Lessons, Training, & Showing at Cameron Oaks

h u n t e r s * j u m p e r s * e q u i t a t i o n

Cameron Oaks Riding Academy

Our Trainers | Lessons/Fees | Horse Training | Horse Showing | Cameron Oaks Interscholastic Equestrian Team

Meet Our Lesson Ponies/Horses | Horse Camps | Clinics | Gallery of Riders

OUR TRAINERS

Barbara Grubbs & Gayle Cook

Our Mother-Daughter team, Barbara Grubbs and Gayle Cook, have years of experience and knowledge in all aspects of horse management, training, and teaching. Barbara has been riding since she was 8 and began training horses when she was only 16 years old. In 1986, she fulfilled her dream and began her teaching career. She has taken dozens of riders through the ranks, winning multiple year-end championships with the AHJA and has also taken riders to compete on the national level, with three riders qualifying for the USEF National Pony Finals. In 1992, Barbara established her own farm, which she named White Horse Farm. After selling her farm in 2008, we were fortunate to have Barbara join our team at Cameron Oaks.

Barbara excels in taking a young child and creating a beautiful, talented rider, while at the same time passing on her expertise in horse management and safety. At Cameron Oaks, we believe that our riders should not only ride, but be knowledgeable in all aspects of horse care and management. Barbara has that special talent for working with all kids- no matter if they are timid riders or brave riders- helping them to achieve whatever goals they set for themselves. Barbara is extremely excited about the new group of youngsters here at Cameron Oaks and looks forward to creating her next "dream team" as she takes this group through the ranks.

Barbara's daughter, Gayle Cook, joined our team in April 2009. Gayle has also been riding since she was 8, and excels in taking a young horse and turning it into a winning hunter or jumper. Gayle is an extremely accomplished rider, and has a passion for training both horses and riders. Gayle teaches all levels of riders and has a very successful show career, both at the AHJA level and the USEF level. Gayle's role at Cameron Oaks is not only to teach your child or yourself, but also to train your horse or to put professional rides on your horse if you are unable to be at the farm on a regular basis. Gayle welcomes all sales prospects, as well.

Deana Hunter

Deana Hunter is a life-long horsewoman who began riding at the age of 2 in her native Ontario, Canada. She got her first pony at age 10 and began competing locally in the large pony division. She became very active in the Cahaba Pony Club and competed in both combined training events and rallies.

Her family continued to spend summers in Canada and Deana attended month long programs at Colonial Stables in North Oshawa where guest trainers and coaches were brought in to teach various horsemanship methods. She was exposed to a variety of European trainers through the programs which included dressage, free-lunging, vaulting, driving methods, ground work, gymnastics, and stable management. She also continued to ride and participate in Pony Club activities and achieved her A rating in 1985.

Back in Alabama, she continued to show hunter jumpers competing in the children’s, small junior, and jumper divisions. She attended Florida State University where she was a working student for an Orlando show stable before deciding to concentrate on her studies full time. Upon graduating, Deana settled in Florida, purchased her first amateur owner horse in 1991 and began competing around the state and foxhunting in the off season. She also braided and groomed horses for the Florida winter circuit shows and yearling Thoroughbred sales in Ocala, Florida. She returned to Birmingham in 1999 and began working with young horses and teaching.

Deana began teaching at Cameron Oaks in spring 2010. Her main focus is the basics and fundamental of hunter seat riding and her program is based on providing a safe and enjoyable environment with horses for children and adults. She believes working with horses develops and strengthens life skills such as responsibility, discipline, leadership, focus, team work, confidence, physical exercise, respect, loyalty, friendships and fun.

She lives in Indian Springs with her husband, David and her children Alexandra and Matthew. The family also includes 2 dogs, 3 horses, 2 cats and 4 chickens.

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LESSONS & FEES

Our Riding Academy is offered for all ages - regardless of experience!

In addition, for the brand-new, young riders that cannot last the full hour of a normal lesson, we have created a 30-minute lesson package. This package is focused on the youngest riders until they have the stamina to endure a longer lesson. Having two riding rings, we are fortunate to be able to divide the riders into groups based on their riding levels. We also do our best to offer some private lessons within your package for those that request a private lesson. In most cases, the lessons are either private or semi-private. If it is a group lesson, it is usually a very small group with riders on the same level. It is our goal to make sure that the lessons are safe, fun, and rewarding. In addition to riding, the students will be taught to properly groom, tack, and cool off their horse. We do have several school horses and ponies available for those riders who do not own a horse.

Non-Boarders:
New packages for tiniest beginners. These lessons are aimed toward the beginners that are not quite ready for the longer lessons. These lessons will last approximately 30 minutes.
Pay per lesson: $40/each
Prepay for Package of 4: $140
Prepay for Package of 8: $240

45-1 hour lessons:
Pay per lesson: $50/each
Prepay for Package of 4: $180
Prepay for Package of 8: $320
Prepay for Package of 10: $380

Boarders:
Pay per lesson: $40/each
Prepay for Package of 4: $150
Prepay for Package of 8: $280
Prepay for Package of 10: $300
Prepay for Package of 12: $350

NOTE: All packages must be used during the month in which it was purchased, unless special circumstances allow for carry-over. Cancellations will be accepted due to bad weather or illness only. These cancellations must be made up within the month. Boarders may elect to exchange a lesson for a training ride if desired.

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MEET OUR LESSON HORSES & PONIES

	LITTLE BOY BLUE
	Little Boy Blue is fourteen years old, and knows his job at the shows! Although he is a lazy boy, he puts his game face on and wins the blues at the shows. Blue is super sweet, safe, and fun to handle. And, nobody can resist his cute ears! Blue is used for lessons and is available to rent for shows, or even to lease on a monthly or yearly basis. Blue is available to half lease or full lease.

