This is where it all starts...

 

Heather Hill Riding Program 

UPDATE (8/2021): Heather Hill Riding Center downsized in early 2020 and operates on a very limited basis; we are sorry to say we are full at this time. We do maintain a waitlist so send us your contact information if you’re interested in being added.


On this page you will learn about:

  • What we do at Heather Hill Riding Center LLC

  • The Riding Program (lessons)

  • Team Heather Hill (leasing)

What We Do

Heather Hill Riding Center LLC is a small community-oriented barn located at a private facility on the Atherton/Redwood City border . We have private pastures, an indoor arena, outdoor riding pasture, and miles of endless trails. We are a short trailer ride from Wunderlich Park and the Pacific Ocean - two of our favorite places to take the horses.

Almost all our horses are Welsh ponies and Cobs. We are a perfect place for riders who are passionate about horses and want to dedicate time to learn horsemanship and riding discipline.

Heather Hill Riding Center LLC's program is highly individualized; our fundamental philosophy is based on excellence in well-rounded horsemanship. Underlying all our instruction, students work to understand the horse's body language and effective communication between horse and rider.

Heather Hill Riding Center LLC, offers a limited number of lessons in our Riding Program as well as a lease option for people who want to ride three or more days a week, Team Heather Hill. Our after school and weekend hours are reserved for students who own or lease their ponies.

Riding Program: Lessons

We offer a limited number of introductory lessons each week for people who want to get to know us and our horses. Beginning lessons are on lead lines and are always one-on-one. Our focus is on young riders, novice riders, and adult re-riders. We are not suited to intermediate and advanced riders at this time. These lessons are an excellent opportunity to see if leasing or owning a horse is right for you.

These introductory lessons are 45 minutes and designed to accommodate the age of the rider, the goals of the rider, and rider fitness. Horses will be tacked up and, if there is time at the end of the ride, rider can help untack and put the pony away.

  • All new lessons are private and cost $100/ride.

  • We tend to have a waitlist for these lessons so reach out if you would like to add your name.

Team Heather Hill: Leasing

The Team Heather Hill lease program is for people who want to ride at least three times per week. Most of our leasing riders start out taking weekly lessons for a couple months before making the plunge into leasing.

The rider learns how to provide all care for their pony as part of the lease program. This is a great way to see if owning a horse is something you would like to do someday. It’s also a great way to get the perks of owning a horse without the significant investment and responsibility of horse ownership.

Heather Hill Riding Center LLC’s provides our lease students with a realistic picture of what goes into owning a horse, from the daily care and health needs, to the ongoing expenses. Most importantly, through leasing, the rider is able to experience the joy of building a partnership with their pony and the satisfaction of caring for them.

We are currently offering a summer lease program (summer of 2021) for young novice riders (8 - 12 years old). Somewhere between a camp and pony club, riders come three or four days a week for a few hours a day (options are available Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays between 11 - 3). Contact us if you’re interested in joining this program this summer!

  • Annual upfront lease fee is based on a half lease, full lease, or partial year lease (ie summer only) lease. Upfront fee ranges from $1500 - $10,000.

  • Monthly expenses run between $1500 - $2800/mo. which includes board, grooming, training, vet and shoes.

Come say hi! 

We love to meet new people and introduce our ponies. Feel free to stop by and see what we have to offer! Fill out the email from and sign up for our occasional newsletter on the contact page linked above. 

We look forward to meeting you!

Sincerely,

Laura Stevens & Team Heather Hill

 

The Quiet Work of a True Horsewomen

Here are the first few lines from an essay written by Becky Hanson in the Pacific Coast Journal that wonderfully sums up Laura's approach to her horses and riding school. You can read the entire article here.  

There are horse trainers, horse traders and horse whisperers.  There are show men, show boaters and show offs. There are fast talkers and would be magicians. [...] But then there are true Horsemen and Horsewomen, and these are harder to find and sometimes even harder to recognize because they are often tucked away in quiet hidden places, working slowly and silently without national recognition or appreciation.