About
American Dream Farm Lesson Program includes horseback riding and horsemanship lessons in both Western and English disciplines. Students take part in activities such as Western riding, Western horsemanship, Western ranch riding, English pleasure, English equitation, showmanship at halter, horse behavior and body language, horse husbandry, horse handling safety, grooming, tacking, leading and lunging a horse, posting techniques, round pen exercises with and without a rider, safe and effective trailer loading, trail riding techniques, negotiating obstacles, and horse show basics including various halter, pleasure, horsemanship, trail, equitation, hunter under saddle, English halter, and flat work classes in preparation for jumping. The program also offers horse boarding, horse training, birthday horsemanship lessons, an internship program, advanced/novice boot camp, the American Dream Farm Show Team, Future Farmers of America Supervised Agricultural Projects, Youth Apprenticeships, and horse judging team practice.
• Ages: 14–18 years old
• Schedule: Lessons available by appointment Mondays through Thursdays with afternoon start times
• Price: $240 for 4 lessons; payment by Zelle, checks, or cash
American Dream Farm Lesson Program offers custom riding and horsemanship lessons to fit individual student needs and goals, with first-time riders and riders with experience welcomed, and lessons offered to students ages 14 and up, including adults age 18 and up and youth students age 14 to 17. The program specializes in Western riding, Western horsemanship, Western ranch riding, English pleasure, English equitation, and showmanship at halter, and uses award-winning lesson and show horses. It is a family owned and operated farm with a clean, well-organized, professional family atmosphere, and is described as the Athens Area Exclusive Western and English Horseback Riding Lesson Program.
Monique Smith is the Owner and Lead Instructor of the American Dream Farm Lesson Program, a Horseback Riding Instructor, Equestrian Camp Director, Horse Show Judge, President/Director of American Dream Farm Saddle Club, Camp Director of American Dream Farm Advanced Boot Camps and Beginner Horsemanship Camps, and Coach of the American Dream Farm Show Team. She has over 30 years of riding experience, is a member of the American Paint Horse Association and the American Quarter Horse Association, and has three APHA horses enrolled in the American Paint Horse Association PAC Program that have earned numerous awards in halter, showmanship at halter, equitation, horsemanship, trail, in-hand trail, walk/trot, and hunter under saddle. She teaches Beginner, Novice, Intermediate, and Advanced English and Western disciplines, introduction to English and Western horse show basics, Resistance Free Western Riding and Training, proper posture for balance and rhythm in equitation, horse handling safety, horsemanship basics including moving a horse on the ground, proper grooming and tacking and safe leading, proper cue systems, lunging and why it is important, posting techniques, round pen exercises with and without a rider, safe and effective trailer loading, how the horse thinks in preparation for handling and riding, the importance of flat work in preparation for jumping, and trail riding techniques including negotiating obstacles and trail etiquette.
Tess Smith is a Horseback Riding Instructor, Horse Trainer, and Horse Show Judge who began riding at age 6. Her experience includes western pleasure and horsemanship, western and English equitation, Hunter and Cross Country, vaulting, polo, saddle seat, side saddle, showing miniature horses, and riding working cow horses. She continues to practice Clinton Anderson’s Downunder Horsemanship method and teaches lessons in English and Western pleasure, equitation/horsemanship, and showmanship.
The program’s mission states that American Dream Farm specializes in horse behavior, horse body language, horse husbandry, and horsemanship skills that are taught during lessons, with a belief that the relationship with the horse starts on the ground and that instruction builds from the basics and fundamentals of good horsemanship. Monique Smith takes pride in teaching English and Western riding and horsemanship lessons and follows the philosophy of “Never say I can’t” or “My horse won’t,” with the stated belief that everyone has the potential to learn and that she intends to teach each student.
American Dream Farm supports Future Farmers of America by allowing local middle school and high school students to complete their Supervised Agricultural Projects with Monique at the farm and is recognized by Winder-Barrow High School as a Youth Apprenticeship Program Business, encouraging high school students to complete Youth Apprenticeships there. It is also a practice facility for the Winder-Barrow High School Horse Judging Team. American Dream Farm received the Kel-Mac Saddle Club Farm of the Year award in 2013 and is recognized by Winder-Barrow High School as a Youth Apprenticeship Program Business.
