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My daughter has been riding with Amanda at Hope Acres for 6 years, and that journey has been nothing short of incredible. Since she began riding, I’ve watched her confidence grow in ways I couldn’t have imagined. What started as an interest in horses and a new activity to try became something that truly shaped how she sees herself—more capable, more brave, and more willing to take on challenges.
Amanda’s encouragement and unwavering support have played such a meaningful role in that growth. She has a special ability to meet each rider where they are, building them up with patience, kindness, and genuine belief in their potential. That positive reinforcement has helped my daughter trust herself and take pride in her progress.
Beyond the riding itself, what makes Hope Acres so special is the sense of teamwork and community. From day one, we’ve felt like part of a family where everyone supports each other, celebrates successes together, and creates a welcoming, inclusive environment. It’s more than just a barn, it’s a place where lasting confidence and connections are built.
We are so grateful to be part of the Hope Acres family. --Rhonda (2026)
I started working with Amanda about a year ago, taking lessons as needed, and she has made such a positive impact on my riding. She has helped me recognize and correct long-standing bad habits in both my position and overall riding, while teaching in a way that helps both me and my horses feel relaxed, confident, and balanced. Since working with her, I've been able to start both my horses over jumps and even attend some local shows and clinics.
Beyond her knowledge and teaching ability, Amanda demonstrates exceptional professionalism and sportsmanship. It’s reflected not only in the care and atmosphere of her facility, but also in the attitude, horsemanship, and performance of her students. I’m incredibly grateful for everything she has helped me and my horses accomplish so far, and I highly recommend her to anyone looking to improve their riding in a supportive, horse-friendly environment. --Dana (2026)
We have been riding with Hope Acres for a year now, and seeing the growth and confidence in my young rider has been indescribable. Her lessons go much deeper than just a pony ride; she has learned discipline, respect, problem solving, focus, and teamwork.
This has truly been such a wonderful experience, and I can't wait to see my rider continue to grow. Thank you for everything you do. --CB (2026)
"Our daughter Avery started riding with Amanda when she was 9. She was bitten by the horse bug after attending a summer camp in 2021 at Hope Acres. She immediately said she wanted to start lessons at Hope Acres and began riding the perfect lesson horse, Chloe ♥️. Since that summer her love for horses and riding has soared. Amanda has such a calming presence to these new riders. She is so encouraging and has a way of showing these kids that mistakes are not a big deal, just part of learning. This has given Avery so much confidence and she has gained so much more than learning to ride. She has found a mentor in Amanda and would like to grow up and become a trainer just like her. That shows how much Amanda influences her students. We feel grateful that Avery has gotten to develop her horsemanship in such a nurturing environment. Hope Acres has been such a blessing to our daughter and we are excited to continue learning and growing in every way possible!" --Emily (2024)
"My girls have taken lessons from Miss Amanda for years… we love her and her facilities so much! The girls have learned a lot about improving their riding techniques, strengthening their bodies/positioning/posture, developing self confidence and improving self discipline, all while learning how to support and encourage the other riders too. It’s a great place to learn and grow in a lot of different ways! Thankful for the kind of direction / instruction they receive at Hope Acres from Miss Amanda." --Lacey (2024)
"We love "Ms. Smanda" (as my 5 year old daughter calls her lol). She is so patient with our daughter who is just learning to ride and has so many fun ways to teach her new skills. Her lesson ponies are fantastic and the barn atmosphere at Hope Acres has been so fun and inviting!" --Carley (2024)
"We can’t rave enough about how much we love Hope Acres! We started our seven year old daughter with riding lessons as a birthday gift nearly four months ago and cannot believe how much she has accomplished already. Amanda does a fantastic job with teaching her how to ride with confidence and she has also taught her how to be a respectful caretaker of horses as well. This has been a wonderful activity to help build character in our daughter which has quickly turned into a passion. We are so happy we can continue to pursue this passion with Hope Acres for many years to come!" --Hilary (2019)
"Beginning in May 2016, our daughter started weekly riding lessons with Mrs. Amanda, owner/trainer of Hope Acres, LLC. Since then our daughter has blossomed into a more confident and successful rider. Amanda is professional, reliable, and so easy and fun to work with. When Amanda is working with our daughter she is patient, encouraging, and disciplined. We couldn't ask for a better trainer and role model for our daughter. Amanda also put 7 days of training as a refresher for our daughters young ornery pony. She was able to accomplish quite a bit in those 7 days. Our pony came back more willing to work and listen to were our daughter feels more comfortable in riding him. Overall, we are blessed and thankful for Amanda's dedication and service at Hope Acres, LLC!!"--Stacy (2018)
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