Riding Lessons

Sam is an experienced riding instructor with over 20 years of teaching under her belt. She began her career at the Jamaica Bay Riding Academy in New York before moving on to become the barn manager and a certified therapeutic riding instructor at HorseAbility in Long Island. Sam moved to Minnesota and continued her successful career as Head Coach of an IHSA team for 12 years, also serving as Region President for the mid-west area of the IHSA . Sam has an undeniable passion for teaching riders of all experience levels and is dedicated to helping her students achieve their goals. Her primary focus in teaching is equitation with a strong background in jumping and dressage. 

She is currently working on her bronze medal with her horse, Wiggles, and enjoys sharing her passion for horses with her three children.

Brittany is a long-time member of the equestrian community and an accomplished rider and teacher.  She comes with extensive teching experience and achieved her C-3 rating in United States Pony Club.  She also has trained and ridden horses through the preliminary level of Eventing.  She has ridden with many notable clinicians such as Lucinda Green, Jim Graham, Becky Holder, Dorothy Crowell and many others.  She has a wide range of experiences, but really enjoys teaching beginners and helping them develop a strong foundation both on and off the horse.
Brittany  She prioritizes the individual needs and comprehension of each rider, ensuring that they feel empowered and supported as they learn new skills and refine their knowledge and understanding of both horse and rider.  Beyond the arena, Brittany is well-versed in all aspects of horse care and management.  She has extensive experience in caring for all types of horses and strives to ensure their health and wellbeing, from grooming to nutrition to overall management.
Outside of horses, Brittany enjoys spending time with her 11 year old son, Tommy.  She also practices law, specializing in Estate Planning and Equine law.

Kym first started riding at age 5, and, after years of begging, finally had her own horse by age 8.  Soon after, she was bit by the jumping bug and discovered the USPC and the sport of Eventing. She received her A USPC rating at age 16.

She began teaching both jumping and dressage lessons shortly after and continued her own riding career working closely with Olympian Becky Holder.  She advanced to compete up to the Intermediate level in Eventing with her horse, Maverick.  Currently, Kym is making her way up the levels of Eventing with her horse, Sturgis and frequently works with various clinicians to build her knowledge and further her riding journey.

​

​

"I thoroughly enjoy teaching riding lessons with a focus on horsemanship and horse-care knowledge. We should not simply think of our time at the barn as only riding horses, we are responsible for their care and wellbeing – both mental and physical. I believe it is vital to incorporate that knowledge in any form of lesson or training. My experience has gained me the knowledge to teach effectively and to set obtainable goals for students. I build confidence in riders through positive and uplifting instruction, focusing on clear communication between horse and rider.

I don’t believe we ever reach a final result – the beautiful thing about working with horses is that it is a lifetime of learning. No one knows it all, and there is always room for growth. My focus is to bring students and horses closer to their goal and put them on the right path. Teaching is about meeting people and horses where they are today and helping them learn and progress together – you do the best you know until you know better."

-Kym

Meet instructor Carmel Huppert. She is a professional equine portrait and event photographer with 20 years experience in the horse industry. Carmel has been teaching for 10 years, focusing on day camps and children's lessons, and has spent a year teaching in the Spark program. She is a great asset to our team and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to every lesson. When Carmel isn't teaching, she enjoys riding her own horse and hiking with her dog.

I began riding my aunt and uncle's shetland pony at the age of 3, and have been completely in love with horses and riding ever since. I got my first horse at the age of 8 and took lessons at Windy Ridge Ranch for 4 years, starting at 11 years old. In those 4 years, I had the opportunity to ride many different horses and moved from beginner to intermediate/advanced. I participated in multiple fun shows with events such as barrel racing, pole bending, 4 in line, jumping figure 8, egg and spoon, and water cup. I was gifted my 2nd horse at the age of 12, and I was able to apply all my skills learned at Windy Ridge to make her a great horse. I moved to Wright County with my family at 14, and my passion for horses has continued to grow and grow throughout the years. I got another horse at 19, and he is the first horse I have trained myself. I have helped out with quite a few horse camps and have been teaching a few friends, kids, and family members how to ride throughout the last 3 years. I thoroughly enjoy teaching and bringing others joy and knowledge with horses and riding!