year, I learned how to stay on any horse, no matter how hard they tried to get
me out of the saddle.
Equestrian Culture
Sadly, after riding there for 7 years, I realized that the instruction was

getting worse—and looking back, the instructor was never pleasant to be
by Shanna Franklin
around, yelling and belittling was her main techniques. I realized that I had
felt bad more often than not and, for all I had learned, I knew that it was time
to leave. It seemed like most of my peers made that same realization shortly
thereafter. We all decided that the only reason we’d stayed so long was for
Finding the Perfect Riding
the friendships we had made—also a very important part of riding—but that
we all needed to find a new barn at which we could further our instruction.
Instructor
After leaving that place, I came across a barn in Norco, CA—also through
recommendations of a fellow equestrian—called Cornerstone Equestrian
When I told my parents, when at the age of six, that I wanted to learn how
Center. I would come to consider Cornerstone my home barn for the rest of
to ride horses they were completely supportive but didn’t really know where
my life, even long after I left. The owner and riding instructor, Susan Smith,
to take me. So, in a time when the internet was not yet ubiquitous, they did
was not only extremely knowledgeable, but she was also very patient and
what anyone would do—they looked in the phonebook. Being that there was
friendly. Instead of simply telling me to do something, she’d explain to me
only one listing, that’s where we ended up. Although it wasn’t the best place
what I needed to do, how it worked, and the message it would send to my
I could have started, I did learn the basics, and they did succeed in creating
horse. She made riding seem like the most important thing in the world, and
another lifelong riding addict.
the most fun.
Riding at my first barn was an interesting experience. All outdoors, the
At Cornerstone, I learned to have a softer hand and a stronger leg, and I
horses in their own pipe stalls, surrounded by jagged, rocky hills. Instead of
learned that being the prettiest rider with the most expensive horse and tack
crossties, they had a hitching post; instead of a tack room, they had a large
wasn’t the most important thing—and neither was winning. The most impor-
metal storage unit in which the tack was kept. The facility was owned by a
tant thing was being the most effective rider, having a good relationship with
husband and wife, each of whom took turns teaching my lessons.
your mount, and having knowledge of horses outside of the saddle. Because
Looking back, I am glad that they first taught me how to groom and
of these things, my equitation—and my riding overall—improved triple fold.
tack up my own horse; I think it gave me a good sense of the hard work that
And although I was only at Cornerstone for half the time as the previous
would be involved, but it also gave me a chance to bond with my horse, an
barn, I learned twice as much, and gained twice the experience. I realized that
experience that would forever touch my
having the right in-
heart. To this day, I’d much rather groom
structor, with a teach-
my own horse than have someone else
ing style that matches
do it for me.
the student’s learning
I began with Western style riding on an
style, made all the dif-
old, flea-bitten gray horse named John.
ference in the world.
By the time I learned how to trot and
Now that I am a rid-
post—and how to hold on for dear life at
ing instructor I have
the canter—I told my trainers that I was
the intense joy of see-
ready to try riding English. I had wanted
ing my students learn,
to ride English from the beginning so
grow and flourish. It
they happily obliged. I also wanted to
has taken me years to
learn how to jump. What better day to
shape my manner of
learn how to jump than the first day of
teaching into a style
English instruction? Needless to say, I
that can be adapted
fell off twice… but I got back on twice,
to the needs of my
too. And it sealed, forever, my love of
individual students.
jumping.
I believe that having
I remember a pony, named Annie,
ridden with so many
who used to turn around and bite my foot
different instructors,
any time I asked her to move forward
and being able to eval-
from the walk. She was great on trails.
uate for myself what
I remember my first trail ride up into
style matched best
those rocky hills. The husband walked
with my way of learn-
alongside me on foot, pointing out hid-
ing, has helped me to
den carvings throughout the rocks. I
do so. There is much
never actually saw what he was trying to
to be learned from any
point out, but I was mesmerized by the
riding instructor you
experience and I knew that I had a great
encounter—whether
deal more to learn about trail riding and
it is positive, con-
about riding in general. I could hardly
structive knowledge,
wait.
or learning that a cer-
Although I didn’t stay with those trainers much longer (a wise choice on my
tain approach is not the best for you, even if it might be for someone else.
parents’ part), I will never forget the people who showed me how fun and
It would be wonderful if every student could find an instructor with
challenging horseback riding could be. Without the right trainer it could be
whom they could stay their entire riding careers; realistically, however, most
dangerous.
of us will have more than one instructor in our lives, whether because we
After trying out a couple of riding centers, most of which I heard of
feel we’ve outgrown their instruction, or for reasons we cannot control. The
through recommendations or word-of-mouth, I found a place at which I
most important thing, however, is finding an instructor who can teach you
would ride for many years. It was a large, well established barn in Southern
in a way that helps you continue to learn, and who can continuously make
California with lots of kids my age and older. I made friends fast, many of
riding a positive experience for you. Riding is a very challenging sport, but
whom I am still friends with today. I learned not only the basics of being an
it should also be fun—and with the right trainer, it can be.
equitation rider and a hunter/jumper, but also how to sit on any horse and
figure it out within minutes. When I was ten I was given a five year old pony
to ride and train. After having her buck me off in every lesson for half of a
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