Our Trainer
Emily Senesac
Being the next generation of stockmen on the family farm, Emily brings a lifetime of experience to the table here at Cottonwood. While she has ridden in a wide range of disciplines ranging from basic dressage, reining, hunter jumper and western disciplines, Emily feels a good knowledge of basic horsemanship along with good rider equitation practices will set horse and rider pairs up for success in any discipline and/or any situation.
Training Program:
The training program at Cottonwood is focused on giving the horse and rider the best experience possible. We focus on preparing the horse and rider on the ground and in the saddle, teaching both horse and rider how to communicate and set expectations and be consistent to give the best opportunity of success for each individual team as the individuals both are. With a wide variety of techniques and skills acquired from riding with various top-level trainers and successfully training all her personal horses on her own, Emily can offer a multitude of variations of techniques and skills to be able to help riders gain confidence with their own horses to do whatever they please! Be that on the ground or in the saddle, because groundwork translates to saddle performance.
Emily focuses mainly on helping horses build their strength and "physical independence" to be able to perform their best at all times. Building physical independence allows horses to work and properly use their body and be more confident with their rider and under saddle and on the ground in general. She also is very in tune with horses, acknowledging that some horses take more time to develop trust and will spend the time developing a trusting relationship to let the horse have confidence in themselves and whoever is handling them on the ground or in the saddle.
If you want to show or just want to ride for pleasure, and you want to have the best possible safe and fun working relationship with your horse, our program can effectively teach you how to achieve the most comfortable, confident and safe working relationship paired with an environment to match your goals!
If this sounds ideal to you, check out our information on weekend sessions below, or if you are sure you want to really invest in your riding career, check out our boarding page for more information!
Training Program:
The training program at Cottonwood is focused on giving the horse and rider the best experience possible. We focus on preparing the horse and rider on the ground and in the saddle, teaching both horse and rider how to communicate and set expectations and be consistent to give the best opportunity of success for each individual team as the individuals both are. With a wide variety of techniques and skills acquired from riding with various top-level trainers and successfully training all her personal horses on her own, Emily can offer a multitude of variations of techniques and skills to be able to help riders gain confidence with their own horses to do whatever they please! Be that on the ground or in the saddle, because groundwork translates to saddle performance.
Emily focuses mainly on helping horses build their strength and "physical independence" to be able to perform their best at all times. Building physical independence allows horses to work and properly use their body and be more confident with their rider and under saddle and on the ground in general. She also is very in tune with horses, acknowledging that some horses take more time to develop trust and will spend the time developing a trusting relationship to let the horse have confidence in themselves and whoever is handling them on the ground or in the saddle.
If you want to show or just want to ride for pleasure, and you want to have the best possible safe and fun working relationship with your horse, our program can effectively teach you how to achieve the most comfortable, confident and safe working relationship paired with an environment to match your goals!
If this sounds ideal to you, check out our information on weekend sessions below, or if you are sure you want to really invest in your riding career, check out our boarding page for more information!
