About
Hidden Creek Farm Riding Lessons & Horse Experiences offers riding lessons, virtual riding lessons, “Mommy and Me” classes for 3–4 year old children, and a range of Horse Experiences such as “Brush, cuddle and lead,” “Team work,” “Gain control,” and “Overcome fear.” The program also offers a horse trainer apprenticeship, pasture board, options to lease a horse, buying trained horses, children’s parties, and an adult party horse experience.
• Ages: 3–18 years old
• Schedule: Open 10am–8pm on weekdays and 10am–5pm on weekends; Horse Experience single events are 30 minutes, and teamwork sessions are available in 30- or 60-minute options
• Price: Pasture board at $250 a month.
Hidden Creek Farm states that riders range in age from 3 to 75 and that there are horses to fit every individual. Pasture board includes top quality hay and use of an indoor arena, outdoor ring, and round pen. Leases are described as available for every budget with reduced rates on lessons, and there are reduced lesson rates for boarders.
The “Mommy and Me” classes for 3–4 year old children are described as designed with a top physical therapist to develop core balance, confidence, and coordination. Horse Experience single events focus on brushing, cuddling, and leading horses, while teamwork sessions involve one person leading and one riding or working through obstacle challenges. Other Horse Experience sessions cover basics of riding such as turning, stopping, starting, and making decisions for horse and rider, and some sessions are specifically aimed at overcoming fear of horses for children or adults. Private virtual riding lessons are described as tailored to the rider’s needs, and the apprentice trainer position is described as a paid role with a European training style.
The mission statement for Hidden Creek Farm Riding Lessons & Horse Experiences says, “Happiness begins with Horses,” and explains that the program wants to facilitate a partnership between a rider and a horse so that each can enjoy the experience. The mission statement also says that riding is a sport that teaches life lessons and promotes self-awareness, and that horses teach self confidence, patience, working in partnership, and leadership. It further states that horses are extremely intuitive animals that read and respond to inner thoughts, feelings, strengths, and weaknesses, that everyone can ride regardless of size or age, and that horses will enrich life, bring comfort, companionship, and confidence, and make riders stronger and more aware of the feelings of others. The mission statement describes horses as a lifetime sport and says the program wants to bring horse experiences to people everywhere.
Tammy Stirling is listed as a riding instructor who studied at Longwood in Education and attended Longwood to study teaching. She is described as an excellent riding instructor who can communicate well with students and can point to a long list of show ring wins including many Championships and BHSA Year end awards. Tammy has been riding and training for many years, has ridden sidesaddle, English, western, and dressage on Arabians, Tennessee Walking Horses, Thoroughbreds, warmbloods, and Quarter Horses, and has competed successfully in several divisions including jumpers. Her competition record includes 2011 Low Jumper Champion Music and Small Talk, 2018 TB Jumper Champion Heaven on Earth, and 2021 Novice Reserve Champion Skye Walker. She has also trained many winning riders, including a rider who achieved 2021 TB Jumper Champion and Low Jumper Reserve Champion, ridden by Ann Tuzson.
Kandi Stirling is listed as a trainer and teacher who owned, showed, and trained horses in Southern California for twenty years before moving back to Virginia. She has ridden and shown Saddle Seat, Hunt Seat and Western horses, Cutting Horses and Reined Cow Horses, and has shown Quarter Horses, Thoroughbreds, Saddlebreds, Tennessee Walkers, and Arabians, including side saddle and driving. Kandi showed in the prestigious PCHJSHA on the “A” circuit, qualified and rode in three ASHA medal Finals, and has shown and trained a number of high point winners at shows such as Santa Barbara, Reno, The Cow Palace, Del Mar, and Indio. She was a member of the Professional Trainers Association on the West Coast and trained under Jimmy Williams, Kenny Nordstrum, Mac McHugh, Harold Farren, and Bill Martin. Kandi states that there were years when she rode to big fences, that she is excited that at 75 she can still enjoy riding and doing some of the training, and that she has been riding for seven decades. Kandi has also been a teacher and has done family counseling.
Additional credentials listed for the program note that Jimmy Williams, one of Kandi’s trainers, is described as a well known trainer of Olympic riders and Medal Final winners, coach of the Calgary Olympic team, many times named ASHA Horseman of the Year, and a member of the Jump Rider Hall of Fame. Mac McHugh is described as a founding member of the Professional Horseman’s Association of California with many PCHJSHA high point winners, and Harold Farren is described as holding the record for having trained ten ASHA Stock Saddle Seat Medal National Final winners.
One testimonial from Jonathan P. of Lynchburg, VA on Yelp describes the staff as “Extremely knowledgeable, helpful, kind and passionate about their students, horses and other farm animals,” notes that the owners compete in shows and are skilled at horseback riding and dressage, and says he would highly recommend the program. Another testimonial from Brynnae Williams on Google says she started taking lessons with Tammy in December with no real experience besides trail rides, mentions a variety of horses so that one is guaranteed to fit, and describes Tammy and Kandi as relatable, professional, kind, and down to earth while keeping rider goals in mind even in a large lesson. Brynnae states that in four months she gained confidence and skills to feel comfortable being on and around any horse, that she is now a leasee at the farm after finding the perfect horse during one of their buying sprees, and that she highly recommends Hidden Creek Farm for learning to be a better trail rider or a show jumper.
