Lessons
English Riding Instruction
Lessons in Dressage and Hunt Seat are available. We specialize in building excellent equitation skills in the saddle by teaching riders to effectively communicate with the horse as well as horsemanship skills on the ground.
In addition to providing physical exercise, learning to ride and care for horses teaches many life skills, including responsibility, patience, perseverance, and how to set and achieve goals. Unlike other forms of exercise, riders experience the emotional bond that comes from caring for and riding a horse – a partnership like no other.
Victory Stables utilizes a prescribed curriculum to teach riders about horse care and handling in addition to horseback riding. "We don't just make riders we build equestrians". All levels are welcome. Instruction is offered on your horse or ours and truck-ins are always welcome. We teach ages 7 to adult.
Private Lessons
Private lessons meet one a week for an hour. Private lessons allow for one on one learning with an instructor. They are appropriate for all skill levels and mandatory for all beginners. Students sign up by the month and ride a minimum of once a week but may opt to ride more.
Group Lessons
Students are welcome to join group lessons once they have learned to properly start, steer, and stop and with the approval of an instructor. Group lessons meet once a week for an hour and are small in size to allow for individual attention. Students sign up by the month and ride a minimum of once a week but may opt to ride more.
Combined Group/Private lessons
For riders who enjoy the weekly group atmosphere and still wish to have a private lesson to work on individual goals. Students ride in both a private and group lesson weekly and may opt to ride more.
Individual Rides
One-time lessons are perfect for evaluation, students needing a bit of individual attention while mastering new skill or wanting some extra practice before a competition. These are available to Victory Stables students and outside haul ins.
Instructors
All instructors have extensive knowledge in the areas of horse training, riding instruction, and horse management, as well as being members of USEF/USHJA, certified in Equine Emergency First Aid, have completed SafeSport training, been background checked and are CPR/First Aid certified.
Cory Valenzuela
Owner, Lead Riding Instructor, Head Trainer, Competitive Team Coach
Cory is a USHJA Credentialed Instructor and pro rider. She has an extensive background in hunters and dressage. She has trained under many well-known instructors including Kathy Connelly, Barend Heilbron and Sharon McCusker amongst many others. Before opening Victory Stables she was an instructor, head trainer and barn manager at various barns in the Northeast. She completed the USDF Instructor Certification training in 2010, taught Equine Studies at a private K-12 school, has a successful competitive history, and is active in the horse community both nationally and locally. Cory is an avid rider and horse owner, wife and mother of 4. She holds memberships with USEF, USHJA, IEA, USDF, USPC, AYHC, CHA.
Cory is available for haul-in's and clinics.
Kathi Darrow
Barn Manager, Riding Instructor, Equine Physical Therapist
Kathi owns Irelands Run Equine Sports Therapy and Ireland's Run Farm. She is a certified Equine Sports Massage therapist, Bemer PEMF therapist, certified Cranial-Sacral and Myofascial therapist, certified Kinesiology taper, certified Equine Emergency First Aid instructor, and Reiki 2 healer. When Kathi isn't following her horse passions, she's working in emergency medicine where she's been for 20 years as a medical imager. She is an avid rider and horse owner, a wife and a mother of 3. She holds memberships with USEF, USHJA, IEA, AYHC and CHA.
Kathi is available for bodywork at Victory or your farm.
Mady Smith
Riding Instructor, Assistant Coach
Mady teaches most of our group lessons and gets all our beginners set up for success in private lessons. She is experienced in both English and Western riding and has worked in several positions within the industry before joining Victory. Mady is also well versed on the trails where you'll often find her and her horse Smokey. She is an avid rider and horse owner, wife and mother of 3. Mady holds memberships is USEF, USHJA and IEA.
Summer Valenzuela
Pony Trainer, Team Captain
Summer is a competitive Hunter rider and is also training in dressage. She loves the ponies and trains and develops ours. She was an Interscholastic Equestrian Association Varsity rider while in High School. In 2022 she was a national finalist in the USHJA Horsemanship Challenge. She rides in the LoneStar Pony Club and is rated in eventing. She is also a student at Post University working on her degree in Equine Studies. She is an avid rider and horse owner. Summer holds memberships with USEF, USHJA, and USPC.