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Weekend Sessions:
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Lesson Formats and Policies
**Due to the size of my lesson horses available to teach lessons on, unfortunately I cannot accept lesson students that are over 175lbs for the physical well being of the horses. I sincerely apologize for the inconvenience but thank you for understanding!*
PoliciesCancellations/No Shows/Late Arrivals:
~In the event of poor weather conditions, extreme hot/cold temperatures, lessons will be delayed until the conditions/temperatures allow or will be horsemanship based if driving conditions allow. ~In the event the lesson horse comes up unusable for riding, lessons will be horsemanship based. ~Any lesson canceled by the Instructor will be rescheduled. ~Student/Parent/Guardian must cancel at least 6 hours prior to lesson time, or the lesson will not be eligible for a make up. It will be considered a no show. **Lesson times are planned to allow instructor a break between students and allow for things to run as scheduled. ** ~If instructor is late to a lesson, the time will be made up for at the end of the lesson (if time allows) or during a following lesson. ~If student late to a lesson with notice, depending on how late, horse will be tacked up and waiting in the arena so lesson can begin but will finish at normal time. Student must arrive before allotted lesson time is half over to ride at all, otherwise the lesson will be horsemanship based. ~ If no notice is given to a late arrival, after 30 minutes/hour lesson or 15 minutes/half hour lesson, the lesson is considered a no show regardless of if student arrives or not. ~If Student/Parent/Guardian fails to contact Instructor at all before appropriate time frame to cancel/reschedule it is considered a no show. |
Lesson FormatsHorsemanship Lesson (30 & 60 Minutes)
Horsemanship is the most fundamental part doing anything around and with horses. In horsemanship lessons we strongly focus on learning about communication with the horse itself. These lessons include but are not limited to: ~Ground Work and Handling ~More Particular Grooming Practices ~Basic Horse Care/Managment ~Equipment Care ~Rider Fitness & Balance 30 Minute Riding Lesson: For a 30 minute lesson, horse will be partially groomed to allow student time to practice grooming skills but cut down on groom and tacking up time. In a 30 minute lesson, students will have 20-25 minutes of riding time during each lesson. 60 Minute Riding Lesson: For a 60 minute lesson, students will do a full groom, help tack up and remove tack from horse and also help groom briefly after the lesson. In a 60 minute lesson, students will have 40-45 minutes of riding time during each lesson. **Keep in mind, horsemanship lessons are just as important as mounted lessons. Horsemanship lessons can be expected when temperatures are above 85*F or below 25*F (this includes the “Feels Like” temperatures) as it is hard to keep anyone safely comfortable and warm/cool with temperatures that extreme.** Make Up Days: Make Up days for lessons canceled with at least 24 hours' notice that have been prepaid. Only 1 make up lesson is offered per month due to scheduling and time constraints. |
~Lessons are paid for monthly.
~Each student has one make up day per month.
~Lessons for students that do not own a horse of their own run from April 1st through December 20th.
~Lessons at Cottonwood given by Emily focus around not only riding but horsemanship and horse care as well.
Lessons can vary from riding to sessions that teach horse confirmation, basic horse handling and basic horse care, basic tack/equipment and how to care for it, stretching/strength/balance exercises for riders, the importance of grooming, horse stretches and strength exercises. Everyone who wants to be involved should be well versed in just how much goes into the horse, and not just the riding portion of the sport. Riding also requires a huge level of commitment. any rider in our program that seriously would like to consider showing will have to ride a minimum of 3x per week and be leasing or own their own horse.
~Each student has one make up day per month.
~Lessons for students that do not own a horse of their own run from April 1st through December 20th.
~Lessons at Cottonwood given by Emily focus around not only riding but horsemanship and horse care as well.
Lessons can vary from riding to sessions that teach horse confirmation, basic horse handling and basic horse care, basic tack/equipment and how to care for it, stretching/strength/balance exercises for riders, the importance of grooming, horse stretches and strength exercises. Everyone who wants to be involved should be well versed in just how much goes into the horse, and not just the riding portion of the sport. Riding also requires a huge level of commitment. any rider in our program that seriously would like to consider showing will have to ride a minimum of 3x per week and be leasing or own their own horse.
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Rates: Training: $200/Month (plus board rate) Includes: 1 work session and 1 half hour lesson per week or 2 work sessions if no lessons are scheduled $400/Month (plus board rate) Includes: 2 work sessions and 1 half hour lesson per week or 3 work sessions if no lessons are scheduled Beginner Riding & Horsemanship Lessons on/with Cottonwood Horse: $60/Hour, 40/Half Hour Private Lessons Emily's lesson schedule is currently full for riding lessons and she is unable to take on new lesson clients. Space Available for horsemanship lessons and riding lessons for those that board or want to trailer in for lessons. Lessons with Your horse: $50/Hour, $30/Half Hour, Private Lesson Weekend Sessions: $375 per weekend Currently have a few slots available for the winter months, 6 sessions are offered per season so reach out to claim your spot! Horses must be UTD on vaccines and have a negative Coggins 
Pictured Left: Emily and Subtle Details, "Scout", Owned by Emily Malinowski
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Pictured Above: Emily (center) with friends Amanda (Left) and Megan (Right) celebrating a successful 2022 Champlain Valley Horse Shows series.
Emily showed Subtle Details "Scout", a Morgan gelding, in the Morgan/Arabian/Saddlebred Open division |
