Riding Lessons
English and Western riding lessons are available and are taught in a safe, progressive manner. All ages are welcome, beginner through advanced, on our horses or yours. All of our lesson horses and ponies are talented, well-trained, and have been hand-picked for their job. Lessons include learning how to properly groom, tack up, warm up, and cool down the horse, as well as other horsemanship skills. Boots or shoes with a heel, long pants, and ASTM/SEI approved helmets are required for riding (we have helmets available to borrow). From the trail rider to the polished show rider, Sprouse's Corner Ranch offers an experience tailored to achieve your goals.
Riding Lesson Prices
Single Private Lesson: $75/each
1x/week Group Lessons: $250/month
(4 lessons per month)
1x/week Private Lessons: $280/month
(4 lessons per month)
Riding Lesson Booking
Contact Stacy Worton
(434) 547-9775
for more information
Show Team
At Sprouse's Corner Ranch, our students are invited to participate in horse shows to challenge their skills and have some fun. There is quite a bit of determination, discipline, and responsibility required to prepare for and compete in a horse show. There is great satisfaction to be earned by trying your best, learning from mistakes, and taking pride in small accomplishments. Students may choose to ride their own horse or use one of the Ranch's show horses.
Our show team practices once per week with the instructor. We ride weekly, but also have rainy-day clinics on:
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Braiding
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Clipping
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Dress Rehearsal
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Learn Your Program (Division Requirements, Show Rules, How to Fill Out Entry Forms)
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Arena Etiquette & Sportsmanship
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Tack Cleaning and How to Figure 8 Bridles
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Show Grooming
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Showmanship Practice
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Trail Course Practice
Horse Leases
Leasing a horse is an option for those who do not own their own horse yet would like more riding time beyond a weekly riding lesson. Members of our Show Team (and wants to participate in shows off the farm) must own their own horse or lease one of ours.
Leases are offered for those who are currently in the lesson program at Sprouse's Corner Ranch. Farrier, vet, dentist and feeding are all included in the lease price. For the riders who show, there are no "horse use fees" for show days.
Full Lease: $450/month (6 month minimum)
or $500/month (month to month)
-Unlimited riding in addition to the rider's weekly lesson.
-It includes exclusive use of one horse for the horse show season, including all events, clinics, shows, camp and trail riding.
Half-Lease: $350/month (6 month minimum)
or $400/month (month to month)
-3 scheduled, set days per week of riding in addition to the weekly riding lesson (cost of riding lessons are additional).
-Horse may be shared for shows, events, and will be ridden in the lesson program on days when the leasee is not riding.
Meet The Team
LaRue Sprouse
LaRue is a Certified Horsemanship Association Level II Registered Riding Instructor and a
Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor (CTRI) and Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning (ESMHL). She has been a
Licensed Veterinary Technician in the states of VA and KY for over 25 years. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Equine Physical Therapy from Midway College in Lexington, Ky, and a Bachelor of Arts in Horsemanship from Morehead State University in Morehead, Ky.
She has owned Sprouse's Corner Ranch since its opening in 2006 where she has been the Lead Instructor and Camp Director for 20 years. She also serves as the Executive Director of Heartland Horse Heroes Therapeutic Riding at the Ranch and is the
leader of the Pegasus 4-H Horse and Pony Club.
Carol Lynn Owen
Lynn has a Bachelor in Elementary Education with an emphasis on Special Education and Psychology. She is a Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor (CTRI) for Heartland Horse Heroes at Sproues's Corner Ranch and serves with LaRue as a CTRI at Lonesome Dove Equestrian Center working with Veterans on horseback.
She is a full-time emergency room registered nurse at Centara in Farmville.
Stacy
Worton
Stacy wasn't born in the barn but made her way there as quickly as she could. She is currently in the final stage of achieving the Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor (CTRI) status through PATH International. She brings many years of teaching experience from Hunter Jumper, Dressage, Combined Training and even Western Pleasure. Stacy's teaching style is sprinkled with extensive Natural Horsemanship knowledge. To her, horses are way more than riding and building a partnership with them always helps create a strong foundation that transfers into the saddle.