Hello White Oak Stables family!
Many of you have been with us for years and know we pride ourselves on keeping our riding lessons as accessible and affordable as possible. However, rising inflation and cost of living have had a significant impact on our business in 2025, causing us to operate at a loss that I have been subsidizing through my 9-5 job income. In addition, the rising frequency and severity of storms have resulted in us needing more maintenance on our driveway. Therefore, our lesson prices are going up due to increased operational costs.
What’s the new lesson price?
$35 an hour per person. This is a $10 increase. Packages will remain at the same discount percentages.
What expenses does your lesson cover?
Even though you pay a one-time fee or purchase a package for a discount, it’s important to understand everything your lesson covers. So let’s break it down. Each lesson goes to the following expenses:
- Grain
- 17 bags every 2 weeks
- Hay
- ~2,000 bales a year
- Farrier
- every six weeks plus special shoes for Abbott
- Vet bills
- shots, coggins, dental care, body work
- Horse Supplies
- halters, lead ropes, brushes, fly spray, crops, leather cleaner, etc
- Supplements
- joint and arthritis medications
- Fencing
- cutting back overgrowth, fixing gates, maintenance, and repairs
- Pasture care
- weed control, lyme, grass seed, and fertilizer
- Employing an additional riding instructor
- we love Tobi and Ms. Jade can’t teach during the week
- Arena upkeep
- buying or replacing jumps, flowers/decorations, jump poles, adding footing, fixing the “ditch”, and dragging
- Driveway
- dragging and adding new stone
- Misc expenses
- electricity, maintaining our well pump and auto-waterers, mud control, fly predators
- Farm insurance
When does the price increase take effect?
Our new price increase is effective immediately for any new lessons you book. Many of you have already booked lesson through most or a part of the summer so you won’t start paying the new price right away.
What if I can’t afford the price increase?
Please reach out to me if this price increase will negatively affect your family. I understand the rising costs have affected many people and I can offer some families a trade of cleaning the barn for lessons. Also, we have a diversity scholarship program returning this year that you can apply for. The scholarship provides free riding lessons to a few riders during the summer months. If you have questions please reach out to us.
Thank you all for understanding and supporting our lesson program. This was a super tough decision for me to make, but we wouldn’t be here without you!
Ms. Jade
