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
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Single Private Lesson: $60/each
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1x/week Private Lessons: $225/month
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1x/week Group Lessons: $200/month
Riding Lesson Sessions
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2024 Spring Session: March-May
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2024 Fall Session: September-December
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Show Team
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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.
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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.
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.
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Full Lease: $400/month
-Unlimited riding in addition to the rider's weekly lesson (cost of riding lessons are additional, but discounted).
-It includes exclusive use of one horse for the horse show season, including all events, clinics, shows, camp and trail riding.
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Half-Lease: $200/month
-3 days per week of riding in addition to the weekly riding lesson (cost of riding lessons are additional, but discounted).
-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). She has been a
Licensed Veterinary Technician in the states of VA and KY for over 20 years.
She has owned Sprouse's Corner Ranch since its opening in 2006. 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.
Gini Bryington
Gini is 20 years old and in her last year at Longwood University. I have been riding since I was 3 and have been teaching lessons and training horses since I was 15. She has her personal horse, Wise Nobility, along with others that I love at SCR! She loves teaching others how to ride and watch them find their passion in horses! She also works with a few training horses at SCR.
Rebecca Grey
Rebecca has been riding and showing horses for 20 years. She is a Level 2 Certified Horsemanship Association certified instructor in English and Western riding. She has been helping with lessons at Sprouse's Corner Ranch for seven years. Even though her real job is a registered nurse her heart is at the barn! She has her own horse, Blazing Hot Invitation (aka Gabe), that she enjoys riding and showing. She is excited to meet you and help develop your horsemanship skills!
Jessie Rula
Jessie's love for horses was evident since her childhood. In her adolescence, she served as President of her local 4-H Horse and Pony Club, participated in Quarter Horse breed shows, attended numerous state and local competitions in horsemanship, showmanship, western pleasure and stock seat equitation, and hunter pleasure and equitation. Currently, Jessie resides outside of Cartersville on Rocky Springs Farm with her husband, Charlie, and two daughters, Meredith and Bonnie. She is a full-time Nursing Care Manager in Richmond and teaches private and group lessons in Hunter and Western at SCR.