Waterford Stables
3433 Stearns Road
Valrico, FL 33596
(813) 220-6056
3433 Stearns Road
Valrico, FL 33596
(813) 220-6056
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Lessons & Camp
Here at Waterford Stables in Valrico, Florida, we are
committed to training people to ride, but also to care for the whole
horse. We do not just train people to ride: we also train them to care
for their horse, bathe it, feed it ... and even teach them what to do
when it is sick.
We specialize in beginner to advanced riders, both children and adults. We teach Western Pleasure, English Equitation, Speed (Barrels, Pole Bending, Keyhole, etc.), Trail, Saddleseat, Showmanship, Round Penning and even Lead Line. We also have guest instructors who teach clinics on Jumping and Dressage.
We have a number of horses for various different levels of riders.
We specialize in beginner to advanced riders, both children and adults. We teach Western Pleasure, English Equitation, Speed (Barrels, Pole Bending, Keyhole, etc.), Trail, Saddleseat, Showmanship, Round Penning and even Lead Line. We also have guest instructors who teach clinics on Jumping and Dressage.
We have a number of horses for various different levels of riders.
Some of our lesson horses:
Shannon & Disney are high point hunter and grand champions!
Disney is an Appendix Quarter Horse who is used for Hunt Seat and Dressage
Scooby doing showmanship
Sccoby is a Shetland/Welsh pony who is used for our young riders. Scooby even jumps!
Princess and Alex winning Reining
Princess is an all-around horse (although she prefers Western).
2 high points and 1 reserve high point ... all in one show!
Left to right - Princess, Whiskey, and Mandi (who has since been retired)
Kisses & Juliana - "patiently" waiting for their class
Kisses is pretty much the foundation of our young beginner's lesson program. She rides both English & Western.
Whiskey and yet another set of blue ribbons!!
Whiskey was our daughter's show horse. She is now used for Saddleseat and beginners.
Ms. Kate, Shannon & Disney at an AQHA show
Faith & Alex
Even though Faith is pregnant right now, she is used in our Western Pleasure and Hunt Seat lessons.
Preston and Trudi are so proud of Ben at 4-H State!
Ben is a Paso Fino. He loves the littlest kids and is very gentle. He rides ... well ... any discipline you want!
Ms. Kate & Gracie at a recent Paint/Pinto show
Cocoa and his admirers
Cocoa is a miniature horse who is used for leadline lessons
Cocoa is a miniature horse who is used for leadline lessons
Shannon & Disney are high point hunter and grand champions!
Disney is an Appendix Quarter Horse who is used for Hunt Seat and Dressage
Scooby doing showmanship
Sccoby is a Shetland/Welsh pony who is used for our young riders. Scooby even jumps!
Princess and Alex winning Reining
Princess is an all-around horse (although she prefers Western).
2 high points and 1 reserve high point ... all in one show!
Left to right - Princess, Whiskey, and Mandi (who has since been retired)
Kisses & Juliana - "patiently" waiting for their class
Kisses is pretty much the foundation of our young beginner's lesson program. She rides both English & Western.
Whiskey and yet another set of blue ribbons!!
Whiskey was our daughter's show horse. She is now used for Saddleseat and beginners.
Ms. Kate, Shannon & Disney at an AQHA show
Faith & Alex
Even though Faith is pregnant right now, she is used in our Western Pleasure and Hunt Seat lessons.
Preston and Trudi are so proud of Ben at 4-H State!
Ben is a Paso Fino. He loves the littlest kids and is very gentle. He rides ... well ... any discipline you want!
Ms. Kate & Gracie at a recent Paint/Pinto show
A little about us ....
Western, Hunt Seat & Saddle Seat Instruction:
Kate Waterford has been riding for most of her life. She grew up around
horses on a large cattle ranch in Western Washington State. In doing
so, she brought her love of horses to her family. Now Camille (20) and
Alexander (18) show their horses and love working with students.
Camille and Alexander both assist in the lesson program (when Camille
is home from college, that is). Alexander competes in Showmanship,
Halter and Western on Louie & Harley. Albert, the dad of this family, calls himself the "Ranch
Hand". Although he only rides on the occasional trail ride, he is a
huge help when it comes to hauling the horses or doing the manual labor
on the farm ... like building our wonderful new barn! We couldn't do
what we do without his help! Kate and Albert both train in a Natural Horsemanship style training and incorporating it with their own style. With
this background, Kate teaches Western Pleasure, Hunt Seat, Trail,
Saddle Seat, Speed and In-Hand events (showmanship, round penning,
etc.). Kate has also been the leader of the Boots & Bridles 4-H
club for the past 9 years and has learned a great deal through her
involvement with 4-H. She continues to learn and takes lessons herself
from a World Champion horse trainer.
