Our Goal: To give riders the skills to safely enjoy a lifetime of fun with horses.
At PonyPros, we teach kids about developing two-way communication with the horse through facial expressions and about horsemanship as an artistic practice. We teach both English and Western.
LEARN TO RIDE
We are so passionate about helping riders learn the skills to safely enjoy a lifetime of fun around horses!
Check out our Levels Pathway to see how riders progress through our program.
​
Our riders start with vaulting so they learn to "ride the horse and not the saddle". Riders love vaulting because, right away, the horse is on a lungeline and after just a few lessons they get to feel a trot, canter, and jumping! Parents love vaulting because kids can enroll without buying any equipment. Everything is provided.
Next, riders progress to learning how to steer in a private lesson and later in a group. Eventually, riders may choose to join IEA and Pony Club - two wonderful organizations that are affordable, educational, and fun.
​
At Pony Pros, every lesson is more than riding—it’s an opportunity to build character, grow confidence, and create joyful memories with horses. Ready to give your child a great horse experience? Sign up for a lesson today and watch them grow! You can find our rates here.
What Our Clients Say:
​
Families consistently praise the program. Mary Anne shares, “Pony Pros in Bend Oregon is a great resource for little kids. Kali Kiger is an extraordinary trainer, and she works with young people to help them connect with horses in a sustainably real, life-long kind of way."
Our teaching philosophy emphasizes kindness, patience, and respect. One parent wrote, “You’re so good at teaching both children and ponies. I love your methods. I wish instructors were like you here in Australia, instead of having the ‘you must dominate them, be the boss, and be completely strict’ approach. I never have, and never will, agree with that attitude.” Our approach at Pony Pros allows children to learn, make mistakes, and grow alongside their ponies. Students thrive in confidence and skills.
​
One student, age 12, explains, “Coming here gives me something awesome to look forward to. My confidence has improved so much while going there—it will surely bring yours up too!" Trust and experience are central to the program. Susan adds, “Kali Kiger is an excellent resource. Very trustworthy and knows what she is talking about.”
Unsure what level your rider is? Here is a rough idea.​​​​
​
Beginner - Fewer than 20 hours
Novice - 21 to 80 hours
Intermediate - 81 to 200 hours
Advanced - 201 to 400 hours
Experienced - 400 to 1,000 hours
Amateur - 1,000 to 10,000 hours
Professional - More than 10,000 hours
TOTS & PRESCHOOL AGE GROUP
Generally most riding schools do not teach kids under the age of 7. At Pony Pros, we have a passion for tots and preschoolers. In lessons, kiddos work on their balance and confidence, learning lots of fun tricks while developing the skill of following directions from a teacher.
​
We are able to offer a small discount on lessons based on the fact that itty bitty kids are easier on the horses, but Tots and Preschoolers take up the same amount of space in the arena and the same amount of time for a teacher, so our prices are set to be sustainable for all involved. Here is a video of Kali's daughter, Quinlyn, riding at age 2.​
BEGINNER
In beginner riding lessons, you learn the basics of how to cue the horse and how to ride with confidence and balance. Riders start on the lungeline and progress to steering. All riders start in private lessons and progress to a group only when they have mastered the basics. Teens can master the basics in about 8 lessons. Most riders age 6-9 prefer private lessons.​ Here is a video of one of our riders progressing over 2 years, from age 6 to 8.
INTERMEDIATE / ADVANCED
In Intermediate and Advanced lessons, riders progress to cantering and jumping. In order to be eligible to canter and jump, riders must be in lessons twice a week (this is industry standard). Riding twice a week helps to build muscle memory, reduce wear and tear on the horses, and reduce the risk of falls. Beginning at the intermediate stage, riders have the option to Join Pony Club and IEA as long as they are riding twice a week. Most riders age 6-8 continue to prefer private lessons at this age, but starting around 4th grade, riders get excited about riding in groups. Group riding is an essential skill in order to be safe at shows. Here the same rider from the beginner video above at one of her first shows doing a Gambler's Choice round at a show and also competing Cross Country. We also have students riding full size horses, as seen here.
TRAVEL TEAM
As our riders advance, we like to take them on fun trips, like horse camping, doing parades, performing in horse expos, experimenting with endurance riding, or going to horse shows. We also volunteer some to help train horses at rescues or for breeders. Here are a few videos of some of our activities.
IN-BARN EVENTS
We like to host fun events for our barn family, like talent shows, easter egg hunts, and more. We try to offer these events around the various school holidays so there is always something to look forward to. Everyone is invited. This is a great time to bring grandparents, extended family, and friends to watch.
