Central Oregon Riding Academy

04/05/2026

03/20/2026

✨ Dry Lot Boarding Openings – TK Barrelhorses | Central Oregon Riding Academy ✨

We will have (2) dry lot boarding spots available starting April 1st at a private, structured performance-based facility in Bend, Oregon.

This is not just a place to keep your horse—this is a program designed for riders who want consistency, accountability, and a higher standard of care.

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🐴 Board Includes:

✔️ Clean, well-maintained dry lots
✔️ Structured environment focused on horse health & routine
✔️ Access to arena(s) and riding areas
✔️ On-site support and oversight

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💡 What Makes This Program Different:

At TK Barrelhorses & Central Oregon Riding Academy, we focus on:
• Horsemanship first
• Consistency in care and routine
• Accountability (for both horse and rider)
• Creating confident, healthy, and performance-ready horses

Lesson and training opportunities are available for those who want to grow and progress—however, participation is not required.

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💲 Board Options:

• Self-Care: $450/month
(Owner provides hay. We feed twice daily. Owner responsible for remaining daily care)

• Partial Care: $550/month
(Owner participates in cleaning or hay)

• Full Care: $650/month
(Full feeding + daily care provided)

➡️ Additional services available: training rides, lessons, therapy programs, walker, etc.

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⚠️ Please Note:

This is a structured program—not a free-for-all self-care facility.
Even self-care boarders are expected to follow barn standards and routines.

We are selective to ensure a good fit for both horses and riders.

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📍 Location:

Bend, Oregon (Rickard Rd area)

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📩 To Apply:

Please message me directly with:
• Your riding goals
• Your horse’s background
• What you’re looking for in a program

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If you’re looking for a place that will support your growth, not just house your horse, this may be a great fit for you.

03/11/2026

✨ Proud Coach Moment ✨

Last night was one of those moments that reminds me why I love doing what I do.

Ashton was entered in the race, and I asked her if she wanted to run Lilly. Now… that’s kind of like asking a kid if they want to drive a Maserati. 😄

The funny part is Ashton has only ridden Lilly a handful of times and had never worked the barrel pattern on her before. But that didn’t stop her from stepping up, saddling up, and giving it a go.

They went in there and made a beautiful run, finishing 4th in the 2D and bringing home some money.

But the thing that made me the proudest wasn’t the placing.

It was the people behind the run.

I am incredibly proud of Lilly, who continues to show what a special mare she is.

I’m also proud of Jailyn, who has spent the last year and a half riding and working with Lilly, helping her become patient and confident with younger riders. That kind of consistency and dedication matters.

And I’m so proud of Ashton, who is the definition of a go-getter. She shows up, works hard, listens, learns, and is willing to do whatever it takes to get better.

Watching these young riders grow, gain confidence, and develop real horsemanship is exactly what Central Oregon Riding Academy and TK Barrelhorses is all about.

It’s not just about running barrels.
It’s about building work ethic, responsibility, patience, and confidence—both in the horse and in the rider.

These kids are doing amazing things, and I truly believe they are going to do big things in the future.

I feel incredibly grateful to be part of their journey. ❤️

If you have a young rider who wants to learn horsemanship, build confidence, and grow as a rider, we always love welcoming new students into the program.

— Tanya Ledbetter
Central Oregon Riding Academy
TK Barrelhorses

03/07/2026

🐎 Want to become a better rider?
Barrel racing sound fun?

At Central Oregon Riding Academy, we focus on the foundations that great riders are built on—balance, communication, feel, and true horsemanship.

Our program teaches riders how to communicate with their horse, ride with confidence, and develop real skills in the saddle. Whether your goal is to improve your riding, gain confidence, or eventually compete, it all starts with the right foundation.

✨ One lesson opening available
🗓 Wednesdays or Fridays at 1:15 PM

If you’ve been wanting to take your riding to the next level, this could be your spot.

