Adult Lessons
Adults begin their riding journey at Fox Island Equestrian with our Horsemanship Series, building a strong foundation in horse care, handling, safety, and groundwork. Once they’re ready to ride, they transition to mounted instruction with Dr. Camille through our partnership with her.
Join our Wait List
Start by completing our Adult Riding Waitlist. We'll review your information and reach out to get you started.
Complete an Introduction Lesson
Your first visit is a 45-minute Introduction Lesson at Fox Island Equestrian.
This is a chance to meet our horses, learn about the different breeds and personalities in our herd, and get familiar with the basic equipment and routines you'll encounter here.
We'll also get to know you, your previous experience, and your goals with horses.
If you have significant previous horse experience and feel ready to move directly into mounted instruction, we'll use this lesson to evaluate your current horsemanship skills, including your ability to safely groom, tack, and prepare a horse for work. In some cases, this may allow you to move directly into mounted lessons rather than completing the full Horsemanship Series.
Step 3: Horsemanship Series
Most adult riders will begin with our four-lesson Horsemanship Series - four private, 45-minute lessons focused on building confidence and practical skills around horses, on the ground.
You'll learn about horse handling, grooming and daily care, tack and equipment, horse health and nutrition, basic lameness awareness, and safe practices around the barn and property. You'll also become familiar with how we care for and work with our horses at Fox Island Equestrian.
The goal is for you to feel comfortable independently bringing your horse in, preparing them for a lesson, and safely putting them away afterward.
For most adults with previous horse experience, four lessons is enough to prepare for mounted instruction. Riders with little or no horse experience, or those who need additional time to become comfortable around horses, may benefit from additional horsemanship lessons. There is no rush to move on, you are welcome to continue with groundwork for as long as you'd like.
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Catching, leading, tying, and safely handling horses
Reading horse behavior and body language
Safely moving horses around the property
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Grooming and hoof care
Daily horse care
Caring for your horse before and after a lesson
Recognizing changes in your horse's normal appearance or behavior
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Basic equine anatomy and health
Recognizing signs of illness, discomfort, and lameness
Identifying common concerns such as heat, swelling, or injury
Understanding when a concern needs further attention
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Hay and forage
Grain and supplements
Why horses have different diets
The relationship between nutrition, health, and condition
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Grooming and preparing your horse for work
Tacking and untacking
Proper care and cleaning of tack
Understanding basic tack and equipment
Step 4: Begin Mounted Lessons
Once you're ready for the saddle, you'll begin mounted instruction with Dr. Camille, who teaches here at Fox Island Equestrian.
Camille works with our adult and advanced riders, combining riding instruction with a strong focus on communication, confidence, and the mental side of riding.
Dr. Camille brings more than 32 years of competitive riding experience and over 15 years of coaching across multiple disciplines. Through Realized Potential – High-Performance Psychology & Executive Coaching LLC®, she combines riding instruction with performance psychology to help riders develop confidence, focus, and resilience.
Mounted lessons are scheduled directly with Camille. Fox Island Equestrian provides the horse for your lesson, for a fee.
Frequently Asked Questions
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The series is primarily focused on groundwork and horsemanship. Mounted instruction begins once you've completed the series and are ready to transition into lessons with Dr. Camille.
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Absolutely. Four lessons is the minimum, not a maximum. You are welcome to continue with groundwork and horsemanship lessons for as long as you'd like.
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That's completely okay! We'll start with the basics and give you time to become comfortable handling and caring for the horses. Riders with no previous experience may need additional horsemanship lessons before moving into mounted instruction.
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No. We welcome both adults who are completely new to horses and those returning after years away. Your first lessons will be tailored to your experience and comfort level.
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Most adult riders will complete the four-lesson series before beginning mounted instruction. Riders with significant previous horse experience may be evaluated during their Introduction Lesson to determine whether they are ready to move directly into mounted lessons.
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That's okay, too. Our groundwork lessons give you the opportunity to build confidence at your own pace. There is no requirement to move into the saddle until you're ready.
Payment
Your first visit is a 45-minute Introduction Lesson at Fox Island Equestrian.
This is a chance to meet our horses, learn about the different breeds and personalities in our herd, and get familiar with the basic equipment and routines you'll encounter here.
Four private, 45-minute lessons focused on building confidence and practical skills around horses
