Progressive Riding Program

Specialties

Progressive Riding Program treats every client as a future horse owner building a base of horse keeping information into each session of riding instruction. Current horse owners are given discounts for using their own horses as well as opportunities to ride lesson horses when needed.

History

Established in 2004.

The Progressive Riding Program was established in 2004 after spending 40+ years working at different riding schools and seeing the deficiencies in these lesson programs. Most schools want to keep you on their school horses forever and are unhappy when clients move on to buy their own horses. The programs that keep their students dependent on the instructors and school horses fail to give students information on how to move up to horse ownership in a bid to keep the client in house. I wanted to create a program that would encourage the client to grow in all aspects of horse keeping including horse ownership as well as riding and continue with the client after they become horse owners. To this end I try to include bits of feeding, training, health care information in every session of lessons so the client is hearing necessary horse keeping tips right along with riding information and becoming more informed in all aspects of horsemanship.

Meet the Business Owner

M. Judith D.

Business Owner

M. Judith F. De Michele is a lifelong horsewoman with more than 50 years experience in the horse industry: riding and showing professionally, as well as breeding race and show horses, training show and steeplechase horses. Ms De Michele’s teaching experience began in 1963 teaching in RI, NH, PA, MD,& VA.

Ms. De Michele is a certified riding instructor with certifications from the Equitation Program at Southern Seminary and Junior College, the United States Hunter Jumper Association. She graduated from the University of Delaware B.A. in education.

Ms De Michele was awarded the USHJA Sportsmanship award for VA as well as for the South East Region in 2009 given for displaying good sportsmanship while horse showing affiliated and recognized horse shows.

Ms. De Michele is the published author of over 50 articles in such industry magazines as: Spur, Practical Horseman, The Chronicle of The Horse etc.

Ms De Michele’s full resume is available on the USHJA web site.