There's something for everyone...

A comprehensive variety of Seminars, Lessons, Clinics, and Coaching are available at Satori Stables for assisting students in achieving their riding goals while maintaining balance with their academics.

The SU Equestrian Team has  4 openings for Fall '08 - Spring '09.
Meet the crew at the Open House Aug 22nd, schedule your spot for Try-Outs Aug 23rd!  

The First 2 IHSA Competitions will be Oct 18 & 19 
Want to compete for SU?  Come to Try-Outs Aug 23rd!  

Which level of riding are you interested in?

If you are interested in casual riding, you can begin by coming to the group lunge lesson and attend whenever you have time.  When you demonstrate an ability to walk. trot, stop and steer independent of the instructor's help, you can switch over to the group lesson, or attend both! 

Competition riding requires even further commitments of either (a) riding three times a week and practicing skills between lessons -or- (b) attending both SU sponsored lessons and the Mastery Seminars each week. Experience has shown this to be an optimal way to prepare for IHSA competitions. A further IHSA requirement is to have a minimum of six months of professional instruction.  

The SU Equestrian Team has  4 openings for Fall '08 - Spring '09.
Meet the crew at the Open House Aug 22nd, schedule your spot for Try-Outs Aug 23rd!  

You can do all your riding on the horses at Satori Stables, through lessons and leases, or you can board your horse at Satori Stables and ride your own horse in addition to a weekly lesson.    Four lessons are included in the monthly board.  Summer '08 board for SU students is $460.00/mn.  You can also board and ride elsewhere; however, you still have to go through an evaluation process for proper placement on the IHSA team.

FAQ

Summer 2008

No SU sponsored events are held during the Summer semester; however, Satori Stables is open during most of the summer and individual, semi-private, and group lessons (according to ability) can be scheduled.  Southwestern students who purchase a package of 4 lessons will receive a $20 discount overall as well as a complimentary Lease or 'Trail Ride' at the end of the month.  (Lessons do not transfer to other months.)

If you wish to compete in the Fall competitions, summer is a great time to hone your riding skills.

Are you interested in a Summer Riding Camp?  If so, please send me an email!  (lynn@satori.com)  

Meet the crew at the Open House Aug 22nd, and/or schedule your spot for Try-Outs Aug 23rd! 

Fall 2008

Two SU sponsored events are held weekly:

Individual, semi-private, and group lessons can also be scheduled beyond this. 

If you wish to compete in the Fall IHSA competitions,  the Open House is Aug 22nd and Tryouts are on Aug 23rd.  You'll also find it beneficial to attend the Mastery Seminar Series, where you learn the body awareness and skills to communicate effectively with horses in their own language.  This is the foundation of riding and will count as a '3rd ride' for a week.  

Spring 2009

Students who have been riding weekly in Fall 2008 will most likely be riding at or above Level 3 and will be able to compete in Spring 2009 if they didn't compete in Fall 2008. Four weeks prior to the competition, you will need to increase your riding so you are prepared for competition.

Credit for Riding Activities

At this point in time, the only way to get credit for riding is to pursue independent study credits.

In the future, there are two possible options which, if there is enough interest and drive, students might be able to persuade the school to consider:

Why's the TEAM so small?

Because you're not on it yet!  Join in and make it bigger.  SU's riding team is brand new -- only two years old right now.  Come join in and help build the team to be what you want it to be!

You can, basically, get 3 lessons for the price of 1, devoting about about 6 hours/week, and learn to ride from the first few steps to taking 3' jumps or Level III dressage.

It's a great opportunity!

What kind of horses does SU have?

None.  SU doesn't have any horses at this time.  

Students currently ride at Satori Stables, using the coach's horses.  There are three horses at this time.  IRS is a paint-Trakehner cross; Carlos is a "Rocky Mounted Spotted Walking Horse" (apparently...); Blitzen is a Thoroughbred.

If you have a horse you want to bring, you can board at Satori Stables and use your horse in lessons, or ride one of the coach's horses in lessons and ride your own horse during the week.  If you have your horse at Satori Stables, a couple options to offset costs are to find another student to do a partial lease or, if your horse is suitable, to allow others to ride the horse in lessons. 

If you would like to donate a horse, let's talk.  

What's involved in IHSA competitions?

IHSA competitions are like catch riding.  

Students are allowed to mount their horse, which is drawn randomly, about five to ten minutes prior to their class so they can line up to go into the ring.  No 'warming up' is allowed.  As soon as they enter the ring, they are judged. 

There is no guarantee about the training or ability of the horse, although the schools providing horses do their best to match the horses to the classes.

What's the difference between IHSA and NCAA competitions?

NCAA is a varsity sport while IHSA is a club sport.  

Part of the difference is in intensity.  Part of it's more practical.  Part of it is philosophical.

NCAA teams usually ride at schools with a full riding program - an indoor facility, a string of horses, and equipment provided by the school.   And they ride about five times weekly.

