Can I stop by and observe a lesson and see the facility?Yes. Lessons run Tuesday through Sunday and you are always welcome to stop by and see the barns or watch our lessons in progress. Groups start around 4:30 in the afternoon and privates run during the day. Lessons run all day Saturday and Sunday. |
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How do I sign up for lessons?Call or stop by Tuesday thru Sunday during normal business hours and we will put you in touch with an instructor to schedule your lesson. If there is not a instructor available leave a message and we will get back to you as soon as possible. |
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What are the lesson schedules?Lessons run everyday but Mondays. Group lessons run every evening during the week and Saturdays and Sundays. Privates are available during the weekdays between 10:00 and 4:30 and Saturdays and Sundays at selected times. During the school year, after school private times and privates on weekends do book up in advance. Please be patient with our private lesson schedule. The more flexible your schedule is the sooner we will be able to get you in. Weekends tend to book first and our standard wait for a weekend private is 4 to 6 weeks (that will vary depending on the time of year). During the summer our waiting list is much shorter.For group lessons there is no wait and we can find a group that will fit your schedule as soon as the rider is ready to move up into a group. |
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What is the program for beginning lessons?All students must start with a private lesson. Young riders and beginners will be in several privates while they learn the basics. How many privates a student will need depends on age, ability, and previous riding experience of each individual. Experienced riders may need only one private to get familiar with the program, the instructors, and the horses. Beginners or timid students will require more privates. Before riders move into group lessons they must be able to steer, stop, and control their horse and also be able to ride at all three gaits; walk, jog/trot, and lope/canter. The instructor will determine when the rider is ready to move up into a group. Safety is our number one concern and we want a rider to be both comfortable and confident when they move into a group.The following guide is an estimation for how many privates a rider may need which again varies from student to student. This is only a guess. In actuality you may need more privates to advance to a group level.
No students are forced to move up into group lessons. If a student feels more comfortable with privates then they can remain in private lessons as long as they like. Group students can also add a private if they would like to work on something specific or need some one on one time. We start all our students out riding western vs english. We feel western is the safest way to start out and that our students progress the fastest that way. We can teach a rider to ride english once they have learned western. We can also teach english in private lessons and occasionally in groups however our main program is western. We do not teach any jumping. We can refer you to barns that do teach jumping. |
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At what age do we start teaching lessons?We prefer to start kids at 6yrs old. At six, most children have the strength and attention span to start riding. We occasionally start riders younger than 6 but they must have a good attention span and a definite interest in riding. If your not sure if your child is ready, we can try a half hour lesson and see how they do. The instructor can then let you know if they are ready to continue or if it might be best to wait until they are a little older. Young riders start with half hour privates once a week. If they would like to come more often than once a week that can be arranged. At once a week they will retain everything from their last lesson and progress from week to week. If they come less often than weekly they will still progress it will just be a slower. |
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Where do I go for my first lesson?Arrive a few minutes early. You will go to the saddle shop/office first and all riders must sign a liability sheet. Minors must have their legal guardian sign for them. If a legal guardian will not be attending their first lesson a liability sheet can be picked up in advance. After signing the liability sheet you will head out to the barn and your horse will be waiting for you. For your next lessons you can just head directly to the barn if you like. |
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What do I need to wear?To your first lesson riders must wear long pants preferably jeans (sweat pants and stretch pants are slippery). Also a shoe or a boot with a heel is preferred. Riding boots are not required until the student moves into group lessons although having a proper riding boot does help the student maintain correct foot position and cue the horse easily. Once in a group you will need to make the investment of a riding boot with a heel. A boot with a heel is required for safety. Without it a riders foot could slide through a stirrup. Western boots, english hunt boots, and paddock boots are acceptable. Hiking boots are not riding boots. If you are not sure if you are wearing proper foot wear check with an instructor. Students wearing shorts or sandals of any kind will not be allowed to ride.Helmets are strongly encouraged but are not required. Approved riding helmets are your best protection. The saddle shop carries several styles of helmets starting at $39.95. Bike helmets are better than not wearing any helmet at all but may not be as protective at an approved riding helmet. We ride all year long and students should dress appropriately for being outdoors. In the winter we ride in our indoor arena which is not heated but is insulated and pretty air tight. The temperature inside is generally warmer than the outside temperature and usually above freezing. With that in mind, dress warm if the weather calls for it. All types of warm winter clothing are acceptable including winter hats, gloves, and jackets. Long scarves must be tucked in if worn so they can not get tangled up in the tack. Try to avoid mittens that are so bulky they might impair a riders ability to hold the reins. Winter boots and snow boots are acceptable vs cowboy boots in the winter. The soles on winter boots are thick enough that they would not slide through the stirrup. Toes and fingers get cold first. Our cold weather tip is to change into your riding boots and socks when you get to the barn. That will keep your feet warm and dry vs wearing them in the car. |
