Deer Creek Stables, Burleson

Closed fingers, a squeezed calf, shifted weight—the horse responds to each barely perceptible command, performing choreographed motions and meeting mental demands with grace. This is the art of dressage, and along with cross-country and stadium jumping, it's part of Deer Creek Stables’ specialty: eventing. But although the stables' trainers mainly teach competitive riders to strengthen the human-horse bond for eventing and Western dressage, they also take joy in extending their fascination with steeds to newcomers, teaching very basic skills to those mounting a horse for the first time.

Known for their patience with horses and people alike, head trainer Jennifer Burk and her staff give private and group lessons, covering everything from grooming to jumping. They can also provide school horses, safety equipment, and tack for riders getting started or whose horses have recently gone off to horse college. Their grassy 38-acre facility includes a lighted indoor arena and 30 acres of turnout for boarding horses.