IHSA teams often ride at barns located off campus, independent of the school, anywhere from once a week to five times a week.  Arrangements differ from school to school.

Both types of teams take both 'Art'/experience and competition into account. IHSA teams lean more towards the 'Art' or experience of riding, while NCAA teams lean more towards the competition aspects.    

What's available: Seminars, Mini Clinics, Lessons, Leases

A Leadership Seminar series is offered for students interested in learning horse communication, horse care, round pen technique, lounging, and long lining -- all the fundamentals of owning, riding, and training your own horse. This is good for students who are unfamiliar with horses or would like to learn about how to communicate with horses in an assertive, confident way or for students who have recently purchased a young or green horse. It is the foundation of all successful riding.

The Mastery Seminar Series has been put together to provide an economical forum for students to learn to ride. It's like getting another lesson at a fraction of the price, enhancing learning and increasing skill while providing economy. Ideally, team riders would ride at least three times a week; many competition schools require riders to ride five times a week. In the spirit of maintaining balance in life, the groundwork portion of lessons has been seperated out to allow students to learn more intensely with less impact to their schedules. In these seminars, students can interactively learn their own proper body use to achieve what they want in the horse, and return to classes quickly.  Attending these seminars can serve as the 3rd ride time for team members.

Fall '08 Schedule

Mini Clinics are available to riders who have demonstrated a Level 3 ability, or higher. Mini Clinics consist of groundwork and a group lesson and follow the same general progression as the Mastery Seminars. Students who have achieved a Level 3 in their riding can participate in the group lesson; students at lower levels can attend the ground work portion of the mini clinic.  The Fall '08 Mini clinics will be held on Saturdays.

Riding Requirements for Competition 

The Southwestern Equestrian Club competes in IHSA club sports in Hunt Seat Equitation on the flat and over fences, with about 7 levels of skill starting at walk-trot and continuing up to 4' jumping classes.  The goal of past students has been to ride and compete with skill and competence while maintaining balance in their academic life. 

There are two weekly SU Group riding lessons which students can attend, ($20 ea) as well as the weekly Mastery Seminar Series. ($10/session)  And those students who are qualified can also attend practice sessions. ($10/session)  A weekly expenditure could be as little as $40/week.  For those who are interested in paying once, packages are available.

To re-iterate, if you are interested in competing, you are required to:

Scheduling Appointments

Students who are new to riding or new to Centered Riding will come to the Tuesday lesson.  Students who are familiar with Centered Riding and have mastered walk, trot, stop, and steer, (as agreed to by the coach) can also come to the Thursday lesson.  The Mastery Seminars are available Saturdays this Spring. To schedule private lessons, we'll compare schedules and find a time that's best.

Southwestern students who purchase and schedule lessons and/or Mini Clinics in a 4 week package (usually coinciding with a month) and attend those lessons, seminars, and/or Mini Clinics receive a $5 discount on each lesson and a $50 discount on each Mini Clinic attended. Cancellations are explained below.

The 'Fine Print' - Pricing, Scheduling and Cancellations

Southwestern students who attend the Tues/Thurs lessons can take advantage of a substantial savings due to the generosity of SU and Satori Stables.  Instead of purchasing lessons for $45, they need only pay $20.

Students who wish to schedule additional lessons or attend the Mastery Seminar series can also enjoy a discount if they purchase in bulk.  It is possible for students to ride three times weekly for as little as $80 provided they purchase their additional riding lessons in advance.  Or, if a student wishes to be on the team and doesn't have their own horse and wishes to be economical, they can ride twice weekly and attend the Mastery Seminars for $50 weekly, provided they reserve and purchase their seminar sessions in advance.

Additionally, students who purchase a month's worth of riding lessons (ie 4 riding lessons) at the beginning of the month, are able to partake in a complimentary lease or 'trail ride' at the end of the month.  (purcasing 8 lessons in advance allows for 2 complimentary leases or a complimentary lease and 'trail ride' at the end of the month.)  The lessons are not transferable to the next month and must be used during the month in which they are purchased.

In all mounted activities, riders are expected to tack up their horse properly prior to the lesson time and be ready for riding at the time given for the riding lesson. ie If the lesson is at 4pm, then the rider would present themselves at 4pm fully attired and with the horse fully tacked up and ready for riding.

If it is raining and the ring is unusable, the lesson will consist of groundwork.

If an appointment other than the Tues/Thurs lesson is not kept, the money is forfeited. Riding lessons can be rescheduled with 24 hours notice and availability of myself and a horse. If a rider cannot regularly keep their appointments, they can purchase lessons individually, without a discount, and schedule their lessons a day ahead, subject to availability of myself and a horse.

Exceptions can be made at my discretion.

Pricing for Spring '08

Pricing for Fall '08

Compatible Sports and Activities

Some sports have proven themselves compatible with riding, while others have not.  If you are thinking to compete, check out the list of activities below!

Sports and Activities Compatible with Competitive Riding

Sports and Activities Incompatible with Competitive Riding