Info on camps click HERE

 

Lessons:

 

We have a youth drill team and for more information click HERE.

For summer camps please click HERE.

Boarding please click HERE.

Info on pricing click HERE

Welcome to Banshee Ranch: Your Equestrian Journey Starts Here!

For those that want to skip the long read:

Quick Points

• Group lessons: Weekly, 55-minute classes (subscription-based, paid monthly).
• Curriculum levels from Beginner (Green) to Expert (Gold) with hands-on experience. Intro evaluation lesson available (55 min) for incoming students with prior experience.
• Opportunities: Lease horses, participate in advanced teams, and attend clinics.
• Gear requirements: Gradual equipment purchase based on your level (detailed list provided).

Must Know

• Banshee Ranch is more than just riding—it’s about horsemanship, leadership, confidence, and building a strong connection with horses.
• Supportive, group lessons where students learn together and help one another grow—perfect for building teamwork and confidence.
• Our unique color-coded curriculum allows students to progress at their own pace, from beginners to advanced riders.
• Opportunities for all levels: Drill and Rodeo teams, advanced competitions, and adult-only morning lessons.

Should Know

• Horse care is a major focus: Grooming, tacking up, and understanding horse behavior are just as important as riding.
• Tailored lessons for each age group and experience level, with specific classes for adults.
• Private lessons available for students at advanced levels, with a structured path toward owning or training horses.
• Volunteering & mentorship opportunities available for older students to build real-world experience.

The Complete info:

At Banshee Ranch, we believe that horsemanship is about more than just learning to ride—it’s about building confidence, leadership, and responsibility while cultivating a deep connection with horses. Our unique approach offers an engaging environment where students will learn essential riding and horsemanship skills, develop life skills, and foster a sense of community. We take a comprehensive approach to teaching, ensuring that our students grow not only as riders but as responsible caretakers of these magnificent animals.

Why Choose Banshee Ranch?

• Supportive Community: In our group lessons, students help one another with tasks like grooming, tacking up, and horse care, reinforcing their own skills while building confidence and teamwork.
• Learn from Each Other: Students learn by observing and helping peers, picking up valuable tips and developing good sportsmanship.
• Horsemanship Focus: We emphasize that great riders are also great horse-people. Students learn essential skills in horse care, including grooming, safety, tacking, and understanding horse anatomy and behavior.
• Curriculum Tailored to You: With our color-coded system, students progress at their own pace, receiving personalized attention from our trainers, whether they are beginners or advanced riders.
• Advanced Teams and Competitions: For those who progress, we offer opportunities to join teams like our drill and rodeo teams, where students apply their skills in a fun and competitive environment.

• Adults: For adults wanting lessons but not wanting to participate in classes with kids there are morning classes on Tuesday and Thursday. You can also book an appointment for a private lesson with a Senior trainer.  You will still be following the same color coded curriculum.

 

Banshee Riding Curriculum Overview

At Banshee, we believe in building strong horsemanship skills, not just riding ability. Our curriculum focuses on a step-by-step approach to horsemanship, covering everything from basic horse care to advanced riding techniques.

Group Lessons:

• Subscription-based: Monthly fee, paid in advance
• Weekly Lessons: One class per week (55 minutes), same day/time each week
• Class Focus: Riding, grooming, tack-up, and horse care
• Drill & Rodeo Teams: Available for advanced students

Adult Lessons:

• Morning Classes: Tuesday & Thursday
• Private Lessons: Available with a Senior Trainer, following the same color-coded curriculum

Curriculum Levels, with human school equivalency for easy understanding:

• Green (Level 1) – Beginner (Elementary school): Learn basic horse handling, safety, grooming, and tack-up skills.

• Yellow (Level 2) – Novice (Junior high school): Practice leading, brushing, and caring for tack, and begin preparing for lessons independently.

• Red (Level 3) – Intermediate (Freshman high school): Understand tack fit, basic first aid, and learn about different horse breeds and riding disciplines.

• Blue (Level 4) – Advanced Beginner (High School Graduate 80% stop here. Can start looking for own mount): Master grooming for shows, learn about bits and tack, and start traveling and showing horses.

• Bronze (Level 5) – Advanced (Associate Degree): Demonstrate advanced longeing, gaits, and conditioning, with a deeper understanding of stable management and veterinary care.
• Silver & Gold (Levels 6 & 7) – Expert (Bachelors and Masters): Focus on high-level riding, training, and horse care, with the potential for competition and mentorship roles.

Equipment:
Students are required to purchase certain gear based on their level. We provide a staggered approach to help families manage costs, and we encourage labeling all personal items.

Private Lessons:
Available for Students who have reached Level Red, focusing on individual attention and advanced skills.