📩 Message us for details :

Wednesday 4-6 pmHorsemanship & Riding InstructionBreaking the Mold Program & Continuing EducationAll instruction places a strong emphasis on basic horsemanship and safety, forming the foundation of every lesson. Foundation training is the cornerstone of successful barrel racing because it

02/12/2026

Serious about your horse’s progress?
Board where education comes with the environment.

At Central Oregon Riding Academy, this isn’t just a place to keep your horse.
It’s a structured horsemanship program designed to help both horse and rider improve every week.

This is the right fit for riders who:
• Want to get better, not just ride in circles
• Value correct fundamentals and education
• Appreciate a clean, organized, professional environment
• Want access to experienced instruction when they need it

Boarding Options

Full Care – $650/month
We handle the daily care so you can focus on riding and improving.

Partial Care – $550/month
You clean your own space, and we provide the hay.

Self-Care – $450/month
You clean your own space and provide your own hay.

Facility Features
• 75’ x 120’ indoor arena for consistent, year-round riding
• Outdoor arena for pattern work and conditioning
• Structured training-based environment
• Access to lessons and professional guidance
• On-site therapy and wellness options
• Community of riders focused on growth and horsemanship

This is not a “cheap board” facility or a place to drop your horse off and forget about it.
It’s a program built for riders who want progress, education, and a higher standard of care.

Limited openings available.
Message or call to schedule a visit.

Central Oregon Riding Academy – Bend, OR
503-984-0554

01/08/2026

🐎 The $3,000 Horse Myth

“I bought a $3,000 horse and that horse made me a great rider and it became my heart horse. I will never have another one like them.”

I hear this all the time.
And while I do respect the journey…

And I know there are exceptions to every rule but the math tells a different story.

Let’s break it down...

🐴 Purchase price: $3,000

🧑‍🏫 Training:
$1,000/month × 10 months = $10,000
(If you did the training yourself, It's still costing you your time. Time = money. And I guarantee you wouldn't sell your horse for the same $3,000 once you got it trained up well.)

🏠 Board & feed:
$500/month × 10 months = $5,000

🩺 Vet, farrier, hauling, tack, misc:
$3,000–$6,000

💰 True investment:
$24,000–$27,000

And when you see a “cheap” young horse…
Just know someone already ate a massive financial loss.

So no…

That horse didn’t cost you $3,000.

That horse cost you:
• money
• time
• patience
• emotional control
• problem-solving
• consistency
• growth
• Lost time
• Stress
• Missed riding opportunities

And yes — it probably did make you better...
But not because it was cheap.

It made you better because it forced you to do it yourself.

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with starting with a $3,000 horse. I started with an $850. horse, and I am glad I did! That "cheap" wild little horse started my whole horsemanship journey.

I just want to help spread awareness and help people out before they get hurt or bankrupted!

We just need to "Stop" pretending it was a $3,000 journey... That honesty helps the next buyer make a smarter choice.

Because we don’t know what we don’t know.

Let's close the knowledge gap...

No judgment...
No negativity...

Just one conversation at a time.

01/02/2026

🌿 Equine Connection & Emotional Reset Sessions

“Healing doesn’t always happen at a lope.
Sometimes the walk is where the truth lives.”

Not every horse experience is about learning to ride better or faster.

Some are about learning to slow down, notice your emotions, and reconnect—with yourself and with a horse that responds honestly to who you are in the moment.

I’m offering a small-group equine connection experience designed for people seeking mental and emotional grounding through horses, not performance riding.

These sessions are intentionally slow-paced and reflective, guided by older, wise horses (ages 18–22) who have spent their lives around humans and deeply value calm interaction, gentle hands, and presence.

What this experience includes:

• Small group setting (maximum 4 people)
• 2-hour guided session
• Time to brush, scratch, braid, and quietly connect with the horses
• Mounted work at the walk and trot only, focused on breath, balance, and feel
• Learning how horses mirror human emotions and nervous energy
• Simple stall care and horse routines that create grounding and awareness
• A calm environment designed to help you slow down and reset

This is not a traditional riding lesson.
This is equine-assisted emotional awareness through movement, care, and connection.

Horses don’t lie. They feel stress, impatience, calm, and clarity—and respond immediately. They will gently tell on you when emotions are out of balance, and soften when you find presence.

