At Stepping Stones Riding Program, we believe horses have the power to change lives.
Our mission is simple but powerful: to connect horses and people, regardless of circumstance or financial background, through accessible, low-cost riding lessons and meaningful horse experiences.
Through riding, horsemanship, and community, we help riders build confidence, responsibility, resilience, and lifelong friendships.
Our Home
Stepping Stones is proudly located at the beautiful Santa Rosa Valley Equestrian Park, where riders enjoy excellent facilities and direct access to miles of scenic trails.
Our program began in 2012 when three friends, Kylie Joseph, Nancy McChesney, and Meaghan Shaffer, shared a dream of making horses accessible to everyone. That dream quickly grew into a thriving nonprofit.
For many years we partnered with the Conejo Valley YMCA, introducing hundreds of campers each summer to their very first horse experience. When the YMCA closed during COVID-19, we continued our mission by relocating and ultimately finding our new home in Santa Rosa Valley, where our community continues to grow.
Riding Lessons
We offer hands-on horsemanship lessons for riders ages 6 and up in:
Lessons are approximately 90 minutes and go far beyond simply riding.
Our riders learn the full experience of caring for a horse, including:
By being involved in every step, riders build confidence, independence, and true horsemanship skills.
We currently offer lessons six days a week and host summer camps. We also proudly partner with several charter schools serving homeschool families.
Because we maintain small groups for quality instruction, lessons often reach capacity. If we’re currently full, check back with us, we’d love to welcome you when space opens.
Beyond the Arena
At Stepping Stones, the learning doesn’t stop in the arena.
Our riders experience the many ways horses bring people together, including:
For advanced riders, we also offer sponsorship and lease opportunities that allow them to ride independently and deepen their partnership with their horse.
Experienced riders often step into leadership roles, helping mentor younger students and assisting with lessons and camps.
