Riding Instructor University is a resource for riding instructors and horse business owners who want to improve their services, increase their client bases and create safe equestrian environments. You will find articles, blog posts, handy tools and more if you care to stick around.

The purpose of this web site is to help riding instructors and horse business owners develop the best equestrian amenities possible through sound business practices and proper safety procedures. We discuss a wide range of topics, from how to choose lesson horses to where to advertise your services, and readers are always welcome to ask questions if they are confused or concerned about a certain area of the horse business.

Owner Laura Jane Thompson is also available for horse business consulting. Although this web site addresses many issues and answers myriad questions, every situation is different. If you are interested in creating or expanding a horse business, feel free to inquire about horse business consulting and schedule a free consultation.

About Laura Jane Thompson

My name is Laura Jane Thompson, and I am the Editor in Chief of Riding Instructor University. I started this web site because I recognized that horse business owners—riding instructors, horse trainers, stable managers and others—needed a resource to which they could turn when they had questions, doubts or concerns.

Riding Instructor University is geared specifically toward riding instructors, but equestrian professionals of all types can benefit from the resources here. However, I chose riding instruction as my main focus because that is the arena in which I have the most experience.

I started riding horses at the age of ten in Edmond, Oklahoma, and horses have been a major part of my life ever since. When I was fourteen, I started working at a stable in Katy, Texas, where I was taking lessons, and my earliest responsibilities included riding the horses in training. When I turned eighteen, I landed a job at another Katy stable, teaching riding lessons.

A series of injuries sustained in my youth squashed any hope of ever pursuing a professional career showing horses. However, I discovered that teaching was far more suited to my personality, and it is where I gain the most satisfaction.

I am also a freelance writer with more than five years of experience. I hope to one day become a novelist, but I also enjoy writing non-fiction materials about horses and the horse business.

If you have any questions about me or about Riding Instructor University, please feel free to contact me. You can also find me elsewhere on the Internet:

• Suite101.com – I am the Feature Writer for the Horses section at Suite. You’ll find articles about horse training, horse care, horse health and a slew of other topics here.
• Facebook – I do not spend much time here, but feel free to connect if you enjoy using Facebook.
• LinkedIn – You can also connect with me on LinkedIn, though like Facebook it is not a primary place for me to be.
• Savor The Success – This is perhaps my favorite social networking site, and the one where you will find me most often. It is an excellent community of women business owners. Join in!