Many people don’t realize what horses can offer emotionally—until they experience it.

Investment:

• First-time session: $150 per person
• Ongoing weekly sessions: $100 per person

(Weekly rate is available after the initial experience.)

No previous horse experience required.

📍 Central Oregon
📩 Message me to learn more or reserve a group

12/25/2025

TK Barrelhorses has been awarded Best Horse Boarding Stable 2025 by BusinessRate based on Google reviews.
Proud to represent Bend, Oregon with integrity, horsemanship, and high standards.

11/22/2025

🚨 Biosecurity Reminder for ALL Barns 🚨
With recent EHV cases popping up around the U.S., it’s more important than ever to protect our barns, our horses, and everyone’s peace of mind.

Most people think about horses coming and going…
but we forget about the people who travel barn to barn every single day:

🧲 Farriers
🩻 Chiropractors
🦷 Dentists
💆‍♀️ Bodyworkers / Therapists
🪮 Trainers
🚚 Haulers
…and anyone else who steps onto multiple properties.

These amazing professionals keep our horses going — and we rely on them. But we also need to make sure they’re practicing biosecurity between barns, just like we are.

👉 Ask questions.
👉 Have conversations.
👉 Know what protocols are in place.
It’s not about accusing anyone — it’s about protecting every horse they touch.

If you run a barn, board horses, or haul in for lessons, take a moment to review your own biosecurity and kindly ask your service providers what they’re doing to keep themselves clean and prevent cross-contamination.

Education + Awareness = Safe horses & healthy barns.
Let’s all do our part. 💛🐴

11/22/2025

Looking for riding Instruction??

There’s a lot of noise on social media right now about horse training — especially in barrel racing. Anyone can make a video. Not everyone should be teaching.

Before you follow a “quick tip” from TikTok or YouTube, ask yourself:

• Has this person actually trained more than one horse?
• Do they understand biomechanics and balance… or just repeat what they heard?
• Can they explain why something works, or are they teaching trends?
• Would you trust them with your horse’s mind, body, and future?

Because here’s the truth:

👉 Real education never comes from shortcuts, opinions, or gimmicks.
👉 It comes from proven principles, correct movement, and understanding the horse.

That’s why at Central Oregon Riding Academy, we don’t teach trends — we teach horsemanship.

Our program is built around the Breaking the Mold principles taught by Paul Humphrey:
• Balance before speed
• Communication before correction
• Education before expectation
• Movement that supports the horse, not fights it
• Foundation that holds up at every level — futurity through rodeo

We don’t “wing it.”
We don’t copy TikTok trainers.
We don’t teach shortcuts that fall apart in pressure.

We teach riders how to ride, why it works, and how to create a confident, sound, and educated athlete.

If you’re ready to stop guessing, stop struggling, and stop sorting through contradictory online advice…

If you want horsemanship that actually makes sense…

If you want a program that develops BOTH the rider and the horse…

Then you might be ready to experience Breaking the Mold at
Central Oregon Riding Academy in Bend, Oregon.

Real education.
Real results.
Real horsemanship.

If you want a consultation or to learn more, send us a message.
Your horse deserves the truth — not trends.

11/18/2025

Central Oregon Riding Academy — Now Offering Full-Time Lessons!

We are excited to announce that Central Oregon Riding Academy is now open for full-time lessons, Monday through Friday! Our program is rooted in true horsemanship, focusing on communication, confidence, and connection for riders of all ages and experience levels.

We have a wonderful selection of safe, well-trained lesson horses, and riders are also welcome to bring their own horses. Our goal is to create an environment where every rider and every horse can learn, grow, and thrive.

All lessons begin with a required consultation, which is paired with an introductory lesson. This allows us to understand your goals, assess your experience, and determine the best plan for your riding journey.

At Central Oregon Riding Academy, we’re dedicated to teaching riders not just how to ride, but how to build a meaningful partnership with their horse.

Message us to schedule your consultation or ask any questions — we can’t wait to ride with you!
971-940-8682