Our last Cavaliere class for 2013 was held on Sunday: congrats to Lizzie who passed her Horsemanship 1 and Trisha who passed her Riding 2! Classes are on hold now, and will start up again with the Intro to Mounted Combat and Mounted Combat Workshop on February 2nd 2014.

However, if you are wanting to keep up with your riding throughout the winter there are several options for you:

Winter Lease Special - $100 per month

We have a special rate for leasing our school horses for the months of December, January and February. A half day lease, which gives you 4 or 5 mornings or afternoons a month of riding practice plus one free lesson, is normally $135. For these three months the half-day lease is only $100 per month, and still includes a free lesson. You must have a minimum of Horsemanship and Riding Level 1 (or the equivalent) to take advantage of this offer.

Apprentice Program

This is an opportunity to earn riding time and discounts on Cavaliere Program classes by working at the barn. Typical barn chores include feeding lunches, mucking paddocks, grooming horses, and raking the ring. More experienced apprentices may be asked to groom and tack up horses for training, or take on schooling horses. Banked hours can be used to book practice rides or to discount the cost of lessons and Cavaliere Program packages.

Private Riding Lessons

I will still be doing private lessons throughout the winter as weather and ring conditions allow. Rates are $60 per hour on school horses; $10 less on your own or leased horse. Contact me directly to book.

Open Barn

Open Barn is an opportunity to get some riding, horsemanship, or swordplay practice in at an unbeatable rate. The session is free to attend, and the cost to borrow a school horse is only $10. Upcoming Open Barn dates are:
Sunday 1 December, 1-4pm
Sunday 19 January, 1-4pm
Sunday 23 February, 1-4pm

Open Barns are often coupled with work parties (an excellent time to add to your apprentice hour, above), and this weekend is no exception.

Festive Work Party

For our last winterizing work party of the year we will provide hot chocolate and cookies to keep our volunteers warm and well-fueled as we fix up fences and paddock footing. Join us any time between noon and dark. All hands welcome, even if you can only spare an hour of your time!

Sunday 1 December, noon - dusk

To inquire about leasing, lessons, the apprentice program or any other winter activities at Red Colt email me at jennifer (at) academieduello.com.

Jennifer Landels heads up Academie Duello's Cavaliere Program. She has been swordfighting since 2008, and riding since before she could walk. She started the program as an excuse to combine those passions.
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