Rocking S Farm offers riding lessons for all
Published 12:49 pm Monday, May 4, 2015
![Emma Farnlocher takes a ride on her horse Cadillacs Crystal at Rocking S Farm for an afterschool riding lesson. (Reporter Photo/Graham Brooks)](https://www.shelbycountyreporter.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2015/05/horse-crop.jpg)
Emma Farnlocher takes a ride on her horse Cadillacs Crystal at Rocking S Farm for an afterschool riding lesson. (Reporter Photo/Graham Brooks)
By GRAHAM BROOKS / Staff Writer
HELENA–Quietly tucked away off Shelby County 93 sits a 20-acre farm that includes a total of 20 horse stalls and riding arena that is known in the Helena area as Rocking S Farm.
Rocking S Farm teaches riding lessons to beginners, children, adults, pre-teens, teenagers and world champions, according to the farm. The farm teaches riders a traditionally, safe style of riding called Saddleseat, and they do not teach jumping due to safety reasons.
Suzanne Schnetzler has owned Rocking S Farm since 2005 and it’s evident that the farm and horses are what she is most passionate about.
It’s a warm, sunny weekday and after days of rain, Schnetzler is ready for her students to arrive for their after school lessons on April 22.
“I have had horses all my life and I’m 58-years-old,” said Schnetzler. “I got my first horse when I was 7 and my children were my first two students. We have people from ages 6 to 65 learning how to ride.”
The students showed up late in the afternoon with excitement as they put on their gear and got their horse ready to ride.
“Whenever somebody new shows up to the farm and wants to learn how to ride, we always put them on Cloud,” said Schnetzler. “Cloud is our most laid-back horse and we will evaluate a rider by how they perform on him.”
Summer is one of the busiest times for Rocking S, and in the coming months the farm will host summer camps for four days at a time for students.
Students will learn to do barn chores, groom and tack lesson horses as well as being fed a lunch.
Rocking S Farm is open Monday through Saturday and more information can be found at Facebook.com/rockingsfarm.