Sunrise Community Farm Center
Horsemanship Programs
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The foundation of our riding program is called the CRAFTS of Partnership: Communication, Respect, Acknowledgement, Friendship, Trust & Setting Good Boundaries. We believe our animals are teachers and they are always at work empowering humans to have higher self-confidence and self-esteem. Our staff are experts at helping individuals get beyond the natural fears that come up when being around horses and around our other animals.
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Horsemanship is more than just being in the saddle. Non-riding time is also a part of our program. For example, barn lesson topics may include catching your horse, haltering, leading, grooming, cleaning feet, health, tacking your horse, tack cleaning, cleaning the stalls and the barn and showmanship. Please note that just because you or your child are not on the horse all the lesson or every day(in a camp week), does not mean they did not receive a scheduled Horsemanship lesson!
Our large covered arena allows lessons to be held despite the weather!
Horse Lessons
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Little Rascals Classes (ages 3-6) are offered Saturday 8:00am-8:30am and 10:30am-11:00am, Monday 12:00pm-12:30pm, and Friday 12:00pm-12:30pm. This is a parent/child class designed to assist your child to become an enthusiastic, caring and comfortable partner with a horse. You will assist your child in grooming and leading their pony ride to help foster and maintain a strong bond of trust between you both and the horse. $30 per lesson, pricing packages available.
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Beginner Weekend Lesson and Beginner Weekday Lessons (ages 6+) are offered Saturday 8:30-9:45 and 9:45-11:00, and Monday through Thursday afternoons 3:30-4:30 and 4:30-5:30. The beginner lesson is for those with limited to no experience looking to have a full horsemanship lesson. Each lesson will start with bonding, learning about, and caring for the horses. Students will then ride, typically starting off with the first few lessons in a Western Saddle, the student can switch to an English saddle as they and the instructor see fit. On horseback they learn how to have a balanced seat, steering and voice commands and will work their way up to walk, trot, canter. Our instructors teach the core fundamentals of riding. We are not a competitive barn, instead focusing on the whole horse package, we will give your beginner a love of the horses and the skills to move forward to pursue other forms of riding. $50 per lesson, pricing packages available.
Intermediate Lesson is offered Saturdays from 11:00-12:15, Wednesdays at 4:00 and Fridays at 4:00.
In order to take the intermediate/advanced class you or your student must be evaluated by an instructor. Please call the office at (919)968-8581 to schedule an evaluation.
Cancellations must be made at least 24 hours in advance. Lessons are not cancelled due to rain. Lessons may end early or be cancelled due to other severe weather; no make-up lessons given if more than 60% of the lesson time has been completed.
"WARNING Under North Carolina law, an equine activity sponsor or equine professional is not liable for an injury to or the death of a participant in equine activities resulting exclusively from the inherent risks of equine activities. Chapter 99E of the North Carolina General Statutes."