Lessons For All Ages

Monique’s program of horsemanship aims not just to teach people how to ride, but to teach them all aspects of being around horses. In addition to riding, lessons will cover subjects such as safety, groundwork, horse behavior, herd mentality, trailer loading and unloading, and tack choices and care. 

Above all, Monique focuses on teaching her students—both children and adults—how to improve their feel and timing and to be responsive to what the horse is telling them. She’ll stress the importance of safety and awareness when around horses by enforcing consistent techniques and practices. 

Depending on the student’s level of experience as well as their interests, students can expect to learn the following skills:

  • Walk and trot
  • Posting trot
  • Seated trot
  • Loping and galloping
  • Safety during riding and training
  • Round pen skills
  • Bridles, bits, spurs, and their uses
  • Consistent riding techniques
  • Creating a natural headset
  • Maintaining your horse’s respect at all times
  • Achieving softness
  • Turnarounds, rollbacks, and good stops
  • Simple or flying lead changes
  • Using patterns for precision
  • Collection
  • Contact
  • Shoulder In
  • Haunches in
  • Sliding Stops 
  • Walk, extended walk, trot, extended trot, canter, extended canter 
  • Collected and loose rein for all paces
  • Lateral flexion left and right at a stop correct and proper head position 
  • Lateral flexion left and right moving forward 
  • Side pass: evenly, with shoulder leading, and hip leading 
  • Collection and softness at all paces and between all speed changes 
  • Speed changes off your seat and body
  • Speed changes using your rein
  •  Haunches in (hip in) at stop and walk
  •  Shoulder mobility
  • Disengage hind-end
  • Counter arch and bending  
  • Leads
  • Counter canter 
  • Flying lead changes 
  • Back a circle and/or squares 
  • Serpentine off of legs and pressure 
  • Balance and proper movement 
  • Proper flexion and collection at the poll
All maneuvers will be taught to be done with light and easy pressure on rein and leg, but the horse should also tolerate firm hands or leg when needed without attitude. You will also learn how to ride and do all these things in a snaffle, hackamore, two rein, and one-handed in the bridle or in the double bridle for those dressage riders. 
The best thing I try to do for myself is to try to listen to the horse.  I don't mean let him take over.  I listen to how he's operating: what he's understanding or what he doesn't understand: what's bothering him and what isn't bothering him.  I try to feel what the horse is feeling and operate from where the horse is.
– Tom Dorance
Monique Horsemanship (MH) Pricing and Services 
Lessons
  • 45 min lesson $85 
    • $110 travel lesson
      • 5 or 10 lesson package 20% off 
  • Traveling Lesson $175 *additional travel fees may be applied
  • Trailering lesson $175
  • Dangerous/ Problem Horses $150 per session 
    • Horses will be deemed dangerous at the time of incident or based on MH questionnaire. Depending on the nature of the problem or the level of danger, a higher rate may be charged upon prior notice.
  • Warmup/ groundwork coaching at shows in Boulder County $85/hour
    • One-on-one show assistance outside of Boulder County minimum $500 per day $1.50 per mile drive fee. Fee may be split if multiple students are attending show. 
    • If I am at a horse show and you need help with your horse that was not previously arranged it will be a regular lesson rate of $85 minimum. ​