LYLAH

Lylah is a precious 20-something year old pony that teaches all of our beginners how to ride! She is so wonderful and all of the kids fall in love with her. There are no words to say how much she means to all of us at the farm!

	BILLY
	Billy is one of our newer lesson ponies and is doing an incredible job. At just six years old, Billy has such a great mind and takes care of even our smallest riders. Although Billy is a wonderful lesson pony, he deserves a show home and is available for sale. There are full and half lease options available on him, as well. All lease options require him to stay at our farm.

	AMERICA
	America is a fifteen year old small pony hunter. She was a famous small pony hunter in her day, and now teaches our students how to ride. America is a precious pony that our kids adore. America is available for full or half lease- in barn only.

	CHER
	Cher, a fourteen year old Dutch warmblood, was a small junior champion on the AA circuit. Unfortunately, she had an injury that required her to stop jumping the higher fences. Cher is super made, and an awesome show horse and lesson horse. She is beautiful, fancy, and easy. Cher is available for a full or half lease in barn only. We feel privileged to have this incredible horse at our farm!

	BLACKJACK
	Blackjack is a small pony who teaches our kids. Blackjack is all pony! He teaches our kids how to handle a pony that sometimes decides to do his own thing. Our trainer loves him because he helps our riders become even better riders! The kids love playing with him!

	EMILY
	Emily is not owned by Cameron Oaks, but by one of our boarders. Emily is available for lease or sale, and is also used for lessons. She is a full bodied, top of the line medium pony. She is only seven years old and will jump anything in front of her. She is very sweet natured and has been year-end Champion in the Alabama Hunter Jumper crosspoles division, and was successful in the pony divisions at the local shows she attended.

	MILLER
	Miller is a six year old welsh/TB that is used for lessons for our intermediate riders. He is super sweet and very lovable. With further training, Miller is going to make somebody a wonderful horse and is sized perfectly for either an adult or child. Miller is available for sale or lease.

	WILLIE
	Willie is twenty years young, and still teaching the little ones to ride! Willie has been at several farms during his life, and we are so excited that his previous owner has bought him back and has chosen our farm for Willie to live. He is an amazing pony and we are so excited to add him to our lesson program! Willie is available to lease, as well.

	BLUGLE
	We are so pleased to have our daughter’s first show pony return to our farm! Blue has been around the nation, and has been loved by every little girl who has owned or leased him. He is truly a one-of-a-kind pony, who will continue to teach the children at our farm! Words cannot express how much this pony is loved. We are so happy to allow him to live out the rest of his life at Cameron Oaks!

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HORSE TRAINING

Gayle Cook excels at taking your young, green horse and turning it into a safe, enjoyable horse to ride. She will take a horse at any level, from just green-broke to one that just needs tuning up. For more information on Gayle's training methods, feel free to call at anytime! The board for the horse will be a separate charge and current board rates apply.

Non-Boarders:
Pay per Ride: $50/each
Prepay for Package of 4: $180
Prepay for Package of 8: $320
Prepay for Package of 10: $380

Boarders:
Pay per Ride: $40/each
Prepay for Package of 4: $150
Prepay for Package of 8: $280
Prepay for Package of 10: $300
Prepay for Package of 12: $350

NOTE: Boarders may elect to exchange a training ride for a lesson if desired.

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HORSE SHOWING

Cameron Oaks attends a large majority of the Alabama Hunter Jumper Association shows and will also attend a small number of USEF rated shows. As the number of students that want to participate in the USEF shows increases, additional shows will be added to the schedule. Our main goal is for riders to have fun and be safe. There is no pressure here for the students to show, but the opportunity is there if they wish to show. Our current group of students have excelled at the AHJA shows, earning multiple year-end championship awards. We also have some students that have gone on to be very successful at the USEF shows. We are fortunate to have two trainers here that are able to split up and take one group to a local show on the same weekend another group goes to an USEF rated show. No matter what your goals may be- we will be able to assist with you achieving them.

SCHOOLING AT HORSE SHOWS:  $40.00/Day
HORSE CARE AT HORSE SHOWS: Local:  $40.00/Day
                                                         A-Shows:  $50.00/Day

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HORSE CAMPS

4-Day Camps: June 6-9 and July 11-14, 2011
This camp will focus on older riders or riders with some experience.

4-Day Camps: June 13-16 and July 5-8, 2011
This camp will focus on younger riders or riders with no experience.

The price of the June and July camps are $350/week
~ This include 2 lessons each day, arts and crafts,
outdoor activities and a Cameron Oaks t-shirt ~

Call or visit soon to make reservations to attend one or all of our camps- spaces will fill quickly. We look forward to meeting you and your family!

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CLINICS

We will offer clinics throughout the year. We will invite top clinicians to come to our facility to pass on their expertise to our students and any other riders that would like to participate. Upcoming clinics and information regarding that clinic will be posted on our News page. The cost of each clinic will vary, depending on the clinician and the duration of the clinic.

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Interscholastic Equestrian team

We are excited to announce that Cameron Oaks will be forming an Interscholastic Equestrian team by joining the Interscholastic Equestrian Association, and will begin team lessons in the summer of 2011. We are happy to provide this opportunity for middle and high school students in our area. This is a fantastic, inexpensive way for young riders to compete without having the cost of their own horse. By fund-raising and hard work, our team members will be able to compete against riders of the same age locally, regionally, and nationally! Barbara Grubbs will head up this program and is accepting new team members at this time. For more information, go to the Interscholastic Equestrian Association website at www.rideiea.org. Please call or email us if you are interested in joining our team!