After School & Summer Riding Programs
Several-staff quality instructors strive to meet the training needs and goals of each client with beginner, intermediate and advanced lessons offered privately or in groups and scheduled by appointment.
Our After School Riding Program and Summer Riding Programs are structured riding programs, that provide the core of teaching riding skills, and also offers opportunities for growth and character development to youth and teens alike, cross training under the USPC manual standards. Students receive an integrated riding program tailored to their skill and confidence level, emphasizing classical military (dressage) techniques to improve basic riding skills, as well as using a hunt & jump seat (if desired). Students may then progress to drill team or quadrille work, or choose to pursue individual goals in their riding discipline of choice. All students are encouraged to participate in local team events or exhibitions, but is not mandatory.
Adult Riding Program- Our adult riding program is structured the same way as our youth riding programs. We work with riders of all levels and ages and offer services for the new adult rider or the former equestrian looking ."to get back in the saddle again!" with confidence!
Equine & Stable Management- We teach all students youth or adults about proper equine daily care,vet care, and proper nutrition. We feel that a rider is best prepared and can ride to the best of their ability when they understand their horse from Head to Toe! We offer off site consultant services for those starting up their stable or have a "back yard barn" and need assitance with proper daily care and nutrition. Off site services vary by services needed and travel time. Please call or email us for more information.
* The After School Program begins Sept.15th, e
nding June 15th annually and is limited in space availability and times due to school hours. The Summer Riding Program begins June 28th, and ends August 30th. During the month of July, we have two sessions of Summer Riding 
Camp that is all day, with a full schedule of activities! All students in the After School or Summer Riding Programs are required to committ to one lesson per week for one month in advance for proper scheduling allowances (Total of 4 blocked lessons scheduled).. In addition we will have special instructors come twice a month on Saturdays to do special instruction and /or clinics for your child ( scheduling and demand allowances). As always, we have many lovely horses to choose from ,for all different level riders for your child to use in lessons. Serenity Hill offers boarding services for the student that owns their horse and leases are available for those who desire to ride in additon to their weekly instruction. When school is in session, Lessons are offered Monday through Friday starting at 3:30pm and Saturdays from 9am-4pm and Sundays 9-11am. Each lesson is 60 minutes and ask that each student to come at LEAST-30 minutes early so they can groom, tack up and warm up their horse and give themselves a full hour in the saddle. Any students arriving past the start time of their lesson, will lose that time in the saddle.
All students are required to have the following :
-Approved Riding Helmet
-Riding breeches with half or full seat
-Riding Boots with a heel
-Approved Saftey Vest (Jumping Students Only)
-Appropriate clothing for seasonal conditions
-Riding Gloves
All clothing should be appropriate for the weather and each student will be given a Jacket/Shirt to wear for the program. Snacks and beverages are provided for each student at every lesson, as well as the parents observing .
Raised in Saratoga County and in Farm Country. Horses and the love for them is no stranger to Terri Anne and she has been around them from age four. She rides five days a week with major concentration on the flat in dressage basics but also enjoys Western Pleasure , and long trail rides in the Spring and Fall. While taking several years off to raise a family and continue her education at The University at Albany for Criminal Justice & Psychology, Terri Anne rejoined the riding arena with taking instruction in dressage and hunter/jumpers working with different area trainers over the past few years. Outside of conditioning in her riding skills, Terri Anne focuses on teaching her own students good horse management skills, good relationships and proper riding skills to ensure safety and proper conditioning for the horse and rider.
"Many new or young riders, do not understand how important correct riding is and how it affects their horses performance, but also their health (spine and legs) and longevity in life." We all focus on teaching the core foundation of riding: Respect, Safety , Correct Seat, Bending & Collecting, AND Control. " Once a student understands these and can ride competently, they can progress in any style and go to any level..the skys the limit!!-Terri Anne Dougherty
Dressage-Drill Team-Recreational Riding- Mary E. Hogencamp
Confidence buidling for the new rider or nervous rider-Whether you have always desired to ride, or maybe you have taken a bad fall and need to get your confidence back…Mary Hogencamp & Christie Hugabone will work with each clients individual needs.
Mary is a retired Captain of the NYS Police. She has ridden, owned and trained her own horses for over 30 years. Mary and her horse Jack, have ridden in a variety of environments – from police training and ceremonial details, to live theater. She has also prepared Jack for two movie appearances.