Additional Opportunities:

• Volunteer Work: Older students can complete required tasks to gain experience outside of lessons.
• Make-up Lessons: Available for cancellations by the instructor or on holidays.

At Banshee, we strive to provide a well-rounded education in both riding and horse care, preparing students for a long-lasting partnership with horses. Whether you’re just starting or looking to advance, we’re here to guide you on your equestrian journey!

 

Detailed Curriculum Levels Breakdown

If you enter our lesson program regardless of age, we focus on horsemanship and stewardship of the horse as a whole.

It’s not enough just to ride a horse – being a great horse rider means also taking care of the horse and understanding its needs. This means learning about how horses’ bodies work, why they act the way they do, and how to keep them healthy and happy. Sometimes, even people who want to help horses can accidentally treat them badly without knowing it.

That’s why we think it’s important to teach both kids and adults how to take care of horses, even if they don’t plan to own one. We created a step-by-step system of learning that helps you get the knowledge and experience you need to be great at caring for horses and making sure they stay happy and healthy!

To pass these levels, students should be able to talk about and show what they know, almost like they could teach it to someone else. If you want to try for these levels, be ready to put in a lot of practice, learn from books, videos, and good online sources, and ask questions to get better.

LEVEL ONE – GREEN

Student will learn basic practices for working around horses. Simple identification of tack and grooming equipment as appliable in our barns setup. Novice equine anatomy homework will be assigned.  Parents are required to stay on property in case trainer needs help with younger students.  Parents are encourage to help kids tack and be familiar with process as once this level is graduated students are expected to independently tack with trainers correcting slight adjustments in form.

Equipment needed to be provided by student:

• Helmet
• Heeled Boots

LEVEL TWO _ YELLOW – Opening into more group activities. Closely supervised steps towards independence and less reliance on trainer.

The student will practice getting better at leading and brushing horses, learn how to take care of the tack (like saddles and bridles), and how to measure and describe horses. They’ll also learn how to put on protective boots and blankets for the horses and understand some basic feeding rules. The student will start learning when to call a vet if a horse needs help.

The student will also begin to get ready for their lesson by themselves, just like learning how to tie your shoes on your own! It’s the first step toward doing things independently.

Equipment needed to be provided by student:

• Helmet
• Heeled Boots
• Bell Boots for horse
• Own Reins

Optional (and only if approved by trainer):

• Crop/bat/whip

Privileges gained:

• Possible day lease with trainer or parent supervision.
• Join Drill in novice team if available.
• Attend special group lessons/clinics.

 

LEVEL THREE – RED

Student will be able to judge fit of tack for their own comfort and the horses.  Intro into first aide to apply simple first aide on minor injuries. Basic understanding of common breeds and riding disciplines outside their own.  It’s a big world out there!

Equipment needed to be provided/owned by student:

• Helmet
• Heeled Boots
• Bell Boots for horse
• Sport Boots for horse
• Own Reins
• Headstall
• Bit (approved for leased/used mount)
• Crop/bat/whip
• Halter and lead
• Basic brush kit with hoof pick

Optional (and only if approved by trainer):

• Spurs

If leasing: Fly Spray, Wound spray and basic first aide kit for both human and horse.

Privileges gained:

• Can lease or take out half lease of ranch horse.
• Able to travel to shows.
• Join Drill advanced team if available.
• Attend advanced group lessons/clinics.
• Freedom to be less directly supervised at ranch.

LEVEL FOUR – BLUE – 80% stop here. Can start looking for own mount.

Student will be able to perform grooming to a basic standard for showing. Start to understand action of bits and specialty tack, along with the knowledge of when to use what. Basic farrier knowledge along with other needed care gearing toward ownership. Touch on basic first aid and parasite control. Intro trailering practices in prep for being able to independently travel and show.  This should be efficient for someone looking to board at a stable and ride comfortably in most situations you will come across in your equine career.

Equipment needed to be provided/owned by student:

• Helmet
• Heeled Boots
• Bell Boots for horse
• Sport Boots for horse
• Own Reins
• Split reins
• Headstall
• Bit (approved for leased/used mount)
• Crop/bat/whip
• Halter and lead
• Lunge line
• Lunge whip or flag
• Basic brush kit with hoof pick and bot fly knife
• Arena Pocket guides by Cherry Hill

If leasing: Fly Spray, Wound spray and basic first aide kit for both human and horse.

• Basic tool kit w/ Hole punch, Chicago screws, flathead & Phillips screwdriver, pliers, hammer, and zip ties.

Optional (and only if approved by trainer):

• Spurs
• Bareback pad
• Breast collar

 

Privileges gained:

• Can lease or take out half lease of ranch horse.
• Able to travel to shows.
• Join Drill advanced team if available.
• Attend advanced group lessons/clinics.
• Can lead Trail Rides
• Can become Jr Trainer.

