Saddleup-Austin, Austin

If not for a lawn mower, Jennifer Krou may never have discovered her love for horses. When Jennifer was 6, her grandmother surprised her with a ticket to the county fair. As it turned out, the ticket held the winning raffle number, and Jennifer's grandmother was forced to choose between the two grand prizes: a brand-new, state-of-the-art lawn mower … or a pony. She chose the pony, of course, and gave it to her granddaughter, sparking Jennifer's lifelong love for horses and freeing the mower to graze on an overgrown pasture.

Today, Jennifer passes that passion on to riders of all experience levels during private and semiprivate lessons. Students cover the full spectrum of horsemanship, learn to groom and tack a horse as well as how to handle the reins from the saddle. Fostering a safe and easygoing atmosphere, the instructors encourage pupils to learn both Western and English styles, giving them the freedom to ride on both the right and left sides of a trail.