Youth Horsemanship Program Information
The Youth Horsemanship Program is a hands-on educational program designed to develop practical horsemanship, responsibility, observation, communication, and judgment through direct work with horses.
The program is primarily ground-based and is not structured as a traditional riding lesson program.
Program at a Glance
Ages 8–12
Fridays • 4:00–5:30 PM
Ages 13–17
Thursdays • 4:00–5:30 PM
Program Length
12 sessions • Fall/Winter 2026–27
Tuition
$720 for the full program
Location
Sundquist Classical Riding
1247 E Joy Ranch Rd
Phoenix, AZ 85086
Program Format
Small-group, hands-on horsemanship education with an emphasis on ground-based learning, horse care, communication, training skills, observation, and judgment.
Arizona ESA
ESA families are welcome. Additional enrollment and payment information is available through Blue Moon Adaptive Riding.
Interested in the program?
If this sounds like a good fit for your child, you can begin with a short Program Inquiry.
Interested in the Youth Horsemanship Program?
The first step is to submit a short Program Inquiry. This helps us learn a little about your child, their experience, and what you are hoping they will gain from the program.
After reviewing your inquiry, Blue Moon Adaptive Riding will contact you to discuss program fit, availability, and next steps.
Submit a Program Inquiry
Who This Program Is For
This program is designed for young people who are genuinely interested in horses and enjoy learning through hands-on experience. Students do not need prior horse experience, but they should be willing to participate, listen, work safely in a small-group setting, and take increasing responsibility as their skills develop.
Because students work directly with horses, Blue Moon Adaptive Riding speaks with families before enrollment to help determine whether the program is an appropriate fit for each student.
What Students Will Learn
Students build practical horsemanship skills while learning how to observe, think, communicate, and take responsibility around horses.
Through hands-on work, students may learn to:
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Safely approach, catch, lead, groom, and handle horses
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Recognize basic horse behavior, body language, and signs of comfort or concern
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Understand daily horse care, welfare, equipment, and stable responsibilities
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Establish clear boundaries and communicate through body language, position, timing, and consistency
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Practice groundwork and introductory classical training skills
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Observe posture, movement, balance, and behavior
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Develop problem-solving and decision-making skills around horses
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Work with increasing independence, confidence, and responsibility
Skills are introduced progressively according to each student’s age, experience, and readiness.
The Four Disciplines
The Youth Horsemanship Program is organized around four areas of development that help students become thoughtful, capable, and responsible horse people.
Horse Care & Stewardship
Students learn the practical responsibilities of caring for a horse, including grooming, handling, health awareness, equipment, safety, and daily care.
Communication & Boundaries
Students learn how horses communicate and how to communicate clearly in return through body language, spatial awareness, timing, consistency, and appropriate boundaries.
Classical Training Skills
Students are introduced to progressive groundwork and classical training skills that help them understand how horses learn, move, and respond.
Observation & Judgment
Students learn to slow down, notice what is happening, compare what they see, and make thoughtful decisions about what the horse may need next.
How a Class Works
Each 90-minute class combines instruction, hands-on horse work, observation, discussion, and practical responsibility.
Students may work individually, in pairs, or as a group depending on the lesson, the horses available, and each student’s level of readiness.
A typical class may include:
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Preparing and caring for the horses
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A focused lesson or demonstration
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Hands-on practice with horse handling, groundwork, or training exercises
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Observation and discussion of horse behavior, movement, or communication
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Reflection on what worked, what changed, and what the student noticed
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Putting equipment away and completing basic barn responsibilities
The goal is not simply to complete tasks, but to help students learn to observe carefully, think through problems, make appropriate decisions, and gradually work with greater independence and responsibility.
The 12-Session Curriculum
The program follows a progressive six-phase journey, with two sessions devoted to each phase. Throughout the program, students continue developing all Four Disciplines—Horse Care & Stewardship, Communication & Boundaries, Classical Training Skills, and Observation & Judgment—while their practical skills, independence, and responsibility gradually deepen.
Sessions 1–2 — The Contract: Agreement
Will you work with me?
Students begin with safety, horse care, handling, respect, boundaries, and the foundations of a fair working relationship. They learn that before we can ask a horse to do something, we must first establish trust, clarity, responsibility, and agreement.
Sessions 3–4 — The Dance: Coordination
Can we move together?
Students explore movement and communication through leading and groundwork. They begin learning how position, body language, timing, direction, and release influence the horse—and how successful communication requires awareness of both themselves and the horse.
Sessions 5–6 — The Mirror: Observation & Alignment
What is the horse reflecting?
Students develop their ability to observe more carefully. Through groundwork and work in hand, they begin recognizing differences in posture, movement, balance, behavior, and response while learning that the horse often reflects the clarity, position, and timing of the handler.
Sessions 7–8 — The Flame: Energy & Influence
How do we direct energy without force?
