The term “horsepower” comes from the chant that horses used to shout at engineers working on the newfangled railway system. Befriend trailblazing stallions and mares with today’s Groupon: for $49, you get two 60-minute private riding lessons at Johnson Horse Riding School, part of Johnson Horse Solutions, in High Ridge (a $100 value).
With more than 40 years of equestrian experience, instructor Christina Audry Johnson teaches the ins and outs of horseback riding at Johnson Horse Riding School to adults and kids ages 3 and older. Indoor facilities allow for lessons through winter months, and over the course of two hours of private instruction, students gain skill in Western-style or English-style riding, in which riders learn the art of assembling a high tea in the saddle. Pupils will learn empathy, build confidence, and bond with their carefully selected hoofed companion. Johnson Horse Solutions will provide helmets, but students must bring their own basic 0.5- to 1-inch-heel boots to lessons. While not included in today's Groupon, Johnson Horse Riding School will offer a children's Christmas camp on December 10, complete with arts and crafts, a riding lesson, and a visit from Santa.
Johnson Horse Riding School
BHS-certified instructor Christina Johnson has spent more than four decades as an instructor, rider, and horse trainer—experience she draws on to broker connections between horses and humans at Johnson Horse Riding School. Johnson specializes in instruction for beginners and children as young as age 3, with a stable of practice horses as gentle as a declawed cookie monster. The school’s lessons cover Western or English styles of riding or impart tips for proper grooming, feeding, and management. Guided trail rides lead equestrians through nearby wilderness, and birthday parties and camps encourage youngsters to engage with the great outdoors. They also host special events like the 2nd annual Christmas camp where students can see Santa, get gifts, go for a ride, and learn a little about horse management.