Kansas City area lesson programs with school horses

[HunterJumper8983]

Hello,

Not sure if there are any Kansas City area people on here or not, but I figured it might be worth a try to ask. I live in northwestern Missouri and there aren’t really any programs nearby, so I’m looking into Kansas City. I have lessoned in the Johnson County, KS area a few years back and absolutely loved the program, just not the drive (though I’m definitely still willing to try to make it work, but would like to find something a bit closer if at all possible). I also checked the site of the program I was at last awhile back and they no longer have school horses, so unfortunately I’ll need to look elsewhere, as I’m currently horseless.

Does anyone have any experience with Tally Ho Equestrian Centre in Leavenworth, KS? That one is probably the closest to me.

How about Bay Ridge Farm in Kansas City, MO?

I’m also open to any of the Johnson County, KS suggestions, as I really want a quality program. It doesn’t have to be ultra fancy or be a top notch show barn, but I highly prioritize learning safely and correctly.

Thanks so much!

[Larksmom]

If you are near Levenworth, have you looked into the Fort? Or is that Tally Ho? There were a lot of hj in Johnson county, but I do not know if they are still there. Linda Landers had a huge hj barn, then she turned to dressage, and I think she is north of the river. You might look her up on FB. I don’t think she is still in hj, but she might know who is.

[HunterJumper8983]

Tally Ho is the only one I know of in Leavenworth. It’s about 50 minutes away. I’ll look into that, thank you!

[CavalierCHI]

Meet Our Horses

Olathe, KS

[rockonxox]

No no no to Tally Ho! If your goal is to improve your horsemanship and not be a point and pray rider, I would suggest looking elsewhere. I know a very good rider whose ridden with them (also has horses not there so gets outside instruction), but also seen to many scary things too recommend to a novice rider.

Yes to Bay Ridge. I adore Kate and she’s a very competent rider with some cool horses. I don’t know about leases, but she would be someone who could help you out I’m sure.

JP focuses on the A rated clients so you’ll likely lesson with a different trainer. Have had several friends become instructors, some now have their own barns (out of state). They did have leases last time I checked, in 2020, but definitely on the pricier side for lessons.

A lot of my former barn mates (and a former instructor) went to North Ridge Farm when ours shut down the lesson program… they do leases and everyone loves it out there (too far for me though and I love my barn in Belton ).

[Larksmom]

Rox, if you are riding in Belton, do you know Donna Lewis?

[rockonxox]

I don’t. I’m with Jessica Jackson.

[akhunterrider]

I wouldn’t suggest TallyHo either. I remember watching Amara (owner/trainer) ride and show 10+ years ago. I just watched some of her students show a couple weeks ago at a local association show hosted at my barn and I still wouldn’t recommend the program. I just don’t find it to be traditional, quality instruction. I don’t know if either has school horses, but I’d look into Olympia Equine or Kendall Lacy’s barn.

[Larksmom]

Is Hunter’s Vale still open? It probably isn’t but that was a pretty nice facility years ago. A trainer from my past Donna Lewis is in Belton, which would be probably farther than southern JoCo, but she is really good. I have no idea how to reach her.

[rockonxox]

OEV had a wait list a while back, but worth reaching out to. Kendall Lacy is great, but have to lease, no schoolies.

[Hunter_Princess1]

Echo all of the above. When I moved there a few years back I started there not knowing any better but it was clear that “point and pray” would be a very generous way of putting the riding style of that barn. Not to mention the sub-standard/highly questionable horse-keeping/breeding practices that give off some vibes not far from another crazy thread happening in this forum ::cough:: DHH ::cough:: if you know what I mean.

If you’re looking around the immediate Leavenworth/KC area, I would suggest West End Farm as well. I occasionally go back and visit and will take lessons there when I visit if I’m in town for an extended time.

[HunterJumper8983]

Thanks for all of the suggestions! I will look into those!

[HunterJumper8983]

I’ve seen North Ridge Farm’s site and it looks like primarily a dressage barn with some eventing. Would they be a good option if my discipline is low hunters? That one is only 45 minutes from me and is the closest I’ve seen. My long term goal for now is 2’6" hunters/schooling shows (I left off at cross rails and very low verticals a few years back).

[Larksmom]

is there a FB page for the area? I have not been much in the loop for a long time. I do think Linda Landers is north of the river, but farther east. She has a barn, but she is mostly dressage. Is Line Creek still open?

[rockonxox]

West End is the one that shut down the program. Just recently started doing the lesson program again… but focus on those with horses for the most part. I loved that barn while it lasted

[rockonxox]

Everyone I rode with did hunters and some dabbled in eventers. You may be right that their focus is different. I only know about the program through friends, I’ve never personally been there. I’d give them a call or email to check.

@Larksmom Kansas City Professional Horseman’s Association (KCPHA) and Kansas Hunter Jumper Association (KHJA; which combined with the former Great Plains Hunter Association) would be groups to follow on Facebook. Those are the two groups that host the majority of the hunter shows in the area and it’s a lot of the same barns.

[akhunterrider]

Thank you for the info! I don’t live in the KC area, I just know of some of the trainers from the KHJA shows.