As befits our unique riding academy, National School of Academic Equitation's school horses are an interesting assortment. You begin to realize who they are only after you've begun to ride them, and when you do, they start to shine.

Because all of our students go through such thorough seat training the school horses here never get pulled, pressed, bounced on, or pummeled like a typical school horse. So they stay fresh and willing. That's not to say they don't have their quirks! But you'll find they are easy to catch and happy to put their heads into the bridle with each ride.

Each of our school horses has been trained to high levels. They do piaffe, passage, and flying changes. Some do Spanish walk and other movements of fantasy equitation. All are pleasant, willing horses ready to carry you to your next level in equitation.

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Strut

Strut is an adorable bay arab with lots of "look at me!" built in . Like his old friend Mason (they've been paddock partners for 18 years) he carries everyone from the youngest riders to adults easily. He has smooth, easy paces and loves to show off, and with his ego, riding his piaffe is just nothing but fun. (Our working students have dubbed him "the Johnny Depp of NSAE.")

Sailor 

Sailor is a tall, handsome chestnut thoroughbred with a terrific combination of patience, kindness, and serious talent. He's got all the basics, including piaffe and passage, and he does the Spanish Walk with great aplomb. Sailor came to us with an old injury, and the work he's done in classical method has kept hiim limber and supple.  (His cinematic personality? The working students call him "the Matthew McConaughey" of the stable. Handsome, a little reserved, but with an engaging twinkle.)

Watson

Watson is a beautiful, elegant, and goofy dappled grey Oldenburg gelding. Tall and talented, Watson is a bright, smart, playful horse with quirky jokes  he likes to share with you. Watson is in recovery from previous dressage training, and loves finding his balance right where he left it last session. If he were to be assigned a cinematic persona, I might go for Steve Martin-- white hair, plenty of intelligence, and a truly stellar sense of physical comedy.

Bleu:

Bleu is our most recent school horse addition. He's a cremello quarterhorse, very solid and sweet. He has a little worry wrinkle on his forhead, startling blue eyes, and an ardent following of fans encouraging him on. Not a mean bone in this horse's body, and he's all "try." He's still got things to learn about this work, but he loves learning it right along with you. Okay... a movie star. Hmmm.... I'm going out on a limb and saying he's going to turn out to be Robert de Niro-- this horse will be seriously brilliant. He just doesn't know it yet.

Mason

Mason is a cute little grey arab gelding, small enough for our youngest riders, strong enough to carry an adult, and forward enough to get the job done. Mason has a workman's attitude and all the energy you can ask of him. He really enjoys his job, and always gives 150%.  Born in 1979, he's our oldest horse and he's still going strong. (And of course, we all know in that movie star line up he'd have to be...Sean Connery.)

The school horses at NSAE are available for riders taking lessons, intensives, or studying in clinics here. Students taking lessons may lease a school horse for extra practice ride times during the week.

Contact Mary Anne with questions or suggestions or photos if you have them-- we love to update our imagery.