Riding Instruction
Stephanie is the on-site Instructor at Centre Stables. Students include beginning riders to the more advanced, those who have riding experience and may or may not have their own horses, to those who have never sat on a horse but always dreamed of doing so. Stephanie works with young children all the way to older adults and has experience dealing with riders who have confidence or fear issues. Stephanie's discipline of choice is dressage and she is also knowledgable in jumping and basic western riding as well. With an emphasis on safety first, students learn about the aids and how and when to use them properly to encourage a willing partnership with their horse.
Prices
Private Lessons Group Lessons
$55 1 hour $45 1 hour per rider
$45 45 min $35 45 min per rider
$30 30 min $25 30 min per rider
Stephanie also travels to teach, so if you can't make it to Centre Stables, she will come to you.(Price will vary depending on distance traveled)
More about Stephanie
The early years:
I always loved horses. I got my first Breyer horse, Clydesdale mare & foal w/ blankets (which I still have!) when I was about 7. At age 12 I started riding horses (whose owners didn't come out much) at a local private stable. I attended a girl scout riding camp for 2 weeks and recieved the Rider of the Week award and joined their riding team. For the next 4 years, we would ride and practice every weekend, then show during the summer. I qualified and placed at the Indiana State Fair in 4-H for 2 years, and did well at Hunter shows and Eventing. At about age 16-19 I showed Arabs, Quarter Horses and a wonderful black & white paint 3-gaited (retired from that saddleseat life when I got him) Saddlebred gelding named Geronimo. Our highlight was winning Reserve Champion in the Battle of the Breeds class at the Columbia City Charity Horse Show. Had to ride 4 out of five disciplines (English Pleasure, Western Pleasure, Jumping, Trail, Driving) We won the trail class.
Horses, Horses, Horses
In Oct of 1986, I went to Meredith Manor School of Horsemanship for 6 months and earned my Riding Master I degree. I met my husband (of now 23 years)Joe (Riding Master IV degree) at Meredith Manor. We came back to Indiana and worked at a couple of stables training and giving riding instruction. In 1988, we had our own training stable for about 2 years and worked with about 12 different horses.
In 1993, we made the big move to Pennsylvania, bringing the country pets to the small town of Tyrone. We had 2 horses--Fleety and Foxfire, 2 german shepherds--Shutzen & Tosha and 3 cats--Missy, Theresa & Nicholas....oh the kitty choir for 8 hours!
In 1994-1998 I worked at the Grier School Summer Riding camp. I did every job from Head Barn counselor, Instructor, Stable/Program Director. In 1996, Grier sent myself and another instructor to get CHA certification. Out of the 10 participants, I got the highest written test score and out of the 4 levels and recieved certification at level 3 in english and level 2 in western. I have since kept my certification current and do 25 hrs of continuing education during every three years.
In 1999, we moved our horses to Centre Stables so Joe could pursue CTR. I started giving lessons and have been doing so ever since. Since my students tend to be novice riders, we focus on correct position and timing of the aids and being safe around horses. Learning to "feel" and developing the correct riding muscles takes time and much practice. So for all of us, novice riders to the advanced riders and instructors included, riding is a lifetime journey with never-ending opportunitues to learn something new.
Over the next 10 years, I continued to build my lesson business with on average 10-15 students per week. I was/am also involved with many horse organizations and programs. KDCTA (Keystone Dressage & Combine Training Assoc--USDF Affiliated) as Secretary, President, Annual Horse Shows Manager/Secretary, Drill Team Coach, website co-manager; PAHA (Pennsylvania Arabain Horse Assoc--AHA Affiliated) State Secretary, volunteered and competed successfully at PAHA A-rated Arabian Shows, 2009 Ambassador Award, Website Manager; Lots of continuing education.
In 2009, I started co-managing Centre Stables, a 28 horse boarding stable. In Oct, Chelsea & I went to a CHA certificiation Clinic for Equine Facility Management. Chlesea earned a Level 2 and myself, a Level 4. So, armed with lots of new ideas, watch for great changes at Centre Stables.
