Root of Riding - Horse Riding School & Equine Education

Root of Riding - Horse Riding School & Equine Education Root of Riding offers private riding lessons, an Equine Enrichment Academy for ages 8+, and arena haul-ins by reservation.

We build confident, capable riders through horsemanship, strong fundamentals, horse care, communication, and connection.

🐴 55 MILLION YEARS of horse evolution… and we got to talk about it this week! 🤯Week 3 of Equine Enrichment Academy is of...
10/02/2026

🐴 55 MILLION YEARS of horse evolution… and we got to talk about it this week! 🤯

Week 3 of Equine Enrichment Academy is officially in the books, and WOW… we are finding our rhythm! Our days are flowing more smoothly, the students are becoming more independent, and we’re covering SO much ground.

🎯 Goal setting
The students started putting some intention behind what they want to accomplish and how they want to grow.

🏇 English saddles
We broke out a couple English saddles and put balance, strength, and body awareness to the test! Let’s just say… being a balanced partner takes some work. 😉 We’ll be building on those skills as we go!

🦴 55+ MILLION YEARS OF HORSE HISTORY
We traveled way, WAY back in time to meet Eohippus, one of the earliest known horse ancestors. About the size of a medium-sized dog, Eohippus had four toes on its front feet and three on its back feet instead of the single hoof we know today.

Over millions of years, the environment changed, and horses adapted to survive. Their bodies gradually became larger, their legs longer, and their toes evolved into the single hoof that helps modern horses travel efficiently across open ground.

From a tiny, multi-toed animal the size of a dog… to the incredible horses standing in our arena today. That is one heck of an evolution story. 🐎🤯

And somehow, we got to do ALL of that while enjoying some absolutely PERFECT fall weather. ☀️🍂

Week 3 was full of learning, movement, problem-solving, confidence-building, and plenty of time with our amazing equine partners.

We’re finding our flow. We’re covering ground. And these kids are just getting started. ❤️🐴

10/01/2026

English saddles have come out this week… and so did the burning legs! 😂🔥

The students put their balance and strength to the test with 2-point work, discovering just how much effort it takes to become a strong, balanced partner for their equine teammates.

We’re working on strength, balance, timing & endurance—and we’re definitely going to keep working! 💪🐴

Then came the Ring Challenge:
👢 Heels down
🦶 Toes up
⭕ Keep your ring!
😂 Drop it? PAY THE JUMPING JACK TAX!

Those 2-point holds may have humbled us a little, but these are getting stronger every week!

Krystal Plotts Alexa Percell JaredCourtney Cooke

First day of the Root of Riding Equine Enrichment Academy is officially in the books! 🐴📚❤️
09/15/2026

First day of the Root of Riding Equine Enrichment Academy is officially in the books! 🐴📚❤️

What a fun evening at our New Student Round-Up! 🐴❤️ Our new students and families got to meet the horses, and of course,...
09/10/2026

What a fun evening at our New Student Round-Up! 🐴❤️ Our new students and families got to meet the horses, and of course, the horses were VERY happy about the carrots and watermelon! 🍉🥕

We are officially kicking off the Root of Riding Equine Enrichment Academy next week, and I couldn’t be more excited for this group and all the learning, adventures, and horse time ahead! 🌿🐎

And a huge shoutout to Charissa Hendrickson for making the most adorable Academy T-shirts for my students! Thank you for helping make our first group feel extra special! ❤️

08/23/2026

When the posting trot finally clicks and you realize you’ve been capable of this all along. 🐴✨

🎉 WE’RE FULL! 🎉The Root of Riding Equine Enrichment Academy is officially FULL for our Fall Session! 🐴❤️I’m so incredibl...
08/16/2026

🎉 WE’RE FULL! 🎉

The Root of Riding Equine Enrichment Academy is officially FULL for our Fall Session! 🐴❤️

I’m so incredibly excited for this group of students and grateful to every family who reached out, asked questions, and trusted me with this opportunity. I can’t wait to get this adventure started!

If you were hoping to join us this fall, don’t worry! You can still reach out to be added to our waitlist in case a spot becomes available.

And if fall didn’t work out, I’m also starting an interest list for our Spring Session! 🌱🐎 If you’d like to be among the first to hear when spring enrollment opens, send me a message and I’ll add you to the list.

👉 Be sure to follow the Root of Riding page so you don’t miss future academy sessions, enrollment announcements, special programs, riding opportunities, and all the fun happening at the ranch!

Thank you for all the support and excitement surrounding this new program. I’m so grateful! 🤎

— Root of Riding
Where education, outdoor adventure & horses come together. 🐴✨

05/30/2026

🚨 Patient Rounds Complete 🚨

Today’s veterinary team-in-training got some hands-on practice checking temperature, pulse, and respiration on our very cooperative equine patients. 🩺🐴

The verdict?

✨ Normal temperatures
✨ Strong, steady pulses
✨ Healthy respirations
✨ Nice pink gums
✨ Lots of happy belly gurgles

We’re pleased to report that every patient passed their wellness exam and was compensated appropriately with scratches, praise, and admiration. 😌

Learning to monitor a horse’s vital signs is an important part of good horsemanship, and our students are building the skills to recognize what “normal” looks like before something is wrong.

A successful day at Root of Riding! ❤️

05/22/2026

It’s been a FULL week! I hope everyone gets some quality time with family or some rest for yourself 🫶🏼✨😌 Happy Memorial Day 🇺🇸

05/11/2026

It’s prime trail riding season, too 🐴☀️ and I did see a gorgeous butterfly this morning! 🦋 Lisa’s first trail ride in a while, and Pendleton took good care of her🫶🏼

05/11/2026

After over a decade in the classroom, stepping away felt big—but I’m realizing I never stopped teaching. It just shifted.

I still get to support growth, build confidence, and walk alongside learners—now through horses, which add something truly grounding and powerful to the process.

Lessons are about so much more than riding. They’re about communication, patience, trust, and confidence. I’m grateful to be building this program and to everyone who’s already part of it.



Kayla McCabe Kayla Warkentin Anita Rose Day Devin Harcus Denice Lee Jayden Shelton Katherine Short Krystal Plotts Leanne Cano Krisha Guinn Alisa Stoffel Jillian Delaney Cailin E Stone JaredCourtney Cooke 🫶🏼

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Goldendale, WA
98620

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