We offer year-round riding lessons for young children (starting at 4 years old) through advanced riders of all ages, from Monday to Sunday 9AM-5PM. Please call or email us to schedUle a lesson.
One hour lesson for adults and children ages 7 and up. Students will spend about 15 minutes tacking up their horse with their instructor, and around 60 minutes riding. They will spend the last 10 minutes untacking and putting away their horse. Here at Sandalwood Stables you actually get a full hour “horseback” time.
Half an hour lesson for children ages 4 to 6. Students will spend about 15 minutes brushing and saddling their horse. The next 30 minutes are spent riding. After, the lesson is complete, the lesson will be reviewed with student.
All students will meet their instructor at the Stable entrance. They must be dressed appropriately with riding pants, shoes and helmets.
Each lesson is customized to the individual's riding level of each rider. In order for us to ensure you receive the utmost quality lesson, an evaluation ride is mandatory for all of our clients.
What Is an Evaluation Ride? It is an initial first lesson, mandatory for every new student. In this lesson, our instructors educate the student - step by step - on the grooming and tacking up process. Then the student is evaluated riding the horse.
Cancellation Policy: Full payment is due the day of your riding lesson. There is no refund to participants who cancel within 24 hours of the lesson. Sandalwood Stables does offer make-up lessons. Considerable time goes into planning lessons with instructors and reserving horses for riders, therefore it is the responsibility of the rider to come to lessons and be on time. In the event that the instructor cancels a lesson, a make-up lesson will be re-scheduled at the convenience of the rider.
Bring your Troops to Sandalwood Stables for an hour meeting to earn either a Horse Riding or Animal Badge!
We can accommodate troops of all sizes; the Sandalwood Stables team works with all ages as well.
Each meeting is an hour long, but you can choose to have a back-to-back meeting, and have your troop earn both badges in two hours. Sandalwood Stables does not supply actual badges.
E-mail info@sandalwoodstables.net or call (850) 303-1143 to schedule your troop's meeting.
Mommy & Me Program:
Our Mommy & Me Program offers parents the opportunity to bond with their child and experience their first pony moments together! Offered in the fall and spring for children under the age of 4, the Mommy and Me program increases children’s confidence, improves motor coordination and teaches respect for animals in a fun & nurturing environment. During the lessons, children and parents together will learn the parts of the horse and tack, basics of horse care and horsemanship, and will enjoy leading their child in fun, educational games during the pony ride.
Special Needs Program:
Sandalwood Stables has a therapeutic horseback riding program that has a dramatic impact on the physical and cognitive development of children with special needs through its holistic approach and unique, supportive environment.
Sandalwood Stables offers personalized therapeutic horseback riding to children and young adults who have physical, mental, social, emotional, or learning disabled conditions. From its inception, Sandalwood Stables’ program has provided traditional therapies in an alternative setting, using the horse to help deliver the therapy. Our program of therapeutic riding utilizes the horse and its movement to facilitate the child’s specific therapeutic goals. Above all else, Sandalwood Stables is about abilities: the ability of a student to improve his or her quality of life; the ability of a student to increase self-esteem and confidence; the ability to participate in an outdoor activity that is fun. Each of our students enjoys a program that combines the best aspects of a world-class sport with important occupational, physical and speech therapy goals.
Q) How do I schedule a lesson?
A) Please email info@SandalwoodStables.net or call (850) 303-1143.
Q) What is your cancellation policy for lessons?
A) All lessons need to be cancelled within 24 hours of your lesson or you will be charged the full price of your riding lesson.
Q) How do I pay for my lesson?
A) Full payment is due the day of your riding lesson.
Q) Do I need to have a helmet before I come to my riding lesson?
A) No, we have clean helmets you can borrow. But would recommend getting a helmet if you plan on riding regularly. Bike riding helmets are not allowed.
Q) Do I need to have riding boots before I come to my riding lesson?
A) Yes. If you or your child has a boot with a ½ inch-1 inch heel, that covers your ankle, and has a pointed toe they can ride with that boot.
Q) Is there anything else I need to wear for my riding lesson?
A) Please come in jeans, leggings, or riding pants. Shorts are not allowed. Please come dressed to accommodate the weather.
Q) Do you offer make-up lessons if I cancel a lesson?
A) Sandalwood Stables does offer make-up lessons. Considerable time goes into planning lessons with instructors and reserving horses for riders, therefore it is the responsibility of the rider to come to lessons and be on time.
Q) What happens if my instructor needs to cancel a lesson?
A) If an instructor needs to cancel a lesson, a make-up lesson will be re-scheduled at the convenience of the rider.
Q) Can we feed the horses treats, even if we are not part of the riding program?
A) Yes, please stay in the allowed areas.