As a little girl, I always wanted a horse to ride. I pictured a red pony with a white face in those dreams, but the reality was we didn’t have a place, the money, time, or the knowledge to really pull that dream off, and my parents were well aware of that, even if I wasn’t! Now, as a mom who’s been fortunate enough to marry into a family with western roots to a husband who is an equine surgeon, my kids get to ride and rope often. I am so thankful for that and want to share a handful of barns throughout the OKC metro that offer riding lessons for children and adults alike. Whether you are limited on space to house or you lack the resources to start, lessons are a great place to begin getting comfortable with horses.
More extracurricular ideas for kids ⇒ here
Each of these barns has lesson options starting at beginner and advancing in lessons by preferred riding style: Western or English. Western riding uses a more one-handed rein approach similar to the working style of a rancher, and English lessons are typically a two-handed rein approach for poise and accuracy with maneuvers and jumps. Most of these options accept beginners, with children welcome, and many have the opportunity to advance from there. There are options for private lessons for 30-60 minutes, mini lessons for 15 mins, semi-private lessons with 2-3 riders, and week-long camps. Prices vary with a range of $40-$80 per lesson.

Norman
- Majic Stables
- LaRica Performance Horses LLC
- Sunset Ranch LLC (English-style mainly, occasionally Western and Dressage)
- Celtic Cross in Norman (English-style)
Spencer
- Honey’s Haven (Western-style)
- MPH Farms – Miller’s Performance Horse Farms
Washington
- Paradigm Farm LLC (English hunter/jumper)
Oklahoma City
- Thundering Hooves Horse Training (Western-style)
- Cottonwood Creek Ranch (mixed styles of riding)
- The Riding Stables at Draper Lake (affordable option managed by the Oklahoma Parks Department; 1-2 hour guided and non-guided trail rides for $25 per person, $10 for 4 year olds and under)
Edmond
- Silverwind Stables (Western, English, jumping, and speed events)
- Cadence Equestrian Center (English-style, jumpers)
- Cross Creek Stables



