What makes someone a "member of equestrian club" is taking riding lessons, since this is how all of us improve our riding skills and learn more about horses. Drill team members take riding lessons
because although practices are great for learning drills and moves, lessons are far better for learning more about our horses and improving our riding. Most members of Equestrian Club take
lessons at Triple V because of its convenient location, but lessons are also available in nearby towns for students who are looking for more serious English instruction.
If you used to take lessons with Heidi or Grace, please note that they are not teaching lessons anymore, but any of our other instructors would love to teach you!
Although we wish it could be free, using a schoolhorse, the arena, and an hour of the instructor's time costs money, and that's out of our control. It adds up to $20 per lesson, but thanks to support from Grinnell College, students are reimbursed $12. Yes, it really is $8 for an hour of quality teaching! That's why Triple V is one of the least expensive places to learn to ride. If this cost is keeping you from taking lessons, let us know, and we will work something out with you. It's important to us that everyone who wants to ride gets a chance!
There are a few strict policies that all students must adhere to, including drill team riders.
Steph is a recent graduate of Williamwoods University, with a bachelor's degree in equine administration and a minor in equine science. She's ridden for 13 years, taught lessons for 6, and trained horses for 5. Her newest training project is her own horse, Beatrice, but she's pictured here with her other favorite horse, Razz. She has extensive showing experience from 4H/FFA to local/open level to breed recognized shows to colorbreed Congress. She was part of the winning team in the 2015 U.S. Arabian national horse judging contest. All of this has given her a wide range of experience; she is proficient in Western pleasure/Hunter under saddle, Equitation/horsemanship/showmanship, Ranch riding/versatility/western riding, Barrel racing, Other gymkhana (games such as poles, keyhole, clover etc), and Hunter jumper. And she got a lot of her knowledge right here in Grinnell! She's ridden on and off with Don since she started.
Maggie is a fourth year at Grinnell studying biology. Before Grinnell, she came from a hunter/jumper background, but she learned western quickly. She has ridden on drill team since the moment it was created and has spent several semesters riding for both teams. Maggie is one of the most skilled riders on either team, and she has a lot to teach you! She teaches western lessons.
Anna is a third year political science major (and intended English double major) at Grinnell. She's pictured with her horse, Cupcake, a POA she trained herself. Thanks to Anna, Cupcake is easily one of the best trained horses at Triple V. Anna rode with intermediate drill team for her first semester at Grinnell but has ridden on advanced team ever since. She has ridden since she was six and teaches lessons on western riding.