About the Ranch

• The Windy Ridge Ranch is a family-run lesson barn, started by Mark Ward in 1979. Mark and his wife, Katie, own and operate the business. Mark's son, Emmerson and his wife, Susan, live on site with their three children and they all help take care of the horses.
• The ranch is home to about 37 well-trained schooling horses of various breeds, sizes, skills and temperaments. Most of our horses live out their lives here. We don't typically sell our horses.

Our Philosophy

• With our carefully organized equestrian program, we strive to provide a continuous, safe and fun learning environment that supports individual goals for advancement in riding skills and horsemanship..
• Our group lessons are appropriate for those who want to try riding for the first time, who want to come back to it after years away, and for those who have the interest and drive to become self-sufficient in riding, training, showing and caring for horses. Many of our students have gone on to become horse owners and trainers.
• We encourage riders to seek information outside of our program through books, videos, magazines, etc., to enhance their learning in our lesson program.

What We Offer

Lessons & Riding Activities

Small group lessons; leasing program, practice riding and occassional off-site trail riding for experienced ongoing lesson students; fun shows; trailering to and coaching at local shows for a few experienced lessees. Learn more about our Lessons.

Facilities

Insulated indoor arena (60 x 153) with sand and rubber footing; two outdoor arenas (90 x 180 and 135 x 270); seven stalls; a hot-water wash bay; lessee tack room; pastures that we often ride through, cross country and stadium jumps, and a heated barn office.

 

Leasing Program

• We carefully match riders and horses for rewarding, long-term relationships.
• For qualifying WRR students only (current and prior students).
• Share a horse’s riding time, at reasonable rates.

 

Horse Club

The Ranch is home to the Windy Ridge Riders Horse Club (WRRHC). Members enjoy activities including fun shows, schooling shows, a junior equestrian team (the JETs), clinics, a barn dance and more. Visit the ranch to learn more.

 

Instructors

Mark Ward

Mark Ward grew up in Rochester, MN and rode with trainer Jack Brainerd on his horse, King. He started teaching riding lessons while in graduate school at the UofM, where he studied philosophy and taught the History of Science.. He currently shows in eventing, training with local instructors and visiting clinicians, including Jan Fisk, Becky Holder and Alison Springer. Mark was named the 2016 Horseperson of the Year by the MN Horse Council.

Katie Clapp

Katie grew up in St. Paul with two horses, taking periodic equitation and jumping lessons, but mostly venturing out across fields. She learned the most from ranch hands during three summers at a camp in Sisseton, S.D. She took jumping lessons for a couple years in her 20's but returned to riding in her 30's at the Windy Ridge Ranch. She now shows in eventing, taking lessons from local instructors and visiting clinicians.

Occasional On-Site and Off-Site Clinics

We sometimes hold dressage, jumping, groundwork and other clinics at our barn, or trailer lessees to ff-site clinics.