Wide Stride Equestrian Center

Back to the Barn Event!

Back to the Barn
Saturday September 14th

While everyone is headed back to school... let's celebrate with horses!

We will have multiple stations that you can work through at your own pace, we recommended giving yourself about an hour to complete them all.

Time slots are set up in 20 minute intervals as "start times" so that we can stagger the stations and be able to accommodate parking. The event is from noon-3pm.

You will get a "Passport" to travel around each station and get a stamp at. At the end, if you have all your stamps, you can show us your "Passport" for a goodie bag!

Stations:

Groom a Horse: Get hands on, up close to a real live mini horse, pony or horse!

Mini Riding Lesson: Experience a 5-10 minute riding lesson!

Crafts: Horse themed, of course!

Games: !

Goodie Bags: Show us your Passport to receive your goodie bag!

Self Serve Photo Backdrop: Bring your phone or your camera for back to school photos!

Participants may have up to 2 adults accompany them.

Everyone on the property must sign a release form. No exceptions!

Rain or Shine! No refunds, trades, or exchanges.

Want to learn more about our lesson program?
We will have an instructor teaching a sample lesson at 1pm with a few of our real students!

Want to meet more horses?
Join us for a barn tour at 2pm
We will walk through the barn and meet the horses and hear all about their personalities, or should we say "horse-alities"!

🏇 Our Vision

To provide our community with access to horses, bringing joy and confidence into families lives through horses.

🐴 Our Mission

To build the next generation of horse people!

Meet the Team

WSEC has an amazing team, each member has a different background and skillset making our team of instructors well rounded in the horse world and in our community.

All of our instructors go through a training process before teaching at WSEC.
Our instructors also do continuing education and stay up to date with recent horse practices in order to deliver top notch information, instruction and horsemanship.

Ingrid Levisay

Founder & CEO

Miss Ingrid grew up riding and showing in the Hunter Jumper arena.
In college she went on to ride for a Western Pleasure trainer, but found a thrill in Vaulting (basically gymnastics on the back of a horse).
Miss Ingrid has worked at the race track, for high end horse breeders, was a manager at a lesson barn, and I am sure she can tell you stories about all of the other jobs in between!
Miss Ingrid has a degree in Large Animal Sciences (think pre-vet) and continues to educate herself through reading, attending conferences, being active in the horse community locally and nationally, and by continuing to take riding lessons to continue her own riding. All of this allows her to offer the best practices for her horses, instructors and clients.

Emma Wetherell

Instructor

Miss Emma’s goal: “My goal is to spread my knowledge and love for horses to those just starting out and to inspire everyone I teach to never give up!”

Miss Emma has been riding horses for 15 years, has owned her own horse for 10 of those years and has tons of knowledge and experience managing and caring for horses.

Miss Emma started her equestrian journey in the western pleasure world and then took a greater interest to English riding. She has trained and shown in almost all of the English disciplines. Most of her time in the show ring was showing English pleasure, but more recently she has focused on dressage. Miss Emma also loves jumping, so you’ll do lot of pole work in your lessons with her!

Mandy Dixon

Instructor

Miss Mandy started taking lessons at 7 years old where she became experienced in hunter jumpers, and jumpers. She went on to show rated in CPJHSA for many years through middle school and high school. After high school she worked as a horse trainer, as well as lesson instructor and continued to take horses to shows. She also has training in liberty work, cross country, dressage, and western riding!

Brigit

Instructor

Mrs. Brigit has many years of experience teaching beginner riders up to pony finalists. Mrs. Brigit is a 4-H Leader and is also PATH certified, meaning she has done hours of training as well as passing the tests and continuing education requirements to keep her certification up to date and valid to teach therapeutic riding lessons.

Our Photo Gallery

Happy Trails

Testimonials From Happy Riders

Diana

Parent of Student

We had a wonderful experience! Our 4 year old daughter just started lessons, and we are blown away! It’s a beautiful and pristine facility, and she is learning so much. We cannot wait to see where this journey will take us!

Anna

Student age 9

This is the best riding facility-EVER!! I highly recommend Wide Stride. Miss Ingrid is so nice and she teaches me so much. I love all the horses at Wide Stride they are so lovable. I went to some other riding places before and Wide Stride is my FAVORITE!

Nicole

Parent of Students

My girls had their first ever horseback riding experience today. It could not have gone better. We will definitely be back. Beautiful property and a wonderful lessons. 100% smiles.

Joanna

Parent of Student

Wonderful place for lessons and riding! Ingrid is a wonderful instructor and the students really learn not only to ride but about caring for the horses as well!

William

Parent of Student

My daughter did the preschoolers and ponies and absolutely loved it. She loved being around the horses. Miss Ingrid was great and gave us great memories. Look forward to future classes. Thanks again!

Sharon

Campers Grandparent

My granddaughter, Kaitlyn, loved her experience at WSEC summer camp last year. She made friends, enjoyed the variety of activities, and especially loved the activities with the horses. This camp provided a great way for children to see what it takes to not only enjoy horses, but how to care for them. This summer, I've signed up both my granddaughter Kaitlyn (from VA) and my granddaughter McKenzie.