 

LEVEL FIVE – BRONZE – Cause they are on fire with talent!

Student will be able to demonstrate advanced longeing techniques needed for training horses, not just working with school horses. They should have a fairly complete understanding of gaits and distances including arena spatial awareness on an advanced level. Evaluate basic conformation points and issues to judge if a horse in inclined to a sport or activity. Understand and plan conditioning schedules and relate horse’s workload. Basic knowledge of stable management and intro into veterinary care.  This is the level for those that want to be able to work with their own horses without constantly having to get aide of a trainer.  If you ever want to have horses at home this is the recommended minimum level.

Privileges gained:

• Can lease or take out half lease of ranch horse.
• Able to travel to shows.
• Join the Drill advanced team if available.
• Attend advanced group lessons/clinics.
• Can lead Trail Rides
• Can become a Jr Trainer.

Most riders who take regular lessons and spend time at the barn will eventually learn enough to reach at least the blue or bronze level. This helps them feel comfortable working in most barns and caring for a horse, especially if they have a more experienced mentor guiding them. They’ll also start to understand how horses think and how their bodies work, which ties into what they practice in lessons.

After riding for a few years, most students will get to the Bronze Level. By then, they should feel confident and able to ride basic skills like staying balanced on flat ground and jumping over small obstacles. They’ll also start to ride in a way that’s soft and comfortable for the horse. This lets them enjoy riding on a trained horse and even take part in beginner shows and events.

Not every rider will earn Silver or Gold Levels.  And that’s OK!

The Silver and Gold Levels are designed for dedicated equestrians eager to move past the basics and develop intermediate skills or perhaps even pursue a career related to this field in college. These riders may be your eager competitors or future horse trainers; they may learn to effectively ride and bring along green horses; they should acquire a strong foundation that will allow them to pursue any equestrian discipline they choose.

These levels, especially Gold, take a lot of practice and a bigger focus on fitness. To pass, students need to show they can do the skills over and over, not just once on an easy horse! It’s important for students to be honest about what they want to achieve, and for instructors to clearly explain what’s needed to reach those goals.

Silver and Gold Levels are for riders who want to go beyond the basics and learn more. These riders might want to take care of horses on their own, improve their riding and training skills, or even work in the horse world as a job. Above all, they should truly care about learning everything there is to know about horse care, always putting the horse’s health and safety first.

 

If you would like to read more about our thoughts when we designed our program here is the long-winded version:

 At Banshee Ranch, we believe that group lessons offer an exceptional environment for learning horsemanship while also providing a sense of community and fun. While each student will have individual lessons that focus on specific skills, group lessons allow students to thrive in a team setting where they can learn from one another and develop valuable life skills.

One of the greatest benefits of group lessons is how students support each other in their journey. Kids learn to help one another with tasks like tacking up, getting ready, and grooming. By assisting their peers, they not only reinforce their own skills but also build confidence and a sense of responsibility. Teaching or explaining a skill to someone else is a powerful way to strengthen their own knowledge. This reinforces the skills learned and encourages the development of leadership qualities.

Group settings also provide opportunities for students to witness and learn from one another’s progress. Observing peers—especially those more experienced—can help students pick up new techniques, gain fresh perspectives, and apply those lessons to their own riding. It also encourages teamwork and good sportsmanship as students cheer each other on and celebrate each other’s successes.

While riding skills are the primary focus, horsemanship is just as important in our lessons. Students don’t just learn how to ride—they also learn how to groom, tack up, and care for their horse. They’ll develop a deep understanding of horse anatomy, behavior, and the importance of a calm, assertive approach when working around horses. This solid foundation in horsemanship helps students become more confident riders and well-rounded equestrians.

As students progress, they’ll have the chance to join teams like our drill team or rodeo team for advanced riders. These teams allow students to apply what they’ve learned in a fun and competitive environment, while also developing teamwork and good sportsmanship.

Our lessons are built around a color-coded curriculum, which ensures that students learn at their own pace. Beginners and novice riders will have guidance from junior trainers or senior trainers, and more advanced riders will receive expert instruction from senior trainers.

By joining our group lessons, students gain more than just technical riding skills. They develop a sense of community, empathy, and the importance of helping others—all while building confidence and leadership. We strive to create not only great riders but also great horse-people who understand the bond between horse and rider and the responsibility that comes with caring for these magnificent animals.

 

Summer Camp:  CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO ON SIGNING UP

Summer camp is for kids ages 5 to 18. The camp provides basic horsemanship skills, nature studies, crafts, swimming (with signed waiver), games, hiking, music, etc. This is a time for all the kids to come together and make new friends in the barn.