Happy New Year: Ending 2025 with a bang and looking to the Future of Lesson Programs in the Equine Industry with Christy Landwehr

We can all remember our first lesson as kids, how truly magical that feeling was when we got on a horse for the first time. We weren't trying to have perfect riding position or practice to win a world championship! We simply were just horse crazy kids that loved horses and wanted to ride and be around them all the time! At times we felt like we were living in a real life saddle club with our friends during group lessons! Over the years things changed and as we grew in our riding ability, competition snuck in and our goals changed. Not that it's bad to be competitive or have big goals, but I think we have forgotten at times how important those beginner lessons were and how that first lesson horse changed our life forever.

On today's episode, that is one of the many topics I discuss with CHA Master instructor and horse lover Christy Landwehr. Lesson programs serve such a vital role in the equine industry especially when it comes to introducing newcomers to horses. Lately though there has been a lot of talk about what defines a true lesson horse today and what the current economic status has done to change the way instructors run their business. As Christy and I discuss in the episode it is important for instructors to have open and honest communication with parents when it comes to the pricing of lessons, understanding that teaching their child to ride and move up will take time, and that everything instructors do is for the safety and well being of the student.

There is also so much trainers and instructors can do to create a better community with each other and their clients to help grow the industry and participation in all disciplines. When students reach a certain riding level and want to move forward more in a certain discipline that their current instructor may not be as versed in, they can network with trainers they know to help their student make the change that best fits their needs going forward. Christy and I go into discussion about this and so much more in the episode and I can't wait for y'all to hear it and hear your thoughts on the episode!

This episode is the perfect episode to end the year on with thinking about the new year and the future of equine industry. I believe that the industry would be a much different place without the impact that lesson programs have on continuing to grow the horse community.

2025 has been such a great year from the many great guests I had on this year to the incredible growth of the podcast. Thank you to everyone for your support and Happy New Year!

Season 2 Episode 14

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