Lessons
Head Instructor: Laura Kursman
Laura Kursman is a life-long equestrian who began on an Arabian farm. She rode at Stoneleigh Burnham School and then with Mitch Steege in Massachusetts, as well as at Castle Neck with Michael Keogh and Elizabeth Huntsman. In College, Laura rode for the University of Delaware, and then went on to work with a racetrack rescue in Ipswich Massachusetts and was responsible for retraining rescued racehorses for hunt seat/jumper careers as well as matching them with potential owners.
Laura moved to Ohio and has taught clients in the Cincinnati area for the past twenty years. She works with students who are just beginning their horsemanship and riding careers as well as riders who are looking to succeed on the A circuit and at local show venues in hunters, equitation and jumpers. Laura also specializes in adult riders and mixing horsemanship, riding and the fitness required to safely ride at any level.
Laura has coached IEA for five years and has a record of bringing a team to regionals, zones and nationals. (Regional champion two years in a row, Zones winner for jumping) Her experience with an IEA team includes not just the team showing, but organizing the creation of the team, acting as show manager for a large IEA show and coordinating additional events that enhanced the team experience including fundraising and horse rescue.
As a mother of a developing equestrian, Laura recognizes and focuses on safety first, solid equestrian skills and teaching classical hunt seat riding with solid equitation. Laura has two horses and a pony. Two rescued thoroughbreds Trix and Boston, and pony, Lorax. She also participates in the Technical National Large Animal Emergency Rescue – a group designed to prevent and respond to equine related emergencies and disasters.
Please send us a message or give us a call to get in touch with Laura for lesson info.
Xan Van Vactor
Assistant Instructor
Xan has spent almost all of her life around horses - also thinking and dreaming about them. She grew up riding and showing on many local show circuits here in Cincinnati focusing on hunter/jumper disciplines. Since she was a teen, Xan has taught the basics of horsemanship and riding skill from beginners all the way through to intermediate level riders. Xan focuses on encouragement and the art of the “compliment sandwich” when working with her students, and takes the time to understand how each one learns - as everyone learns differently. She starts each lesson with the understanding that safety, confidence and competence on the ground should be more important than any time spent in the saddle.