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What will I be learning in my lessons?To begin with you will learn the basics of good horsemanship. How to control, steer, stop, and cue your horse. How to ride at all three gaits walk, jog, and lope and do this on a variety of different horses. You will learn exercises to improve strength and balance and these will get more challenging as your skills improve. In group lessons we ride a portion of the lesson on the rail, working as a group and then usually do some individual workouts or tests towards the end of the lesson. You will learn how to stand up in the stirrups and use your legs properly. You will also learn how to ride without your stirrups. You will never be asked to ride without using your reins nor will you ever learn how to fall off. We do not feel that is safe.As a student progresses they are given different horses according to ability and are taught more complex maneuvers and training techniques. There is always more to learn at every level and any rider no matter how experienced can benefit from lessons. We have a fun show here twice a year in the spring and fall. Those students eligible for the show will learn a gymkhana events such as barrels, poles, and flags and several other contests. Students will also fine tune their horsemanship skills with patterns and tests. If you would like to learn how to groom and saddle your horse we would be happy to teach you. Otherwise horses will be saddled and ready when you come. If you want to learn how to tack your own horse we recommend taking a private lesson on the proper way to groom and saddle and then you are welcome to come before your lesson and practice if you like. Small children are may be too little to learn all the aspects of grooming and saddling. In group lessons we occasionally take a day to teach grooming and saddling as a class. |
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How often do I come for lessons?We recommend most students come once a week. Coming once a week allows you to retain everything from the week before and still progress with every lesson. Students that come less than once a week will still progress, just not at the same rate. The more you ride, the faster you learn. Privates work great once a week for beginners but can be done every other week if necessary. Privates can also be taken occasionally according to your schedule. Students taking group lessons must come once a week or they will fall behind the pace of the group. If you would like to ride more often we would be happy to teach you everyday if you would want to come. If you miss a lesson and would like to come to a different lesson we would be happy to arrange it. |
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Do I keep the same time every week for my lesson?Group lesson will always meet at the same time and day every week. Privates are scheduled according to what works best for both of us. They can be scheduled at the same time every week but that must be set up ahead of time. Do not just assume that your private will always be at the same time without speaking to an instructor. |
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How long am I actually on the horse when I ride?You will be riding the entire length of your lesson minus the time it takes for you to mount your horse. Horses are saddled and waiting when you arrive. Your lesson will start promptly on time and you will ride until your lesson is scheduled to end. In group lessons, the horses will be waiting saddled and the whole group is bridled and put on at the same time. It only takes a few minutes to get all the riders on their horses. When the lesson is over everyone goes in at once.If you show up late for your lesson, your lesson will still end at the original time. We keep a very tight schedule and can not run over without pushing the next lesson back. If you are so late that you will miss more than half your lesson if may be best to reschedule. If you are running late please call and let us know so we keep the horse and instructor available. If you are more than 15 minutes late we usually unsaddle your horse if we don't hear from you. |
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How do I cancel a lesson?If you are scheduled for a lesson you must call if you are not going to make it. Calls must be made one hour or more in advance. If you don't call and don't show up we have to charge you for the lesson anyway. Not only did we reserve the time for you but we paid to have the horse brought in, groomed, and saddled. The sooner you know in advance the better but we do understand emergencies happen. If you have booked several lessons and can not make them please let us know so we can take you off the schedule. The same applies for group lessons. Should you decide to quit please let us know so we are not holding a spot for you. |
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How do I know if lessons are canceled?If you are not sure if lessons are canceled due to weather or holiday you must call. We can not call everyone that comes to lessons. When you sign up for lessons, the sheet you are given states when lessons are cancelled. All major holidays lessons are cancelled. If the heat index is above 100 degrees or the wind chill is below zero lessons are cancelled. If there are severe weather warnings for thunderstorms, wind, tornados, blizzards, ect lessons may be canceled. It is best to call if you are in doubt. We do have an indoor arena to ride in and though it may be possible for you to ride in severe weather it may not be possible for us to catch your horses in a severe storm or lightning. Remember our employees work outside and we need to look out for their safety also. |
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Is there anything I need to tell my instructor before I begin?Please feel free to discuss with your instructor any fears, concerns, or physical problems you have that could be a factor when you ride. If you are extremely nervous, have had a bad experience or accident, or have a bad back these are examples of things to make us aware of so we can better suit your needs and pick an appropriate horse. |
