LESSONS-archive

Coaching and Lessons

Kings Meadow offers coaching services from beginner to advanced riders. If you are looking to fine-tune your skills or solve an issue with your horse, we will work with you one-on-one to instil solid fundamentals and improve the connection between you and your horse. We teach horsemanship techniques which promotes partnership between horse and rider. With the philosophy that the horse cannot move properly until the rider is positioned properly, head coach Ashley Van der Hout teaches riders how their body affects their horses' movement.

Our lesson programs are varied. Length of lessons are a minimum of 45 minutes, with each lesson tailored to the individual horse and rider, and consideration given to current ability and future goals. For outside clients who do not own their own horse, we offer show quality horses who are professionally schooled on a weekly basis. Riders are paired with the horse that best suits their ability and goals.

Our lesson program for junior riders, 4 years of age and up, is tailored to accommodate private or semi-private lessons. Our junior coaches will prepare students for more advanced training with Ashley Van der Hout. Lessons can be private or semi-private and run from 45 to 60 mins in length. Semi-private lessons may only have up to a maximum of 3 riders.

Renowned Horse Trainer Ashley Van der Hout

KMEC Riding Academy's head coach and owner, Ashley Van der Hout, has extensive training in hunter equitation, jumpers, dressage and western pleasure. Ashley started riding at a very young age, and became committed by the age of 6-years-old when recognized in Germany for her natural talent.

Since then, she has continued her career in the equine field and trains with a European style to riding. She has trained under multiple recognized trainers, inheriting different techniques and broadening her perspective and training abilities. If you have been unable to reach your goal in the past, there is a way and she will uncover that path to success by enhancing the ability of horse and rider.

Our Lesson Team

Pika

12.2hh Welsh who is our little princess. She has been there and done that. She’s competed successfully on OHJA now is enjoying her retired show career teaching our little ones how to be riders.

Bella

13.2hh Welsh cross who showed competitively on the OHJA, qualified to show at The Royal Winter Fair her last years of showing. She has joined our team a 6 years ago to progress children and young adults in the show ring.

Gentry

16.1hh Imported Azteca. He has done literally everything from bullfighting in Portugal, Dressage, western pleasure, winning Ontario competitive trail, and now continuing his career in the dressage, hunter and jumper rings for our competitors.

Dream

16.2hh OTTB. Dream has joined our program just over a year ago. He will be at Angelstone this year for his first year of competitive showing in the hunter ring. With his strong and willing personality, he makes a solid and elegant hunter. Riders looking for the next step up he’s the one.

Indy

15.3hh paint cross. One of our long time trustworthy, loyal, solid mount. As a 3year old he was trained for western pleasure in the US, and came to us to be trained in English disciplines. To this day, he has shown dressage, western dressage, hunters and jumpers. Indy has a special spot in a lot of our riders and past riders hearts. He’s brought so many riders up levels at such a young age as a mount.

Bullet

15hh quarter horse. We’ve been very fortunate to have known Bullet for over 10 years and then have the pleasure and honour to call him “one of ours”. His owner Katherine has been a client of ours since 2005. These two had competed in western games and he was also one of the horses on The Canadian Cowgirls Drill team. Bullet now is one of our main mounts for beginners as young as 3yrs old.

Diva

16hh TB cross. She has been with us and trained by Ashley since she was 4 months old. She has done hunters, Dressage and western dressage. She is used for our intermediate to advanced lessons. Diva has a big personality and loves to show off

Zoey

16.3hh TB. Zoey is another one of our trustworthy, dependent, and solid mount. She has mainly competed in hunters and still does with some dressage under her belt.

Dispatch

16.3hh solid draft cross. At his young age, Ashley trained him at a max height of 4’ for his owner. Circumstances changed and we took him over. He was further trained for jumpers, but found his dream in the hunter ring.

Poco

15.2hh Paint. She was trained western pleasure and was a broodmare. She can stand all day being groomed and loved by our little ones. Poco is in our beginner lesson program as well.

Peaches

Peaches 16.3hh warmblood. Dressage and hunter mount for our intermediate to advanced riders

We have more mounts for our advanced riders in Hunters and Dressage disciplines. All horses can be part boarded if they’re available. Showing is a possibility with each of our horses with their suitable rider.

Lesson Attire:

We expect our students to be 'dressed for success'! We ask that you come prepared for your lesson, dressed appropriately for the weather, including:

Helmet
Clean t-shirt or polo shirt (No spaghetti strap tank tops)
Gloves
Breeches
Boots & halfchaps

MOST IMPORTANTLY - BE ON TIME!

"My son has been a student of Ashley's since January 2013. Ashley has consistently demonstrated she has the teaching skill, knowledge, experience and passion to help him achieve his riding goals. With Ashley's coaching I have seen great improvement in my son's riding ability, confidence in the tack and training skills. In the summer of 2013 we purchased a green mare. Ashley's skills as a training and willingness to teach my son humane and effective training methods are very much appreciated. There are many options for coaches and trainers in the equine industry; Ashley is definitely one I would highly recommend!"
My daughter was looking for a special pony or horse to participate in Pony Club mounted activities with we found that pony at Kings Meadow. Ashley has helped her reach her goals with a wonderful pony, The one on one attention has allowed my daughter to improve more than I could imagine in such a short time. She was able to participate in her first short course eventing competition, was first in her division at D rally (Dressage, Cross Country and Stadium Jumping) with clear rounds on both Cross and Stadium, participated in Tetrathlon which has a Cross Country and Stadium component, National Pentathlon riding portion and the fun show at the Rockton Fair and complete her D1 level testing with flying colours! Ashley has supported this 11 year old in having a great experience this past season. She is so excited to work hard over the winter to keep improving for next season. Thank you to a great coach, wonderful pony and excellent facility!
"Since taking lessons with owner/coach Ashley Van Der Hout, my riding has improved faster than ever before, and I learn new things every time I lesson. I am extremely happy with how much better my horse is doing since moving here, and I know that level of improvement can only be reached with a coach as knowledgeable and dedicated as Ashley. She consistently goes out of her way to make sure both my horse and I are advancing, and safe in doing so, and is always ready to listen and give advice."