Baltimore's Horseback Riding Program
In addition to off-site programs, City Ranch offers private and group youth, adult and therapeutic lessons at our facility convenient to the Baltimore beltway. Lessons are fun, interactive, and safe sessions which are individually designed to suit the needs and goals of the ride.
​Lesson Details:
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Beginner level 1-3 lessons are 90-minutes long, Intermediate 1-3 lessons are 90 minutes long
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Lessons include a mixture of horsemanship (grooming, tacking up, and basic horse care) and riding instruction.
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Lessons are offered in group or private lessons. Riders 5-7 year olds must be in a private lesson, riders 8 and older shall ride in group lessons unless they want private lessons.
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Lesson start times range from 10am - 8pm.
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Advanced payment and waiver is required. See cancellation policy for more details.
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An instructor will be with riders at all times and if it is necessary for the instructor to leave the riding arena THE STUDENT MUST DISMOUNT and remain with the horse while the instructor is out of the arena.
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For the benefit of our horses, riders will need to be under 225 lbs.
2024 Pricing:
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Group Lesson (Up to 4 individuals in a group)
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90-minute group lessons are $90 for adults aged 18+
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90-minute group lessons are $80 for children aged 5-17
Private Lessons
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​Private lessons are two hours and $132 per individual.
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Private lessons for children aged 5-7
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Riding Evaluations
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Riding Evaluations are $65 and 45 minutes in length.
- An instructor will work with your riding goals to customize the one on one experience for you or your child.
- ​Riding Evaluations are a way for the instructor and the parent/guardian to decide together if the child is ready to participate safely in horseback riding lessons.
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Prospective students with prior experience, and returning students of more than 30-day break shall undergo an official evaluation prior to scheduling recurring lessons.
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Children ages 5-7 who want to sign up for lessons must successfully complete an official Riding Evaluation prior to joining the lesson program, regardless of prior experience.
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All Equine Assisted Therapy Riding must take an evaluation lesson first.
Pony Rides
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Pony rides are 30 minutes including grooming and tacking $40.​
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Children aged 3+ and adults may come out to the ranch for a pony ride.
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Riders will be able to assist in grooming the horse or pony, tacking them up, and then ride with an instructor leading the rider at all times.
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City Ranch does NOT offer trail rides as a stand alone event.
Trail rides are part of a 90 minute lesson, including tacking and un-tacking the horse. City Ranch requires that riders show confidence and capability in the arena prior to riding on our trails. Trail rides are given at the discretion of the riding instructor based on the riding experience of all students participating in a group lesson.
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Make Up Policy
The City Ranch has a liberal make-up policy.​
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City Ranch regularly monitors the safety of our horses and riders and reserves the right to cancel Events and Classes due to unsafe conditions which include extreme weather conditions. Please call 410-456-2195 the day of your scheduled lessons to confirm. You will be rescheduled or refunded according to your preference.
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Click the button below to read about our lesson cancellation policy.
Our Curriculum
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The City Ranch curriculum covers mounted and unmounted instruction and is derived from a combination of United States Pony Club, 4-H, and the Equestrian badge requirements from The Boy Scouts Handbook. Students receive an equine education that encompasses multiple riding disciplines and horsemanship classes.
The focus of The City Ranch Equine Education is to ensure safe and fun equine activities that allow students to develop into good horsemen, and provide additional mentorship where desired. Riders are evaluated at the start of the lesson program, and then through quarterly progress reports throughout their tenure in our program. Riders are paired with instructors based upon skillset and availability.
Mounted Instruction - The City Ranch offers beginner and intermediate lessons to teach the rider to safely ride at the walk, trot, and canter in the arena and out on the trail. Beginner levels 1-3 will teach the rider to perform a multitude of tasks at walk and trot safely in the arena. Intermediate levels 1-3 will teach the rider to perform a multitude of tasks at the trot and canter in the arena and on the trails.
Unmounted Instruction - All students are required to participate in the assigned unmounted instruction prior to moving to the next level. Unmounted instruction includes equine safety, tack knowledge and care, understanding colors and markings, saddle fitting, and equine care management. This instruction will prepare the rider to be a knowledgeable horseman, and potentially a future owner of the horse or pony!
In addition to off-site programs, City Ranch offers private and group youth, adult and therapeutic lessons at our facility convenient to the Baltimore beltway. Lessons are fun, interactive, and safe sessions which are individually designed to suit the needs and goals of the ride.