Schedule Your Lessons Online

Yes, BRIDGES has gone High-Tech! Check out the long anticipated online scheduling program! You can now schedule, cancel, and pay for your lessons 24/7! Sign up for auto pay, horse shows, clinics, camps, whatever is happening you can sign up online! Restrictions apply.

Join the Bridges Equestrian Team

Ruthanna Bridges met her first horse in 1961 ... and the rest is history.

Family owned and operated, Bridges Equestrian, established in 1981 has been teaching Orange County to ride for over 29 years!

BRIDGES EQUESTRIAN is dedicated to training all levels of riders in English and Western riding. Offering the very best of horsemanship and horse care, we emphasize the positive connection between horse and rider.

Be a part of
BRIDGES EQUESTRIAN
and experience the
World of the Horse!

Bridges Equestrian is located at Sycamore Trails Stables on Oso Road in San Juan Capistrano

General Lesson Policies

1. Due to scheduling conflicts, riders arriving more than 15 minutes late will not be able to ride.
2. If you are tacking your own horse, allow for enough time to tack your horse. If you like to spend loads of time polishing and making your horse "just right", GOOD ON YA! But come early. Please!
3. Horses will be put away shining. We owe them this much. Please allow for enough time before and after your lesson to accomplish this. Here at Bridges Equestrian we teach horsemanship, not just riding. Good horsemanship means taking care of our equine team mate is a priority.
4. Minor aged students may not be left beyond their scheduled lesson time without prior arrangements with the riding school director or trainer on duty. Minor friends, guests or family members may not be left without adult supervision.
5. Only Bridges Equestrian students are allowed to handle, groom or ride Bridges Equestrian horses. Family and guests are encouraged to watch lessons, but must remain clear of the tacking and riding areas. This is for the safety of all.
6. Please cancel your lesson well in advance of your lesson time. Weekend lessons must be cancelled 24 hours in advance, week day lessons must be cancelled at least 12 hour in advance. Lessons can be made up during any month that the student is currently enrolled in the Bridges Equestrian program. EMAIL or call the Bridges Equestrian office at 949–858–0970.
7. Please realize we have between 70–100 students, and are currently responsible for 30 horses. We might not be able to return your call immediately, although we will give it every effort.
8. Please avoid interrupting the trainers during lessons. This takes her/his attention away from instructing.
9. Please feel free to call on any of the Bridges Equestrian staff at any time with questions or concerns. Ruthanna Bridges is the owner and director of the riding school, and can be reached for any comments or concerns.
10. Learning is a very personal experience, and sometimes personalities just don't match. If you feel you would like a different instructor, we will be glad to accommodate you. Our egos have no problem with changing students! Some people just learn better from certain instructors. We appreciate the fact that you will be honest with us and allow us to do our best for you.
11. This goes for the horses too. If you find that a certain horse does not seem to work very well for you, feel free to voice this to your instructor. SUGGESTION: Don't tell us you don't like a horse. These are like our own kids, and we get a little miffed when someone doesn't like our kids. Just let us know that you and that particular horse don't seem to communicate... we'll know what you mean (grin!).

Timing is Everything

Riders will be allotted 45 minutes instruction "in the saddle" for group lessons, 30 minutes instruction for private lessons. Grooming, tacking and untacking time is in addition to the riding time, however riders should be "in the saddle" no later than 15 minutes past the hour. If more than 15 minutes grooming time is desired (and lots of us LOVE to brush our horses), students are welcome to arrive early for their lesson. "Untacking" time after a lesson is not considered part of the time you "pay" for, but it is considered the rider's responsibility. Therefore, please allow up to 1-1/2 hours for your total time at the stable unless prior arrangements are made.

Arriving Late

Riders arriving more than 15 minutes late without prior arrangement with the instructor on duty, will not be able to ride. Riders arriving late, with prior arrangement with the instructor on duty will have shortened riding time.

Thank YOU

Thank you for your help in organizing this program. If you have any suggestions to make this run smoother, PLEASE, see me! We're always improving and changing.

Horsefully ... Ruthanna

Read more about our Training Philosophy