Our Unique Equine Class Offerings

All of our lessons and experiences conform to current PA Covid19 guidelines. We incorporate safe distancing, disinfection of equipment, face masks, and keep groups very small. We ask all participants to follow current mask and distancing guidelines.

East West Equestrian Arts offers some unique horse classes beyond basic horseback riding and trail rides, right here in Columbia County, Benton, Pennsylvania.

Our conscious horsemanship takes the principles of true horsemanship and upgrades by adding mutual respect between conscious beings. Horsemanship is the study of all skills related to horses, not just climbing aboard and heading out for a ride. A true horseman learns much more than simply riding. A true horseman learns the care of horses, riding, training, equipment use, and horse psychology.

Conscious horsemanship is horsemanship that follows similar rules as healthy human relationships.

Both partners have the right to say “yes” “no” or “maybe” to requests.
Both partners have the right to safe boundaries and personal space.
Both partners respect that there are differences in culture and language, and work together to bridge that gap.
Horses in conscious partnerships become willing partners and volunteers.
Conscious horsemanship often develops into liberty work, bridleless riding and more.

(Read more about Conscious Horsemanship here.)

Come experience the very unique empathy of these teacher horses (and donkey) who have learned to trust that humans will treat them as the conscious beings they are.

Horsemanship Lessons …

Safe horse handling
Horse etiquette. Body language, polite handling, boundaries and personal space and more!
Horse care & wellness
Fundamentals of universal riding skills (advanced students are referred to an outside instructor)
Conscious Horsemanship

We took classes here last autumn and really enjoyed the Conscious Horsemanship lessons:
The kids and the horse have the right to say “yes” “no” or “maybe” to requests. Learning to tune into this brought about a lot of important conversations; Body autonomy, safe boundaries and personal space are all excellent concepts for our children to understand and be able to request/respect.

Class agenda is customized for each student’s personal goals

Ages 5 and up

Closed-toe low-heeled shoes mandatory. Helmets highly encouraged (please provide your own)

$35/hour

Unique Experience – Learn Horse Language

Learn how horses assess and communicate with humans, taught by the horses themselves. We have been offering this experience on AirBnB Travel since 2017 with 170 5-star experience reviews: “The horses were all friendly and came to greet us…Carrie doesn’t just put you on the horse and ride like most places. She will teach the guest about how to read the horse, proper communication with the horse, etc. -Kevin” “Carrie’s Farm was an amazing experience for my granddaughters as they live in a city. They interacted with beautiful horses… Carrie was communicative, helpful, friendly, and made us feel at home. -Anastasia” Your experience begins in the barn (please dress for the weather, expect manure/bugs/wildlife) with a short orientation and bathroom break (outhouse). You will by taught by one or more of the horses (their choice), hands-on, to experience communication. Be prepared for a potentially emotional experience. You cannot lie to a horse, and horses sense everything about your emotions. Guests are encouraged to take photos with the horses, and we are happy to assist. The experience ends with discussion and questions. Total experience time is 1 hour. Maximum of 4 adults. AirBnB Experiences are currently paused. Please book here instead. On sale now! Starts at $15/person!

Unique Experience – Hiking With Horses

Take a guided hike of our breathtakingly beautiful farm with our horses. Your experience begins in the barn (please dress for the weather, expect manure/bugs/wildlife, moderate hill climbing) with a short orientation, basic instruction and bathroom break (outhouse). Then, we will pair you up with one of the horses (their choice). We will take a leisurely hike to the top of the ridge to enjoy the incredible views. On the way, I’ll answer questions about our rare horses and conscious horsemanship program. Once at the top, we will relax for 15 minutes or so while guests take photos with the horses, and we are happy to assist. We will then hike back down by a different route. The experience ends in the barn to say goodbye to our hiking partners. Total experience time is 1 hour. Maximum of 4 adults. AirBnB Experiences are currently paused. Please book here instead. On sale now! Starts at $15/person!

Exclusive Experience – Meet The Rare Jilfan Malabar Arabian Horses

Meet rare Malabar Jilfan Arabian horses. You cannot find this experience anywhere else in the world. We are the only Malabar Jilfan farm, and only 200 Malabars and a few Jilfan exist globally. We have been offering this experience since 2017 on AirBnB Travel with 170 5-star experience reviews: “Definitely don’t miss the morning farm tour! Learning about the horses and their stories may have been the highlight of our stay. -CJ” “This was an amazing experience and I cannot wait to return! Carrie is very kind, patient and knowledgeable. -Christine” Your experience begins in the barn (please dress for the weather, expect manure/bugs/wildlife, moderate hill climbing) with a short orientation and bathroom break (outhouse). Carrie then tells the Malabar/Jilfan story and about rare breed preservation. If the horses have not already joined us, we then go meet them in the field. The horses are very curious about visitors, and have offered hugs, lessons in communication, and requested petting or scratching the spots they cannot reach. Guests are encouraged to take photos with the horses, and we are happy to assist. The experience ends in the barn for discussion. Everyone has walked away from the experience touched by the beauty, extreme empathy and intelligence of these beings. Total experience time is 1 hour. AirBnB Experiences are currently paused. Please book here instead. On sale now! Starts at $10/person!

Hours/Times:

8 am to 7 pm Saturday through Thursday (closed daily 12 noon until 4 pm and closed Fridays)

Learn about our 4-legged teaching team and human moderator Carrie Eastman here.

Email or call 570.285.5242 to schedule your activity