About
American Dream Farm Lesson Program offers horseback riding and horsemanship lessons that include Western riding, Western horsemanship, Western ranch riding, English pleasure, English equitation, and showmanship at halter. Lessons cover horse behavior, horse body language, horse husbandry, horse handling safety, grooming, tacking, leading a horse, lunging a horse, posting techniques, round pen exercises with and without a rider, safe and effective trailer loading, trail riding techniques, negotiating obstacles, and trail etiquette.
• Ages: 14–18 years old
• Schedule: Lessons available by appointment Mondays through Thursdays at 4:30 and 5:45
• Price: $240 for 4 lessons, paid in blocks of 4 lessons at a time
American Dream Farm Lesson Program is described as a family owned and operated farm with a clean, well-organized, professional family atmosphere, and it uses award-winning lesson and show horses. It is presented as the Athens Area exclusive Western and English horseback riding lesson program, with custom riding and horsemanship lessons to fit individual student needs and goals, and lessons are offered to students ages 14 and up, including adults age 18 and up and youth students age 14 to 17. The program also offers horse husbandry lessons, an internship program, Advanced/Novice Boot Camp, birthday horsemanship lessons, horse boarding with full and pasture board and horse care, horse training, and the American Dream Farm Show Team.
Owner and Lead Instructor Monique Y. Smith has over 30 years of riding experience and is a member of the American Paint Horse Association and the American Quarter Horse Association. She 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. Monique Smith is President/Director of American Dream Farm Saddle Club, a member of Kel-Mac Saddle Club, Camp Director of American Dream Farm Advanced Boot Camps and Beginner Horsemanship Camps, and Coach of the American Dream Farm Show Team (Halter, English, Western). She teaches beginner, novice, intermediate, and advanced levels of English and Western disciplines; introduction to English and Western horse show basics; resistance free Western riding and training; horse handling safety; horsemanship basics including how to properly move a horse on the ground; proper grooming, tacking, and how to safely lead a horse; proper cue systems; why and how a horse should be lunged; proper 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 safely; 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.
The program’s mission statement says 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 is built from the basics and fundamentals of good horsemanship. The mission statement notes that Monique Y. Smith takes great pride in teaching English and Western riding and horsemanship lessons, that American Dream Farm is her “American dream,” and that she follows the philosophy of “Never say I can’t” or “My horse won’t,” with the belief that everyone has the potential to learn and that she is there to teach.
American Dream Farm has been recognized as Kel-Mac Saddle Club Farm of the Year 2013. The farm supports Future Farmers of America by allowing local middle school and high school students to complete their Supervised Agricultural Projects with Monique at American Dream Farm. It is recognized by Winder-Barrow High School as a Youth Apprenticeship Program Business and encourages high school students to complete their Youth Apprenticeships there, and it serves as a practice facility for the Winder-Barrow High School Horse Judging Team.
The program follows a Covid-19 and Equine Corona Virus protocol that includes a bleach water foot bath pan, hand sanitizer, restrictions on extra guests, and a 10-day stay-away request after exposure without a negative test. Anyone who enters the property is required to dip their boots or shoes in the bleach water foot bath pan in front of the gate and use the hand sanitizer provided at the gate, and students are asked not to bring extra guests to lessons at this time.
Last updated July 31, 2026.
• Ages: 14–18 years old
• Schedule: Lessons available by appointment Mondays through Thursdays at 4:30 and 5:45
• Price: $240 for 4 lessons, paid in blocks of 4 lessons at a time
American Dream Farm Lesson Program is described as a family owned and operated farm with a clean, well-organized, professional family atmosphere, and it uses award-winning lesson and show horses. It is presented as the Athens Area exclusive Western and English horseback riding lesson program, with custom riding and horsemanship lessons to fit individual student needs and goals, and lessons are offered to students ages 14 and up, including adults age 18 and up and youth students age 14 to 17. The program also offers horse husbandry lessons, an internship program, Advanced/Novice Boot Camp, birthday horsemanship lessons, horse boarding with full and pasture board and horse care, horse training, and the American Dream Farm Show Team.
Owner and Lead Instructor Monique Y. Smith has over 30 years of riding experience and is a member of the American Paint Horse Association and the American Quarter Horse Association. She 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. Monique Smith is President/Director of American Dream Farm Saddle Club, a member of Kel-Mac Saddle Club, Camp Director of American Dream Farm Advanced Boot Camps and Beginner Horsemanship Camps, and Coach of the American Dream Farm Show Team (Halter, English, Western). She teaches beginner, novice, intermediate, and advanced levels of English and Western disciplines; introduction to English and Western horse show basics; resistance free Western riding and training; horse handling safety; horsemanship basics including how to properly move a horse on the ground; proper grooming, tacking, and how to safely lead a horse; proper cue systems; why and how a horse should be lunged; proper 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 safely; 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.
The program’s mission statement says 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 is built from the basics and fundamentals of good horsemanship. The mission statement notes that Monique Y. Smith takes great pride in teaching English and Western riding and horsemanship lessons, that American Dream Farm is her “American dream,” and that she follows the philosophy of “Never say I can’t” or “My horse won’t,” with the belief that everyone has the potential to learn and that she is there to teach.
American Dream Farm has been recognized as Kel-Mac Saddle Club Farm of the Year 2013. The farm supports Future Farmers of America by allowing local middle school and high school students to complete their Supervised Agricultural Projects with Monique at American Dream Farm. It is recognized by Winder-Barrow High School as a Youth Apprenticeship Program Business and encourages high school students to complete their Youth Apprenticeships there, and it serves as a practice facility for the Winder-Barrow High School Horse Judging Team.
The program follows a Covid-19 and Equine Corona Virus protocol that includes a bleach water foot bath pan, hand sanitizer, restrictions on extra guests, and a 10-day stay-away request after exposure without a negative test. Anyone who enters the property is required to dip their boots or shoes in the bleach water foot bath pan in front of the gate and use the hand sanitizer provided at the gate, and students are asked not to bring extra guests to lessons at this time.
Last updated July 31, 2026.
Is this your business? There is no cost, but you will be asked to sign up or log in.