NOCO Equine Riding Academy is a full-service, youth horseback riding lesson program based out of our facility in Windsor, Colorado. Our instructors specialize in taking kids from their first ride through advanced flat work, small cross rails, and the start of western patterning. We have two instructors, five school horses, and decades of combined experience. Read more about our NOCO Equine Riding Academy instructors and horses below, as well as the independent instructors who also operate out of our facility and provide exceptional instruction to the riders in our community.

Lessons tend to fill up quick! Check the pinned post at the top of our Facebook page to see our most up-to-date lesson availability.

Our Philosophy

When asked ‘do you ride English or Western?’, the answer is always ‘yes!’ If I have learned anything over the past 25 years, it is that riding a horse is riding a horse. Period. It doesn’t matter what tack you’re using, or whether you even have tack on at all! The foundations of riding are simple: balance, quietness, independence and confidence.

Yes, there are differences between neck reining and direct contact. A horse that jumps is steered differently than a cutting horse. A Western bit acts differently in the mouth than an English bit. But these nuances do not come into play until a strong foundation is first established. Once you have a strong foundation, a rider should be able to fluidly and easily mount any horse in any kind of tack and feel confident and in control.

Every great rider needs to first learn the basics, regardless of discipline. Whether you want to sail over 5-foot fences in the Grand Prix or careen around barrels at break-neck speeds, you need a balanced seat, quiet hands, and, most of all, passion. This passion starts early-on in riding. It is nurtured by quiet, trust-worthy horses, it is challenged by knowledgeable instructors, and it is what drives you to saddle up for each and every ride.

I started NOCO Equine to spark this passion. To provide every rider, regardless of discipline, a strong foundation to base their riding career off of. I focus on balance and comfort in the saddle, confidence, and, most of all, positive experiences. I teach my students to become independent riders, not just passengers in the saddle. At the end of the day, every great rider is more than just a rider. They are a trainer, they are an instructor, and they are in complete control of a 1/2-ton animal capable of flying.

Regardless of where you dream of winding up, a good rider needs a good foundation. And that is exactly what we specialize in

Pricing, scheduling and lesson information

Half-Hour Lessons: $50
These lessons are timed to easily fit into your busy schedules. They are also the perfect introduction to horses for our youngest riders. For our new riders, our half-hour lessons will include time spent grooming, tacking, leading and generally becoming comfortable around horses and, of course, riding. For our riders who are already comfortable on the ground with horses and have shown proficiency in grooming and tacking their horse for a lesson, we will have your horse tacked and waiting for you, ready for a full half-hour of riding! 

One-Hour Lessons: $75
Our one-hour lessons are structured to provide our students with a more indepth, comprehensive horsemanship experience. We will spend the first ten minutes grooming and tacking the horse for the lesson while learning about the horse, his anatomy, tack and care. Our riders will get extra time in the saddle to work on new skills and then conclude the lesson by assisting their instructor in untacking and cooling off the horse after the lesson. 

Packages: 
Lessons can be purchased either individually or in discounted packages of four.

• Package of (4) half-hour lessons: $180 ($45/lesson)
• Package of (4) one-hour lessons: $280 ($70/lesson)

Scheduling: 
Lessons can be scheduled by contacting NOCO Equine. Lessons tend to fill up quick! Check the pinned post at the top of our Facebook page to see our most up-to-date lesson availability.

Lesson Program:
Our lesson program loosely follows the Weld-RE4 school district calendar. As such, we offer two sessions:

• School Session: During the school year (Fall, Winter and Spring), our lessons generally take place in the afternoon and on Saturday mornings when school is out of session.
• Summer Session: Our summer session begins at the end of May and extends until the middle of April when students return to school for the fall. Our summer lessons are offered in the mornings to avoid the heat of the day and afternoon thunderstorms. 

For more information about our lessons, please visit our FAQ page

NOCO Equine Riding Academy Instructors

Tracy mask

While my riding foundation is deeply rooted in English disciplines, specifically hunter/jumper, I now approach riding a horse with more of a trainer’s perspective. Every good rider needs to have a balanced seat, quiet independent hands, and an intrinsic sense of feel. I don’t focus on tack or discipline as much as learning to ride the horse beneath you. I teach my students how to stay balanced with the horse’s motion. How to find rhythm and softness and mindfulness above a 1,000lb moving, independently thinking, often unpredictable yet utterly trusting animal. How to hold their hands quietly and independently while using them effectively. How to communicate with their horse through their seat and weight. How to feel. 

I have over 25 years of experience working with trainers from hunter/jumper rings to reiners and western pleasure. I find I can never stop learning. I take in all of the knowledge I have gleaned from these professionals plus my own experiences in the saddle and form a comprehensive, non-discipline-specific, approach to riding and teaching.

I ultimately strive to provide my riders with a foundation they can use to ride any horse, under any circumstance, with confidence and skill that way they can pursue whichever discipline they desire.

Valerie johnson

Not only is Valerie our barn manager, but she is also an invaluable part of our Riding Academy team. She comes to us with decades of experience in both Western and English disciplines, in and out of the show ring. 

Valerie showed for 10 years in 4-H English, Western and gymkhana events and she barrel raced professionally for five years. She has a profound understanding and knowledge of problem solving and groundwork with horses which she uses to facilitate the partnership between horse and rider. 

In addition to her extensive experience in the saddle, Valerie is also a certified Colorado 4-H Horse Judge, and certified in equine massage, rehabilitation and PEMF therapies. 

katrina brunner

About Katrina and her program:
I have been riding for over 20 years, growing up in the city, outside of Phoenix. I was the horse crazy girl with no horses. But my parents would drive me to lesson. I didn’t get involved more until we moved to Colorado and haven’t looked back.

Over the years I found my passion in horse rehab, I had a gelding with a genetic disease who needed a lot of tlc. So to help him I got certified in equine and canine massage giving me a different approach to how I train and teach. I combined bodywork with training, we help address areas of weakness and soreness and to find strength and relaxation so the horses can do the job we ask of them.

I am also certified as a yoga instructor, I got my training in 2015 after a horse accident. I use breath work and body awareness to help find relaxation in the saddle. Inhale squeeze legs to move forward and as you exhale release and the horse moves forward. Finding a connection with movement and breath.

Relaxation with breath, Movement with Intent

One of my favorite passion is teaching people of all ages, to be a part of someone horsemanship journey. The focus on my teaching is relaxation and body awareness for the rider and horse. Through the basics of grooming and leading to riding. If asked if I ride western or English, I say both! I love both styles. But I would say my foundation is more dressage based.

Currently I have two wonderful horses, well one horse and a sweet little pony.

Dragona is my main lesson horse, she rides both western and English tack. She is my go to horse for my 4 year old daughter.
Tonio is the new and up coming lesson pony, standing at 12.1 hands. He is the sweetest little guy who loves attention. He is currently in training but will be a future lesson pony.

Both horses are and learning to give therapy rides to my special needs siblings.

What Katrina Offers:

• Equine Massage $75
• Canine Massage $65
• Riding lessons on my horse or yours:
  • 1 hour $70
  • Half hour $45
• Horse Training $75 a session

How to schedule with Katrina:

Call or text: 970-691-9489
Email: [email protected]