The program has Covid-19 and Equine Corona Virus protocols that include a bleach water foot bath pan at the gate for anyone entering the property to dip their boots or shoes, use of hand sanitizer at the gate, a request that students not bring extra guests to lessons, and a request that anyone who thinks they may have been exposed to someone with symptoms stay away from the farm for 10 days unless they show proof of a negative test before 10 days. Visitors are instructed to park along the fence line in the customer parking area and enter the gate that leads to the barn. When contacting the program for lessons, families are asked to include the student’s full name, age, height, weight, any experience, the discipline of lessons desired, and any health issues, disorders, or disabilities.
Last updated April 24, 2026.
• Ages: 14–18 years old
• Schedule: Lessons available by appointment Mondays through Thursdays with afternoon start times
• Price: $240 for 4 lessons; payment by Zelle, checks, or cash
American Dream Farm Lesson Program offers custom riding and horsemanship lessons to fit individual student needs and goals, with first-time riders and riders with experience welcomed, and lessons offered to students ages 14 and up, including adults age 18 and up and youth students age 14 to 17. The program specializes in Western riding, Western horsemanship, Western ranch riding, English pleasure, English equitation, and showmanship at halter, and uses award-winning lesson and show horses. It is a family owned and operated farm with a clean, well-organized, professional family atmosphere, and is described as the Athens Area Exclusive Western and English Horseback Riding Lesson Program.
Monique Smith is the Owner and Lead Instructor of the American Dream Farm Lesson Program, a Horseback Riding Instructor, Equestrian Camp Director, Horse Show Judge, President/Director of American Dream Farm Saddle Club, Camp Director of American Dream Farm Advanced Boot Camps and Beginner Horsemanship Camps, and Coach of the American Dream Farm Show Team. She has over 30 years of riding experience, is a member of the American Paint Horse Association and the American Quarter Horse Association, and has three APHA horses enrolled in the American Paint Horse Association PAC Program that have earned numerous awards in halter, showmanship at halter, equitation, horsemanship, trail, in-hand trail, walk/trot, and hunter under saddle. She teaches Beginner, Novice, Intermediate, and Advanced English and Western disciplines, introduction to English and Western horse show basics, Resistance Free Western Riding and Training, proper posture for balance and rhythm in equitation, horse handling safety, horsemanship basics including moving a horse on the ground, proper grooming and tacking and safe leading, proper cue systems, lunging and why it is important, posting techniques, round pen exercises with and without a rider, safe and effective trailer loading, how the horse thinks in preparation for handling and riding, the importance of flat work in preparation for jumping, and trail riding techniques including negotiating obstacles and trail etiquette.
Tess Smith is a Horseback Riding Instructor, Horse Trainer, and Horse Show Judge who began riding at age 6. Her experience includes western pleasure and horsemanship, western and English equitation, Hunter and Cross Country, vaulting, polo, saddle seat, side saddle, showing miniature horses, and riding working cow horses. She continues to practice Clinton Anderson’s Downunder Horsemanship method and teaches lessons in English and Western pleasure, equitation/horsemanship, and showmanship.
The program’s mission states that American Dream Farm specializes in horse behavior, horse body language, horse husbandry, and horsemanship skills that are taught during lessons, with a belief that the relationship with the horse starts on the ground and that instruction builds from the basics and fundamentals of good horsemanship. Monique Smith takes pride in teaching English and Western riding and horsemanship lessons and follows the philosophy of “Never say I can’t” or “My horse won’t,” with the stated belief that everyone has the potential to learn and that she intends to teach each student.
American Dream Farm supports Future Farmers of America by allowing local middle school and high school students to complete their Supervised Agricultural Projects with Monique at the farm and is recognized by Winder-Barrow High School as a Youth Apprenticeship Program Business, encouraging high school students to complete Youth Apprenticeships there. It is also a practice facility for the Winder-Barrow High School Horse Judging Team. American Dream Farm received the Kel-Mac Saddle Club Farm of the Year award in 2013 and is recognized by Winder-Barrow High School as a Youth Apprenticeship Program Business.
The program has Covid-19 and Equine Corona Virus protocols that include a bleach water foot bath pan at the gate for anyone entering the property to dip their boots or shoes, use of hand sanitizer at the gate, a request that students not bring extra guests to lessons, and a request that anyone who thinks they may have been exposed to someone with symptoms stay away from the farm for 10 days unless they show proof of a negative test before 10 days. Visitors are instructed to park along the fence line in the customer parking area and enter the gate that leads to the barn. When contacting the program for lessons, families are asked to include the student’s full name, age, height, weight, any experience, the discipline of lessons desired, and any health issues, disorders, or disabilities.
Last updated April 24, 2026.
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