At Duncan Creek Equestrian, we believe in nurturing the natural curiosity and independence of young riders through a Montessori-inspired approach to equestrian education. Our goal is to foster a deep, lifelong connection between children and horses. We accept students age 3+ and tailor lessons to suit. Toddlers and younger children benefit most from trail rides at our farm in Fletcher, NC. More advanced students also enjoy the trail rides while also getting to learn more advanced skills at the ring in Mills River, NC.
One of the highlights of our program is the use of ponies that are perfectly suited for young riders. These ponies are gentle, friendly, and the ideal size for children to handle with confidence. With a special emphasis on hands-on learning, we help young riders develop a strong foundation in both riding and horse care. We encourage children to take an active role in preparing their ponies for lessons, allowing them to tack up on their own. This fosters a sense of responsibility and accomplishment, as well as a deeper bond between rider and pony.
At Duncan Creek Equestrian, we offer two styles of lessons. Trail rides at the farm in Fletcher, NC offer a more relaxed atmosphere where kids can trot and canter through grassy fields. These lessons are especially fantastic for small children where raw saddle time is most important! We also offer standard ring lessons in Mills River, NC. At the ring we practice steering patterns, help a child with positioning on the lunge line, and set up small jumping courses.