Last updated July 19, 2026.
• Ages: 3–18 years old
• Schedule: Open 10am–8pm on weekdays and 10am–5pm on weekends; Horse Experience single events are 30 minutes, and teamwork sessions are available in 30- or 60-minute options
• Price: Pasture board at $250 a month.
Hidden Creek Farm states that riders range in age from 3 to 75 and that there are horses to fit every individual. Pasture board includes top quality hay and use of an indoor arena, outdoor ring, and round pen. Leases are described as available for every budget with reduced rates on lessons, and there are reduced lesson rates for boarders.
The “Mommy and Me” classes for 3–4 year old children are described as designed with a top physical therapist to develop core balance, confidence, and coordination. Horse Experience single events focus on brushing, cuddling, and leading horses, while teamwork sessions involve one person leading and one riding or working through obstacle challenges. Other Horse Experience sessions cover basics of riding such as turning, stopping, starting, and making decisions for horse and rider, and some sessions are specifically aimed at overcoming fear of horses for children or adults. Private virtual riding lessons are described as tailored to the rider’s needs, and the apprentice trainer position is described as a paid role with a European training style.
The mission statement for Hidden Creek Farm Riding Lessons & Horse Experiences says, “Happiness begins with Horses,” and explains that the program wants to facilitate a partnership between a rider and a horse so that each can enjoy the experience. The mission statement also says that riding is a sport that teaches life lessons and promotes self-awareness, and that horses teach self confidence, patience, working in partnership, and leadership. It further states that horses are extremely intuitive animals that read and respond to inner thoughts, feelings, strengths, and weaknesses, that everyone can ride regardless of size or age, and that horses will enrich life, bring comfort, companionship, and confidence, and make riders stronger and more aware of the feelings of others. The mission statement describes horses as a lifetime sport and says the program wants to bring horse experiences to people everywhere.
Tammy Stirling is listed as a riding instructor who studied at Longwood in Education and attended Longwood to study teaching. She is described as an excellent riding instructor who can communicate well with students and can point to a long list of show ring wins including many Championships and BHSA Year end awards. Tammy has been riding and training for many years, has ridden sidesaddle, English, western, and dressage on Arabians, Tennessee Walking Horses, Thoroughbreds, warmbloods, and Quarter Horses, and has competed successfully in several divisions including jumpers. Her competition record includes 2011 Low Jumper Champion Music and Small Talk, 2018 TB Jumper Champion Heaven on Earth, and 2021 Novice Reserve Champion Skye Walker. She has also trained many winning riders, including a rider who achieved 2021 TB Jumper Champion and Low Jumper Reserve Champion, ridden by Ann Tuzson.
Kandi Stirling is listed as a trainer and teacher who owned, showed, and trained horses in Southern California for twenty years before moving back to Virginia. She has ridden and shown Saddle Seat, Hunt Seat and Western horses, Cutting Horses and Reined Cow Horses, and has shown Quarter Horses, Thoroughbreds, Saddlebreds, Tennessee Walkers, and Arabians, including side saddle and driving. Kandi showed in the prestigious PCHJSHA on the “A” circuit, qualified and rode in three ASHA medal Finals, and has shown and trained a number of high point winners at shows such as Santa Barbara, Reno, The Cow Palace, Del Mar, and Indio. She was a member of the Professional Trainers Association on the West Coast and trained under Jimmy Williams, Kenny Nordstrum, Mac McHugh, Harold Farren, and Bill Martin. Kandi states that there were years when she rode to big fences, that she is excited that at 75 she can still enjoy riding and doing some of the training, and that she has been riding for seven decades. Kandi has also been a teacher and has done family counseling.
Additional credentials listed for the program note that Jimmy Williams, one of Kandi’s trainers, is described as a well known trainer of Olympic riders and Medal Final winners, coach of the Calgary Olympic team, many times named ASHA Horseman of the Year, and a member of the Jump Rider Hall of Fame. Mac McHugh is described as a founding member of the Professional Horseman’s Association of California with many PCHJSHA high point winners, and Harold Farren is described as holding the record for having trained ten ASHA Stock Saddle Seat Medal National Final winners.
One testimonial from Jonathan P. of Lynchburg, VA on Yelp describes the staff as “Extremely knowledgeable, helpful, kind and passionate about their students, horses and other farm animals,” notes that the owners compete in shows and are skilled at horseback riding and dressage, and says he would highly recommend the program. Another testimonial from Brynnae Williams on Google says she started taking lessons with Tammy in December with no real experience besides trail rides, mentions a variety of horses so that one is guaranteed to fit, and describes Tammy and Kandi as relatable, professional, kind, and down to earth while keeping rider goals in mind even in a large lesson. Brynnae states that in four months she gained confidence and skills to feel comfortable being on and around any horse, that she is now a leasee at the farm after finding the perfect horse during one of their buying sprees, and that she highly recommends Hidden Creek Farm for learning to be a better trail rider or a show jumper.
Last updated July 19, 2026.
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