Sterling Shields Stables and Riding Academy, Zionsville

More than 17 acres of lush pasture skirt the facilities at Sterling Shields Stables and Riding Academy, a horseback riding school aimed at beginner to intermediate riders. The school’s instructors place an emphasis on proper form, starting pupils out in the English saddle to learn balance and fundamentals. From there, students progress at their own pace in disciplines such as English riding, hunter/jumper, Western pleasure, and dressage.

Sterling Shields' facilities are carefully designed to ensure comfort year-round. During each lesson, parents can watch their child's progress on monitors in a viewing room that also doubles as a coffee bar. A warm, insulated barn keeps riders toasty as they prepare their mounts in winter. During the summer, the academy hosts horse camps for all levels of experience, during which participants attend daily lessons, learn proper horsemanship, and study the parts of a horse to gain a knowledge base for future veterinary careers and Jeopardy rounds.