Mary’s specialized beginner lessons focus on building confidence in the rider. Her training in Mounted Police work and military horsemanship methods help her exemplify the classical techniques of dressage training which are used to enhance the skills of horse and rider – for any discipline. “Basics are basics – regardless of whether you are riding strictly for fun on trails or are preparing to compete. The horse should be obedient, responsive to the aids, safe on the ground and under saddle – and both horse and rider should enjoy their work. A confident rider and a confident horse are partners in fun.”
Mary greatly admires the French Dressage master Jean-Claude Racinet, and has ridden in his clinics. She bases her riding instruction on his teachings, and encourages students to read his books and follow his principles of riding in lightness. "My goal is to show people how to have fun while learning to establish a positive and productive horse-rider partnership. Then, if they are interested, I encourage them to pursue more advanced lessons in their discipline of choice - we are fortunate to have many fine instructors in the area.”
Dressage- 1st Level and Above- Jeff Lindberg
Jeff is an experienced dressage rider, competitor and instructor. Shown here with "Aramis", owned by Patricia Snyder, "Aramis has competed at Third Level and is also available for sale on www.equine.com or by contacting Jeff at his facility. Jeff’s own horse, "Count Furioso" was ENDYCTA year -end champion at Prix St. Georges in 2003.Jeff is also on the board of the Eastern New York Dressage and Combined Training Association (Enydcta.org) and owns and operates his own boarding and training facility Bishop’s Gate in Charlton, NY. Jeff accommodates many of the areas riders in their training needs and all interested clients should email Serenity Hill Farm to find out how to get on the lesson schedule when Jeff is at Serenity Hill. Jeff allows for two days a month (Saturday or Sunday) to offer his instruction.
Helen Egnasher- Dressage, Stadium Jumping:
Helen has over thirty years experience riding and teaching students the basics in dressage and how to jump correctly and safely. Helen has instructed in England and has also been a part of the USPC since about the age of 10. In addition to her riding abilities, Helen has also been a Science teacher for the past twenty two years.
~Our horses are well trained, but it is also important that you understand the horse you ride and the safety measures you would need to take in case a rider got hurt, a horse spooked, or took off out of fright. We rarely see this happen, but as it does happen, we prefer you are prepared for the situation. Your safety is our first concern!
We proudly accept mastercard/visa, personal checks for your convenience!
* Cancellation Policies
-It can be very difficult to "juggle" and reschedule clients when we have too many cancelling or rescheduling due for really important reasons, or just no reason at all, so we have enforced our policy to the following:
Private Instruction or Trail Riding: Any client taking lessons that feel the need to cancel must do so with a minimum of 24 hours notice to the instructor immediately or they will be charged for that lesson. You must speak directly with the instructor and/or trainer and get back confirmation that they are aware of you not being at your scheduled lesson.
After School or Summer Riding Programs- All students are required to show up "ready to ride" on their designated time and day. Any student missing a lesson or having to cancel for any reason, will be counted as having a lesson and there will be no makeups. Any student coming late to a lesson will have that time deducted from their lesson time. This policy will be strictly enforced! In addition, any student who is repeatedly late ( 3 strikes), will lose their entire lesson at cost. Students are allowed to swap times/days ahead of time with instructor confirmation. Messages to the barn, or instructors cell phones do not count. You must speak with them directly. All lessons and training are considered to be "on" unless notified by stables due to inclement weather and/or power outages.
Clinics: Any rider coming into a clinic late will be sent out and will not be allowed any refund and any no shows will be charged. Clinic Instructors travel great distances to be here and run extremely tight schedules and will not tolerate any late comers to a scheduled clinic time. Plus, the Facility gets charged whether a rider is there or not when time has been allotted. It is important that all students have respect for one another and the instructor giving the lesson. Tardiness affects everyone in many ways and we would appreciate if all students would come to each lesson prepared and on time.
Rates:
- Youth Riders ( ages 5-10) $45 (45 minutes, includes tackup assistance and grooming lesson)
- Junior & Adult Riders (ages 11 & up) $65 ( 60 minutes, can include tack up/grooming if needed)
- Speciality Instructors rates vary by instructor and time allottment. See barn for pricing and scheduling.
As each student progresses, they get more time in the saddle. We strive for our students to be able to come at least thirty minutes prior to a lesson, groom, tack up and be ready for their lesson start time. However, for those students (adults & children) requiring assistance grooming and tacking up, we will always help them until they feel comfortable doing it on their own. Youth students will get 30 minutes in the saddle and Junior and Adult Riders will get 45 minutes in the saddle if assistance is needed.