Rates and Contact Info
Lessons: $35 per hour group rate. ($25 for half an hour Little Riders group lesson).
Private Lessons: $25 per half an hour (must be scheduled well in advance).
Leases:
Partial lease:
$275 which includes: 4 lessons a month and 2 hours free ride time each
week. (This is a savings of $145 a month which it would cost if you
just bought each hour individually).
**NOTE:
it is recommended that if a student becomes seriously interested in
showing horses that they at least obtain a partial lease OR take 3
lessons per week.**
Show leasing:
- Use of horse for the day, $40. Please
understand that you may be sharing a horse with someone who shows in a
different division than you. You will each pay $40. If you show two
horses, you will still only pay $40. This also includes use of my tack.
- Transportation:
the transportation fee is pro rated depending on the number of horses
in the trailer. 1 horse in the trailer - $2 per mile; 2 horses - $1; 3
horses - $0.65; 4 horses - $0.50; 5 horses - $0.40; 6 horses - $0.35.
Fee is based on mileage round trip. (Sorry - this has gone up due to
the cost of diesel these days. Yikes!)
- Coaching
fees: if you come with me from my stable, this is required. It is $40
a day. This includes me helping tack the horse up and get it ready for
classes, making sure you are signed up for the correct classes, making
sure you get in the gate at the right time, helping you understand the
patterns, as well as being there in case of an emergency. This is
something that is required of my insurance company. This is a per
person fee, not per horse and not split. This is also a per day fee so
please factor that into your budget if the show is a two day show.
Also, if the show is out of town, you will be responsible for my hotel
and meals. And no, we do not coach people who are not our students.
This is too difficult as we do not know how you ride with your
instructor.
- Grooming
fees: General grooming is $30. If you want to come out the day before
the show and get your horse prepped, you are more than welcome and you
will not be charged the grooming fees. The preparations will include
bathing, clipping and sheeting/hooding. There are other fees
associated with showing that you may be subject to.
Please see Kate for more details and a list of all associated show fees.
PLEASE NOTE: These leases are intended for Waterford Stables students only. We do not lease horses to non-students.
RIDING ATTIRE:
English
- You are required to wear breeches and a fitted, tucked in shirt (or
jeans and half chaps). You must have boots with a heel and a helmet.
We do have some helmets to borrow if you are not sure riding is what
you want to pursue. However, we do suggest that you buy your own helmet
if you continue with riding lessons. No tennis shoes.
Western
- Jeans that fit (no baggy jeans) and a fitted tucked in shirt. I
can't tell if you are sitting up properly if your shirt is billowing
out behind you! You must wear boots and a helmet. No tennis shoes.
For more information, please contact us at 813-220-6056 or e-mail us.
CAMP
NEW!!! HALF DAY CAMP!!! We are having 1/2 day school camps!! The schools now have many half days scheduled for this year. We will be hosting camp on those days!! Half-Day Camp is $25. The hours are after school until 6:00. YOU MUST PROVIDE YOUR OWN TRANSPORTATION FROM SCHOOL!!
Watch here for other camp day sign-ups. We will likely have camp the week of Thanksgiving, as well as Winter Camp. Of course, we will also have summer camp.
If campers sign up for more than one week, the first week is $275, the subsequent weeks are $250. A $100 non-refundable deposit is required to hold a spot in camp. If you have to cancel camp, we will refund the deposit ONLY IF we are able to fill that spot with another camper. If we do not fill that spot, your deposit will be forfeited.
If campers sign up for more than one week, the first week is $275, the subsequent weeks are $250. A $100 non-refundable deposit is required to hold a spot in camp. If you have to cancel camp, we will refund the deposit ONLY IF we are able to fill that spot with another camper. If we do not fill that spot, your deposit will be forfeited.
A little more info about camp ...
Camp starts
each day at 8:00 a.m. (Kids can be dropped off any time after 7:00
a.m.). We will start the day by feeding the horses, learning a lot
about proper horse nutrition, grooming and yes - cleaning stalls. We
will conclude the morning with a formal riding lesson, each day
focusing on a different discipline (English, Western, Trail, Speed, and
"free choice day"). In the afternoon, the kids will have a formal
"book type" lesson on different items including tack, conformation,
colors, etc. Then they will conclude the afternoon with games on
horseback. These are usually done bareback (no saddle), but only by
those who are comfortable with this. Camp is limited to 8 students and
is intended for ages 8 and up, however we will consider other ages on a
case by case basis. Understand that this is a very physical camp and
we do not allow time for naps. We do have a couple youth who help as
our assistants. The formal day ends at 4:00, but the kids can be
picked up as late as 6:00 for no extra fees.