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What are the instructors like?We have 4 to 6 full and part time instructors at all times. All are very knowledgeable horse people with 10 or more years horse experience. Our head instructor has over 40+ years experience in all aspects of riding, teaching, showing, and training and our main instructors have 20+ years experience in these areas. Instructor style will vary from instructor to instructor but content as to what you will be learning and how you will be taught will be very consistent. We were all taught to ride, train, and teach the same way.All of our instructors are patient, calm, knowledgeable, encouraging, and experienced. We do not believe in yelling or intimidating our students. We teach each student as an individual and tailor lessons specifically to each student's needs, ability, and goals. Safety is our number one priority. We try to make sure our lessons are challenging and fun. |
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What are the horses like?Our lessons horses are outstanding! We have over 60 horse we use in lessons. We have several that are life long residents here and we also use our sale horses in lessons which gives us a new supply of fresh horses all year long. We teach primarily on paints, quarter horses, appaloosas, and ponies of all breeds. We have horses to meet every students needs from the safest and steadiest to younger more challenging mounts. All are smart, kind, well cared for animals that have constant care and are not over worked. Most of our lesson horses work 3 to 5 days a week for an hour a day. We have such a large string of horses to use in lessons we do not have to use the same horse over and over for every lesson. |
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Will my child start out on a pony or a horse?Most of our children start out on full sized horses. We start our new riders out on the safest and steadiest horses we have. Some times they are ponies and some times they are horses. Our best school horses have years of experience under their saddles and are very reliable. |
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Will I ride the same horse every time?No, you will ride a variety of horses when you take lessons. You may be on the same horse for a couple of weeks in a row if we are working on something in particular but in general you will ride all different horses. Our goal is to teach our students to be well rounded riders. Anyone can learn to ride the same horse. It takes a skilled rider to be able to ride different types horses and feel comfortable and confident on all of them. In addition, most students are taking lessons with the goal of owning a horse, going on a trail ride or vacation, or improving their skills. No matter where your riding takes you we want you to be able to ride any horse any where as well as you ride ours here. |
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Can I request certain horses?No. Our instructors pick your horse according to your riding ability and what you will be learning in your lessons. Obviously, everyone has favorite horses but not all the students can ride the same horse. Also, if you only ride the easiest horses you will never truly learn how to ride because our best horses do it all for you. We make sure that you are challenged according to your ability but not frustrated or discouraged. Also if you are scared or nervous please let your instructor know. As we get to know you, your skill level, and your goals we will work together to make sure you are on a suitable mount. Likewise, if you want more of a challenge we will do our best to meet your requests. |
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If I am interested in buying a horse can I take my lesson on it?Assuming that the horse matches your riding ability, yes you can. If you are a current student and are interested in a particular horse let your instructor know and you can ride them in your lesson. If you are not currently a student but would like to take a lesson on a particular horse to see if you are compatible we can set up a time for you to do so. |
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If I own my own horse can I haul it in for lessons?Yes. Prior arrangements need to be made with an instructor to discuss what you would like to work on, horses training level, ect. You can haul your horse to us for a lesson but unfortunately we can't come to you. Our schedule keeps us pretty busy and we can't get away to offer lessons at other locations. |
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What is the "Fun Show" and how do I qualify?We have a fun show here for our students spring and fall every year. The fun show gives our students a chance to compete and work towards their goals with a particular horse. Students need to have ridden with us for a minimum of 6 months to qualify. They need to be very consistent and ride every week. Students that have missed many lessons or stopped riding in between shows will not be able to compete for safety reasons. Generally, if a student misses more than 3 group lessons they may not be eligible to ride in the next show. If you have not had enough saddle time you will not have the strength and skill to safely compete. Riders that meet the required riding time but are very young or do not yet have the skills necessary to compete will be left up to the instructors decision whether or not they will be able to compete. The fun show and all the details will be discussed in your regular group lesson months before it takes place. If you have any questions regarding the fun show and your eligibility for it you will want to discuss those with your instructor. |
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If I want to learn to show what does that involve?When we talk about our show team we are not including the fun show. The fun show is available to all regular group students without any special commitment. The following applies to our traveling show team. We have a large show team here of both kids and adults that competes nationally in a variety of events. To be on the show team and learn to show you must have your own horse. Show team lessons are at certain times and are priced differently than regular group lessons. If you have an interest in showing you will want to talk to the main instructor Dale Timmermann and she can give you details as to what is involved. |
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Contact: Timmermann's 29550 W. Roberts Rd. Island Lake, IL (847)526-8066 (800)479-1844 E-Mail: info@timmermannsranchsaddleshop.com |
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