1. How many stalls do you have?
There is stabling for 45 horses at DHSRC.  Construction of a new barn is currently underway with completion scheduled for late fall 2007.

2. How many school horses are there?
We currently have 16 school horses that range from beginner horses through advanced horses that attend local shows.

3. How many Dana Hall students ride?
Approximately 75 Dana Hall students ride each year.

4. How many lessons does the Riding Center teach each week?
DHSRC teaches approximately 150 lessons per week.

5. How many instructors are there?
DHSRC has two full-time instructors and two part-time instructors. Cookie DeSimone is the head trainer and has been teaching at DHSRC for more than 30 years. All our instructors are Massachusetts licensed riding instructors.

6. What types of riding are offered?
DHSRC offers a hunt-seat equitation program that focuses on equitation, hunters and jumpers.

7. What kinds of programs are offered at the riding center?
DHSRC offers a variety of programs suitable for students ranging from the beginner rider to the recreational rider to the highly competitive rider.

• Riding can be taken for physical education credit in both the Middle and Upper School. Students taking riding for physical education credit take two lessons per week and attend a comprehensive horsemanship lecture series.

• An extensive horse show program is offered for riders interested in showing their horses at the local and A-circuit level, including the Ocala, Fla. winter circuit shows.

• Riders can also compete in the Interscholastic Equestrian Association as a member of the Dana Hall Equestrian Team. Riders do not need their own horse to compete in the IEA. The team competes throughout the year at the varsity level. Riders accumulate points both individually and as a team toward a national competition held in the spring.

• DHSRC offers a great program for beginner riders. Beginners are given hands-on lessons in grooming and tacking/untacking their horses. Riders are also instructed on topics such as barn safety, horse handling and leading. DHSRC has an excellent staff available to assist riders as they learn and practice these new skills

8. How long will my daughter be at the barn for her lesson?
Our general rule of thumb is about an hour and a half to two hours. A half and hour to get ready, half an hour to ride in a private lesson and one hour to ride in a group lesson, and the last half hour is spent putting the horse away after the lesson. In special circumstances, exceptions can be made regarding the amount of time needed to get ready or put the horse away.

9. What equipment will my daughter need?
You daughter will need an ASTM approved helmet and a hard-soled, small-heeled boot. All other gear is optional. There is a tack shop just down the road from DHSRC, and all equipment is readily available there. The store information is:

Dover Saddlery
595 Washington St.
Wellesley, MA 02482
781-235-1411

10. What are the DHSRC facilities like?
We are excited about the construction of a new barn, which is currently underway. This barn will house all the DHSRC boarder and school horses under one roof. The new barn will have spacious stalls, two indoor wash stalls, and a large loft for storage. For riding, there are three rings; an outdoor ring with sand footing and sprinklers, two indoor rings, including the new Larson Arena. The Larson Arena is fully equipped with state-of-the-art lighting, new jumps, mirrors, and dust-free footing. There are heated observation rooms for both indoor rings so that spectators can watch in comfort. For turnout, we have four sand paddocks and two grass paddocks and all the horses are turned out every day. We are conveniently located on the Dana Hall campus, just 10 miles from Boston, Mass.

11.  What are the costs to ride at DHSRC? 
There are several options for payment at DHSRC. Riding for PE credit is $1000 per trimester, or $2600 for the entire year. Riding once a week is $500 per trimester or $55 per lesson. Lessons taken in addition to those elected in the plan will be billed monthly.

12. Who is eligible to ride at DHSRC?
Students of Dana Hall are welcome to ride at the Riding Center throughout their tenure at the school. Siblings and immediate family are also welcome at DHSRC. If a new student wishes to ride during the summer before they begin at Dana Hall, they are encouraged to do so, and should call to set up lessons. There are also set number of slots available for alumnae and their families. Dana Hall students are given priority when scheduling lessons.

13. Can my daughter bring her own horse?
All Dana Hall students are encouraged to bring their horses if they want to. We will accommodate your horse every way we can.

14. What is the DHSRC staff like?
DHSRC has a large and knowledgeable barn staff. There is a barn manager and assistant manager who are in charge of the daily care of the horses. Our exceptional staff provides continuous care ensuring the safety and well-being of our horses and riders at all times. The Director of the Riding Center lives on campus in case of emergency, and campus security checks on the barns and horses throughout the night.

15. How can I contact DHSRC?
The direct phone line is 781-237-0728 or you may directly e-mail the Director of the Riding Center This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it .