Students learn to work more thoughtfully with energy, intention, and appropriate influence. Practical skills become more demanding, including increasingly sophisticated groundwork and an introduction to longeing as appropriate to age and readiness.
Sessions 9–10 — The Whisper: Timing & Refinement
How little is enough?
Students begin refining their aids, timing, and feel. They learn to recognize the horse’s response, release when the horse understands, and use less rather than automatically doing more. Longeing, work in hand, and other exercises develop greater precision and independence.
Sessions 11–12 — The Centaur: Integration & Leadership
Can knowledge become judgment?
The final phase brings the program together. Students apply horse care, communication, training skills, observation, and decision-making with increasing independence. The emphasis shifts from simply knowing what to do toward understanding when, why, and how to act responsibly for the horse.
Skills Grow With the Student
The same developmental journey is adapted for each age group. Younger students build strong foundations in care, safe handling, observation, leading, groundwork, assisted longeing, confidence, and increasing independence. Older students work toward greater responsibility and more sophisticated skills, including work in hand, quality longeing, obstacle work, assessment, problem-solving, and independent decision-making.
Horse care and stewardship continue throughout all twelve sessions rather than being confined to a single part of the curriculum.
Program Schedule
Ages 13–17
Thursdays • 4:00–5:30 PM
October 22 & 29
November 5, 12 & 19
December 3, 10 & 17
January 7, 14, 21 & 28
Ages 8–12
Fridays • 4:00–5:30 PM
October 23 & 30
November 6, 13 & 20
December 4, 11 & 18
January 8, 15, 22 & 29
Location: Sundquist Classical Riding
1247 E Joy Ranch Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85086
Tuition: $720 for the full 12-session program
Arizona ESA Families
The Youth Horsemanship Program is available to Arizona families participating in the Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) Program.
Blue Moon Adaptive Riding is an Arizona ESA educational provider through ClassWallet. Families using ESA funds can work with Blue Moon Adaptive Riding for program enrollment, invoicing, and payment through ClassWallet.
Using ESA Funds
After your child has been accepted into the program:
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Blue Moon Adaptive Riding will provide the information and documentation needed for payment.
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Families can submit payment through their ClassWallet ESA account.
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Program tuition is $720 for the full 12-session session.
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The program itself is held at Sundquist Classical Riding in Phoenix, Arizona.
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ESA purchases and payments remain subject to current Arizona Department of Education ESA requirements and approval.
Not sure how to get started?
Submit a Program Inquiry and let us know that you plan to use ESA funds. We can help you with the next steps.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my child need previous horse experience?
No. Previous horse experience is not required. The program is designed to meet students at their current level and build skills progressively.
Is this a riding program?
No. The Youth Horsemanship Program is primarily ground-based. Students learn through horse care, handling, groundwork, observation, communication, and classical training skills. Riding is not the central focus of the program.
Will students work directly with horses?
Yes. This is a hands-on program. Students work directly with horses while learning safe handling, care, communication, groundwork, observation, and increasing responsibility.
How are the two age groups different?
Both groups follow the same overall developmental framework, but expectations are adapted for age and readiness. Younger students focus on strong foundations, safe handling, observation, confidence, and assisted practical skills. Older students work toward greater independence, more advanced groundwork, obstacle work, longeing, problem-solving, assessment, and decision-making.
What should my child wear?
Students should wear comfortable clothing suitable for working around horses and closed-toe footwear appropriate for barn and arena activities. Additional recommendations will be provided before the program begins.
What happens if my child misses a class?
Because the program is structured as a progressive 12-session curriculum, regular attendance is strongly encouraged. Make-up options, if available, will be discussed on an individual basis.
Can Arizona ESA funds be used?
Yes. Blue Moon Adaptive Riding is an Arizona ESA educational provider through ClassWallet. Families planning to use ESA funds should indicate this on the Program Inquiry form so payment instructions can be provided.
Is enrollment automatic after I submit an inquiry?
No. Submitting an inquiry does not guarantee enrollment. Because students work directly with horses in a small-group setting, Blue Moon Adaptive Riding speaks with families before enrollment to help determine whether the program is an appropriate fit for the student and whether space is available.
What happens after I submit a Program Inquiry?
Blue Moon Adaptive Riding will review the information you provide and contact you to discuss the program, your child’s needs and experience, availability, and next steps for enrollment.
Where is the program held?
The Youth Horsemanship Program is held at:
Sundquist Classical Riding
1247 E Joy Ranch Rd
Phoenix, AZ 85086
Interested in the Youth Horsemanship Program?
The first step is to submit a short Program Inquiry. This helps us learn a little about your child, their experience, and what you are hoping they will gain from the program.
After reviewing your inquiry, Blue Moon Adaptive Riding will contact you to discuss program fit, availability, and next steps.
Submit a Program Inquiry