Day – 9am-2pm $125
- Mar. 10th – 12th – Spring Break Camp – 9am-2pm $375
- Apr. 18th – Play Day – 9am-2pm $125
Come join us for hours of equine education & entertainment!
Come learn everything you want to know about taking care of a horse, tack, and having some fun.
Bring a sack lunch & water bottle! - Camp Registration Form
Limited space, please contact:
Debbie 210-514-0300 or daculver16@gmail.com
Trail rides are $60.00 per person. Trail rides are one hour long, all riders start off in the arena with a little basic lesson on starting, stopping, and more. Minimum age for a rider is 7 years old. No double riding allowed.
All Trail rides are by appointment only
Must make a reservation in advance of your planned ride.
We Support Scouting!
Girl Scouts meet at Diamond C Stables to get help in earning their coveted horse badge.
Meet the Diamond C Instructors
Branden
Instructor
Branden first started riding horses when he was 5 years old. He started competing in rodeos and 4-H competitions by age 8. He has competed in cloverleaf and straight away barrels, pole bending, and goat tying as a boy. He has shown horses in reining and rail classes as an adult.
Branden has been teaching adults and children since 2000. Numerous students have gone on to compete in college or at a higher level of competition or found jobs in the equine industry.
Branden is a member of AQHA’s Professional Horseman. He has completed course work at Ohio State University and Colorado State University in mare management and reproduction and has a Bachelor’s degree from UTSA in business management. He spent a year running a hunter jumper barn prior to spending 3 years as a breeding-foaling manager/ colt trainer.
All of these experiences add to Branden’s overall knowledge of the horse and the industry. Branden is an enthusiastic, hands on instructor who focuses on teaching people the proper way to ride in order for them to go on to competition, show or trail/pleasure riding.
Mikayla
Instructor
From a young age, Mikayla has been fascinated by farm life. At six years old she began riding at a small English barn in the northeast. She soon fell in love with the lifestyle and the little ponies she learned on.
In 2007, she started taking western lessons at Diamond C and quickly became a barn regular. At any given time Mikayla could be found hanging around the barn and lending a hand. During her teen years, Mikayla participated in rodeos, helped with camps and led trail rides.
Upon graduating high school and having spent seven years with Diamond C, she took a three year hiatus; during which she returned to her old English barn for several months. Working as a live-in stable hand and head camp counselor, the majority of her time was devoted to caring for horses and the children riding them.
After dabbling in several disciplines, Mikayla has had many experiences to draw from when teaching. She prioritizes safety and focuses on establishing strong foundations in horsemanship for her students to build upon.
We are very happy to have Mikayla back at Diamond C, she is very talented and will be a great asset to our teaching program.
Jessica
Instructor
Jessica is an accomplished equestrian with over 14 years of dedicated experience. Jess has competed in various disciplines,including western pleasure, hunter under saddle, ranch riding and dressage. Her journey in the equestrian world began at a young age in the Arabian Horse Association, though she has experience in the AQHA western ring. Most recently, she was the 2021 USEF Regional champion, in Arabian sport horse under saddle, the 2022 USEF Regional 6th, in Arabian Dressage Training Level, Amateur division, the Schreiner Equestrian Western Captain 2023-24 and the 2024 IHSA Region 7, zone 2, Reserve Champion for Level II horsemanship.